Akropolis

by Catherine McCallum

  The curtains were open and they could see into the room. No one was inside. The rock was on a bedside table. The window was ajar and they could hear the murmur of raised voices from the adjoining room. They leaned closer.

  “You think the rock will save you. It won’t.”

  “It will give me more time.”

  “Why don’t you finish the job? You’re afraid. Or is there another reason?”

  The words were a sneer.

  “You know my reasons.”

  “You can’t be in two timespaces at once. You’ll be found.”

  “I’ll be free.”

  “If I found you, others will. It it weren’t for your mother, I’d kill you now.”

  Nat recognised one of the voices as Rick’s. The other he couldn’t identify but something about the word found, the way it was spoken, sounded familiar.

  Sabine whispered, “Let’s get the rock and get out of here.”

  Nat said softly, “Can you get inside if I open the window a bit more?”

  “I can squeeze through. Wait here and be ready to go!”

  Sabine lay face down along the window ledge and slowly eased herself under the sash. Once inside she straightened up and paused to get her bearings. The voices became louder.

  “Hurry!” Nat urged. “I think someone’s coming!”

  Sabine quickly scampered to the table, picked up the rock and ran back to the window. She passed the rock to Nat and squeezing herself into the gap began to work her way outside. She was almost there when two men entered the room, their features in dark shadow against the light.

  ‘I think I’m stuck!” she hissed urgently.

  Nat grabbed the window and heaved it up. Sabine jumped free and together they started in haste down the fire escape. The men rushed to the window and shouted at them. Nat knew it would take them a minute or two to reach the street. Long enough to get away, he thought.

  He made the bottom step and dropped onto the crate with a loud crashing sound. Sabine leaped onto his shoulder and held tight as Nat ran towards the dark end of the street, in the opposite direction from where they’d come and into the enveloping fog.

  The street ended unexpectedly at a wide railroad track, bringing them to a sudden halt. They turned north along the railroad for a few minutes before scrambling up the bank and crossing the tracks to the other side. The fog was drifting, starting to clear. Once down the opposite bank they made out an open area, and beyond it trees and rocky outcrops and the river foreshore.

  They were in a park.

  Nat waited until his breathing slowed and he could speak. “We’ll be safe here for a while. Okay with you?”

  “Fine with me,” said Sabine, “I’m aching all over.”

  Nat looked at her. “I thought you wouldn’t make it out of there.”

  “Yeah. Well. I’m here.”

  “Will Bruno and Rosa be looking for you?”

  “They know I’ll return. I’ll be back home tomorrow.”

  They walked across the grass and found shelter in a thicket. Nat checked that the rock was safe. He removed his coat and threw it over them both. “This will keep us warm for the night.”

  They lay down in the undergrowth and within minutes Nat was asleep. Sabine fussed with the coat arrangement until she finally settled beside him with a sigh and closed her eyes until morning.

  24

  Northern Japan, 1937

  Yoshiki was dead.

  He died a few days after Seb and Demokritos left the cottage. Norika had known these days together would be their last and she was bereft. Yoshiki had brought her up after her parents died and she had never loved anyone more.

  Now she sat on the deck looking out over the river, recalling his voice telling his story as she listened attentively. “Survival creates bonds, Norika,” Yoshiki would say after describing his escape from the earthquake. “So it was with my father and myself.”

  So it was with us, Yoshiki, she whispered now.

  He lay buried on a quiet hill overlooking the river. Norika sighed, locked up the cottage and left, knowing it would be watched over until her return. She was sadder, stronger, and more focused. And she knew more.

  Her report to the Committee would be brief.

  The Committee had known of Yoshiki’s death, of course‌—‌news of such gravity spread quickly. His memory would be honoured. But Norika was coldly aware the new Committee would choose its own heroes.

  She wondered how they would react to her disregard of procedures. Her decision to remain at Halston Hall when Nat entered the portal had compromised the journey. If it hadn’t been for Sabine, he would have been in far greater danger.

