The Forever Gate Ultimate Edition

by Isaac Hooke

  Al furrowed his brow. "What the hell are you two babbling about? My avatar. The age flag. The only flag around here is drooping at the top of the Warehouse. The official flag of the Den." Al pointed.

  Hoodwink followed his gaze to a distant square roof that pushed above the others. A black flag replete with a skull and crossbones billowed at the top.

  "Well that's new," Hoodwink said. "Cute."

  Other than the flag, the Black Den was just as he remembered. It wasn't too different than a typical street in Luckdown District, the snowpacked way rather narrow, the shoddy, shack-like homes crammed too close together and barely holding back the snow. He'd come here a lot in his youth, putting his name to good use, hoodwinking the other lowbrows out of their illicitly-earned coins. He'd been a gambler, a thug, a cheat, and a womanizer, all at once and in no particular order. He hadn't had many redeeming qualities back then. Though he liked to think that he'd made up for it in later years.

  There were a lot of hard men here. Men with scarred faces, scarred arms, scarred knuckles. Men with pieces missing from their noses, men with chunks gone from their ears. Eye-patched men, cleft-lipped men, arm-stumped men. The Denizens he'd seen outside in Happy-Tot square were the more presentable sorts, it would seem. It was no surprise that the Thief's Kitchen, the Murderer's Guild, and every shady operation in the city had at least one base of operations here.

  Hoodwink noticed that though these men were hard, they all gave way to Al just the same, sometimes even bowing slightly. But after the former User had passed, and the men knew Al wasn't watching, they usually gave Hoodwink and Tanner dark stares. Hoodwink tried not to look anyone in the eye for too long—he'd had enough quarreling for the morning.

  "Looks like you've done well for yourself here," Hoodwink said, trying to distract himself with small talk.

  "I have at that," Al said. "I'm Calico Cap's lieutenant."

  "Calico Cap?"

  Al grinned widely. "Boss of the Black Faction."

  "Oh."

  "You'll like him. Looks like you." Al winked. "But tell me, what's life like beyond the Forever Gate? When I seen Ari a few days ago, she told me a lot of things, how you'd come back and taken her across the Gate and all, but she ain't never told me what was there."

  "Just another world," Hoodwink said. "Though it's not much different from this one, not really. Instead of ice there's metal. Instead of gols there's golems. And that world is under attack, just like this one. Damn depressing, it is. But I tell you, I mean to see that attack ended, one way or another."

  Al studied him through narrowed eyes. As though he didn't believe him. As though perhaps he thought him a madman. "I see. First time I've heard that this world is under attack, but if you say so." Al grinned suddenly. "So how is our mutual ravishing acquaintance? How is Ari?"

  Hoodwink stopped in mid-stride.

  "What's wrong?" Al's face fell. "Has something happened?"

  "No, she's fine," Hoodwink said. "Just busy. Lead on."

  Al watched him suspiciously for a moment, but then he moved on, all grins again.

  Hoodwink let Al walk ahead a few paces, and then he lowered his voice for Tanner alone. "Best to keep her death to ourselves for now." Ari was still officially the Leader of the New Users. Last thing they needed was some power struggle among its members.

  "Agreed," Tanner said.

  When Hoodwink caught up with Al again, he asked the man where he was taking them.

  Al stopped and scratched his forehead. "The Warehouse. I assumed you wanted to meet Jacob, and the New Users? Unless you're here to see the Calico instead?"

  Hoodwink pursed his lips. It might prove useful to meet the boss of the Faction at some point. But not yet. "No. Jacob it is, and the New Users Ari planted here."

  "Planted?" Al frowned. "Hardly planted. Planted implies something sly, secretive. Everyone knows about the New Users we're harboring. So, Jacob it is. And you might just meet Calico Cap too. Jacob was holed up with him for most of the morning."

  "Holed up? Why?"

  Al spread his arms wide. "A new toy arrived this morning."

  81

  Hoodwink stood in a room of iron desks and paneled terminals that was almost a mirror image of Zeta Station on the Outside, except in place of a window three large pieces of glass dominated the front of the room. The leftmost display danced with numbers and symbols. The middle had a map of the earth, with curves drawn between the cities. The rightmost had what Tanner called an 'exponential' curve.

