Revisionary
Page 34
“Well,” I said slowly, “we should probably get you a mask.”
“No capes,” added Nidhi.
“You’ll want to switch weapons. You’re not exactly unknown, and there aren’t many dryads running around with wooden swords.”
“I’ll get you cards with information about rape crisis hotlines,” said Nidhi. “People sometimes change their minds about talking a day or two after the assault.”
“What if we got you a light saber?” I asked. “A green one, naturally.”
“Have you thought of a name?”
Lena pulled away from us both. “You’re not angry?”
Nidhi smiled. “I get to bed a superhero. What I’m feeling is not anger.”
“I trust you,” I said. “We both do. You could have killed Franklin, but you didn’t. As the administrator of this facility, I can’t officially acknowledge or condone what you’re doing. As your lover, I’m nothing but proud.”
“Thank you.” She kissed us both.
“Uncle Isaac!” Lex, Toby, and Angie had emerged from the Metrodora Tower. Lex was running toward me.
“I may have let them know you were back,” Lena whispered.
“Thanks.” I grinned and hugged Lex. “I take it the follow-up check went well? Look how fast you can run! Are you sure we didn’t accidentally give you bionic legs?”
“Dad says we can’t stay here forever,” she pouted.
“You’re welcome to stay a while, but your parents have friends and family and work back home, and what about you? You’ve got school to catch up on, and friends to see, right?”
“I have friends here, too,” she protested. “One of them made me this tiara. She pulled it out of her cellphone!”
That would be Jeneta. Given all they had been through, they were one of the first families I’d invited to join us. Only Jeneta and her father had accepted so far.
Toby clapped me on the shoulder. “I half expected them to throw you in jail and toss away the key.”
“I’m sure they’ll try.”
“My brother, declaring independence from the world.” He shook his head. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
“Is he ever?” asked Lena.
“You have no idea.” I rubbed my forehead, thinking of the various reports and emails waiting on my desk. “I’ve got three different proposals for starting a school. The vampires are negotiating with local cattle farmers for a steady blood supply. Vegas jacked up water and sewage prices. My research team is squabbling over office space again. Now that I’ve kicked out most of the DHS and NIH folks, we need to completely revamp our oversight process. Then there’s negotiating with different countries about setting up additional New Millennium sites around the world. I’m tempted to drop Smudge on top of the paperwork and let him deal with it.”
Lex tugged her mother’s hand. “Can I go play tag with the werewolves?”
Angie paled. Toby winced. They both looked at me.
“She’ll be fine,” I assured them. “Those two are from the pack in the U.P. They know me, and they know what will happen if they hurt anyone. Especially my niece. They’ll be as gentle with her as they would a newborn pup.”
“Thanks!” Lex took off before her parents could speak. Toby and Angie both started running after her.
“Have fun,” I yelled.
Toby turned long enough to shout, “Mom and Dad said to call them!”
“I will!”
I wished they could stay longer, but we needed the room. The Metrodora Medical Tower was ninety percent full, with more patients arriving daily. I had a team poring through our catalogs, searching for the most efficient healing magic and technologies for the influx of disease and injury. We only accepted patients who couldn’t be helped by mundane medicine, but their numbers were in the millions.
It was overwhelming, but we’d figure it out. This was magic, after all. The possibilities were limitless.
My name is Isaac Vainio. Until a week ago, I was the Director of Research for New Millennium.
Johannes Gutenberg never believed humanity could accept magic and those of us who use it. He feared humanity would use magic as a weapon of war. That you would work to enslave or destroy us. Looking at the events of the past few months, I can hear his “I told you so” as if he were standing right beside me.
Gutenberg was right. He was also wrong.
One year ago, I wrote a letter to the world, a revelation of magic. Today, I write a declaration.
We’ve been here for millennia. We’re not your enemies. We’re your friends and family. Your neighbors, whether you knew we were there or not. And we’re not going anywhere.
It’s going to take time for the world to adjust. Change is confusing and frightening and at times violent. This isn’t going to be pretty, folks. But we’re not here to get in the middle of a war.
I’m declaring New Millennium a place of peace, a home and refuge for those of us who need one. Anyone with magic is welcome here, so long as you harm no one. We’ve also opened up our medical facilities to anyone in need. Don’t worry about cost or transportation. Contact us with your situation, and we’ll do what we can to help.
There’s no such thing as a utopia. The world has problems, and so will we. To that end, we will work with the world to help you bring magical criminals to justice. New Millennium will not be a haven for any who want death or violence.
This is our home. I intend to make it a place of hope. A place you can bring your loved ones for medical treatment. A place where we can look forward, where we can show you exactly how awesome magic can be.
New Millennium can’t stop your wars. What we can do is set our sights higher. We mean to build a path to the stars, and to the future.
I hope you’ll join us.
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Table of Contents
Also By Jim C. Hines
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Title Page
Author’s Note
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Bibliography