by Liam Clay
But two hours later, his theory is proven wrong. The mosque is an empty shell. The entire roof has collapsed, and weeds are subsuming the carpet in the prayer room. Jinx looks lost.
“I really thought they would be here.” He says quietly.
Francis puts a hand on his shoulder. “It's not your fault. If Tesla hadn't forced us out right after we fought the council, you could have moved the Afflicted to a safe place yourself. Hey, why don't we climb to the roof of the Spoke? Maybe we can see something from there.”
The squad approves this plan. Throwing caution to the wind, we decide to walk straight down mainstreet. The tower grows ever larger. And now, for the first time since entering the Thresh, we hear unfamiliar voices. Jinx picks up the pace.
The courtyard surrounding the Spoke is empty. The sounds are coming from inside the building. From our position, we can see through the southern doorway and into the tower's grand hall. And there they are: the Afflicted - but multiplied in number by at least ten. Near the front of the crowd, a non-descript man is helping an older woman to her feet. Then he glances our way, and makes a sound that is part squeak, part manly rumble. Jinx makes a similar noise, and runs in his direction. The two men embrace as the rest of us enter the building.
“T!” The salesman says, stepping back to study his friend. “You're alive and then some. Did you bring all these people here yourself?”
The accountant shrugs, embarrassed by the attention.
“It seemed like the obvious thing to do. No one was using it after you guys cleared the council out, and it's one of the only intact buildings left.”
“Amazing.” Jinx lowers his voice. “How is everyone doing?”
Todd sighs. “A bit better actually, although for a bad reason. A lot of the Afflicted out in the fields are dying, and so the voices in our heads have diminished.” He looks at the squad. “Where have you been, though? The last we heard, you and the Opacians had been expelled from the Thresh by the Mezareens.”
“Not expelled, exactly. We traveled back to the arcology I took the pooled link from.”
“You did what now?”
“You heard right. And we brought something back with us. Or ten somethings, I should say.”
Jinx turns to Francis, who is carrying a duffel bag with the Silencers in it. My friend pulls one out and hands it over. Todd stares at the ring with a mixture of hope and disbelief.
“What is this thing?”
“It's a device that is supposed to uninstall the pooled link. The Opacians have already been cured.”
He looks dazed. “So it definitely works?”
“No. The Opacians were cured by the people who designed these, but they didn't use the devices to do it. So we need a guinea pig.”
The accountant is silent for a moment. Around us, the Afflicted continue to struggle through the day, using whatever coping mechanisms have gotten them this far. I can't imagine how Todd has kept them fed and clothed while dealing with his own condition.
“It has to be Leona.” He says at last.
“Who is that?”
“She's a fifteen year old girl - one of the few young people we still have with us. She contracted the virus early on, when it was just another social media tool used by the Thresh's youth. How Leona has survived this long I have no idea, but she's near the end now. So we have nothing to lose by trying. Come on, I will take you to her.”
With the accountant in the lead, we pass through the throng of Afflicted. Reaching the spiral staircase at the center of the hall, we start upward. The second floor has been turned into a field hospital. The pews where Threshers once watched weddings and trials are now being used as beds. Todd sees us staring.
“Toward the end, when they can no longer tell which thoughts belong to them, their brains simply shut down. They slip into a coma, and eventually stop breathing. Come, Leona is at the front.”
He brings us to the stage. In the pew to our right lies a slender girl with mouse-brown hair and porcelain skin. She is breathing easily, and could be asleep.
“This is what the final stage looks like. It's painless, at least.” His voice catches. “Please, can you save her? She was my daughter's best friend.”
No one asks what happened to the daughter herself. The implication is clear enough. Jinx steps forward and places the Silencer on Leona's head. The girl shifts slightly, and then quiets.
“Is that it?” Todd asks.
“As far as we know. It may take a few minutes.”
Just as I'm beginning to contemplate a scenario in which the Silencers don't work, the girl stirs a second time. Then she mutters something under her breath. And finally, she wakes up and sees Todd.
“Oh, hi Mr. Daniels! I, um, don't remember crashing at yours last night.” She groans. “I feel terrible. Did me and Sarah get into your schnapps again?”
At the mention of his daughter's name, Todd bursts into tears. The girl seems confused for a moment, and then her eyes go wide. “The voices are gone. I'm me. I'm me. I'm me again!” She starts to laugh wildly, and then stops just as abruptly. “Mr. Daniels, I think I need to rest here for a while. But when I'm ready, can we go and see Sarah?”
.
There is nothing more we can do for Leona or Todd. Leaving them to their pain, the squad spreads through the room to dole out belated salvation. The process is bittersweet. Everyone we revive has the loss of loved ones to deal with, and some - especially the elderly - never fully recover. We work through the evening and into the night. No skill is required to operate the devices, but none of us can bring ourselves to pass them on. When the upstairs has been cleared, we descend into the main hall and continue there.
From start to finish, it takes 22 hours to bring the Afflicted back from madness. At the beginning, we try to hand our patients straight into the care of their families. But this strategy doesn't work. It seems to help when a stranger's face is the first they see. And so we become doctors: empathetic but emotionally removed, outlining the path to recovery without pulling any punches.