  She would be required to give reasons, to explain. She thought of Seb. By now the Committee would know of their relationship and there would be further questions. Fair enough, she thought. But she doubted she would be let off so easily.

  She took a breath and walked towards the portal on the bank of the river.

  * * *

  NGC-1097, from the Dome

  Norika looked up. The dome had become transparent and she saw the stars of a different sky for the first time. Yoshiki had prepared her for this interrogation during his last days. Nike will be hard on you.

  She had been anticipating a rebuke and she was ready.

  Nike was blunt. “You appear to have changed your mind about Rick. Are you always so unreliable?”

  Norika flushed. “Rick was never the one to fear,” she said. “I know that now.”

  “You were there in St Annes when he tried to steal the rock, and he almost succeeded in New York. Why do you trust him?”

  Norika had regained her composure. “He has given me reason to trust him,” she replied. She would provide no more detail than required. “Rick has made mistakes but murder is not one of them. He wanted the rock for protection.”

  Nike was silent. “You’re right,” she said finally. “Rick is not a threat.”

  Norika frowned. Was this some kind of test? Had she passed?

  “What happened at Halston Hall?”

  “Nat and I thought Rick had shot Finn, we thought he was trying to kill us at the summerhouse. But it was someone else.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I looked up as Rick raised the gun and realised he was aiming behind us, over our heads, at someone through the other window.”

  “Who was he firing at?” said Nike.

  “I kept down and heard the glass shatter. By the time I stood, whoever it was outside had escaped. The summerhouse was a portal, Nat had already gone. Rick and I took off to the woods to avoid guests who would have heard the gunshot.” Norika hesitated. “Rick said he fired to miss. I think he was protecting someone.”

  Nike changed her tone. “There is something else.”

  Norika tensed. She knew what was coming.

  “Demokritos has told us of your relationship with Sebastian.”

  “What of it?” Norika said coldly.

  “This is unwise of you. It must end. Sebastian has a different future.”

  “Seb will choose his own future.”

  A long silence.

  “Is that all?” said Norika.

  * * *

  New York City, 1911

  In the park, Nat woke to a dull, wintry day. The fog had lifted and he lay quietly, recalling events of the previous night and thinking of his next move. After a while Sabine snorted and woke with a start beside him.

  “What did you say?” she said.

  “Nothing,” Nat said. “You were snoring.”

  “Are you kidding? I don’t snore! You should get your hearing fixed.” She jumped up and peered out through the shrub. “Where are we?”

  Nat joined her. Across the railroad tracks, people were going about their daily work. Horse-drawn carts loaded with goods clattered in both directions along a crowded road. It was a busy commercial area. “We should keep moving,” he said. He flung on his coat and pack.

  “Let’s go then,” sa
id Sabine, scampering up to his shoulder.

  They headed towards the tracks, leaving the park behind them. Within minutes they were in the streets of the city.

  “Don’t go back the way we came,” Sabine said, “those guys might be waiting.” She leaned over to look in his face. “What if they’ve changed into vampires or something? Have you seen Dracula?”

  “No. You’re too impressionable.”

  She ignored his comment. “Too bad. Good movie. Béla Lugosi was amazing.”

  “I’ve been thinking about the map segment we need to find,” said Nat. Sabine’s climbing skills had given him an idea. “Can you climb to the top of the Statue of Liberty?”

  Sabine snorted. “Climb to the top? Are you crazy? Have you seen how high that statue is? Anyway, I’d probably get shot going up. Remember King Kong?”

  “He was a gorilla.”

  “Same difference. Anyway, can’t do it. My life’s too valuable.”

  “Oh really?”

  She tapped his head gently. “Lighten up.”

  They kept walking until they came to a busy square where Nat bought fruit and pastrami on rye from kerbside stalls. Trolley cars trundled past them, full of workers and shoppers.

