by Mark Lingane
People shifted as they recollected the past few nights in their collective selective memory.
“I didn’t lead them,” Sebastian protested. “I wasn’t even meant to …” He glanced over the crowd. They were all glaring at him, their eyes full of distrust. He heard the word “outsider” whispered.
Without warning, the crowd surged forward. Hands reached toward him. Behind him, Memphis screamed. The men jostled each other as they tried to reach Memphis and Sebastian. Sebastian pushed her behind him, but the men were gaining momentum. They were chanting to the Peacemaker and pressing in from all sides.
“Take these traitors to the cells,” the Peacemaker shouted to his men.
The armed troops moved quickly. Within seconds, the plainsmen had been subdued, and Sebastian and Memphis were taken away and flung into cells. They could still hear cheers from the baying crowd.
Outside, a few men patted each other on the back. Their hats were pulled low to disguise themselves and their duplicitous intent. They slowly dispersed, apart from one or two who stayed to gloat over throwing the traitors into the cells.
The Peacemaker rolled into the cellblock, rocking the wheels over the uneven stone surface.
“I warned you,” he said to Sebastian and Memphis. “You had your chance to flee. Now you’ll suffer. What a glorious day. The pieces are sliding together.”
Sebastian felt that the Peacemaker was speaking only partially to him. The man seemed unfocused, as though he was cracking. His voice was filled with a manic energy, and he became shrill. He rammed his wheelchair into the cell bars, making them jump back. A deranged glare cut through his eyeglasses.
“The Forty-ninth Division, where are they? Tell me,” he shouted.
“Where is a whole army? I don’t know if I can answer that,” Sebastian said.
“You, tesla, were with them. I know this. Where is their leader?”
“How do you …” Realization dawned on Sebastian’s face. “You have contacts. You don’t know where the commander of the Forty-ninth is, but you know I was with him. You have an inside source. No, that wouldn’t work or you’d know more. I get it. You’re talking with the Chargers.”
“Just in case you haven’t noticed, you’re in a cell. That makes you a prisoner.”
“You just can’t lock us up. We haven’t done anything.”
“Treason,” he hissed. “These are my lands, my word is law.”
“Really? I thought you were all ‘I’m here to help’ and ‘Let’s all get along together.’ Here, away from the eyes of the public, your truth reveals itself.”
“Shut up. Shut up.” The Peacemaker calmed himself. “Tell me where the Forty-ninth is.”
There was a pause before Sebastian responded. “You just said to shut up.”
“I see you’re easily confused. None of this has to end badly. I’ll give you another chance to understand. The Forty-ninth Division needs me. Without me, they’ll fall, be completely wiped out by their own pride.”
“They seemed reluctant to ask for your help. When we last saw them they were heading north … away … just heading away. I’m not sure what their destination was.”
“North? Are they mustering the northern armies?”
“Uh, no, I doubt it.”
“You lie poorly, boy.”
“It’s not a lie. Promise. They’re scattered. Some might’ve gone north, some south, and some east. That’s all I know.”
The Peacemaker smiled. “You’ve given me enough information. I’ll obstruct their plans. I have no idea what the Master sees in you. Your efforts have been pitiful.”
He rolled away, chuckling to himself. The guards stood to attention as he passed, and resumed and started to patrol the cellblock.
Sebastian walked to the rear wall, sat down beside Memphis on the long bench, and leaned back against the stone wall.
“Is that something you shouldn’t have told him?” Memphis asked. “Where the Forty-ninth went?”
“Probably.”
“I’ve noticed that since I met you, I’ve spent a lot of time being shot at, sitting in cells, and running for my life.”
“Yeah, well, welcome to my life. It’s always been like that for me.”
Memphis got up and walked over to the front of the cell. She stroked her hand over the lock, then knelt down and examined it closely. “This is magnetic, like back at the Chargers’ outfit. Can’t you do what you did there?”
“No, I’ve been …” He sighed. “I can’t.”
“Why—”
There was a sudden commotion among the guards. One of the plainsmen, obviously the worse for wear, had got inside the cellblock, and was pushing a guard and abusing him loudly. The language was offensive, as was the surprise move that followed. The guard was pinned to the wall, choking on the beer fumes, and an expert right hook came in and knocked him to the ground.
The plainsman staggered over to their cell, taking two steps forward and one back. He bounced off the cell bars, gave them a kick, then jumped back and ripped off his hat.
“Will!” Sebastian said.
56
SEBASTIAN AND MEMPHIS were stunned.
“What are you doing here?” Sebastian said. “I thought I’d never evereverever say this, but am I glad to see you.”
“The news spread. Brad sent us to keep an eye on you. We’ve been working out the connections and the deals the Peacemaker’s been leading, and it’s been interesting. Tyler has been totally useful.”
“What’s happening out there?”
“It’s getting pretty bad. The infected are spreading everywhere. Even the Chargers are finding places to hide, along with us. It’s meant we’ve been able to learn plenty of pretty heavy-duty info. We’ve got a strong hold in the north.”
