One of the men hopped up, taking our bags, and led us away from the food, into a room with two simple bunks.
“I would have preferred to eat first,” Magnus said, his stomach rumbling loudly.
“The washroom across the hall,” the man said, his accent thick.
“Thank you,” I told him, and sat on the bunk, the springs of the mattress stretching under my weight.
“What do you think?” Magnus asked me. It was the first moment we’d been alone since Alfonsi’s.
“I think Frasier is dangerous, and that we’re running out of time. He’ll probably be here tomorrow, and once he has the plans for the station, I think he’s nearing his endgame.” I said it very quietly.
“Do we steal them from Amada and vamoose?” Magnus asked.
“That’s an idea. I wish I knew what to do. We could have ended Amada and been gone already. We know their main base is in Old Rome, we know about places like this,” I said.
“We have to be cautious. If we start killing them, they’ll all become martyrs to their cause. Plus, I really hate the idea of us in a war with these people. They aren’t bad, in my books. They only seek a different way of life,” Magnus said. “And to be honest, I appreciate it. Being here in old Europe with no power, and no hordes of tourists desecrating the land, it’s… invigorating.”
“I agree. There will be no killing, at least not on my watch. Let’s freshen up and eat something. I have a feeling things will escalate soon,” I said.
A few minutes later, we were rinsed off, a basin of hot water brought to us by the same man, and he passed us fresh linen shirts, the flame logo sewn onto the right breast. It was official. We were Restorers.
Nineteen
Jules wrung her clothing out, water dripping in a pool beside her. She was huddled at the side of the tunnel, using the darkness to dress again. She was already tired of the adventure. Normally, she would have been okay with everything, but without being able to create a sphere of protection, she was forced to dive under the water again, and it was going to take too long to wear their EVAs. She was also sick of trudging around with the suits, and she tapped Slate on the shoulder. He was fixated on the tunnel, as if trying to listen for dangers lurking beyond.
“Do you mind if we drop the suits here?” Jules asked.
Canni brightened at this. He was the largest and was relegated to carrying a proportionate amount of weight.
“Good call. I think we can afford to do that. We’ll bring one with us, in case we find ourselves in need of a sealed suit,” Slate said.
“Bring mine,” Dean said.
Slate nodded. “Sure. It’ll be lighter than the one I’m carrying, and you’re the oldest.”
Dean flashed Jules a smile, and she stuck her tongue out at him. He knew she’d prefer to be the one with the EVA, but she allowed him the victory. With any luck, her abilities would appear again if she needed them. It reminded her of feeling helpless when Professor Thompson had stolen her gift.
Everyone was as dry as they were going to be, and Lolin moved to the wall, pressing the stone siding. A hidden compartment opened, revealing a few supplies. She took a rope, slung it around her waist, and passed a torch to Jules, Wentle, and Kira. She tapped a strange tool, and a spark erupted, which she pressed to Jules’ torch. It caught fire, and continued to burn brighter. It looked like some green leaves doused in oil, intricately woven together in a tight pattern.
“They will burn long,” she told Jules as she lit the next two.
Slate put away his flashlight, conserving the power, and Jules took the lead, the entire cavernous corridor glowing orange. The ground pitched upwards, a gentle incline as they started to walk through it. The ground was smooth; a few dark pebbles lined the area, but otherwise it was clear of debris. Jules almost expected to find a few rodents running from the approaching torches and footsteps, but if there were any hidden animals, she didn’t see any sign of them.
She couldn’t stop thinking about the portal they were heading for. Was it possible to activate it again? She wouldn’t be able to do anything in her current state, but even with her powers at full capacity, she was curious if the stone could be revived. There had to be something broken within it if it didn’t appear on the Crystal Map, even after she’d re-energized the entire system.
Jules peered at Lolin and admired the girl. She was strong, even if she didn’t have any understanding of the universe or even her own planet beyond the valley she was born and raised in. She believed the crystal was a god, as did the rest of their group, and still she was returning to help save the boy she’d been betrothed to since birth.
