Nobody Gets The Girl (19 page)

"I understand," he said. "Good luck."

"I'll miss you," she said, swooping down and
planting a kiss on his cheek. There were tears in her eyes as she
pulled away, and floated off on the wind.

Nobody wiped his cheek.

"Take care," he whispered.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

PERHAPS YOU DO LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES

KATRINA SAT IN
the library, lost in
the book she held. Nobody sat across from her and studied her face.
She looked very old, far older than Dr. Know, too old to be Amelia
and Sarah's mother.

"I wish we could talk," said Nobody. "I wish
you could tell me how you feel, being caught in these
circumstances, with every member of your family so powerful. Do you
question your sanity? What parts of yourself have you been forced
to put aside just to make it through your day?"

The questions weren't that difficult to come
up with. They were the same questions he was asking himself.

Katrina continued reading. Nobody rose, and
wandered back to the nerve center. Dr. Know was in animated
conversation with a video display showing the President.

"What caused this disaster is irrelevant,"
Dr. Know said. "I think it is best treated as an act of God.
Perhaps a meteor struck. If people start laying blame, war could
erupt throughout the world."

The President shook his head. "The world is
demanding answers. I have every intention of throwing my weight
behind the UN's investigation. And if it's discovered that you’re
behind this, so be it. Not everything can be spun away."

"Look for all the evidence you wish," said
Dr. Know. "I want to know the truth as much as you. But some truths
may be too difficult for the general public to accept. I could
mention one you feel the same way about, for example. I say you lay
the groundwork now for a story the world can accept that will lead
us away from war."

The President looked as if he were about to
unleash a string of expletives. Instead he said, "I'll take your
advice under consideration. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other
calls to take."

"Of course," said Dr. Know. The screen went
dark. "Hard-headed fool," he grumbled.

"Doc," said Nobody. "We should talk."

"I see you decided to stay," said Dr. Know.
"When Sarah left, I assumed you had gone as well."

"Sarah has a lot of reason to mistrust
you."

"And you don't?"

"I think you're a scheming, manipulative
son-of-a-bitch. You're playing God, and people have died because of
it. But I haven't made up my mind if you're doing more harm than
good. For a while there in Jerusalem, before it all spun out of
control, I felt like we might be doing something important. I guess
my decision depends on what you do next."

"I see. I'm curious. What do you think I'm
going to do?"

"I know what I would do," said Nobody.

"Which is?"

"I'd use my damn time machine. I'd erase
this. Shouldn't be difficult. You just need to stop the boy from
pulling that pin. If Rail Blade had seen him five seconds earlier,
this wouldn't have happened."

"An interesting theory."

"Let's test it."

"No."

"Why not?"

"When I designed my time machine, I did so
purely with the intention of gathering information. My plan was to
discover Rex Monday's identity in the past, but I would never have
tried to stop him from doing the things he was fated to do. I knew
the consequences would be unpredictable and chaotic. As it was,
even the act of gathering information changed the world with
terrible consequences, for you, at least. If I use my time machine
to save Jerusalem, why not use it to stop all tragedies? No plane
need ever crash. Every murder could be prevented. But the
consequences of such actions are unimaginable. I could do
irreparable damage with such meddling."

"I think I have a fair understanding of the
consequences," said Nobody. "But this is something you caused. Rail
Blade was in Jerusalem because of you."

"My decision on this matter is final," said
Dr. Know. "You waste precious time in attempting to persuade
me."

"Fine," said Nobody. "And for what it's
worth, I'm a little relieved."

"Oh?"

"Perhaps you do learn from your
mistakes."

"I try," said Dr. Know.

"Then let's talk about Alex."

"My son? Why? What possible purpose could be
served?"

"Sarah told me how you tried to erase all
memory of him. I'm wondering, if Amelia is dead, will she also be
placed aside? I don't think your wife could survive it. I think
Amelia deserves better."

"When did you decide to become my spiritual
advisor, Richard? Who are you to tell me how to deal with my grief,
or with my wife, or my daughters?"

"I'm a man who's lost everything. I'm a man
who knows what it's like to have the memory of his life erased.
Crazy as it sounds, I would like to keep you from this fate."

"So that your life will have some meaning?"
asked Dr. Know. "You get to pass on the precious bit of wisdom
you've gleaned from your suffering, and hope that gives your
experiences some importance? Is that it?"

"More or less."

"Then here's some of my wisdom: The dead are
a waste of time. It is pointless to regret the words never spoken,
or the opportunities lost, or the feelings never shared. The past
should not be changed. The future is the only time worth any
concern or energy. You can take my word for this—after all, I'm the
one with the time machine."

"You’re one hard-headed, hard-hearted
bastard," said Nobody. "Maybe you don't learn from your mistakes
after all."

"If you are finished questioning my emotional
capacity, I have a mission for you, should you still desire to work
for me."

"Go on."

"Since Amelia hasn't returned, I must assume
the worst. The UN is sending a team to investigate the ruins of
Jerusalem, to try to discover what happened. My greatest fear is
that they will find Amelia's body and link her to what happened. I
want to send you along to sabotage such a mission any way you
can."

Before Nobody could give an answer, there was
a clang of metal striking metal from behind him. He looked toward
the sound.

Rail Blade stood near, stepping forward in
her heavy steel boots.

"They won't find my body," she said. "Though
I signed my work just the same."