Will glanced at Memphis. “Nice boots, babe. You got a dress that goes with them?”
“Shut up,” she said. “Geez, you smell bad.”
“Got to blend in, babe.”
“My name is Memphis.”
He returned his attention to Sebastian. “That attempt at a rousing speech was pretty lame.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry. It didn’t sound like that in my head,” Sebastian said.
“You know the crowd’s still out there. I was listening to them this morning. They don’t fully trust the Peacemaker, especially the early people who joined. You should talk to them again.”
“But what good will that do? As soon as the Peacemaker opens his mouth, people believe him.”
“Yeah, well, you could be a total lame loser and give up, or you could have another go. But maybe think about what you say before you open your mouth next time.” Will gave himself a philosophical scratch, to the further disgust of Memphis, and glanced down the corridor.
“How do we get out?” Sebastian said.
“Search me. I’ve never been caught, so I’ve never had to escape from anywhere,” Will said.
“He’s nearly as useful as an escape expert as you are a bodyguard,” Memphis observed.
“I think your girlfriend fancies me,” Will said.
“Shut up, you idiot,” Memphis said.
Will winked at Memphis. “Where there’s fire, there’s smoke.”
She sighed. “I’m not sure I want to escape if there are people like him in the world.”
“See, Sebastian?” said Will. “She can’t trust herself.”
“That’s it,” she said. “Let me at him. I’ll wring his neck.”
Will laughed. “Any excuse for physical contact.”
She lunged at him through the bars, but he quickly stepped out of reach of her clawing fingers.
“Stop it, you two,” Sebastian snapped. “How do we get out, Will?”
“If you can find my pack,” Memphis said to Will, “I’ve got a microexplosive that’ll do the job.”
“I’ll be right back.” Will ran down the corridor, and then ran back. “Where it is? Like, where was the last place you saw it?”
“I really have
no words to describe how much I loathe you,” Memphis said.
“Quick, I need directions.”
“Is there some kind of storeroom you passed on the way down here? Huh!”
“Attitude, babe. Bad vibes make you ugly.”
He turned and ran back down the corridor. Memphis turned, crossed her arms, and glared at Sebastian.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he said.
“You didn’t exactly jump to my defense.”
“I didn’t think you needed it.”
“You can tell me that bad vibes don’t make me ugly, and that I’m infinitely beautiful and totally hot.”
Sebastian laughed.
“What’s funny?”
“You sounded like Melanie.”
“Oh, your dead girlfriend.”
“That’s not very nice.” He folded his arms. “And she wasn’t my girlfriend,” he muttered.
There was another thump from the corridor. “Sorry I took so long. I met another guard. We’d better move.” He started to open the pack.
“Don’t you dare look in there,” Memphis hissed.
“It’s not going to fit through the bars.”
“Just open it and hold it near.” She reached through the bars and groped around inside the pack. She extracted a tiny tube no thicker than her smallest finger and shoved it in the lock. She depressed the end, ran back to the rear wall and shoved her fingers in her ears. “You guys might want to stand back.”
The explosive flared with intense white light. The corridor filled with a dense black smoke. The cell door creaked open. A charred Will stepped out of the smoke, coughing and spluttering. He waved at them to follow.
When they got to the entrance, Will stopped. They heard voices up ahead. “We’re not going to get out that way.”
“I’ve got to get my pack and my sword,” Sebastian said.
“We need a distraction.” Will looked at Memphis. “You got another one of those explosives, babe?”
“It’s Memph—yeah, why?”
“I’ll throw it down past the guards.”
“I’ll throw it,” she snapped.
Will laughed. “I’ve seen girls throw. Or not, as is the case.”
She squinted at him, and then kicked him in the shins. She took out a microexplosive, crept forward, and threw it down the corridor. It bounced toward the guards and stopped just past their feet. Smoke billowed up, and Memphis ran down into the billowing dark clouds.
While Sebastian and Will were trying to shield themselves from the dust and debris, Memphis emerged out of the smoke, coughing, with Sebastian’s pack and sword.
“That’s not how I would’ve done it,” Will said, “but it’s done now. Let’s go.”
“Where? The guards are blocking the way out,” Sebastian said.
“We’ll have to go up through the citadel. How hard can it be?”
They quietly crept through the corridors, arguing as they frequently turned down the wrong one into a dead end.
“How am I supposed to know the way?” Will hissed. “Are you going to do that thing about men never asking for directions? Because I’d like to point out that, under the circumstances, babe, it’s going to be counterproductive.”
“Personally, I’m not convinced you know what any of those words mean.”
“Shh, the guards are coming,” Sebastian whispered, reaching for his sword.
Memphis pulled them into another corridor as four guards ran past to investigate the explosion. “It’ll be quicker if we don’t engage them,” Memphis whispered, putting her hand on his arm.
Turn by turn, they made their way through the rooms and corridors, surprised at the emptiness that lay within.
