Genuflect

by Tracy R Twyman

Marciaturnedtoherson.

  “Crispin,helpMummyupplease.”

  Theyoungmanreacheddown,grabbedtheinjuredoldwoman’sarmandbegan liftinghertoherfeet.Sheleanedonhisshoulder,puttingherweightonhim.But hereachedouttoRosenbergforthespear,whichhisbosswillinglyhandedover tohim.

  ThenCrispinplacedthespearupside‐downwiththetipofthehandlepressed downontothefloor,andpushedhismother’sbodytowardstheblade.

  Shefelluponit,anditwentallthewaythrough,skeweringherthroughthe heart.

  Therewasonlytimeforhertoutterasinglewheezebeforesheclosedhermouth forever.Crispinletthebodyfalltothefloorasitexpired.Thenheturnedto Rosenberg,withapleadinglook.

  “Pleasejusthelpmeescapefromthis.Iwillbeyourmostloyalservant,asI alwayshavebeen.I’mwillingtodoanything.I’lleven....”Hepausedto considerwhathewasagreeingto,staringoffblanklyatafarwall.“I’llevenlet theBarber-Surgeonschangemybeautifulface,ifitmeansIcanbereleasedfrom thelifeofinfamythatnowstandsbeforeme.”Helookedlikehewasgoingto cry.

  “Yourbeautyisfadinginanycase,dearlover,”saidRosenberg.“You’refartoo oldandyourrectumisfartoowornoutformytastethesedays.”

  Atthis,tearsweredefinitelywellingupinthecornerofCrispin’sreddened baby‐blueeyes.Rosenbergcontinuedhisemotionaltorture.

  “Butdon’tforget:I’vegot youoncameranowtoo,diddlingatwelve‐year-old girl.Sowhydon’tyougiveupnowtoavoidthehumiliation.Inthenextaeon,a newcatamitewillbeborntomewiththebeautyofGanymede.”

  Hesighedatthepleasureofthiscontemplation,thenreachedinhiswaistband andpulledoutthegun.HeofferedittoCrispin,holdingitbythebarrel.

  Withoutamoment’shesitation,heputithismouthandpulledthetrigger, sprayinghisbrainsalloverConsiviabehindhim.

  Thesplatterreachedtheceilingtoo,aswellasthewall,andthealtarwhere Philippinenowlaysilentandstillontopoftherottingbullcarcass.Someofthe goreapparentlysprinkledontheDuke’slionmask,evenmanagingtopenetrate theslitofthemask’smouth.Hestuckhisfingerunderneaththemaskandwe heardhimlickhislips.

  “Mmm,tasteslikeaJew,”theDukesaid.Everybodyintheroomstarted laughinguproariously.

  “Hey!”saidRosenberginmockobjection,chucklingunderneathhisMithras mask.“Iresemblethatremark!”Morecachinnationfollowed.

  TheDukepulledoffhismask,revealinghisrat‐likeoldface,provingthathewas indeedthepersonIfearedhewas.

  Here’soneofthemostcrucialfiguresinthekingdom,Ithought, standing there exposinghimselftoincriminationthatcoulddestroythecrownitself,notto

  mentionthethreatofassassination.Yetheseemssoperfectlycomfortable,as thoughhestilltrustsinthehonoramongthieves.Thisevenafterhejustwatched twootherveryimportantfigurescutdownincoldbloodbeforehim.Evenafter he himselfhasjustbeenthreatenedwithaspearbyoneofthem.Despitethefact thatRosenberghasshownhimselftobeindisputablythemostpowerfulpersonin theroom,withafinancialweaponinhisarsenalofanunimaginablemagnitude, andcompletelydisloyaltohisso‐called“brothers”,neitherDukenorBaron seem fazedatall.

  “So,myliege,”saidRosenbergtotheDuke,“canyoucalloffyourdogsat ScotlandYardbeforetheystartcombingthrougheverybuildingontheblock?”

  “Hoho,oldboy,they’renot mydogs,”theDukesaid,replacinghismask.

  “CanyouhelpmecalloffthedogsofwarthattheLordMayorunleashed?”

