Chung Kuo - The Marriage Of The Living Dark Part 22

"Did you?"

"I missed this." Kuei Jen reached down, holding Egan's p.e.n.i.s between the fingers of his left hand, finding it stiff with desire. Slowly he began to stroke it "I dreamed of you, you know, f.u.c.king me. I dreamed ..." He s.h.i.+vered. "Jenny?"

His fingers stopped their movement. "What?" "Do I have to kill him?" "Yes. Now quiet, my love. I'll roll over, and we can pretend if s like old times."

CHAPTER-9.

A NEGATIVE TWIST OF NOTHINGNESS.

The sun was rising over the mountains as the tiny party made its way between the bare grey outcrops of rock and up the narrow track through the pines that led to the lower camp. Jagged peaks surrounded them on every side, snow covering the nearest slopes, while close at hand a stream cut deep through the ancient rock and fell, a narrow, crystal-white curtain of ice-pure motion, into the deep shadow of the valley below. They moved slowly now. Four of the five were dressed in the clothes of the alpine wilderness, thick sheepskins and heavy wool leggings, stout boots and woollen hoods. The fifth, a boy of fifteen, wore the thin silks of the city. From pity, one of the group had given the boy a thick blanket, which the lad had gratefully draped over his shoulders against the nighf s bitter cold.

They had walked through the night, climbing steadily, and stopping often along the way, for their leader, the nineteen-year-old, Lin Pei, had sustained a nasty wound to his leg the previous day and needed the constant support of one or other of his fellows. His face, as they made their way up above the rocks and into the camp, was ashen. The journey had exhausted him. Even so, he would not see the surgeon until he had fulfilled the promise he had made to the boy. "Where's Qiao?" Lin Pei asked, looking about him at the handful who had come out of their makes.h.i.+ft shelters at the sound of their arrival. Pain and tiredness made his voice uncharacteristically tetchy. "He said he'd meet us here. Where is he?"

"He is ... elsewhere" one of them answered, a tough-looking, wind-tanned Han in his sixties called Yeh, reluctant to say any more in the presence of the stranger.

"If s all right," Lin Pei said, understanding the man's caution. "The boy is a good friend. He wants to join us."

Brief looks were exchanged. Again Yeh answered him. "Chao was called away.

Something urgent But he will be here. He promised. So be patient, young Pei. Have that wound tended to before it goes bad. You would not want to cause the woman more worries than she already has, would you?" Pei did not like to hear his adopted mother called "the woman", no matter the circ.u.mstances, and made to answer Yeh sharply, yet as he looked about the familiar circle of faces he saw how their eyes told him to agree, how they gave the slightest nod as if to endorse Yeh's words. He let his head drop. He was tired, and the wound did need seeing to, but he had made a promise He turned, looking down the slope to where the boy sat among his men, s.h.i.+vering despite the sheepskin, then turned back to Yeh. "Could we build a fire, cousin Yeh?"

"That would not be wise," Yeh said. "The patrols have increased greatly in recent days. To build a fire out here in the open would be like waving a great flag. Our enemies would be upon us in an instant" "But the boy ..."

Yeh came close and touched Lin Pei's shoulder with a brown, sun-burned hand. "You rest now, Master Pei. I shall take care of the boy. And when your brother Chao comes, I shall wake you. Okay?"

Lin Pei hesitated, the urge to keep his word to the boy still strong in him; then, realising nothing could be achieved, he bowed his head. "Okay." Yeh grinned his gap-toothed grin. "Good. Then go and have that seen to. Surgeon Wu is in the end shelter. It is time someone woke the lazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d!"There was laughter at that Lin Pei, grateful and yet frustrated, hobbled across. He bent down and rapped on the crude door of cross-woven branches. "Wu Ye! Are you awake, Wu Ye?"

There was a grunt from within, and then the sleepy head of Wu Ye, his dark hair tousled, emerged. "Master Pei!" he said with surprise, then, seeing the bloodied bandage about Pei's left leg, pushed the mat door aside and bent down, quickly unwrapping the bandage and examining the wound with his fingers, all the while muttering to himself.

"AiyaV he said finally, looking up at Lin Pei. "You should have had this treated earlier!"

Pei laughed sourly. "You think so? Like in one of our friend DeVore's hospitals, with a pair of armed guards keeping a careful eye on me?" Wu Ye made a face. "At least you had the sense to clean it and bandage it" "The boy did that," Pei said, wincing at Wu's indelicate touch, then looking down the slope to where Yeh was handing the boy a bowl of steaming soup, poured from a self-heat can.