By the time we're done, I am mentally and physically drained, to the point where I feel unstable and ready to break down.
“Dad?”
“What? Get out of my head! Oh jesus, sorry Sophie. I thought you might be... never mind. I've been meaning to call you. It's just that I've been -”
“Busy getting shot, I know. Don't worry though, I'm getting used to my parents almost dying.”
“Why, has there been another attempt on your mom's life?”
“No. The one was enough.”
“Oh, good. And I'm fine, too. You don't have to worry about me.”
“That is definitely not true. But like I said, I'm getting used to it. I actually called to warn you about something.”
“What?”
“Shion. There's a rumor going around that he’s really mad at you. No one seems to know why, though.”
“I do. And I was going to call him right after you. But he can't be that mad. I mean... you know we cured the Afflicted, right?”
“Of course. It's all anyone's been talking about.” She coughs. “I know you left Opacity to prove that saving the Underworld wasn't a fluke. Well now everyone knows that you're a proper good guy. So can you please come home already?”
“Soon, Sophie. Really soon. But first, we have to go to Medival and find out who rules there now. Who knows, they might be the ones who tried to kill your mother.”
“Can't someone else go?”
“But you told me to make them pay, remember?”
“Well I changed my mind, okay?”
“Why?”
“Because I was being childish before. I - I thought you were invincible, Dad. Superhuman and all that. But then Mom got poisoned and you got shot. And if they can reach her in the middle of the Hive, how are you going to sneak up on their city without getting hurt?”
“I don't know yet. But Rajani is from there, and she will be with us.”
“You're acting like that's a goo
d thing. I don't like that lady. She sees too much and says too little.”
“She is a bit odd. But without her, we wouldn't even be here. And now it's our turn to help her.”
“What if you didn’t, though? She’s just some stranger.”
“Some stranger we made a promise to.”
“So? What’s worse: one little broken promise, or robbing your daughter of her father?”
“That’s a cheapshot, Sophie. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
She sighs. “I knew you were going to say that. Do you know that by making all these brave, dumb choices, you're teaching me that it's smarter to be selfish?”
In my overtired state, this comment sinks claws into me. “Don't say stuff like that! Not right now.”
“I know you're tired, Dad. And you deserve a nice long rest. So if you have to go to Medival, at least make it your last stop. Please?”
“I will, Sophie. You have my word. And that's even stronger than a promise.”
“Whatever. So let's recap. Once you're done at Medival, you will come straight back home with no detours?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Um, you know I'm only doing this because I love you, right?”
“And because you're kind of bossy.”
“Don't be mean. I think I've been very patient with you.”
This brings a smile to my face. “That's true, Sophie. And thank you.”
“For what?”
“For letting me be part of your life.”
“Well, you're the only father I've got. Now go get some sleep.”
We sign off. Todd has thrown some blankets down in a corner for us, and I head that way, drunk with fatigue. The rest of the squad is already asleep, and so I wedge myself in between Francis and Lucy. Both of them stir, but neither wakes. The meds are still keeping the pain at bay, and I'm on the edge of slumber when a sound reaches me through the western door. I sit up.
The Mezareens have come.
CHAPTER 22
Tesla leads them. She strides into the hall, fury coursing through her every movement. Minus walks behind her, looking as though he'd rather be anywhere than here. I see him register Den's presence among the squad. They are part of the same social circle, but I don't know how close the two are. The rest of the family follows them in. Most of the floorspace is taken up by sleeping bodies, and so they have to fan out along the curved wall. I stand up and cross the room to meet them.
“What are you doing here?” Tesla barks. “I told you not to return unless you found a way to cure the Afflicted.”
“And we have.” I reply, trying not to sound smug. Well, not too smug, anyway.
“How do you intend to do that?”
“We don't intend to do anything. It's already done.”
I gesture to the Threshers behind me, many of whom are now waking up. “These people have all been cured. There are more out in the fields who still need our help, but it's just a matter of time now.”
She looks stunned. “You actually did it?”
“Den and Ryo did it. Jinx did it. All the people you ostracized or tried to kill, did it.”
I shouldn't be shoving it all in her face like this - not in front of everyone. But I'm just so damn tired. Physically, and of people who should be our allies fighting us every step of the way. Or maybe it's better to get straight to the crux of it. Let's see how this is going to play out, right here and right now.
“How did you do it?” Tesla asks.
This seems like a stalling tactic to me; she's still trying to figure out her next move. So I decide to take the time away from her.
“We can tell you about it later. And we can also bring people in to help you rebuild the Thresh. But in return you have to let Den, Ryo and Jinx live here peacefully. And you have to help the Afflicted reclaim their territories as best you can.”
The crowd is humming with bottled energy now, waiting to see what Tesla will do. But before she can reply, Minus steps in front of his mother.
“If Den, the council kid and the salesman helped cure our people, then they are heroes. All of you are. And we will treat you that way from now on.” He turns. “Isn't that right, Mom?”
