Shadows Fall

by Simon R. Green

  “I left him back at the house, stuck in front of his beloved soaps. I didn’t feel the need for a chaperone tonight.”

  They fell silent again. It was hard to think of things to say when they both had so much they didn’t want to talk about. Hart felt his brows lowering into a frown, and tried not to. He didn’t want Polly to think he was bored or angry with her. But it was hard to make small talk when most of the things they had in common were too disturbing to discuss. He wasn’t even sure how he felt about Polly. What they’d been through together had forged some kind of link, but that was more to do with circumstance than personality. Great basis for a relationship; I resurrected her father and helped her get her heads together.

  Not that he was much better. How could she feel anything that mattered about him, when even he wasn’t sure who he really was? Hart decided he was thinking too much and talking too little. Polly would be thinking he’d taken a vow of silence. The best thing would be to stop worrying about trying to impress her, and just relax, let things happen as they would. He was safe here; just another face in the crowd, with nothing expected or feared of him. He smiled at Polly, and she smiled back, sensing the change in his mood and responding gratefully.

  The lights went out, and there was a sudden drop in the noise as the amplifiers cut out. The band stumbled raggedly to a halt, and a sudden silence filled the club as people’s conversations broke off. The first questions had just begun when the building suddenly trembled. There were shouts and a few screams in the pitch darkness as the floor shook under foot and then was still. A loud and confident voice presumably the Manager, started saying calm and reasonable things, but no one was listening. Hart reached out in the gloom and held Polly’s hand. It was trembling violently, and he squeezed it in what he hoped was a reassuring manner. The club shook again, more violently this time. People cried out as they were thrown to the floor, and everywhere there was the sound of glass breaking. Screams rose up on all sides as people began to panic. Some were already shouting and cursing as they fought their way through the darkness to where they thought the exits were.

  And then there was a roar so loud it hurt the ears, and one side of the Cavern club exploded inwards. Brick and stone and splintered wood flew on the air like shrapnel, cutting through the panic-stricken crowd with grisly efficiency. Blood flew and people fell and men and women screamed in fear and agony. Hart was thrown over the top of his table by the force of the blast, and slammed into someone before hitting the floor. He hoped it wasn’t Polly. Something struck his elbow hard, and his arm went numb. He could feel blood trickling down his face, but didn’t know whether it was his or not. He called out to Polly, but his voice got nowhere in the bedlam. He got one foot under him and lurched to his feet. He reached out in the darkness for Polly, and there was another explosion, louder than the first, and the ceiling came down. Screams were cut off suddenly, drowned in the roar of collapsing rubble, and then and for a long time after there was only silence in the Cavern club.

  —

  Ash and Rhea lay cuddled in each other’s arms in Ash’s bed. It wasn’t really big enough for two people, but neither of them felt like complaining. Rhea stretched languorously, enjoying the way her skin brushed smoothly against Ash’s, and buried her face in his neck. It was pleasantly cool in the bedroom, and the two of them lay naked under a single sheet. Ash reached out across her and shook a single cigarette out of the pack on his bedside table. He stuck it in his mouth, and touched the tip of his index finger to the tip of the cigarette. It glowed brightly under his touch and was instantly alight.

  “Those things’ll be the death of you,” said Rhea sleepily.

  “Oh, most amusing.” Ash lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling, smoke drifting up out of his slack mouth. “So, how was it; making love with a ghost?”

  Rhea raised her head and considered the matter for a moment, running her fingers lazily through his chest hair. “I thought you gave a very spirited performance.”

  Ash groaned. “I’d forgotten how sex affects you. Everyone else gets hungry, or fancies a cigarette; you come up with bad jokes.”

  “They have to be bad to be good. Anyway, it’s your own fault for asking. Why do men always have to ask how it was? What do you want; points for technique and endurance?”

  Ash shrugged, and enjoyed the way it moved her body against his. “I just wondered if it seemed at all… different, now that I’m dead. There are bound to be differences. I’m not the person you used to know. I’m the memory of a man, made flesh and blood through an act of will, but my memory isn’t perfect. For example, you’ve been lying on my left arm with all your weight for some time now, but it hasn’t gone to sleep. I’m trying to be everything I can for you, Rhea, but I can’t be everything I was. I’m sorry.”