  “Yes,butthisfirst,”Rosenberginsisted.“Iftheydon’tfindtheLordMayorat MansionHouse,theywillsurelygolookingatNewCourt,andeventuallythey’ll enduphere.”

  “That’spreciselywhyyoushouldn’thaveleakedthatvideotothepress!

  Whatwereyouthinking?Anyway,Ican’tbeseentointerfereonthiscase.Not withallthechildsexchargesstillhauntingAndrew.Theordertoquashmust comefromwithinScotlandYard,orfromwithintheSecurityServices.Don’t youhaveconnectionsatThamesHouse?”

  “Iusedto,”saidRosenberg.Thenheremembered.“Wait,yes!”Hegotouthis phoneandpressedabutton,thenspokeintoit.

  “Yes,Miles?PleasegofetchthemanintheelevatoratNewCourtandbringhim tomyoffice.I’llmeetyouthere.Thankyou.”

  WhiletheDukeandtheBaronstoodcasuallymumblingtoeachother, Rosenbergwalkeduptometowhisperanotherdemandforinstructionsthrough divination.

  “Sowhat’snext,”heasked.“Howshouldweproceed?”

  AvoicefrombeyondseemedtotakeovermylarynxinresponsetoRosenberg’s

  prompting.

  Iwasreadyforhim.Ihadalreadyreceivedamessagefrommypsychic informant.

  “TheseedofVenuswasplantedintheappropriatevesselcorrespondingtoher sphereofinfluence.Asfortheothers,letthethreekingsplanttheirroyalseeds inherrosegardennextdoorinstead.Letthekingwiththehighestrankhaveher first.ThenlettheSun‐Runner’shorsesploughherfieldtoo.Thiswillopena gatewaybetweenthetwogardens,causingtheseedstocomingleandgraft togetherinamannermorethannatural.Itwillalsofreehermortalsouland completetheritesforthisevening.”

  Ireallyhadnoideawhatthesemetaphorswereaboutatthetime.Ithink Rosenberg’sunderstandingofthemwasvagueandincomplete,orelsehewould neverhavegonealongwiththeplan.

  “Horses?Wherefrom?”heasked,incredulous.

  “SendatextwiththeLordMayor’sphonetotheLordHighAdmiral,”thevoice saidthroughme.“Tellhimtocomeherewithfourhorsesandachariotwith standingroomfortwo.Hemustinformnonebuthispersonalentouragewhere heisgoing,andmayuseonlyhismosttrustedassistantsforthis.Heshalltake thetunnelstobesureheisn’tfollowed.Also,tellhimtobringthedeviceheuses formatingwithhorses.”

  “Hehasa‘device’formatinghorses?”saidRosenberg,amused.

  “Mating withhorses,”thevoiceIspokewithcorrectedhim.“Mostcertainly.Just lettinghimknowthatyouknowaboutitwillbeenoughtoensurethathegets himselfhererightaway.”

  “Andyouwantustosqueezefourhorsesandacarriageinhere?”

  Rosenbergsaidskeptically.“Withalltheseotherpeople?”

  “No,”Ireplied.“OntheskyterraceatNewCourt.Makesuresomeonebrings meanothershotofmorphinebeforewego.”Theinformant’svoicewasconfined tomymindnow,allowingmetocontrolmyownthroatagain,butstillfeeding methelines.

  “SotheLionandtheSun‐RunnerwhomI’dplannedtouse:whatshallwedo withthemnow?”askedRosenberg.

  “ContinuetousetheLionasaservant,”Isaid,hopingasIspokeitwasworthit tosaveLeopold’slife.“ButnotWetzel.He’sfinishedhispurpose.Weshalladd hisbloodtotheHellbrothintheGradalis,andusehisfattomakeaflying ointment.Makesureit’spreparedbeforethenextceremonybegins.”