"Then you have much to thank him for," Wu Ye said, nodding to himself. "But this wound's a bad one, Pei. I can't do much here. I need to get you back to the Eyrie. I need drugs, my instruments."

"You'll have to operate?"

Wu Ye was quiet a moment, examining the wound again, then nodded. "This is bad, Pei. Very bad."

"Then we ought to go at once. Take the boy."

"The boy stays."

Lin Pei turned, surprised to find his brother, Chao behind him.

"But we must take him, Chao."

"We can't," Chao said, matter-of-factly, stooping to take a look at the wound.

"Not until he's been checked out"

"But he saved my life."

Chao looked up at that, surprised.

"I got hit and lost my weapon. Two of DeVore's creatures -his copies - chased me into a compound. They had me cornered. And then he showed up. Shot both of them dead. Two shots." Pei tapped his forehead, his eyes wide, remembering it "Right here, between the eyes. Such shooting! And afterwards he cleaned the wound and bandaged it for me. Led me down back alleys and got me out of there. I'd have been dead without his help, Chao, or worse - prisoner in one of DeVore's cells." "Even so ..." Chao began, but Pei was impatient now. "We have to," he said. "I promised him!" "No," Chao said, in a tone that brooked no further argument Then, lowering his voice. "You know the rules, Lin Pei. What if he's an a.s.sa.s.sin? DeVore would willingly sacrifice two of his creatures - even a hundred of the beasts - just for a single crack at her. You know that" "Yes, but..." "No buts, little brother. You might be right. He might prove to be a good friend. But what if you're wrong? What if it was all a set-up?" "You really think ...?"

"That DeVore's that devious? Yes. I do. And I'm not going to take a chance. Are you, Pei? Do you really want to take even the smallest chance with her life?" Pei dropped his head, suddenly abashed. "No,..." "Then leave it in my hands. I'll get him checked out. And if all seems well, we'll see what can be done. But for now he stays here, under guard. Until we can be sure." Pei swallowed, then. "Thanks."

Chao reached out and ruffled his younger brother's hair. "Now lef s get you seen to, neh? I'll have a stretcher made up and we'll carry you up. In the meantime..." he looked to the surgeon, "Wu Ye ... have you anything to make my brother sleep?" "I have."

"But Chao ..." Pei began.

"No arguments," Lin Chao said, smiling at his brother, then, turning away, he walked slowly down the slope towards the boy.

DeVore stood on the balcony of the great amphitheatre in Bremen, watching expressionlessly as Horacek's troops marched by in tight columns of eight, their arms raised straight in salute, their leather boots and black uniforms reminding him of another, earlier time. Then he had stood among an admiring crowd, looking on as another took centre stage, but now it was his turn. Inwardly he smiled. There would be no mistakes this time. No decisions born of anger or the effects of tertiary syphilis. This time he would control it all properly. And when it was done these men - through whom he sought to achieve his ends - would in turn be eradicated; would "make way", as he thought of it And in their place he'd put a much greater, finer race. A race better fitted to venturing out into the universe. A race capable of taking the stars. To his left the dark-faced Horacek bristled with pride in his Marshal's uniform. DeVore turned slightly, smiling, bestowing the smallest of nods to him, as if to acknowledge what a fine job he had done. But in his mind DeVore was already dispensing with the young man, conscious of the threat he posed. But not just yet, he thought Not while I still have uses for you. For a moment he let his eyes wander, looking out past the endless procession of troops, taking in the packed terraces, the cheering crowds, before they settled on the great white marble plinth at the centre of the stadium where a pile of cracked and fallen basalt lay.

It was the time of the endgame. Within the next six months, the fate of all would be settled. And when the last stone was laid and the points were counted on the great board of Chung Kuo, it would be he who would emerge the Master. There was a brief, glancing touch against his gloved right hand. DeVore turned his head, meeting Emtu's eyes.

He smiled, thinking yet again how closely she resembled Emily Ascher; how that same strength and determination shone out from her eyes. Yet this copy - grown from the original's severed finger - was his. Obedient and deadly. The perfect partner, made to last a thousand years.And when she was gone? He smiled and laced his fingers into hers. When her flesh decayed he would make himself another, endlessly, throughout eternity. "What is it?" he asked softly.

"The medals," she said, reminding him.

"Ah, yes .. ."

He turned back to Horacek. "Josef... let us go down. We must make the presentations."