  As for the terminals, there were about twenty-five in total, though only three old men filled the seats. The men were New Users, uncollared, and they wore simple gray tops and trousers, their black coats abandoned in bundles on the chairs beside them.

  "Well you certainly set up the Control Room right quick," Hoodwink said.

  "We did," the New User named Jacob said. "Opened the Box the moment it arrived. We've no idea how everything works though. Not yet."

  Dressed like a pauper, all in rags, Jacob was a stooped old man with thin, gray hair. His ears were shrunken like scraps of old leather left too long in the sun, and his eyes were deep-set, peering as if from long tunnels. Though ancient, those eyes pierced like nails, and when Jacob looked at him, Hoodwink felt like everything inside him was stripped bare for the old man to see. Hoodwink didn't like men with eyes like that. Everything about him, from the outfit to the eyes, reminded Hoodwink of the previous Leader who'd ruled the Users ten years ago. He wouldn't have been surprised to learn they were related.

  "Tanner?" Hoodwink regarded his companion.

  "The interface is similar to the terminals of the Outside," Tanner said. He'd been hunched over one of the stations since he got here. "And, as I suspected, we're not sandboxed. I should be able to find the children from here and send them a message."

  "Good. Can we monitor the gols?"

  "Looks like it."

  "Then tell me where Brute is when you figure everything out."

  "Sure thing."

  "And teach these New User grunts a few tricks while you're at it, would you?"

  "Yup."

  "And see if you can find out how many of those ravens are circling overhead."

  "Okay."

  "And—"

  "Hood!" Tanner raised his voice in obvious irritation, but he seemed to quickly rein himself in, because his next words were calmer. "Hood. I got this. I know what to do. Just give me room to work."

  Hoodwink took a breath. "All right. Work then. No more micromanaging from me."

  "You still remember that word?" Tanner grinned at him. He'd taught Hoodwink the meaning of 'micromanaging' months ago, when Hoodwink had been guilty of doing that very thing.

  Hoodwink returned the smile politely, and then strode to the aisle. He walked to the front of the room and studied the glass display with the map.

  "Big world, isn't it?" Jacob said, joining him.

  "It is." Too bad it's all fake.

  "I sometimes wonder what it would be like to go Outside. Beyond the Forever Gate. I want to see that ship, and the vast moon that Ari spoke so fondly of."

  Hoodwink thought these surprising words for a man of the Inside.

  The shock must have been evident on Hoodwink's face, because Jacob added, "Oh yes, Ari told me all about your Outside. She and Tanner confided in me, you see."

  Hoodwink rubbed his chin. "She spoke fondly of the moon, and the ship? That seems a little odd. The ship's kind of a shitbox, really. And the moon, well, it's not much better. Just a barren slab of ice."

  Jacob nodded. "Well, I might have added a few embellishments in my imagination."

  Or you might've been fishing, using words you'd heard Ari and Tanner bandy around.

  Hoodwink nodded sarcastically. "You've a good imagination, then."

  "When is she coming?" Jacob said. "Ari."

  Hoodwink swallowed and nearly choked on his own saliva. He coughed something nasty while Jacob patted him on the back.

  "Ari?" Hoodwink eventu
ally managed. He cleared his throat. "She'll be here soon. Real soon." Technically, Jacob was Leader of the New Users now that Ari was gone. He was the last man Hoodwink wanted to break the news to.

  "Tanner's doing a pretty good job in her absence though, isn't he?" Jacob said. "He'd make a fine New User."

  "The kid's growing up fast," Hoodwink agreed. "Real fast. Eight months ago Tanner was just a pup, hardly able to walk, fresh from the Inside, but now look at him. He's a quick-study, and already he's mastered most of the ship's systems. I'm proud of the kid."

  "Helen there, she's the same age as Tanner." Jacob pointed out one of the wrinkled old terminal operators. Hoodwink had thought her a man, at first. "Pity, that we have to age so. You should take more of us Out, Hoodwink. Let us come back as gols."

  "That's certainly possible," Hoodwink said.

  "You don't sound very enthusiastic."

  Hoodwink sighed. "There's not much space on the Outside, Jacob. It's pretty crowded enough as it is."

  "I'm only asking you to let out a few of us. The older, more valuable members."

  Hoodwink grunted. "Like yourself?"