  Ifeltnoremorse.Wetzelwasachildrapistandanaccessorytomurder,justlike everyoneelseintheroom.Also,fromwhatIcouldtell,hewasslatedfor sacrificeattheendoftheritualanyway.Ijustassumedthatmostofuswere.I wasjustmovinguphisexecutiondateoneday,Ifigured.Thesewerethe instructionsIhadbeengivenbymypsychicinformant,andIsawnoreasonto deviatefromthemessageinanyway.

  “Now,dotheinvocationsbeforetheSun‐Runner’scarriagearrives,”Iwastold tosay.

  “TheSun‐Runner’scarriage?”Rosenbergsaid,second‐guessingme.“Youmean theLordHighAdmiral’scarriage?”

  “Hewillbebringingit,butit’sfortheSun‐Runner’suse,”Isaidwithtelepathic prompting.“ItishewhoshallworkthoseStarryWheels.Haveyourservants outfititwithscythesforreaping.”

  Rosenbergnodded.“Anythingelse
?”

  “Yes,”thevoicecontinuedthroughme.“HavethemconnecttheWalbrooktothe Rothschilds’royalpissingconduitatBucklersbury,sothatthespiritsofthe ArchonscantraveltoNewCourtwithease.Thereisapipingsystemsufficient indiameterforourneedsthatyoucanaccessbehindalockeddoorinthetunnels thereatthatjunction.ItcanonlybeopenedwithCrispin’sfingerprints—the righthand,andjustthefingersofblessing.Thispipeconnectstothetoiletsin theSkyBox.MakeanopeningforthemtogetfromtheSkyBoxtoiletstothe terracebelow.Itwillserveasadivineportalfortherite,likethewellthatyou havehere.”

  Again,IdidnotunderstandthemeaningofthewordsIwasspeaking.Ireached forapictureinmymindofhowthiswasgoingtoplayout,butwasgivenonlya blankscreen.Afterreceivingthatlastdetailfromme,Rosenbergpromptly

  pivotedonhishealsandcalledouttothemenintheblackleatherveilsstanding atthebackoftheroom.

  “Butchers!Please,takethebodiesoftheseSoldiersdowntotheGradalisroom forprocessing.ButleavetheLordMayorandCrispin.Laythemdownonthe benches.Wehavespecialplansforthem.”

  “Wait!”saidBaronCarrickfergus.“First,I’vegottotakealeak.Dad,whatdo yousay?”HelookedattheDukeandgesturedtowardsthebodiesofthetwo Martinas.

  “Ohyes,splendididea,”saidtheDuke.“Mybladderisbursting.I’vehadapint toomanytonight.”

  Bothmenwalkeduptothecorpses,whichhadfallenwithininchesofeachother, andopeneduptheirownrobes.ThenIheardtheunzippingoftrousersandthe splashoftheurineasithititstargets.Thefatherandsonwalkedinacircle aroundthetwobodiessoastothoroughlydrencheachone.Astheydidso,they laughed.

  “Soyouwantmypiss,doyou?”saidtheDuketothelifelessremainsashe soiledthem.“Thereyougo,bean‐counters.Drinkyourfill.”

  “Oh,howI’dlovetodothistotherestofthefamily,”saidtheBaronasthelast ofhisurinestreamsputteredout.

  “Youcan,”saidRosenberg.“Butit’snotnecessary.Theyshan’tbebotheringyou muchanymore,nowthatmyeconomicplanistakingeffect.”

  “Still,Iwishyou’dhaveletmepissintheirmouthswhiletheywerestillalive, thesetwo,”saidtheDuke,shakingoffthefinaldrops.“Theywereworst.Inever understoodwhatyousawinthatboy,otherthanhisprettymouthandhistender arse.”

  Rosenbergchuckledandshruggedhisshoulders.

  “Whatelsedoyouneed,right?Butseriously,I’llgiveyouabetterwaytouse yourcocksforrevengeagainstthesetwobesidespissingontheircadavers.”

  BoththeDukeandtheBaronlookedupandgavehimtheirfullattention.

  ThemomentRosenberghintedatanopportunityforvengeance‐motivated debauchery,bothmen’speniseshardenedintheirhands.

  “Whathaveyougot,Blake?”saidtheBaroneagerly.