“What did you tell the Peacemaker?” Will said.
“Well, he worked out, using cunning questioning, that the Forty-ninth is heading north,” Sebastian replied.
“So you didn’t tell him about Brad and Tyler heading to Paradise?”
“Isn’t that more of a concept than a place?”
“Paradise is a chemical weapons plant,” Will said. “They do cool cutting-edge stuff. They’ve already developed some pretty extreme flamethrowers. The chemicals are bad, but it seems to keep the infected at bay. They might even find a cure for that infection of yours,” Will said.
“Speaking of chemical plants, would you mind not standing so close to me. Or at least get downwind.” Memphis held her nose and fanned his fumes away.
“Do you find yourself strangely allured to the aroma?”
“No. It makes me want to vomit. And here’s a bit of advice from a woman’s perspective— that’s not the result you’re after.”
“Downwind,” Sebastian repeated. He clicked his fingers. “The plants in the Peacemaker’s chamber were swaying in the breeze, but there was no wind.”
“What are you talking about?” Memphis said.
“Something strange is going on in this place. I can feel a strong electromagnetic field. It’s the first one I’ve found since I landed in this country.” He paused and glanced over at the others. “It’s hard to explain, but it feels like home. I need to find out more.”
“Shouldn’t be too hard,” Will said. He jabbed his finger in the air and indicated for the other two to be quiet.
Through the thin walls, they could hear the Peacemaker’s voice. They crept closer and listened carefully through the wall.
The Peacemaker sat behind his desk. He now had the killing piece in his great chess battle with the Master. He rubbed his hands together gleefully. The communicator buzzed into life and he pressed the onscreen image.
“You have a nerve calling me,” the Master intoned.
“I have every right to call you. I have the tesla and your girl. Both are locked away in my cells.”
“His girl?” Sebastian whispered as he glanced over at Memphis.
“He was being figurative,” she replied.
“I see you’ve been working your usual dark magic,” the Master said. “You ring for what reason, to boast?”
“To deal. They’re of no use to me.”
“I have no interest in them.”
“That will help. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to kill them or not. If they’re no use to you or me, I might as well kill them. They’re not smart enough to be entertaining.”
The Master paused. “It would be unfortunate to let the girl die. What do you want?”
“I want all the work that Niels did.”
“Niels knows it all, why does he … unless you don’t have him. Now, that would be a turn-up for the books.”
“You can believe whatever you want, but the truth remains,” the Peacemaker said. “Acacia is here—not with you, but with me. And I will heal her.”
Memphis gasped, and instantly slapped her hand over her mouth. Everyone held their breath.
The Master finally spoke. “You’re not in as a strong a position as you think, especially if you don’t have Niels.”
“I have all the cards. You have nothing. You want your little trinkets for whatever reason, then you know what you have to do.” He disconnected the call and sat back, pleased with himself.
“Christopher, search for the most recent town attacked by the Master, then put me through to Mansury in Seattle.”
“The most recent town attacked was Sandleford,” said the soothing voice. “Connecting you to Seattle now.”
The trio ducked, looking around for the source of the soothing voice.
“Mansury is a q-backer with the Seahawks. He’s a legend in the north,” Will whispered.
“What was the gasp for?” Sebastian asked Memphis.
“Acacia, she was like the Master’s eternal love.” Memphis followed the statement with a complicated series of hand movements. “He couldn’t see anyone but her. Why is she here?”
The Peacemaker cleared his throat. “Q-backer Mansury, I’ve had disturbing news about a coup in the Forty-ninth Division.”
“I haven’t heard this,” came
the gruff reply.
“Apparently, Center Williams has, um, eradicated the old q-backer and gone rogue. I hear he’s leading a small team gathering support from the southern divisions. There are whispers he’s made a deal with the Master, and if he secures the northern pipelines, he can control distribution and set up a new political infrastructure.”
“This is unusual.”
“Will you let me know if he comes to you? We’ll need to handle him carefully.”
“I’ll see what he has to say before I make any decision.”
“Let’s all hope he’ll parlez in true fashion and won’t come bearing arms, like he did with Sandleford.”
“Could you repeat that?”
“He attacked Sandleford.”
“I heard the Master—”
“The Master takes credit where he can, whether it has something to do with him or not. You know the Master’s intent on destroying you. He’s been rallying troops. I don’t understand his motives, but I think I can help you.”
“We’ve been allies with the Forty-ninth Division for a long time.”
“And, of course, your alliance shouldn’t fail with the real Forty-ninth. But if the rogue unit comes up, contact me for some unbiased input.”
“As you wish.” The line went dead.
The Peacemaker laughed and clapped his hands.
“Does the guy lie to everyone?” Sebastian hissed.
“He’s a politician.” It was all Will needed to say.
The trio listened. The room on the other side of the wall was acutely still. They were about to enter when the communications unit buzzed. To everyone’s surprise, they heard Brad’s voice.