  "Just consider it, that's all I'm asking," Jacob said.

  Hoodwink shook his head. Everyone always wanted something from him.

  He was about to excuse himself when a man dressed in elaborate furs came strutting into the room. Al was at his side.

  "Who the hell's that?" Hoodwink said underbreath.

  "Trouble."

  "Well hello," the man in furs said when he reached Hoodwink. "Al's told me all about you, Master Hoodwink. A New User disguised as a gol disguised as a human. Ingenious! I hope you and your debonair companion over there enjoy your stay at the Warehouse!"

  "Hoodwink," Al said. "Meet Calico Cap."

  Hoodwink nodded thoughtfully. Calico Cap, the leader of the Black Faction. He'd apparently earned his nickname for the finely cut furs he wore, a patchwork of white, black, and brown, like a cat's hide. He wore polished, silver-worked boots, and white fur gloves that seemed almost part of the coat. Three silver skulls were pinned to his high collar.

  Lithe and strong of body, he carried himself well. And Al hadn't been kidding when he'd said Cap looked like Hoodwink. Matted hair, a long beak of a nose, a thick mustache that curved down slightly around the ends of the lips, a slight goatee that rounded out the chin. Dark eyes that burned with purpose.

  "You were right, Al," Cap said. "The man's my spitting image!" He chuckled as if he'd made some grand joke.

  On cue, Al laughed.

  "Someday you'll have to tell me your secret." Cap leaned forward conspiratorially. "How to become a gol, I mean." He jabbed Hoodwink good-naturedly in the ribs. "And I must thoroughly thank you for bringing us the mayor's Control Room. Not to mention his Revision Room. We've put the latter to good use, let me tell you. Oh, and the Dwarf may yet prove useful as well."

  Hoodwink regarded the man warily. "I wasn't aware any of these things were actually given to you. I thought we'd only put them here for safe-keeping." He shot Jacob an angry look.

  "Oh, but you're completely right!" Cap laid an arm around Hoodwink's shoulders just as if the two of them were the best of friends. "But I figured we might as well put these items to good use until you take them back!"

  Alarm bells were going off in Hoodwink's head. "And what kind of 'use' did you have in mind?"

  "Why, expanding our little operation of course!" Cap was all smiles.

  Al was nodding fervently, and he rolled his hands one over the other as if to imply that Hoodwink should nod along with him. Jacob meanwhile was doing his best imitation of a deaf man, taking care to observe the far corner of the room and nothing else.

  "Expanding your operation," Hoodwink said dryly.

  "Yes." Cap continued to beam. "We're planning to take over the entire city."

  "I see." Give a little to a thief, and next he'll expect the world. Hoodwink frowned at Jacob. "And the New Users approve?"

  Jacob still didn't meet his eye.

  "Why of course," Cap said. "We get rid of Jeremy, and Jacob here becomes mayor."

  "Ah," Hoodwink said. "So that's it. You know we'll have to clear this with Ari first, right?"

  Finally Jacob looked at him. Hoodwink thought he saw a small spark of electricity flash in Jacob's left eye. A spark of defiance. But it was only for an instant, so short that Hoodwink might have imagined it.

  "This town needs a new mayor," Jacob said. "You know that. I know it. If the Black Faction wants to help us take the town, I say let them. I'm sure Ari would agree. I'll wait for her approval, of course. And the role of mayor is hers, if she wants it."

  "Generous," Hoodwink said. "Tell me, how many thugs from the Den are you going to uncollar?"

  Jacob glanced at Cap. "We haven't discussed that, yet."

  "The Black Faction isn't a den of fools," Cap said. "We've done our very best to avoid attracting the attention of the gols over the years, but now that the time of our rise is at hand, I plan to have every last man in the Den uncollared."

  Hoodwink shook his head. "You are a den of fools. Even with every man in the Den uncollared, you won't take the city. You have no idea what you're facing. No idea at all." They'd probably all die. Though perhaps that was for the best. It wouldn't do to have thugs from the Den running around with lightning.

  Jacob straightened as best he could, likely a hard thing for the old, bent man. "Jeremy is a pampered fool who inherited all his riches and knows nothing about running a city, let alone winning a battle. Our scouts have reported that his Direwalker army has vanished, literally overnight. His mansion is undefended and ripe for the taking."