Horacek came smartly to attention then bowed deeply. "Master!" You 're a proper t.i.ttle sewer rat, DeVore thought, smiling into the young man's burned and blackened face. And yet you've proved by far the most useful of my servants. Brutal, excessive, andlacking a single redeeming quality, you were just perfect for me. A mark, a tiving stain upon the day, there to draw people's eyes toward some superficial shadow, blinding them to where true darkness lies. Indeed, looking at you now, it seems like fate that we met that day. As Horacek straightened up there was a moment's awkwardness as he realised how intently DeVore was staring at him.

"Master?"

"I was just thinking, Josef. Remembering how we met"

Horacek smiled broadly, showing feral, uneven teeth. "It was fate, Master."

DeVore nodded slowly, thoughtfully. "So it was, Josef. So it was." Yes, and so it was fated that Horacek would die violently. Once he had served his use. When true night fell.

"What"s your name?"

Daniel looked up from where he was sitting on a ledge of rock, and met his inquisitor's eyes. "Daniel," he answered, trying to read in those dark Han eyes what his fate was to be. "Daniel Mussida."

"And what district were you from, Daniel?"

"From Westerndorf," he answered, almost without thinking. "If s near Roseheim ..."

"I know it," the Han said tersely, then crouched onto his haunches so that their faces were on a level. "So... what were you doing so far from home, Daniel?" "I -" He looked down. "I came to find you."

"To find us. What, so that you could claim a reward?" He looked up at that, stung by the insinuation. "No! I'd never do that! I came to join you. I wanted ..."

The young Han raised a hand. At once Daniel fell silent.

"I hear you saved my brother's life."

Daniel hesitated, then nodded.

"Well, for that I thank you, with all my heart Even so, I'm still left wondering what a good boy like you was doing wandering in the backstreets with a loaded gun. Did your mother not warn you of the dangers?" "I have no mother."

"And your father?"

"I have no father."

Lin Chao sat back a little, considering. "So where, exactly, were you staying?

And with whom?"

Daniel took his ID card from inside his jacket pocket and handed it across.

After studying it a moment, Lin Chao handed it back.

"So you're a cadet? No wonder you could use a gun. But I'm still wondering."

"Wondering?"

"Why you should want to join us. I thought they taught you that we were devils. Ruthless brigands who would as soon cut your heart out and eat it as talk to you."

"And are you?"

At that Lin Chao laughed; a pleasant, unaffected laughter that Daniel instantly liked. The laughter gave him sudden confidence. "Who are you?"

"Me?" Lin Chao stood, looking past Daniel at the rock-littered slope. Beyond him the mountain climbed until it was lost among the other peaks in cloud. "Lef s just say that I could be a friend. That is, if you are who you say you are.""Then I can join you?" Daniel asked, standing for the first time. "Hold on, boy!" Again Lin Chao laughed. "Did I say that? No. One thing at a time. First we'll get you some warm clothing, then . . . well, we'll see, eh? But for now, thank you, Daniel. Thank you for doing what you did for young Pei." Not knowing what else to do, Daniel came smartly to attention and bowed his head, as if to the Captain of Cadets. There was laughter from the watching men, but Lin Chao did not laugh. Straightening up, he too came to attention, returning the bow. Then, as if he could find nothing further to say, he turned and hastened away, returning up the slope to where his brother now lay, wrapped in a heavy blanket on a straw bier, waiting to be taken up the mountain.

DeVore pulled off his gloves and dropped them on the table, then hurried through into the control room. Heads turned at his entry then quickly turned back, concentrating on the screens.

"Any news?" DeVore asked, taking his seat at the centre of it all. "Nothing yet, Master," the most senior of his generals answered, coming across and standing beside DeVore's chair, head bowed. Behind him the remaining generals stood ill at ease, looking on.

DeVore glanced at the digital readout of the time in the right-hand lower corner of the biggest of the screens, then shook his head. "Something's gone wrong. We should have heard by now. We should have seen something!"

On the screen there were a succession of tiny flashes.

"There!" DeVore said, leaning forward.

They waited, tense with antic.i.p.ation, but that was it There were no big explosions. The satellites remained untouched. The attack had failed. DeVore sat back For a moment he simply stared into the air, his face like flint, his right hand tapping out a rhythm against the arm of the chair, then he stood. "Find out what went wrong," he said tersely, angrily. "Someone will pay for this!"

In the lift heading back up to the surface, DeVore allowed himself the luxury of a smile. Down below, his generals were running about and shouting at each other, trying to allocate the blame, but the truth was he had never expected the attack to succeed.