  Nat stopped suddenly, hardly believing his eyes. Seated in one of the trolley cars was Norika. Her long dark hair, the tilt of her head‌—‌it was only a glimpse but it was her, he was sure of it. She was looking out the window, looking for something, or someone. Is it me, he thought. Had she seen him? He started running along the sidewalk beside the trolley car, pushing aside those in his path, calling her name. On his shoulder Sabine clung to his coat collar like a jockey, bouncing lightly as he ran.

  Norika turned at his voice, searching the crowd. As the trolley car came to a stop further along the street, she caught sight of him and pushed her way to the door.

  Among the rush of people disembarking from the car he lost sight of her, and in his panic ran straight into her.

  He grasped her shoulders. “What are you doing here?” he said, catching his breath and rushing his words. His joy at seeing her quickly gave way to irritation. How could she be here? Did she have any idea how worried he’d been by her absence?

  Silent and awkward, they faced each other in the passing crowd. She thought he seemed younger, until she realised it was she who’d changed, that time and events had intervened. She would tell him about Yoshiki, she decided, but not about Seb. She couldn’t let him know the truth, not yet.

  Sabine was beaming. She reached down and Norika took her hand.

  Norika said, “Sabine, I knew you’d help him.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Sabine tapped Nat’s head. “He’s okay now you’re here.”

  “Rick said you’d both be here this morning,” said Norika.

  “Rick?” said Nat, “Last time I saw him he shot at us. What happened?”

  As they walked, Norika filled him in, telling him about Rick at the summerhouse, about her report to the Committee, about everything except Yoshiki’s death and her meeting with Seb.

  Nat stopped walking. Sabine scampered from his shoulder to stretch her legs.

  Norika waited a moment. “What?” she said quietly.

  He turned to face her. “I thought we were supposed to trust each other, but I’m learning things about you I should have known before. You’re a Descendant, you report to the Committee. What else?” He was trying to control the edge in his voice. “You’ve changed. So have I. You just haven’t noticed. No big deal.”

  “Nat, I’ve been at the cottage.” Her voice caught. “Yoshiki…‌I was with him when he died.”

  Nat stood staring at her in shock. Yoshiki dead? It was impossible. He had thought Yoshiki beyond the ailments that struck others. He couldn’t speak. All he could do was reach out and draw her close.

  After a moment she pulled back to look at him. “Yoshiki trusted us to complete the journey. The reasons haven’t changed.”

  “No. But we have.” A faultline had grown between them. The possibility Norika might not share his future was a thought Nat pushed from his mind. “Okay,” he said. “Tomorrow we find the map segment.”

  Sabine had been listening quietly to their talk. She was finished here, and she was missing Bruno and Rosa.

  “So,” she said, “back home?”

  Later that afternoon they parted company with Sabine on the street below Bruno and Rosa’s flat. Sabine gave Nat a quick tap on the head before she jumped down from his shoulder and scampered back up the steps.

  They watched her disappear inside. Nat walked quickly to the corner, where he stood waiting for Norika. She came up behind him. “You’ll meet her again,” she said gently.

  Nat brushed aside the comment with a gesture and cleared his throat. “It’s too late in the day for the ferry to Liberty Island. We’ll head for the Statue of Liberty tomorrow.”

  “Before then we can get some food and some sleep,” Norika said, “a few hours would do.”

  Nat groaned. “I’m not going to spend the night in a park again.”

  “I know somewhere,” said Norika. “Yoshiki gave me directions.”

  They headed at an easy pace down Vesey Street towards the markets, talking and catching up. Nat told her what had happened to him since he left Halston Hall, and for the first time in days he started to relax.

  The markets ran down to the waterfront in a shamble of crowded streets. Produce from all over America was displayed in rows of stalls along back laneways‌—‌enough poultry, livestock, game, fruit and vegetables to satisfy the appetites of the growing city. In the streets bounding the markets, all kinds of carts and barrows collected goods for distribution in a constant clatter of activity. The food stalls, with their exotic aromas and strange delicacies, reminded Nat he was hungry.