  Hoodwink smiled, though it was a false one, and he knew his eyes must look cold. "Jeremy has other defenses..."

  "We will vanquish whatever he throws at us."

  Hoodwink sighed. This was a battle he wasn't going to win, at least not this way. "A glutton for pain and loss, are you? But as I said, you'll have to clear it with Ari first."

  "Oh I will," Jacob said. Cap was smirking beside him. "You said she was coming soon. When, exactly?"

  "Tomorrow or the day after. You'll make no move against the mayor until you hear from her, understood?" Hoodwink stared hard at the man.

  Jacob returned his stare defiantly. He glanced at Cap, and the man nodded his curt assent. Jacob bowed his head. "We will wait, Hoodwink."

  "Good man." Hoodwink wasn't sure he believed him. "I think we're done here?" He glanced across the room. "Tanner?"

  "I've found the children," Tanner said, not looking up. He acted like he was oblivious to the whole conversation. Probably heard every word though. "I'm sending the message now. It'll be a while before I hear back, even if they're glued to their terminals." That was true—time passed far faster on the Inside. "And I'm still looking for Brute, and the other item of interest. Why don't you visit Cora or something in the meantime?"

  Hoodwink's heart pounded suddenly. "Cora?"

  "Yeah. She's here. I forgot to mention it, didn't I?"

  "You did." A line of sweat dribbled down Hoodwink's ribs. Cora.

  Hoodwink glanced at Jacob. The old man smiled knowingly. "She's a handful, that one, I tell you. Best of luck to you."

  Hoodwink couldn't return Jacob's smile.

  How could he?

  It fell on Hoodwink to tell Cora that their daughter was dead.

  82

  One of Cap's lackeys escorted Hoodwink through the Warehouse. He was a dour sort, and kept giving Hoodwink dark looks. Acne scars pocked his cheeks, and reminded Hoodwink a little of Ganymede's surface when viewed from above. The lackey was dressed in a sealskin jacket similar to the one Al had worn, except only a single skull was pinned to his high collar.

  The Warehouse was really just a big mansion. The halls were ornate, with diamond-shaped floor tiles made of polished black stone imported from Dhenn. Tall arched windows let in ample sunlight. The wall panels were made of dark red wood, hard as bronze and chiseled with sea c
reatures of surprising beauty. Odd statuettes were set into the alcoves along the way, mostly of naked men and women sprouting tentacles.

  Hoodwink passed a kitchen, and the sweet aroma of spiced wine and hot honeycakes almost tempted him to barge inside and scoop up as much as he could carry. But he knew that while the illusory food might satisfy his taste buds, it would provide no nourishment whatsoever.

  The lackey eventually halted beside an arched burgundy door guarded by two old men.

  "Enjoy." The lackey turned on his heels.

  "Don't I get an introduction?" Hoodwink said, but the lackey was already halfway down the hall.

  Hoodwink sighed, and studied the two guards.

  The one on the left had a red face, and was slightly on the stocky side, carrying a bit of a paunch round his waist. His receding hair was white, and he seemed around sixty years old or so. He wore a dark green cloak.

  The man on the right was bone-thin, with only wispy tufts of hair on that otherwise scaly head. His white brow was the highlight of his features, a huge, bushy, undisciplined thing. The rest of his face was a shriveled mess, with the skin stretched so tight Hoodwink worried it would crack if the man tried to make any sort of expression. He was truly the oldest man Hoodwink had ever seen. His cloak was a dark gray.

  Both men were uncollared. New Users.

  Hoodwink smiled politely. "I'm here to see Cora, friends." He made to pass between the two.

  "Not so fast, gol." The green-cloaked man raised his hands. "No one sees Cora unless Ari or Jacob says so." He emphasized his point by letting electricity spark from his fingertips.

  Always obstacles, Hoodwink thought, not bothered in the least by the subtle show of power. He had no weapon of his own, of course. And he didn't have vitra. No gols did. He had only his wits.

  That was usually all he needed.

  "I have Jacob's approval, I promise you." Hoodwink tucked his thumbs inside his belt and thrummed the leather. "Name's Hoodwink. Hoodwink Cooper. Perhaps you've heard of me? My name has some pull among the Users, both old and new. At least it used to. And that's my dear wife you got in there."