Nightmare se-2

by Steven Harper

  Kendi and Mother Ara thanked the doctor, who then left. The Asian woman came forward and took his place next to Kendi’s bed.

  "This is Inspector Lewa Tan," Mother Ara said. "She’s from the Guardians."

  "Can you tell us what happened?" Tan asked. Her voice was gravelly, odd for a woman.

  "I was attacked. In the Dream." Kendi tried to sit up again. This time the bed tilted upward with him until he was in a reclining position.

  "Did you see who attacked you?" Tan asked.

  Kendi shook his head. "Not really. He wore a hat that kept his face all shadowy."

  "But it was definitely a man," Tan said.

  "Yeah."

  "Are you up to telling the entire story," Mother Ara said, "or do you want to rest?"

  "I can talk." Kendi shifted position beneath the crisp white hospital sheets and explained what had happened to him. Tan held what Kendi assumed was a recording device. Mother Ara listened attentively. Kendi had thought he was fine, but by the end of it he was sweating and his heart pounded as if it had happened to him again as he told it. The bandages reminded him of the suffocating couch cushions, and he had the sudden urge to tear them off. The man was pointing a needle pistol at him, and the hospital room felt small and confining, with no place to run. He forced himself to take deep breaths and continue talking, though the sweat turned cold on his body.

  "And then I called you, Mother," he finished. "That was pretty much it."

  Tan leaned forward. "Kendi, you saw the killer write a number on the woman’s forehead. What was the number again?"

  "Fourteen."

  Tan and Mother Ara exchanged glances. "You’re sure it was fourteen and not thirteen?" Mother Ara asked.

  "Positive," Kendi said. "Why?"

  "Just making sure," Tan said.

  "So how long was I out?" Kendi asked.

  "About four hours," Mother Ara told him. "You scared me out of my wits. Ben’s outside. You scared him, too, and he insisted on coming down."

  "Ben?" Kendi’s heart leaped. "Ben’s outside? Can he come in?"

  "In a moment." Tan leaned closer. "I need you to answer a few more questions. If you’re up to it."

  Kendi leaned back against the pillows. "Yeah, okay. Go ahead."

  Tan went back over parts of his story, gently asking for more detail here, a simple retelling there. More details surfaced as Kendi spoke, and he reported them to Tan and Mother Ara.

  "We still don’t know who the victim is," Tan said. "Though if she was wearing a gold medallion, she was probably a Child. Did you recognize her from the description, Ara?"

  Mother Ara shook her head. "There are thousands of Children."

  "Then I guess we’ll have to do it through old-fashioned detective work," Tan said grimly.

  "Any more questions?" Kendi felt tired now, and his eyelids drooped.

  "Not for the moment," Tan said. "Though I’ll want to go over it with you one more time a little later, when you’re rested."

  "You should sleep now, Kendi." Mother Ara patted his shoulder. "Inspector?"

  "Wait," Kendi said. "I wanna see Ben."

  "I’ll bring him by in the morning," Mother Ara said.

  "No." Kendi roused himself. "I want to see him now."

  Mother Ara looked at the Inspector, who shrugged and opened door. She gestured into the hallway, and Ben rushed into the room, his face even paler than usual.

  "Kendi!" he said. "Are you all right? You look like shit. I mean-you didn’t-you-"

  "I’m okay," Kendi said. "I’m glad you came by."

  "What happened to you?" he demanded. "Mom said she thought you were hurt in the Dream, but we didn’t know for sure and they wouldn’t let me in to see you and-"

  Mother Ara put a hand on Ben’s arm. "He’s fine, Ben. Don’t tire him out. I’ll tell you about it when we get home."

  Ben flushed. "Sorry. I was just-you know."

  "Yeah." Kendi’s head drooped. " ‘S okay. I’m glad you …you were …"

  "Let’s leave him now," Mother Ara murmured. But Kendi was already asleep.

  In the hallway outside Kendi’s room, Ara gave Ben some money and asked him to go get her some juice. The moment he was out of earshot, she turned to Inspector Tan.

  "Number fourteen," Ara said. "Did he skip a number?"