Lolin must have felt the heat of her stare, because she peered over her shoulder, frowning at Jules. Ever since Jules had filled with the Iskios powers and lifted from the ground, the girl had become more reserved. Jules didn’t blame her, but she was sad at the fear in the other’s eyes. She’d make it up to her, prove she wasn’t anything scary. She was only a girl with some abilities beyond her control.
Shadows danced against the walls as their group moved through the tunnels. Jules noted how the ceiling height increased as they went, the walls stretching farther and farther apart as they gently rose within the mountain.
It was warming here, and Jules didn’t know where the heat came from. She wiped her brow, and saw the others mimicking her.
Lolin’s gaze began to dart around the halls, and she raised a green hand the moment they approached a wide-open cavern.
“What’s this?” Slate asked.
From the minute amount of light seeping past them and into the room, it was clear the cavern was a large, open space. Pointy rocks hung from the ceiling, which had to be a hundred feet tall. There was a pool of water in the middle of the space, its surface smooth as a sheet of ice.
“This is where we snuff the lights,” Lolin said, indicating their torches.
“What? We can’t move through this without lights,” Dean told her.
Their path ended at the cavern. Moving into it without light would mean injury or worse.
“No. The Impaths are inside.”
Jules didn’t like the fear the local girl’s face took on when she mentioned the name. “What are Impaths, and why are we just hearing about them?”
“The Impaths live here in the mountains. They are evil winged monsters that steal our people’s children and carry them to their nests, where they feast on their souls, then return the bodies, hollowed out,” Lolin said, eyes wide.
A shiver ran through Jules as the words translated.
“Jeez. Why do I keep going into caverns, caves, and mountainsides? Nothing good ever happens below the surface,” Slate muttered to himself.
“Where are they?” Dean asked.
Lolin pointed toward the dark depths of the cavern, her finger trembling slightly. “There.”
“And why did we walk this way?” Canni asked.
“It is the only way through to our home,” Lolin said.
Slate left the comfort of the torchlight and stuck his head out of the corridor, rotating it side to side. “Looks like there’s a path across. It’s narrow, rocky, and missing a ledge. Is that how your people exited the caves?”
She nodded.
“How did you do that with so many people and no lights?” Kira stared into the darkness with a pale blue face.
“We know the mountain pass. We have used it for generations. One leads, the others follow… in utter silence.” Lolin took the rope she had around her waist, fastened the end to a clip on her robe, and one by one, she looped it around each of their team.
Slate appeared dubious. “Have you ever led an expedition through?”
“No. Not I, but I was third when we escaped. I know the path,” Lolin said, sounding more and more sure of herself.
“Okay, so we pass through this cavern, and these Impaths stay inside? If they don’t grab us to steal our souls?” Slate asked.
“That’s correct,” Lolin said.
“A
nd how far does this cavern go on for?” Dean asked.
“It takes…” She said a value that didn’t translate.
“I think that means an hour, thereabouts,” Wentle said. Jules stared at him inquisitively. “What? I’ve been paying attention.”
“An hour of walking across a rocky path with a deep drop on either side, in the dark, tied together, while trying to avoid some monsters. Does that sum it up?” Slate asked.
“That’s correct,” Lolin said again.
Slate began mumbling to himself, and Jules heard the words Horizon, commander, and Gatekeepers, mixed with a few expletives thrown in for emphasis. “Lolin, what do these creatures look like?”
She spoke softly, everyone leaning close to hear what she had to say. “They live in the ceilings in holes. They are winged, with eight legs and horrible faces,” she said.
“Great…” Canni was almost hopping from foot to foot in fear.
“How big are they?” Jules asked.
Lolin stretched her arms out, indicating around four feet. “They aren’t large enough to take our adults, but our children, yes.”
Everyone looked at Jules, then Kira, who were the smallest of their group.
