by Scott Peters
But the further they went, the more turned around he became. Soon, he was completely lost. He had no idea where they were.
"Okay stop. Stop for a second," he said.
Kat sank down against a wall.
He rubbed a hand over his face, trying to figure out which way the moon should be if they were going in the right direction. But of course the moon moved across the sky, and who knew how long they'd been walking?
Great. Some plan. Wander all night and never find the workshop because he'd decided he'd be clever and follow some stupid shortcuts. At least she didn't say anything, like how dumb he was. He sure felt it.
"What's that smell?" Kat said. "It reeks around here."
"Does it?" Zet sniffed. "It does, kind of, doesn't it?" Suddenly, he leapt to his feet. "The tannery! We must be near the tannery. We have to be close, then! Come on."
"It's stronger this way," Kat said.
Zet put a hand over his nose. "Phew, that's for sure."
"It stinks like old donkey urine," Kat said, giggling.
"You would know!"
"Would not!" Kat cried.
"Look, I recognize that water well!" Zet said. He pointed to its bucket, outlined in the moonlight. "We're almost there."
A few moments later, they reached it. They stopped in a shadow across the street.
Beside him, Kat studied the Kemet Workshop's locked, barbed gate.
"Creepy," she whispered.
He nodded, and whispered, "Still want to come in?"
Kat eyed him nervously. "Of course I'm coming in."
"Let's try to find a way in at the back of the complex," he said.
They skirted around the bakery, which stood to the right of the Kemet Workshop. He figured he'd find a wall all around the complex. Instead, what he found were dozens of tiny businesses. They'd grown up around the jeweler's complex, like thick bushes around the base of a giant tree. The tiny businesses blocked any passage to the workshop's wall.
Still, Zet stuck close as he made a circuit of the clump of buildings.
There had to be an opening somewhere.
There just had to be a way in!
Chapter Fifteen
Foul Entry
"What's this?" Zet whispered. "Look, I think we found something."
It was a narrow alley filled with refuse. A wooden fence blocked the entrance to the alley. The alley looked like a long one, and he had no doubt it led all the way to the Kemet workshop.
He rattled the fence. Locked. Still, it looked easy to climb. Not that anyone in his right mind would. It was disgusting on the other side. Piled deep with meat bones, eggshells, old paintbrushes, broken tools, and slimy old vegetables. You name it. All decomposing in a mountainous, rotting heap.
"Gross," Kat said.
"Exactly. Do you want to wait?"
"You're going in there?"
"Yep." He looked at her face and grinned. "Guess you're not so heroic now, huh?"
She put her fists on her hips. "I didn't say that."
"Then come on."
Holding his breath, he gave her a leg over. Kat landed in the pile with a loud squelch. She sank into it up to her armpits, and made a noise like she was going to throw up.
"Shh!" he said and hauled himself over the fence after her.
The squishy mess was soft, and he sank deep. He crawled for higher ground, and then buried his nose in one elbow. "Worm boogers! Start walking before I hurl my guts."
"Walking?" she said. "More like crawling."
She was right. They crawled, slipped and slid over and through the reeking pile.
"Just don't look down," he said.
"Ack!" She shook a long piece of vegetable peel from her hand.
"Quiet!" Zet said.
"Sorry," she whispered, and slipped.
He caught her under the arms. The ground offered no footholds and they both went down. Slime oozed. His hand gooshed into who knew what. The stench clogged his nostrils. The pile made goopy noises as he righted himself. His stomach threatened to rebel. He swallowed. It took all his control not to throw up.
Struggling to his feet, he came face to face with a glassy eyeball, staring at him out of a rotting fish head.
"Ugh," he said.
"Help me up," Kat said in a trembling voice.
He pulled her upright. "Come on, let's get up on that roof before I toss my guts."
Her chin wobbled.
"Don't you dare start crying," he warned in a furious whisper.
She swallowed, balling her fists. "This is the dumbest idea you ever had."