  "Either that, or there’s a corpse we haven’t found yet," Tan replied. "Let me check with the ME." Tan took a small phone out of her pocket, spoke rapidly into it, paused, then sighed and hung up. "Examiner says the finger sewn to the victim Kendi saw does not belong to Iris Temm. So there’s definitely another corpse hiding out there somewhere."

  Ara didn’t know how to respond, so she said nothing.

  "You should go home," Tan continued. "I’ve got to try and track down who and where the victim actually is. We’ll meet here in the morning to go over Kendi’s story one more time."

  Ara agreed. The next morning, she and Inspector Tan questioned Kendi again, but no new details came to light. Ara, unwilling to let Kendi stay by himself, installed him in her guest bedroom with orders to spend the remainder of the day being quiet. To Ara’s surprise, Kendi didn’t protest at the confinement. Ben, meanwhile, offered to stay home and keep him company.

  "Teenagers," Ara said to Tan on the front porch. "For weeks they fight doing what you tell them, and then out of nowhere they up and volunteer to do the right thing."

  "Especially when it involves missing a day of school," Tan observed.

  Ara, enjoying a proud maternal moment, ignored this. "Did you learn who the victim was?"

  "Her name was Vera Cheel," Tan rasped.

  "How did you find her?"

  "Checked to see if anyone on duty in the Dream didn’t turn in the transcriptions of their communications. Cheel’s name popped right up. Linus is already at her house. Let’s go."

  Vera Cheel’s house was larger than Iris Temm’s, and tidier as well. The body had been taken away by the time Ara and Tan got there, for which Ara was grateful.

  "What …condition was she in?" Ara asked as they entered Cheel’s living room. It was bright and airy, with several potted plants scattered tastefully about. A vase filled with lush red roses sat on the coffee table. Half a dozen technicians were going over the different rooms with scanning equipment. Tan’s partner Linus Gray was in deep discussion with one of them, and he gave them a distracted wave as they entered.

  "Same as Iris Temm," Tan told her. "Pretty much bludgeoned and crushed to death while she was in the Dream."

  "I suppose we should go into the Dream and get a look, then." Ara fingered the dermospray in her pocket. "It’s been less than a day since Vera was killed, so the images will be stronger, I think."

  "You sound hesitant," Tan said. "What’s wrong?"

  Ara pursed her lips, not wanting to give voice to her thoughts. But a killer was on the loose, and they couldn’t afford to let a potential lead slip away. "I was wondering if I should take Kendi in with me."

  "Why?"

  "Kendi saw the incident," Ara explained. "His mind could strengthen the images and we might get more details, both sensory and impressionistic."

  "And if Kendi’s there, we might get more insights into the killer’s mind," Tan said.

  Ara nodded. "But he’s just a student. He reached the Dream for the first time only last week. Not only did he witness the murder, he was attacked by the killer. Kendi’s strong, but he’s been through a lot in his life as it is, and I don’t want to add to his burdens by making him watch the whole thing again."

  "Irfan Qasad said that all sentient life is sacred," Tan pointed out. "Murder’s the most horrible crime there is. It’s our duty to use whatever methods we can to track this man down."

  "I know. But I also have a duty to my student’s safety and well-being."

  "Well," Tan said slowly, "let’s ask and let him decide. Now that I think about it, we need to get back to your house as soon as possible."

  "What? Why?"

  "I’ll tell y
ou when we get there," Tan said, "and we ask Kendi."

  "The problem," Ara sighed, "is that I know what he’ll say."

  "Yes," Kendi said. "I can do it right now."

  They were back in Ara’s living room. Tan, who had put the question to him, nodded. Ben sat quietly in the corner, his blue eyes quietly taking in the entire scene. Ara still felt misgivings. Kendi was only sixteen and not the most level-headed among the students at the monastery. On the other hand, he wouldn’t be in any actual danger at a re-creation, and Ara would be right there with him.

  "We should do it at Vera’s house," Ara said, "so the minds around us will be as similar as possible to the ones she herself used to get into the Dream yesterday."

  "What about me?" Ben said as they headed for the door.

  "You stay here," Ara instructed. "We’ll be back as soon as we can."

  "What do you mean about the minds being the same?" Kendi asked, excited. The cuts on his face and hands had faded to fine, pinkish lines.