  “No, don’t. It’s all right. I understand.” Rhea buried her face in his neck again, her lips moving against his skin as she spoke. “I know there are differences. From the way we were thrashing about it’s a wonder the bed held together, but you never raised a sweat and you never got out of breath. You feel just a little cold to the touch, and you never warm up no matter how tight I hug you.”

  “Does it matter? I loved you with all my heart while I was alive, and I love you just as much now. That hasn’t changed. It never will.”

  A sudden high-pitched bleeping filled the room, and Rhea groaned angrily. “That’s another thing that never bloody changes. My office has noticed that I’ve been out of touch for more than five minutes, and my entire staff are having a collective panic attack. If I had any sense, I’d throw the damn bleeper away and swear blind I lost it. Can I use your phone? There’s always the chance it might be something important.”

  “Sure. Go ahead.”

  Rhea sat up in bed, knuckling at her eyes, and Ash sat up with her. He leaned back against the headboard, and watched happily as Rhea dialled a number from memory on his bedside phone. He liked having Rhea in his bedroom, using his things. It was just like old times. Rhea reached out and took the cigarette from his hand as she listened to the phone ringing at the other end, and managed two quick jerky puffs before someone answered her.

  “This is Mayor Frazier. And if this call turns out to be not one hundred and one percent necessary, your ass is grass. Talk to me.”

  And then she stopped and listened. The bleeper cut off. Ash tried to read her face as the silence lengthened, but she seemed perfectly calm and composed. It was her professional, political face. He took his cigarette back from her, and she didn’t notice at all. She grunted and mumbled a few times, her eyes far away, and finally asked in a perfectly calm voice how bad it was. She listened and then nodded slowly, as though that was the answer she’d been expecting.

  “All right, I’ll come straight in. Call in the rest of the Council, and keep them together till I can get there. Keep trying to contact Sheriff Erikson, and send someone into the Gallery of Bone to hammer on Time’s door. He can’t just abandon us like this.” She put down the receiver with barely contained violence and looked at Ash. “The shit has just hit the fan. Shadows Fall is under attack by an unknown but extremely powerful force. The whole town. Whoever our enemy is, they have what appears to be an entire army at their disposal, and a bloody well-trained one, at that. They’ve already taken control of several key positions, and are trying to disrupt our communications network. They’re shelling some parts of the town. Tanks, trucks and helicopters are entering the town from all directions, without opposition. Our defences have collapsed. No one knows why.

  “My people are panicking. Time won’t talk to them. He’s closed the Forever Door and isolated the town. No one can get out, though the invaders are having no trouble coming in. Our good Sheriff is not in his office, and none of his Deputies know where he is. Probably off drinking somewhere. I’ve got to get back, Leonard. The invaders are just sweeping our people aside. There must be something I can do to get our forces organized…”

  “I’m coming with you,” said Ash. “I
haven’t found you after all this time just to lose you again. Besides, you might need someone to watch your back.”

  Rhea nodded quickly, and swung her legs out of bed. She and Ash got dressed with desperate speed, hauling clothes into place by brute force. Rhea finished first, and hurried out of the door and down the stairs. Martha Ash was waiting at the bottom. Rhea stopped before her, suddenly aware of her dishevelled appearance, and what Leonard’s mother must be feeling, but Martha just smiled warmly.

  “I’m glad you’re back together, dear. He needs you.”

  “Yes. I think so too. But we have to be going. Something important’s come up, back in town.” She hesitated, and then continued. “Martha, I think it would be best if you and Thomas were to stay indoors for a while. Don’t answer the door to anyone, and stay away from the windows. It’s just a precaution.” She broke off as Ash came clattering down the stairs, still doing up his shirt buttons. “Move it, Leonard, or I’ll leave you behind. I’ll see you again, Martha. ‘Bye.”

