Bats of the Republic
Page 29
››››››››››ZEKE THOMAS:‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹
My grandmother ordered me to flee. I tried to take the tram out but Daxon got there first. She made it absolutely clear that I need to get out of here and make it to Chicago-Land as soon as possible. I’m not exactly sure of her reasons.
RAISIN DEXTRA
›››› She’s given up on Texas.
ELIZA GRAY
›››› She’s giving you Texas.
››››››››››ZEKE THOMAS:‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹
I have two ears, but I can only hear one thing at a time. If you’re both whispering, I can’t understand anyone.
RAISIN DEXTRA
›››› Who cares?
ELIZA GRAY
›››› Just listen to me.
RAISIN DEXTRA
›››› Listen, she knows everything is about to fall apart. This city-state is doomed. She wants you to get out so you’ll be safe. The Republic of Texas is on the brink. This trouble has been brewing all year. You can feel it in the air.
ELIZA GRAY
›››› You’re supposed to take your spot in the Senate now. The time for waiting is over. She wants you in Chicago-Land so you can be confirmed, so someone can manage what’s happening in Texas. You have to save this place.
››››››››››ZEKE THOMAS:‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹
I don’t know what to do.
RAISIN DEXTRA
›››› Flee with me. We have to get out now. Trying to understand that steammoat pamphlet has convinced me that using this tunnel is the only way out.
ELIZA GRAY
›››› Stay in the tunnel with me. It’s sealed. It’s the safest place until the Senate can send other troops. No one can come in or out of the tunnel.
››››››››››ZEKE THOMAS:‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹
The Auspices are going to open the tunnel?
RAISIN DEXTRA
›››› Yes.
ELIZA GRAY
›››› No.
RAISIN DEXTRA
›››› Spree is coming back in. He’s going to bring all the folks in the storm country into the city-state through the tunnel. They’re going to tear down the barriers from the inside. They say there are more Deserters than Lawmen now. The Republic of Texas is weak. They’ve lost their cannon. We have to flee. We can meet up with the Deserters before they come through the tunnel. We’ll tear the barrier down, like they did in Atlantas.
ELIZA GRAY
›››› They would never compromise the order of the city-state. They are an integral part of its functioning. The last thing they want is to see civilization destroyed. They are the secret keepers of the fount that sustains us all with life-giving alchemy. Why would they opt for death and chaos?
RAISIN DEXTRA
›››› The Nightman has been getting a steady stream of visitors lately. There’s going to be a ton of folks in Spree’s army. It takes two bats to flee, though, and so far everyone has come with a partner. That’s why I’m still down here. I need you.
ELIZA GRAY
›››› They are also the only ones who could manage to get my father out alive. I had to take this robe and pledge myself in order to get them to agree, but I think it’ll be OK. I’ve heard rumors that the Seven Sisters themselves are married, mostly to Senators or Majors. That’s why they keep their faces hidden. They function aboveground as well. To be a sister, I need you. To live.
››››››››››ZEKE THOMAS:‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹
That’s nice to know. But what about Leeya?
RAISIN DEXTRA
›››› I asked her. She said no. I think Eliza told her not to, honestly. But that’s OK. Once the walls come down, she’ll see. And then we’ll be in the free open country. I just need to get out there. I was waiting for you. So far, no one else trusts me enough to flee with me. You put your life on the line when you do that. I don’t know if I trust any of them, either. Folks down here are suspicious of me. That uniform you’re wearing won’t help you flee.
ELIZA GRAY
›››› She’ll be fine down here. Safest place for her. And for her baby. She got initiated too, prepared for the inner alchemy. They teach the recruits how to make their souls walk. And how to make fount-water. It doesn’t simply bubble up from nowhere. Fossil blood requires very special treatment. It is their duty to keep the fount pure. To learn the power of inner alchemy is an honor. It was silly of Leeya to think about fleeing with Raisin.