  “Well,she’snotmuchtolookat,”Rosenbergreplied.“Butshe istheonly biologicalheirtothecorpsesbeneathyou.Oh,andshe’squiteknowntoyour family.SheusedtogowiththeLordHighAdmiralforcarriageridesandpolo matcheswhenshewasayounglass.I’veevenseen youbouncingheronyour kneeafewtimesduringthoseyears,youoldgoat.AndI letyoudoit.”

  TheDukelookedawayfromhimasifashamed.Hecontinued.

  “Ididn’tmind.Yousee,mydaughterwasneverreally‘mydaughter.’

  ConsiviaandImerelyhelpedtheMartinascoverupsomethingthatwouldhave beenofgreatembarrassmenttothem.”

  “Buthowcanthatbe?”saidBaronCarrickfergus.“She’sonlytwelve!”

  “SowasCrispinwhenhegothismotherknockedup!”Rosenberghowledwith merriment.“Oh,howthatpregnancyheightenedhisdisgustforthefemalerace, almostbringingituptomylevel.Hecouldn’tgethardforheranymoreafter that,oranywomanforthatmatter.Itookthebabyofftheirhands,knowingthat shewouldcomeinhandysomeday.”

  Hewalkeduptothegirl,stillsplayedandstrappedtothedecayingmeatonthe altar,andplacedhislefthandflatonherstomach.Sheflinched,thefirstsignof lifeI’dseenfromherinawhile.Rosenbergcontinuedhisspeech.

  “Andnow,tonight,sheisprovidingthematerialbasisforthemostambitious magicalworkingthatanymanhaseverattempted.ButIaminvitingyou,my lords,toaidmeinthisendeavor.Tonight,aspartofthiseffort,Philippinewill dieinthemidstofextremepainandsexualdegradation.TheLordHighAdmiral isalreadyonhiswayheretolendsometechnicalassistance.Iwouldbemuch obligedifyoutwowouldplayouttherolesIhavepreparedforyou.”

  “Youknowverywellthatwearealreadyobligedtoyou,soofcoursewewill accommodate,”answeredtheDuke,closinghisrobe.

  “Issheavirgin?”askedtheBaron,nowgentlystrokinghisswollenmember.

  “Notasofanhourago,”saidRosenberg,withaslighthintofregretinhisvoice.

  “ButthebackdooriswhatI’mgoingtohit.Afteryoutwo,ofcourse.”

  “Oh,butletmysonhavefirstshot,”saidtheDuke.“He’sveryparticularabout thesethings.”

  “Ofcourse,it’sadeal,”saidRosenberg,shakingthehandsofbothmeninturn.

  “We’llbemovingovertoNewCourtforthenextpartoftheoperation.”

  Helookeddownathisphone,whichhadjustreceivedanothermessage.

  “Butfirst,Imustspeaktooneofmycaptives,”hesaidinconclusion.

  ThenheaddressedtheButchers,whohadbeenstandingtherethewholetime waitingforpermissiontotakethebodiesoftheMartinas.Hehelduphisright thumb,indexfinger,andmiddlefinger.

  “TakethefirstthreefingersfromCrispin’srighthandandsavethemforme,”he instructed.“ThentakethebodiesandputthemintheCoffinHouse,inpods1

  and2.”

  Sotheotherbuilding was intentionallymadetolooklikeacoffin,Idiscerned silently.

  TheButcherscompliedwiththeorders.Oneofthemsnippedoffthefingerswith largemeatshears.Theotherscoveredupthecorpseswithcurtains(Crispin withthecrosscurtain,MarciawiththeTroytapestry).ThenfourmoreButchers camethroughthemainentranceandcarriedthebodiesawayongurneys.Before theyarrived,Rosenberghadalreadygone,presumablytospeakwith Chesterfield,whomItooktobehis“captive,”theMI5contacthebraggedtothe DukeofRothesayabout.