Emtu was waiting for him at the entrance to the San Chang, the broken tile roofs of the Tang's ruined palaces dominating the late morning sky behind her. "It worked!" he said exultantly, taking her arms. "Almost three minutes they were out, and we only needed two!"

She stared back at him soberly. "Don't get too excited. You do not know for certain yet."

He calmed. "No, no ..." Then, smiling again, he took her hand. "Let1 s go and see."

Guards unlocked the gate to the north palace and stood back, letting them pa.s.s. Inside the central corridor was dark, sepulchral. All was silent. They walked through, their booted feet stirring the years-old dust, the sound of their footsteps echoing back from the high ceilings and ma.s.sive rooms. At the far end of the corridor was a huge set of double doors, panelled and studded. DeVore looked to his companion and, with a smile, pushed open the right-hand door. Inside was a ma.s.sive hall, a row of stone pillars running away to left and right, stone dragons coiled about them. At the far end, beneath the great throne, there was movement.

Giant figures straightened, then turned, facing the newcomers. In their midst was a strange craft, identical to the s.h.i.+p DeVore himself had used to return to Chung Kuo; a translucent, capsule-like craft that could fold s.p.a.ce and time about it Seeing who it was, one of the ma.s.sive figures came across. "Hannem?" DeVore asked, recognising his servant of old. The big morph knelt, bowing his head low. "We have come, Master."Behind him, his eight companions also knelt and bowed, subservient to their creator. DeVore turned, looking to Emtu, a look of triumph in his eyes. "There," he said.

"Now we are even. Now the endgame has begun."

From the air one could see nothing, yet some fifty metres beneath where the tree-line ended and the grey, rocky slope climbed to meet the first of the three s...o...b..und peaks, tucked in among the ancient pines, was a slight indentation, a patch of shadow trapped between two twisted, limb-like roots. Here was the entrance they called the "High Door". Other hidden entrances were dotted about the surrounding mountainside, yet this was the quickest, the most direct route into the ruined alpine fortress.

More than thirty years had pa.s.sed since Li Yuan's Imperial forces had bombed the Dispersionist fortress, leaving a ma.s.sive crater in the mountain's flank, and for most of that time it had remained unoccupied and open to the elements, but for the past five years it had been reclaimed by rebel elements, the crater covered over with a mesh of high-tensile ice, upon which earth and rock had been piled. To add to this visual disguise, a web of anti-detection devices had been scattered over the fortress's new roof, so that to the camera eyes of pa.s.sing craft it seemed that the mountainside was cool and solid. It was mid afternoon when Lin Chao finally returned from the base camp. Normally he would have taken one of the lower entrances, down among the big boulders at the foot of the valley, but today he was late. The meeting would already have begun and he was keen this once to hear what was said and add his own voice to the debate.

Things were changing. The attack on his brother Pei said as much, but in truth he had known it for some time now. DeVore was losing patience. Not only that, but their activities had begun to hurt DeVore, especially since the Americans had agreed to back them.

A hundred metres from the entrance Chao paused, tucked in tight against the bole of a leaning pine. For a moment he stayed there, his eyes searching the slope ahead, flicking from tree to tree. There was nothing. Even so, he hesitated a moment longer. Old habits died hard, and he knew that one single mistake could cost them all dear.

Ducking low, he moved from tree to tree, following a zig-zag course towards the entrance. Ten metres from it he stopped again, looking up past the vee of shadow, then turned to study the slope beneath him. He was alone.

Quickly now, he ran across and ducked inside, stooping to pa.s.s through the tight, dark entrance. Some five metres along a steel door barred his way. Reaching up blindly, he found the panel just above it and tapped out the coded sequence. The door slid quietly back.

Chao slipped inside.

Hidden cameras were watching him as he made his way through the narrow maze, following his every movement. In a control room in the heart of the mountain someone was watching a screen, their hand close by a pad, ready to flood the tunnels with gas if he set a foot wrong.

Necessary, he thought, as he waited at the end of the final tunnel, his left palm pressed to the pad as it took a tiny sample of his blood. For it was said that DeVore could copy anything, anyone. And the only way to stay alive was to keep one jump ahead of him. Paranoia had become a survival tactic. At the count of ten the wall beside him slid back, revealing a well-lit, empty corridor. Chao stepped down, stretching his limbs as the wall slid back. There was the murmur of voices, the faintest click and whirr of machines. He walked towards them.