››››››››››ZEKE THOMAS:‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹
Even with the Nightman’s pamphlet?
RAISIN DEXTRA
›››› With getting us to the barrier anyway. I think you’ll agree that the pamphlet is nearly impossible to understand. I think I get it. But I’m still not sure we could pull off a move like that. And on the first try?
ELIZA GRAY
›››› Yes. That Raisin believes in that pamphlet is absurd. No one really flees like that. That’s how they weed out unwanted recruits. Folks they don’t want to be Deserters, or folks they want the Law to capture. A trick that amuses the Nightman. The tunnel is the only true way in or out. All the “bats” end up dead. The Nightman is the Sisters’ familiar. His bloodline has served them for centuries. He maintains the exclusivity of their tunnels. The way out.
RAISIN DEXTRA
›››› Did Eliza just say my name? Is she talking about me?
RAISIN DEXTRA
›››› Zeke, if you want to save her, the best thing to do is to get out now. This city-state is about to be at war. No matter what. Don’t you see that?
RAISIN DEXTRA
›››› Tell me you want to leave.
››››››››››ZEKE THOMAS:‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹
I need to get to Chicago-Land. And the tram is not an option. I have to cross the rot.
RAISIN DEXTRA
›››› We’ll just go through the tunnel. The Nightman will convince these witches to open it. He’s got a phonotube out to Spree, so he’ll know we’re on our way. In fact he’ll probably send an escort. Like I said, they’ve got a ton of scouts. An army, really.
ELIZA GRAY
›››› That’s impossible. The Senate will send someone for you. This is the best place to stay. The Auspices are closely aligned with the Senate, whatever Daxon would have people believe. The Republic has to be complicit. They need the Auspices for the fount-water. The Auspices control the supply. In some ways they are the true rulers of the city-states, because they sustain them and give the folks life. The law doesn’t apply down here. The Auspices pass in and out of the city-states freely. Just like the bats. Their souls can walk in the night. Black against black, unseen. They’re hugely influential with the Deserters too.
RAISIN DEXTRA
›››› They’ve captured Daxon’s cannon. It’s a really advanced weapon, and I know the Major is hopping mad about it. That’s what this war is all about. And taking back the land. The Earth should belong to everyone. What right do they have to keep us in here?
RAISIN DEXTRA
›››› The Nightman is basically in charge of the Auspices. They’re under the protection of the Deserters and will do whatever he tells them to.
››››››››››ZEKE THOMAS:‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹
Then what are they arguing about up there?
RAISIN DEXTRA
›››› The Nightman is ordering the Auspices to unseal the tunnel. That way the Deserter army can be let in and other folks can be let out. The flow between the inside and outside world will begin.
ELIZA GRAY
›››› The Auspices are telling the Nightman that they won’t open the tunnel. He’ll have to tell the Deserters. As much as that idea would serve their ends, the Auspices will never do it. It’s too dangerous.
›››››››�
��››ZEKE THOMAS:‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹
So what’s our next move?
RAISIN DEXTRA
›››› Get ready. As soon as those tunnels are open, we take off. You to Chicago-Land, me to war.
ELIZA GRAY
›››› Wait. Your grandmother knows best. She’ll send help. No one wants Texas to fall apart.