  They sat on the waterfront with dumplings and soft drink. “This must be one of the first Cokes in existence!” Nat said, taking a swig from a glass bottle. “This bottle’s staying with me. My dad won’t believe it!”

  Norika led them through the docklands to a long wharf. She scanned it, looking for someone, then walked to the end of the dock where a man and a boy were unloading vegetables from an old Chinese junk.

  “Li Piao?”

  The man looked up from his work, surprised.

  She smiled at him. “Yoshiki said I’d find you here. This is Nathaniel.”

  Li Piao straightened to greet them. “Norika! You were a child when we last met. But haven’t I seen you at the Academy since then?”

  Norika frowned. “What Academy?”

  Li Piao glanced at Nat. “I must be mistaken,” he said pleasantly.

  “Yoshiki said you spend most of your time here now,” Norika said.

  “I spend nearly all my time here!” said Li Piao. “What a timespace.” He looked with curiosity at Nat. “How do you find New York, Nathaniel?”

  “It’s the most exciting city I’ve seen,” Nat said, and grinned, “but then I haven’t seen many cities.”

  Li Piao laughed. “I’d say you’re from a small village somewhere, like mine.”

  “Something like that.”

  Norika said, “We need somewhere to sleep tonight. Can you help us?”

  “You can sleep on the junk, there are spare bunks. My son Chang will show you,” Li Piao said. His voice dropped. “I heard about your grandfather. Yoshiki helped me many times. Without his guidance Nike will leave, and the new Committee will move quickly to install a new leader.”

  “What could happen?” Nat asked.

  Li Piao shrugged. “Many Descendants will be seen as weak, unable or unwilling to resist the growing dominance of Ascendants. Our divisions will become greater. Descendants have adapted to Earth’s conditions, we are content. Ascendants want to revive their own science. We need to prepare for difficult times.” He turned to Norika. “I know you will continue to support our cause, as your grandfather would have wished.”

  Norika said quickly, “I’m not an activist, Piao.”
>
  Nat glanced at her and she flushed.

  Darkness was falling. After a few moments’ silence Li Piao turned to say a few words to his son on the junk before resuming his work.

  Chang indicated to them to follow him on board. He led them below deck where several wooden bunks lined the sides of the junk. They dropped their packs beside the two nearest, took one each and lay in silence until they fell into a restless sleep with the waters of New York Harbor softly lapping outside.

  25

  Nat had woken at first light and was sitting on the wharf looking across the harbour. He watched as the harbour became busy with traffic, the wash from the boats loud against the pylons. Li Piao and Chang were loading supplies on to the junk. Nat wondered where they were going from here.

  Norika was on his mind. She had failed to assure Li Piao of her support. Why? What had Li Piao meant about the Academy? The faultline. His face hardened. He could no longer expect Norika to confide in him. He had assumed they were close friends when he had no right.

  By the time Norika joined him on the wharf, still sleepy, Nat was resigned to her indifference. She sat beside him without speaking, her expression unreadable, and he resisted the impulse to reach out to her. At a time when she had most disappointed him, he found himself wanting to comfort her.

  They had planned to set out for the Statue of Liberty by early morning. As they left, Li Piao said in a low voice, “Take care, Nat. Descendants are not always as we seem.”

  “No one is,” Nat replied. But he thanked Li Piao with a brief nod.

  They walked to the Battery to take the ferry to Liberty Island and within an hour of boarding were standing near the foot of the statue. Another time they would have gazed up in awe. Instead they viewed the statue with dismay. Any hope they held of climbing it would have to be abandoned. The section of Liberty’s crown shown in the diagram was clearly inaccessible, either from inside the statue or by scaling the outside.

  They turned away and sat on a nearby grassy area to discuss what they should do next. “There must be a way to reach the crown,” said Norika. “We can’t leave without finding the next map segment.”