“Please don’t let them take me,” Kira said.
“We won’t,” Canni said through his evident fear.
“How do we avoid them?” Slate asked.
“We stay to the path. Walk soundlessly and leave all lights off. They sleep during the day, which is our sole advantage. They also cannot see well. The lights would notify them of our presence, though. They use ears,” Lolin said, her words echoing through the translator.
Slate turned the volume on the speaker to its lowest setting, and Lolin took the lead, indicating their order. Slate was next, so he could protect them and echo her words in English if necessary. She explained how she would tug the rope to explain direction shifts, and how it was the next in line’s job to pass that information on. They tested it a few times with their eyes closed, and when Lolin was confident, they headed to the edge, where she snuffed the torches out, one by one.
Before the last light in Jules’ hand was put out, she thought she saw a moving form along the ceiling, crawling toward them. She gulped and took her position at the rear of the line. Kira was behind Slate, since she was the tiniest, making her the largest target.
Dean was in front of Jules, and he must have turned in the dark, his lips right beside her ear. “I don’t like this.”
“Neither do I,” she replied.
“Stay close,” he whispered.
“I will.”
They moved forward, the rope tugging her slightly at the unexpected movement. Then they were off, heading into the cavern where nightmares were made, with no light to guide their way.
Jules took a deep breath and wished her father was there with her.
____________
The fire burned hotly in the hearth; the stone fireplace appeared original to the church. Magnus and I waited while Amada talked to her fellow Restorers without us present, and I was happy for the reprieve from riding that bike.
“That was good food,” Magnus said, patting his stomach. “Natalia never wants to eat Italian. Says it’s too heavy.”
“She’s right,” I said with a smirk. “Imagine if you ate like that every day.”
“I don’t know how they’re all so skinny.”
There were books lining the walls here, a gorgeous painting of the local river hung over the mantel, and I almost forgot we were in the belly of the beast. I knew if I closed my eyes, that was it – I’d be asleep in seconds – so I sipped the after-dinner coffee they’d prepared and tried to clear my head.
“We need to find the Stuffed Truffle,” I whispered.
Magnus glanced behind us toward the door, which remained closed. “Yeah. I wish we had a way to find it.”
“And I wish my legs weren’t so tired.” I rubbed my thighs, and heard the crinkling of paper in the pocket of the borrowed trousers. Reaching a hand inside, I pulled out a small note.
“Don’t tell me…”
“It’s a map.” I passed it to him. It showed a picture of the Leaning Tower, crudely drawn, and an arrow with a W heading away from it. The number five indicated blocks, then an N and a three, ending with the letters ST.
“This is it,” Magnus said. “You really must have a genie in a bottle, Dean.”
I nodded absently. This meant the woman who’d visited us at Frasier’s villa must be here. She’d slipped the map into the pair of pants as we cleaned ourselves up.
“Looks like we’re going to have to break out of here tonight,” I told him.
“Can we enjoy the coffee first?” He took a loud slurp and leaned toward the roaring fire.
We concocted a plan, and by the time Amada and Martin returned, we’d settled on our escape.
“Do you two need anything else?” Martina asked.
“No…well, maybe another coffee,” Magnus said.
“You know your way around?” she asked.
I nodded.
“Good. We’ll see you in the morning,” Martina said, and Amada reached for the exit.
“Amada, did you reach Frasier?” I asked, catching her before leaving.
“We did. He’ll be here by ten in the morning. He was quite pleased with your performances. It looks like you’ll be joining him for the main mission,” she said, not meeting my gaze. I had a feeling we’d usurped her own position at her leader’s side.
“Ten it is,” Magnus said, and the two women left, softly speaking as the door closed. Then he raised his eyebrows, winking at me. “We did it. Not that we doubted ourselves.”
I didn’t tell him that I half-believed in what they were seeking to accomplish, only I could never condone Frasier’s methods. I had a lot to discuss with the Alliance and Paul, along with the other colony leaders. Maybe there was a balance between technology and advancement, and losing our own history and past in the process. Or, at least, a fair choice between our divided people.