  While Ara explained, Tan drew Ben aside and spoke to him rapidly. His face, which had been filled with disappointment, changed to a more thoughtful expression. He stayed behind without protest as Ara, Kendi, and Tan left the house.

  "What did you tell him?" Ara asked.

  Tan shot a glance at Kendi. "I told him it was his job to keep all this as quiet as possible and I asked him to scan the news for me. Too many people know about the attack on Kendi-the hospital personnel, for example-and I’m afraid that once the services get hold of it, Kendi’s going to be in some danger."

  "Danger?" Kendi asked. "What do you mean?"

  "The killer knows you saw him," Tan explained. "The killer knows what you look like, unless-I don’t suppose you’re one of those Silent who looks different in the Dream than in the solid world?"

  "No."

  "Damn. Anyway, that means the killer may be looking for you. You’re a witness. I didn’t really think of it before, and that’s why I wanted to come back."

  Kendi shot a nervous glance around him, as if the killer might drop out of the branches. "But I don’t know what he looks like. He didn’t have a face."

  "And that’s a point in your favor," Tan agreed. "So we definitely don’t want anyone knowing that you’re helping us in the Dream. That would only give the killer more reason to come after you."

  Ara stopped on the boardwalk. "Wait a minute. You’re saying that if the killer finds out Kendi’s aiding the investigation, Kendi would be in danger?"

  "Possibly," Tan said.

  "Then forget it. Kendi, you’re going back to the house. The Inspector and I will do this alone."

  "It’s only a danger if someone finds out," Tan said reasonably. "News services don’t even know who the victim was yet, so there won’t be any reporters hanging around the house. No one will even know."

  "Mother Ara," Kendi said, "let me do this. I want to help. Didn’t Irfan say that all sentient life is sacred?"

  "Oh no," Ara groaned. "Not you, too."

  "The Real People believe the same thing," he continued. "I have to help if I can."

  "This isn’t an adventure, Kendi," Ara said. "It’s bloody and gory and it’s going to be unpleasant."

  "I already saw it once," Kendi countered. "I’m still here."

  In the end, Ara let herself be persuaded. They went back to Vera Cheel’s house and found it empty. The technicians had completed their scans and left. Outside, dirty clouds had gathered, obscuring the sun and cooling the breeze. The red roses on the coffee table made a sharp, colorful contrast with the dreary sky. Ara wondered where Vera’s body had been found, then decided she didn’t want to know. Linus Gray was nowhere to be seen, and Ara assumed he was out canvassing the neighborhood. There was a certain tension in the room. Ara herself still held reservations about involving Kendi. Kendi, she was sure, was nervous, and Tan was probably anxious to get on with it.

  "Let’s hit the Dream," Tan said, confirming Ara’s suspicions. "I’ll take the easy chair, if you don’t mind."

  "The couch is fine with me," Ara said tightly. "Kendi usually stands."

  Kendi had brought his spear and dermospray. The dermospray was red instead of black, indicating it belonged to a student. "Does this count as a practice session?" he asked with a grin. Tan snorted and some of the tension eased.

  "I suppose it does," Ara laughed. "Your dermospray will still transmit the fact that you used a dose of medication back to the dispensary for your practice record. The dispensary computer doesn’t care why you used it. Kendi, since you’re new to this, you probably can’t leave the Dream unsculpted, so we’ll have to meet on your turf. That’ll be easier."

  Tan sat, Ara lay down, and Kendi positioned himself on his spear. A triple thump went through the room as three dermosprays shoved the medication home. Ara let the colors swirl around the inside of her eyelids for a moment, then opened her eyes to a pleasure garden. A carpet of grass lay thick and green beneath her slippered feet, and a stone fountain tinkled musically behind her, the sound mingling with the ever-present whispering of the Dream. Orange and pear blossoms scented the soft air. Ara wore a green robe with a close-fitting hood. The garden was her own safe place, and she liked it a great deal. But there was no time for personal enjoyment. She closed her eyes and cast her perceptions into the whispers around her until she found Kendi’s voice. Once she caught his whisper, she gathered her concentration. She was here but she wanted to be there, and she would be there now.

  Ara released her expectations of reality. There was a slight wrench and she opened her eyes in a large, dry cave. Kendi stood a few steps away. His mind, however, was everywhere, pressing against her, unconsciously ordering her not to dictate reality here. Ara obeyed, though it was difficult. To distract herself, she glanced about curiously. She had only been in Kendi’s cave a couple times and she found it a very interesting starting point.