"No," he whispered back. "You're coming with me was the dumbest idea I ever had."
They reached where the alley dead-ended at a wall. He gave her a leg up onto the roof above. Of course, she made way too much noise. Couldn't she move more quietly? They'd be killed!
Seconds later, he joined her. The roof spanned two human lengths. Then it ended at an open space.
"Let me go first," he whispered.
She nodded.
Belly down, he started forward. Hopefully he wasn't crawling over Snaggletooth's bedroom. The thought of the scary thug staring at his ceiling, wondering what was making that shuffling noise, set Zet's hair on end.
He reached the roof's opposite edge.
Instantly, he recognized the uncovered area that opened below him. It was the courtyard where he'd met Hui earlier. This was good. He knew where he was now. And the courtyard was deserted. The table where he'd sat with Hui was gone, but he was looking straight at where it had been. All was silent. Empty. No guards in sight.
He breathed a sigh of relief and motioned to Kat.
She crawled forward on hands and knees. Just as she reached the edge, however, her arm bumped a loose piece of tile. It skittered out of reach, too far to catch. Still, Zet lunged out, as if he could draw it back. He watched in horror as it fell to the ground.
The tile landed with a crunch.
Zet yanked her back out of sight.
Wormsnot and beetledung! He was a complete idiot to bring her here! How much more noise did she plan to make?
He lay on his back, unmoving, and she did the same. Together they listened for footsteps. Someone was bound to investigate.
Sure enough, the shuffle of sandals approached and stopped directly below their hiding spot.
Chapter Sixteen
Found
In the dead night air, Kat's fast breathing sounded like bellows. Zet squeezed her arm in warning, hard enough to hurt, and she stopped. He knew she was holding her breath. Any second she'd take a huge inhale. The guard would hear. They'd have to run for it. Back over the garbage pile. They'd never get out on time. The guard could dart out the front door and cut them off at the wooden gate.
Maybe it was Snaggletooth.
Zet's heart slammed in his ears. He stared at the sky and prayed to the gods for the guard to disappear.
Maybe the gods were listening. The footsteps died away down a corridor.
Beside him Kat gasped, like she'd been holding her breath too long.
"Stop it or he'll come back!" he said.
"I have to breathe," she hissed. "By the gods, Zet, this is crazy!"
"Stay here," he said.
"Why? What are you going to do?"
"What I came here to do. I'm going to find Hui."
"It's too dangerous!"
"I didn't climb through all that garbage for nothing."
"We'll be caught." Kat's cheeks looked white with terror in the moonlight.
"Just stay flat. If anyone's going to get caught, it will be me." With that, he swung over the gutter and into the shadows of the courtyard.
Landing on silent feet, he crouched and looked both ways.
The sleeping chambers were to the right. He remembered their location from his visit. Inching slowly along, keeping his back to the wall, he reached the corridor. Zet knew he reeked. If a guard came this way, his smell alone would be enough to raise the alarm. He had to move fast.
The rooms
weren't far now. He could see the dark openings.
Now all he needed was to remember which room belonged to Hui.
He counted the doors. There were a dozen on each side. Had it been the third one down? No, the fourth. Was it, though? He grimaced. He'd just have to pick one.
Aware of the tiniest sounds, he flinched at the sound of his bare feet against the paving stones. Holding his breath, he tiptoed through the third door. A tiny chink of moonlight followed him inside. A bed stood against either wall. The beds were full, the occupants breathing in a steady rhythm.
But something wasn't right.
Then he saw it. Hui's statue of his family god, Bes, was missing.
This wasn't Hui's room.
The boy on the right snorted and his arm went to his nose.
Zet stepped backward, preparing to sprint. The boy turned over and faced the wall. His breathing resumed a steady rhythm.