  She pecked Martha on the cheek, and then hurried down the hall and out of the front door with Ash right behind her. They piled into her car, Rhea behind the wheel, and the motor caught right away, just for a change. She slammed home the gears and had the car down the drive and out on the road before Ash even had time to do up his seatbelt.

  “I know it’s not really necessary in my case,” he said calmly, tugging at the belt to make sure it was secure, “but I like to pretend. It helps me feel more real. Nice car, by the way. A lot better than the old junker you used to drive around in. The Council finally got around to agreeing the money for an official car, did they?”

  “No,” said Rhea, taking a corner tightly and scowling at the road ahead. “I just got tired of waiting, bought a car anyway, and sent them the bill. They’re still arguing about it in committee.”

  Ash smiled, but it didn’t last long. “Who do you think they are? The invaders?”

  “Damned if I know. There’s supposed to be a whole army of them, but that could just be imagination and exaggeration. Most of the reports describing them sounded pretty hysterical. But it doesn’t matter how many of them there are, the town’s shields and defences should still have kept them out. Someone fell asleep at the switch, and once I find out who I’ll have his balls, when this is all over.”

  Ash frowned suddenly, his gaze turning inwards. “Slow down, Rhea. There’s something up ahead, just around the next corner…”

  Rhea hit the brakes automatically, and they rounded the corner with plenty of time to slow down before reaching the road block manned by six soldiers in generic military uniforms. The road block consisted of concrete posts strung together with rolls of barbed wire; quick but efficient. Rhea brought the car smoothly to a halt, but didn’t turn off the engine. The soldiers approached the car, and Rhea realized only then that they were all armed with machine pistols. The soldiers looked young, tough and very professional. Rhea glared at them anyway.

  “Who the hell are you, and what do you think you’re doing, blocking the road? I could have had an accident.”

  “Turn off the engine and get out of the car,” said one of the soldiers. From the way he said it, and from the way the other soldiers reacted to him, he was obviously in charge of the group. “I’m Sergeant Crawford, of the Holy Order of the Warriors of the Cross, the Army of God. This town is now under our protection, and martial law has been declared.”

  “Under protection?” said Rhea, making no move to leave the car. “Who the hell are you protecting us from?”

  “The Warriors who?” said Ash.

  “Get out of the car,” said Crawford flatly. “If you won’t do it voluntarily, I’ll have my men drag you out. Guess which we’d prefer.”

  He opened the door on Rhea’s side. He didn’t look at all like he was kidding. Rhea sniffed, turned off the engine, and got out of the car as though it had been her intention all the time. Ash got out the other side. His feet had barely touched the ground when he was grabbed by two of the soldiers, swung round, and bent over the bonnet of the car with unnecessary force. One Warrior held him down while the other frisked him with professional thoroughness. Rhea glared at Crawford.

  “Are you planning to search me too?”

  “I don’t think that will be necessary. But I will need to inspect your handbag.”

  Rhea sniffed, and thrust it at him. He opened it and turned it upside down over the bonnet. He stirred through the junk with a finger, and then picked out her driving licence. He studied it as she swept her things back into her handbag, and then raised an eyebrow as he checked the name.

  “We’ve struck lucky, boys. This is Mayor Rhea Frazier. She helps run this cesspit of a town. Your name is on my Red list, Mayor Frazier. You know what that means? Well, firstly it means you are to be detained for questioning by my superiors. It also means we can do anything we want to you, as long as we don’t damage you so much you can’t answer questions. They won’t even slap our hands. My superiors really don’t like you at all. Now, I’m sure there are all sorts of unpleasant surprises awaiting an invading army in this town. You’re going to tell us all about them so I can warn my people.”

  “Or?” said Rhea.

  “Or you get to watch us use your friend here as a punchbag. So unless you want to listen to your friend screaming, you’d better be very cooperative, Mayor Frazier.”

  “We’ve got plenty of time,” said one of the other soldiers. “We’re well ahead of schedule. Plenty of time for fun and games. I think we ought to soften her up a bit first, you know? She looks like she could be very cooperative, with a little persuasion.”