  Iswoonedwithexhaustionatthethoughtofwhatmuststilllaybeforeus,before thenightwaseventhrough,beforeIwouldbeallowedtorestinthecomfortof eithersleepor,mostlikely,death,itseemedtome.Thoughithadn’treallybeen thatlong,IfeltlikeIneededanothershotofmorphine.JustwhenIthoughtI couldn’ttakewaitinganylonger,Leopoldshowedupwiththesyringeinhand,

  givingmetheonlysmallcomfortIwouldbepermittedthatnight.Oh,andone other:hegavemealongdraughtofwaterfromastone amphora.

  IwishedIcouldhavedrownedinitatthatmoment.

  Chapter22:ArchonsUprooted

  AndwhenWesaiduntotheangels:ProstrateyourselvesbeforeAdam,theyfell prostrate,allsaveIblis.Hedemurredthroughpride,andsobecameadisbeliever.

  —Quran 23:97,Pickthaltranslation

  TherooftopterraceatNewCourtwaspositionedpartiallybeneaththeSkyBox whereoureveningbegan,withourrancidmealofravenmeatandchampagne.

  However,mostofitwasuncoveredandsittingtotheeastofthere.

  TheSkyBoxwasmountedunevenlyontopofthetwoadjoinedNewCourt buildings,asifatoddlerhadbeenlazilystackingupwoodenblocksonthefloor.

  Ithovered,mountedonpoles,mostlyoveroneofthebuildings:theonewe’d initiallyentered.ButpartofitstuckouttotheEastovertheotherbuilding, whichhadtheterraceontop.Andthatiswherewewerenowallassembledfor thesecondpartoftonight’sritual.Themysteriousvoicethathadspokenthrough metoldRosenbergthat’swhatwesho
ulddo.

  Ihadnoideahowlongtheseceremonieswouldstretchonintothefuture.Iwas insomuchpain,sotired,disoriented,scared,worried,sick,hungry,andindread ofthehorrorstocomethatmyonlyhopewastoputtodeathsoon,withoutmore tortureordegradation.Butthehopefeltempty.Ialsoanticipatedthattherewere evenworsethingstobeconcernedwithbesidesjustwhatmyownfatewas.The signsintheheavenswereominous.

  TheMoonwashuge,nowwitharedmassthatappearedtobeswellingwithinit.

  Twoofthemhaddisappeared,buttherewerestillfourhugestarshovering aroundtheMoon,evenlargerthanbefore,withonesignificantlybiggerthanthe others.BoththeMoonandthestarswerelowerintheskythanbefore.

  YoumightthinkthatRosenbergandtheotherswouldhavebeenconcernedabout thepossibilityofothersseeingusupthere,especiallywhenScotlandYardwas supposedly enroute toarrestMarcia.Wehadactuallyseen,fromtheroof,police arrivingatMansionHousenextdoortothenorthwest.Uniformedofficershad

  gotteninpositionaroundtheperimeter,preparingtoperformsomekindof action.Weevensawahelicopterapproachinginthedistance.

  Foraminute,Rosenbergdidappearworried,andalertedChesterfield,whonow satnexttomeonthegrass,handcuffedtomywheelchair.Thespookhadmerely shruggedhisshoulders,lookingscaredofretaliationforfailure.Butthenthe helicopterturnedaround180degreesandwentbackthewayitcame.The policemenallgotintheircarsanddroveaway.RosenbergpattedChesterfieldon theshoulderandwentbacktopreparingtherestoftheritual.

  TheLordHighAdmiralarrivedwithhisescortsthroughtheelevator.Hewasnot wearingacostumeinitially,butcameinanavybluesuitwithabrownovercoat andablackderby.Wrinkledanddecrepit,hestoopedabit,butnotasmuchas you’dthinkamanhisagewould.Hisjawquivereduncontrollably,though,and hisbloodshoteyesburnedwiththefireofdementiaontopofpsychopathy.

  Indaysofhisprime,hewouldhavebeenamongtheonesrapingandmurdering withzeal.Tonight,hisjobwasmerelytobringthehorsesandtheirgear,allof whicharrivedthroughtheserviceelevator.Thisincludedthecarriage,stoodup onitsbackendtofitinside,andofcoursethe“deviceformatingwithhorses.”