Back in the corridor, Zet's back prickled. He turned slowly. Someone was seated at the end of the corridor! A huge figure, with his back against the wall. Why didn't the man get up? Why didn't he say something? Zet's legs twitched, longing to flee. The man's head flopped slightly to the right and he let out a great snore.
Moonlight brushed his ugly face, turning it blue-gray.
Snaggletooth.
Cold sweat slid down Zet's ribs.
He had no choice but to try another door. Any tiny movement could wake the guard! He'd have to be smart, and fast. Moving silently, he padded to the next opening. Before entering, he squinted through the darkness and found it. Hui's statue. With a glance at Snaggletooth, he left the hallway and stepped inside.
Now he had a new problem. If he shook Hui awake, his best friend might call out. Or think he was being attacked and struggle. Snaggletooth would be there in two strides.
Zet could feel that big arm around his head, twisting until it disconnected with a sickening crunch.
Sweat prickled on his scalp.
He hadn't thought of this.
He stared at his best friend. They were several feet apart. But what could he do?
Hui solved the problem.
He sat up and stared hard at Zet. The faint light was on Hui's face. His friend looked shocked. He squinted, and Zet knew he had to be completely in shadow, silhouetted against the door. Despite that, Hui got quietly out of bed and crossed the short distance. He grabbed Zet's wrist and yanked him out the door.
With a glance at the sleeping Snaggletooth, Hui dragged him down several corridors in silence before he came to a stop.
"Are you crazy?" Hui whispered into his ear.
Zet nodded. Then he motioned for Hui to follow.
Hui put both hands over his face, as if in agony, but dropped them with a resigned groan and followed.
The boys made it to the courtyard. One after the other, they climbed onto the roof.
"Kat?" Hui whispered, seeing her there. "You, too? You're both mad! And you reek, by the way."
"We were worried!" Kat said.
"It's too dangerous for you to be here."
Chapter Seventeen
Out Of Time
Despite Hui's joking, he looked totally freaked out.
"Move back," he whispered. "Out of sight."
The three of them crawled across the clay tiles, scraping their hands and knees. Some were loose, and made shifting, clinking noises that sounded loud in the silent night. Every sound made Zet cringe. He was reminded of old times back home, but this was no game.
For once, the danger was real.
Hui stopped and Zet banged into him. Despite everything, they grinned at one another. Then Hui made a face and covered his nose.
"I'm serious," Hui said, snorting with laughter, "You guys really reek."
"You think we reek? Try crawling through your garbage pile back there. Don't they ever clean that thing out?"
"Stop joking!" Kat said. "What's going on here, Hui, are you in danger?"
"That's one way of putting it," he said. "Next time I get some dumb idea to become a jeweler's apprentice, pour hot oil on my fingers or something. If there is a next time."
"What's going on? What's Kemet doing in there? Is it Kemet, or someone else?"
Footsteps sounded in the courtyard.
"Shh!" Hui whispered.
They lay there, waiting.
After a long moment, Hui whispered, "The place is full of guards. They patrol all night long. If they find me missing . . ." The words trailed off as he peered through the darkness, as if trying to see below. There was no trace of the joker in Hui now. He seemed genuinely terrified.
"What would they do?" Zet whispered.
"Look, there's going to be a shipment on the first day of the festival. If you want to help, bring medjay. Have the shipment searched."
"A shipment of what? What should I tell the medjay?"
Two sets of footsteps were heading their way.
Hui jolted to his knees. "Shoot. I have to go."
"No," Zet said. "Come with us! Right now. We'll hide you!"
"I'm not going to spend my life hiding out. We have to stop them."
"We will. We'll take you to the medjay right now!"
"And say what? No, we have to catch them at their game. It's the only way. Look, I have to go. I can't make Kemet suspicious of me. If I'm not careful, he'll make me disappear. I know that's what happened to his partner. I heard them talking."
"His partner? You mean the one who left?"
"Yes. I don't think he left. I think they got rid of him. He screwed up, big time, and that's why everything—" Hui broke off as the clank of armed guards approached.