  "I do like this place," she said. "It suits you."

  "Weird," he said, tugging at the white shirt he wore. "When you appeared like that, it felt like I was in a swimming pool and someone threw in a big rock."

  "You’re very sensitive to other people in the Dream," Ara said. "Some Silent can barely detect another person’s presence." She gave him a critical look. "Father Ched-Hisak told me you usually wear a loincloth or even appear naked here. Why the shorts and shirt?"

  Kendi flushed. "I–I don’t-"

  "You can wear whatever you like on your own turf," Ara said seriously. "Dream etiquette. And you’re expected to dress the people who visit your turf in whatever you deem appropriate. This robe I’m wearing is fine for my pleasure garden but is a little impractical for spelunking, don’t you think?"

  In response, Ara’s robe changed into a khaki explorer’s outfit. Kendi’s clothing, however, remained the same. "I’ll keep what I’m wearing for now," he said, a little less embarrassed.

  And then Inspector Tan was there. For a moment, she appeared to be wearing an embroidered yellow robe, but it quickly changed into brown khakis similar to Ara’s.

  "I felt her coming," Kendi explained.

  Tan gave the cave a quick glance. "Nice," she said. "Let’s go."

  They followed the exit tunnel up to the Outback. The desert lay before them, filling the world from horizon to horizon.

  "Let’s teleport to a blank space," Tan said. "It’ll be faster than having our host let go of the world."

  "I …don’t know how to do that," Kendi said. "Teleport, I mean."

  "Take my hand," Ara said. "I’ll move you."

  Kendi obeyed. Ara was here but she wanted to be there, and she would be there now. Another wrench, and the Outback vanished, replaced by a flat, empty plain. The Dream whispering was loud here. The moment they appeared, Kendi released Ara, dropped to hands and knees, and vomited. Alarmed, Ara knelt beside him. His Dream body flickered, semi-transparent for a moment, then solidified. Kendi threw up again.

  "Kendi," Ara said. "Kendi, what’s wrong?"

  Kendi looked
up at her. "I’m sick. All life-it’s like bad flu. Oh god." He vomited yet again, a thin, clear fluid.

  "The teleportation," Tan said. "He wasn’t ready for it."

  "The nausea will pass, Kendi," Ara said. "Just wait a moment."

  Kendi spent a fair amount of time in dry heaves. Ara remained on the ground next to him while Tan waited with scarcely-disguised impatience. Finally Kendi got to his feet, face a bit green. Ara held out an empty hand. There would be a glass of cold water in it, and there would be one now. One appeared, and she handed it to Kendi, who accepted it gratefully. He rinsed out his mouth, spat, and took a long drink.

  "We’ll work on this," Ara promised. "Are you ready to go on?" He nodded. "Then let’s get started. I want you to close your eyes and empty your mind, as if you were going to meditate, then concentrate on what you remember about the murder. I’m going to be building a scene using your memories as well as those of the solid-world minds around us. You have to allow me to read your mind, all right?"

  Kendi nodded. The sickness had left his face entirely. Ara put her hands on the sides of his head and he closed his eyes. Ara concentrated on the whisper, now nearly a shout, that was Kendi’s mind. Images and sensations swirled around her. (Blood, blond hair, chains, a number, fear, horror, pain.) Ara widened her senses to the greater whispering around her and gathered images from that as well. (Shadow-faced man, tidy house, shattered glass, bloody finger.) Carefully but with swift skill, Ara arranged the images into a picture like a archaeologist arranging a fossilized skeleton. (Hot anger, cold love, metallic gun.) When it was done, she released Kendi and opened her eyes.

  The three of them were in Vera Cheel’s patchwork living room. Varieties and styles of furniture clashed and melded. Vera sat on a sofa, chatting with Ched-Balaar Ara didn’t recognize. A part of Ara that was beginning to think like a detective mused that they would have to track the alien down for an interview. This scene was clearer, far clearer than the first one Ara had recreated for Tan. Ara could feel Vera’s contentment. She was sure of herself in the Dream, confident of her abilities. And she liked her strange living room.