The headwoman stares at her son. Then she smiles, and I know that everything is going to be okay.
“My boy is right. If what you say is true, then you are all welcome here.”
“And the Afflicted?” I say, pushing for the full victory.
“We will care for them as if they were part of our family, and they ours. Who knows, maybe this will even help to repair the rifts between us.”
And now everyone is cheering. To my fatigued mind, it feels like I've stepped into a fairytale. One where hard work is rewarded, and we all get to live happily ever after. Tesla shakes Den's pudgy hand, and then Jinx's peeling one. People keep coming up to thank me.
But through it all, I can’t stop thinking about Rajani. If it wasn't for her, this would be it. The end of our mission. We could party here for a week or two, help kick off the rebuild, and head home as legends. Instead, we have to infiltrate a city that is almost certain to be full of hostiles. I can't get Sophie's words out of my head. All we have to do is let this one person down, and we're home free. I can go back to my daughter, start a life with Tikal, get lazy and slow and fat.
But I already know that I can't do it. Leaving the love-in behind, I shuffle back to our corner and fall into the deepest sleep of my life.
.
When I wake up, it is the next afternoon. Most of the squad are out and about; enjoying their new popularity or assisting the Afflicted, each according to their own nature. Tikal is lounging on the blankets beside me, a growler of beer in hand.
“Afternoon, sleeping beauty.” She says. “Want some beer? It's fucking delicious.”
“Hmm, I probably shouldn't. I have to go back to the GTV in a bit.”
“What for?”
“To call Shion.”
“Sounds fun. Want me to come with? We could make use of our bedroom again. Privacy is somewhat lacking around here.”
“You can be highly distracting though, and I'll need to be on my game with Shion.”
“Why? We're the heroes of the hour. Again!”
“Yes, and I'm sure the mayor is just over the moon about that.”
“Oh, right. Well come back right afterward, yeah? We can go have some hedge maze sex.”
“Is that a thing?”
“Somewhere, there's probably an entire porn channel devoted to nothing but. Den would probably know. Do you think I should ask her?”
“Nah. She'd probably just tell us how 'last year' hedge maze sex is.” I lean over to give her a lingering kiss. “Wait up for me.”
“It's the middle of the day.”
“It will be easy, then.”
Leaving the Spoke, I go in search of Minus. I find him off by himself, working on his ATV.
“Hey kid.” I say, taking a seat on a nearby rock. “Thanks for your help yesterday.”
“No problem.” He wipes a streak of grease off his forehead, and then flops down onto the ground. “Wish I knew why I did it, though.”
“Probably because it felt like you had to.”
“I guess so. But you've got to understand: I've never stood up to my mom before. Like, literally never.”
“Maybe you were waiting for the right moment.”
“Actually, I think I was just tired of her bossing everyone around.”
“Same difference. Anyway, the whole squad appreciates it.”
“How about Den?”
“Sure. Wait, why do you ask? Ah.”
He blushes. “I never noticed her much before all of this started, to be honest. But that girl's got balls, man. Don't tell her I said anything though, alright?”
“Your secret is safe with me. And in return for my silence, can you lend me your ATV? I'm kind of injured, and I've got an errand to run.”
“Yeah, sure. She's all fueled up and ready to go.”
With the ATV under me, I make good time through the maze. The apocalypse winnebago is just where we left it, thank god. Rajani must see me onscreen, because she lowers the door and comes to meet me. The green-skinned woman and I have barely had a conversation since she joined us. And we won't be having one now, either. When I ask about Ryo, she responds in monosyllables to tell me he's recovering well. Then I'm past her and into one of the alcoves that still has an intact gunchair. Well, here goes nothing. I place the call.
The first words out of the mayor's mouth are not encouraging.
“I am disappointed that it has taken you so long to contact me.”
“I've been -”
“Busy disobeying my orders, I know.”
“You sound like my daughter.”
“I find that offensive. Now listen carefully. I am going to ask you three questions. And for your sake, I recommend that you consider your answers well. Do you understand?”
“Yes, although I’m confused as to why you think it’s okay to insult my daughter.”
“Question one. Were you satisfied with the Colonizer's explanation of how the link virus fell into the salesman's hands?”
“Yes. To the Bridgers the link is a cultural artifact, like something you'd find in an old museum that no one ever visits. They never actually used it for anything. So the Colonizer probably didn't think anyone would want to steal it.”
“Noted. Question two. Can you guarantee that the Architect will not target Opacity as a result of your actions in the Kogi world?”
“No. But she will only do that if there is a logical reason for it. I never once saw that woman display feelings, either positive or negative. And the desire for revenge is based in emotion.”
“Very well. Question three. You are now planning a journey to the arcology known as Medival. Have you considered that the Architect might belong to the same group that conquered it?”
He gets no response to that one.
“I will assume from your silence that you have not. This does not surprise me. You lack the mind required to navigate the intricacies of this situation.”
“You do know that we just saved the Thresh, right? Which, I will remind you, was our mission all along.”