"He's not in his bed," growled a man. Snaggletooth.
"D'you think he's made a run for it?" said the other.
"Take the right corridor." Snaggletooth cracked his knuckles. "If he's here, we'll find him."
Zet's stomach roiled.
"Show yourself, boy!" Snaggletooth called.
Hui bought a tiny moment by creating one of his famous, voice-throwing diversions. He placed his hands around his mouth and made a strange choking noise that sounded like it came from a hall in the distance.
The guards ran off after it.
Hui turned to Zet. "Look at the ball. You'll figure it out!"
"The ivory ball? I did!"
"Then look again!" Hui rolled off the roof and ran.
A moment later, Zet heard the scuffle of footsteps and Hui struggling.
"Caught you!" Snaggletooth growled.
"Let go!" Hui said. "Can't a kid use the bathroom?"
"The bathroom is the other way."
"Well, it's dark. I got lost."
Nudging Kat, Zet said, "Time to get moving."
Her eyes were focused in the direction of the voices, and her face was pale. She nodded slowly, and then dragged her attention away from their friend. "They won't hurt him, will they?"
"Don't worry, he can handle them," Zet whispered. He just hoped it was the truth. All he could do now was leave and try to figure things out before the first day of the festival.
The sight of the refuse pit was even less welcoming the second time around.
"Let's make this fast." He jumped down into it. He wanted out so badly that he stopped trying to be careful about what he touched. He just waded through the garbage. Clearly, Kat felt the same. He glanced over his shoulder to see her propelling herself through, using her hands to scramble along.
Almost there. The gate lay just a few feet up ahead.
And then Kat screamed.
Not a quiet scream, either.
It was like a high-pitched explosion. It tore through the silence. It echoed off the stones. It filled the night sky. It had to have woken every human within shrieking distance, because the effect was instant.
Bodies could be heard slamming out of beds. Doors banged open. Footsteps hammered the ground. People were running to investigate. They'd be here in seconds.
Still, Kat kept screaming. She scrambled backward, fel
l under, and came up again.
Zet grabbed her and shook her hard. "Stop it. STOP IT!"
She choked into silence. Her eyes were wild.
"Move," he told her. "Quick!"
She nodded. Somehow, he got her to the gate and forced her over it. He scrambled after her and landed in a crouch. Looking right, Zet spotted people coming down the street.
"There!" shouted a man who sounded a lot like Snaggletooth. "Down there, by the garbage gate!"
"Run," Zet gasped. "Run or we're dead!"
White-faced, Kat turned and fled. Zet ran after her. He could hear men in close pursuit. Kat rounded a corner, black hair flying. Zet sprinted past her. He pulled her around another corner, and then another. She was starting to gasp.
"Keep going!" he said.
Hauling her forward, they tore through alleys until he was completely lost. Suddenly, in a haze of horror, he saw the bakeshop. They'd made a full circle.
The gated front entryway to Kemet's Workshop gaped open, dark and menacing—like a black hole into the underworld.
Kat put her hands on her knees and bent to catch her breath. She started to sob.
"What are you doing? Don't stop!" he said.
Chapter Eighteen
Demons
Shouts sounded in the distance. Footsteps, getting closer.
"I can't—" Kat gasped, clutching her sides.
"You have to. Come on, you can do it. Run!"
Fastening on to his sister's wrist, Zet hauled her through the darkness. He was breathing hard. The sprint combined with the struggle through the dank garbage pit was taking its toll. Still, he couldn't stop. He had to get them out of there.
"That way." He pounded through the shadows, his lungs on fire.
How long they ran, Zet had no idea.
The moon hung large and yellow over the lower walls of a temple. It glistened in the shallow, rectangular pool of water that stretched before the temple doors. They skirted around the dark, holy water. Everyone knew the temple pools were doorways into the underworld. He glanced into it, and saw shadows moving in its depths.
"Keep going," he told Kat, spooked.