“Oh, no. What are you thinking? I can almost smell the grinding gears,” Magnus told me, and I laughed.
“Nothing. I wonder if we’ve gone too far as a race,” I said.
“Dean, don’t tell me you’re buying into this crap. Technology wasn’t the reason for the Event, the Kraski were. And the reason they were fleeing was because of the Bhlat,” he said.
“I know. The very same race I gave Earth to. You don’t need to remind me of the irony behind it. But the Empress ended up being fair. I know it wasn’t technology’s fault, but maybe they are onto something. Without advanced weapons…”
“Dean, there’s always been war. Do you think the Neanderthals weren’t hitting each other in the heads with clubs and jabbing spears at one another? Do you think that Genghis Khan or Napoleon Bonaparte was shooting up nations with lasers?”
“No, it’s not that…” I was struggling to relay my intentions. “I only mean, maybe there should be a choice. We’ve essentially cut everyone off if they want to be outside our mandated colonies, which are basically future worlds. Have you seen them lately? We have hovertrains and floating pedways, with skyscrapers that look like something out of a Clarke novel. We’ve made it all or nothing. Do it our way or don’t do it at all, and that’s where I’m fraught with the concepts.”
“Okay, now you’re making more sense. A balance,” he said.
The word struck me. Balance. It was one I was growing familiar with since the Event. Karo claimed there was a balance in the universe, as there had been between the Theos and Iskios. Regnig had named me a Recaster, always talking about my role in evening things out, good or bad. Sometimes what appeared as bad was really good, and vice versa. My gut was telling me I was onto something, and that maybe Frasier’s plan, as long as it didn’t go too far, might have some merit.
Magnus was frowning at me, and he slowly shook his head. “I don’t know, Dean. That look is making me nervous.”
“Don’t be. Do
I ever make the wrong call?” I asked.
“I can name a few. Starting with trusting Ray,” he said.
“I’ll give you that one, but I still don’t blame him,” I retorted.
“Fine. How about the time you…”
I raised a hand, and set my coffee cup on the side table beside me. “Let’s not go there.”
“In that case, we better… head to sleep. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow,” he said too loudly.
“Yes, to bed.”
We left the room, the fire flickering in the hearth where the metal grate would keep it safe and contained. It was instantly chillier as we emerged into the halls, and we listened for signs of any Restorers walking around. It was silent.
We headed to the bedroom, and Magnus instantly began piling pillows underneath the blankets. “Didn’t you ever play the old fake-body-under-the-sheets trick on your parents?” he asked mischievously.
“Can’t say that I did,” I told him, copying his actions.
“I should have guessed.” Magnus came over to my bunk, putting the finishing touches on my side. We stood back to appreciate our handiwork. “Looks like we’re sleeping soundly.”
“What time is it?” I asked Magnus.
“No clue. Around eleven, maybe,” he guessed.
We were near the rear half of the church, and I pressed through a doorway that connected to an old gift shop. Inside, we found two jackets. I shook mine off, dust flying around as I slid my arms into it. The Pisa tower icon was stitched on the back of it, and a mangy faux-fur collar had Magnus snickering at me, until he saw himself in a grimy mirror. His smile faded, and he moved for the exits, which were locked, and we peered through the glass doors, searching for sentries.
“In the tower. That’s where they’ll be. Scopes and snipers, I bet,” Magnus said.
From here we couldn’t see the tower, and that meant it couldn’t see us. “We’ll stay out of sight on this side and cut across to meet the map’s directions.”
The thumb lock clicked open as I turned it, and cool air met our faces as we stepped outside. I’d only wanted the jacket for the hood’s protection in case we were spotted, but now I was grateful for the added layer, as it was unseasonably chilly for the time of year.
Old World (The Survivors Book Eleven) Page 16