∧∧ ∧∧ Zeke’s whispering conversation with Raisin and Eliza was interrupted by what was happening in the central ring. Voices had become sharp and the conflict was escalating. Many of the black-robed Auspices had their arms raised ominously above their heads. ∧∧ Zeke could hear the Nightman talking pointedly. His voice was different. It was serious now, real. “It is decided then. The tunnel will be unsealed. Though the Deserters may occupy the city-state, none will be harmed. They will maintain security forces until the Law in Texas can be replaced by the Senate. We can trust Spree. His cannon is capable of holding the Republic’s forces at bay.” ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ “No!” Eliza shouted, standing. “My father…You’re starting a war!” The Nightman’s speech stopped. He and the Auspices turned to look at her. Everything became very still. Zeke pressed his back against the bench and tried not to breathe. ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ In the quiet of the room, the faint sounds of an alarm could be heard from above their heads. ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ “Someone sounded the alert,” an Auspex said. Her voice was a creeping whisper. ∧∧ ∧∧ “Our intentions were known.” ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ “Betrayed from within. A dirty numrat,” another said. ∧∧ ∧∧ “Those three,” the eldest sister said. She pointed at Eliza, and the Nightman began to advance toward them. Zeke scrambled to his feet. The Nightman had the grim look of a predatory animal in his eye. Eliza stood and pulled a dustbomb from underneath her robe. ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ Covering her face with one hand, she slammed the bomb into the ground. It exploded magnificently. The dust unfurled in billowing gray clouds and quickly filled the small space. The weak light from the moth-filled jars was blotted out. ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ Chaos enveloped the room, scrambling mixed with the shouts of panicked Auspices in the dark. Zeke felt someone grab him by the hand and pull him toward the door. He followed, stumbling and coughing violently, keeping his eyes closed tightly against the dust. ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ Then they were in the sharp air of the tunnel, the noise of the Auspices’ chamber fading behind them. Zeke tried to call out to whoever was pulling him roughly along but could not find his voice. ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ Eventually, they stopped. His hand was guided to the ladder. He gripped it tightly, a certain thing in the blinding black. ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ “Eliza?” Zeke finally managed to cough out. ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ “It’s Raisin. Go. This is the ladder.”∧∧ ∧∧ “I’m not leaving without—” ∧∧ “Zeke, you don’t have a choice. Eliza threw that dustbomb to give you a chance and to block the tunnel. She’s crazy. Who knows if they’ll be able to open it or if the Deserters can get in now. But time is running out. The barrier is our best chance. Eliza was trying to save you. Go!” ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ Zeke started to climb. His boot slipped off a rung, and he nearly fell. He felt Raisin reach up and grab his leg, to steady him. His friend urged him on. ∧∧ ∧∧ Raisin’s voice grew fainter. Zeke opened the hatch door. Alert whistles screamed in response. Up top, the chaos was worse. ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ “All-quadrant alert,” Raisin shouted, “head for the barrier!” ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ They ran straight down the middle of the plankways. Folks were running all over, clutching piles of papers to their chests or trying to haul jugs of fount-water to safety. Everyone looked panicked. Zeke couldn’t tell if they were scared of the Law or of what might be coming over the barrier. Conflicting orders echoed from the tops of the watchposts. ∧∧ ∧∧ Zeke paused to look around and try to make sense of what was happening. It seemed unreal, like a staged event. There wasn’t any immediate danger, but folks were screaming as though they were being attacked. Law flashers colored everything, and folks all around them were being put in bolo-ties. ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ ∧∧ “Don’t watch,” Raisin shouted. Ducking behind a large steam-power generator they were confronted with a set of toeholds leading up the sheer face of the barrier. ∧∧ ∧
FAM. CUCULIDAE
GEN. GEOCOCCYX
22.10.43, 18:15, 80 deg., 5 knots, no cloud coverage
Texas Hill Country
Road-runner, I’ll put down, because that’s what one of the Texians called him. Brown, gray, and black feathers. Elongated beak. He has the appearance of a cuckoo of sorts, though his legs are distinctive and his body is much larger, almost the size of a gosling. Rather than three front toes and one behind, each foot has two toes in the front and two in the back. This leaves tracks of little Xs in the dust, and it is impossible to tell whether they are coming or going. I wish that I could walk at all, let alone so quickly. Barren desert has given way to limestone hills, crumbling and ancient, decorated with low trees and small dry shrubbery, which the bird darts around rather than flying over. I wonder if he is deserving of a place in the Museum of Flying, if he cannot himself fly. They are curious and nimble, and blend in well with their surroundings. This running bird makes me think only of escape. How I miss my own two feet.