  “Don’t touch her,” said Ash.

  The soldier turned with startling speed and slammed a fist into Ash’s gut. The force of the blow bent Ash forward, and his face came down to meet the soldier’s rising knee. Rhea cried out and Crawford grabbed her from behind, pinning her arms to her side. Ash leant back against the bonnet of the car, shaking his head. The soldier grabbed him by the shirtfront with both hands, and slammed him back against the side of the car, again and again. The car rocked under the impact, and Rhea listened sickly to the sound of Ash’s body hitting the car. He never once cried out. The soldier stopped to get his breath, grinning cheerfully.

  “Subtle as ever, Kamen,” said Crawford dryly.

  “He’s alive, isn’t he?” said Kamen. “For the moment, anyway. Why don’t you take madam there and find somewhere comfortable to lie down, and we’ll have a little fun with our new friend here. Oh, and Sergeant; be a gentleman. We don’t want damaged property when it’s our turn.”

  “Trust me,” said Crawford. “See if you can persuade your new friend to make a little noise. Might help persuade our good lady Mayor to be a little more cooperative. More… responsive.”

  Rhea stamped down hard on his foot, and his grip loosened, as much in surprise as pain. She jerked free from Crawford, and started towards Ash, but two of the other soldiers grabbed her before she’d managed more than a few steps. Crawford moved over to stand before her. They were both breathing more heavily, but he was grinning. He grabbed a handful of her blouse and ripped it open.

  “Don’t touch her,” said Ash.

  The soldiers turned and looked at him. There was something new in his voice, something… disturbing. Kamen fell back a step, and Crawford’s hand fell away from Rhea’s blouse. Despite the punishment Ash had taken there was no sign of any blood or bruising on his face. In that moment, without doing or saying anything more, Ash was suddenly frightening. He wrapped himself in what he was, a dead man walking, and showed the soldiers what it meant. Their blood ran cold and they all stumbled back away from him, terror clutching at their hearts. They didn’t bother to raise their guns. They knew it wouldn’t make any difference. They saw death in Ash’s face and heard it in his voice, and none of them could face it.

  Kamen broke first, running into the woods at the side of the road, without once looking back to see if his friends were following. The
y quickly bolted after him, their minds empty of everything but fear and panic. Crawford was crying as he ran, and didn’t know why. Rhea watched them go. The fear had barely touched her, but she’d felt enough of it to know why the soldiers ran. She also knew she’d never feel quite the same about Ash again. But he looked perfectly normal now, the fear just a memory, and she hurried forward to be sure he was unhurt. He waved for her to get in the car.

  “Drive, Rhea. Get us out of here.”

  She nodded, and got behind the wheel. Ash got in beside her, and she had the car round the barricade and down the road while he was still shutting the door. She drove quickly but carefully, mindful of other road blocks, and her knuckles were white where they gripped the wheel.

  “I thought you handled that rather well,” she said finally, trying for her usual professional calm, and not quite making it.

  “It’s easy to be brave when you know nothing can harm you any more,” said Ash. “I was just worried for you.”

  “I’m worried about the town,” said Rhea. “If those bastards are typical of the invaders… We’ve got to get somewhere safe, regroup, make decisions. If there is anywhere safe any more…”

  “Drive,” said Ash. “Just drive.”

  —

  The Warriors of the Cross came howling into Shadows Fall like a pack of wolves maddened by the scent of blood. People ran screaming before them, and the Warriors shot them down as they fled. The soldiers’ orders were to terrorize the town’s inhabitants and render them incapable of resistance, and for a long time they swept on unopposed. Tanks rumbled inexorably through the emptying streets, taking every opportunity to shell buildings with any connection to authority, blowing them to rubble. Flames leapt up behind the invading army, and there was no one left to put them out. Smoke billowed up into the sky, blotting out the sun. The Warriors brought death and destruction to Shadows Fall, and they laughed and joked and sang the praises of the Lord as they headed remorselessly for the centre of the town, and their final objective; the Sarcophagus of Time.