Dried blood and dust caked Rail Blade's face.
Her clothes were ripped and ragged, her body emaciated but strong.
She smelled strongly of stale sweat.

"Daughter," said Dr. Know. "You’re still
alive."

"You say that so coldly," said Rail Blade. "A
simple observation. There's no joy in your words, Father."

"I didn't think I would see you again," said
Dr. Know.

"Was that a fear? Or a hope?"

"You look exhausted," said Nobody. "Maybe you
should sit down."

"Your concern is touching. But I've passed
beyond exhaustion. I've discovered resources within me I've never
imagined. I have no need for food, or rest. I've become...
something more than I was. I don't know that I can explain."

"There is nothing to explain," said Dr. Know.
His voice was no longer cold and calm. Now, an edge of anger was
evident. "There is no explanation possible. You have done something
unforgivable."

Rail Blade wiped her cheek, and sighed
deeply.

"I have no hope of forgiveness," she said. "I
have no need for it. Does one forgive the hurricane? Does an
earthquake ask for grace? You destroyed an entire universe, Father,
and created a new one in its place. Who is there to judge you?"

"Daughter," said Dr. Know. "I believe you are
ill."

Rail Blade stared at him. Her lips were
quivering. Nobody stepped backward slowly, removing himself from
the path that separated Rail Blade and Dr. Know.

"Ill?" she asked, softly.

"You killed hundreds of people, perhaps
thousands. You've done economic damage beyond calculation. You
endangered the peace and stability of the world. You've done more
harm to my plans than Rex Monday could have dreamed."

"Oh," said Rail Blade, her eyes narrowing.
"Of course. Your plans. I forgot whose planet I was on."

"My work... our work was, is, important.
You’ve always been my most trusted ally in my struggle. But
this—"

"Ally?" asked Rail Blade. "What a strange
word to use for your own daughter."

"You know what I mean," said Dr. Know.

"You need not fear for your... our plan,
Father. I have learned much from you. There will be no war. Soon,
people from all over the Earth will find the message I've left at
ground zero."

"Message?"

"I signed my work, Father. I forged a plaque
on the spot where the boy fell. The iron from his blood, and the
shards of the grenade, have been melded together in this work. I
give the world a warning. Jerusalem will not be the last city to
feel my touch. Any place that men kill other men over ancient,
pointless prejudice, wherever the Earth seems cursed with unhealing
hatred, I will cast my judgment. In Pakistan, Northern Ireland,
throughout Africa, the violence must stop. I've given the world one
year. Then, in the places where the Earth is still stained by
blood, I will scour it clean."

"My God," said Nobody. "You're serious."

Dr. Know stared at Rail Blade. He seemed lost
in thought.

"Very well," he said.

"What?" said Nobody.

"One year," said Dr. Know. "Who can say what
a year will bring? Perhaps I've been a fool all along. Perhaps I've
worked too long behind the scenes at peace, and have been blind to
the obvious truth. People respect power. They comprehend violence.
And perhaps war can only end if another, more horrible threat
forces it to end."

"You're both insane," said Nobody.

"Your opinions are duly noted," said Dr.
Know.

"Your opinions are completely irrelevant,"
said Rail Blade.

"Amelia," said Dr. Know. "Richard was correct
about one thing. You do seem very tired. I don't pretend to like
what you've done. But you are still my daughter, and it bothers me
to see you in such a state of obvious exhaustion."

"I... am weary," said Amelia. As she said
this, her thick steel boots crumbled to dust and she stumbled
forward on her bare feet.

"Let me help you, child," said Dr. Know,
extending his hand toward her.

She reached out to him, a single tear
trickling down her cheek. She placed her hand in his. As he looked
into her eyes, he turned her arm forearm up, and stroked it gently.
Then, with a smooth, subtle motion that Nobody almost missed, Dr.
Know slipped his hand into his pocket. When he pulled it out, he
held a syringe.

Rail Blade gasped as he slid the needle into
her vein with a rapid, precise stroke. He pushed the plunger, and
released her arm.

She stumbled backward, then collapsed,
motionless.

"I'm sorry," said Dr. Know.

"Oh my God!" said Nobody, dropping to her
side. "What did you just do to her?"

"I gave her an injection of pentobarbital,"
said Dr. Know. "She felt no pain. She was dead within a
heartbeat."

"I can't believe it! I can't believe you just
murdered your own daughter!"

"You saw what she had become. You saw what
she was capable of. I prepared for this contingency. Perhaps the
world will amend its ways in one brief year. But I doubt it. No
doubt, in a year, she would have carried out her threats. I
couldn't risk it. Who knows how powerful she would have been in a
year? Since puberty, her power has increased at an accelerating
rate. I believe this contributed to her mental breakdown."

Nobody swallowed hard. Looking down at Rail
Blade's pale, still form, he felt an immense sorrow.

"She tried so hard to please you," said
Nobody, choking up. "You were the center of everything for her. And
you murdered her."

"I did what I had to do." Dr. Know also
sounded on the verge of tears.

Nobody reached out, and placed his hand on
Rail Blade's cheek, and wiped away the tear that still glistened
there.

Her eyes fluttered open.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

TERRIFY IS A BETTER WORD

DR. KNOW PULLED
his gas gun from his
lab coat with one hand, and a small mask for his nose with the
other. He turned a dial on the handle as he stepped toward Rail
Blade, who was raising herself on her hands, looking groggy.

"Step back, Richard," said Dr. Know, placing
the barrel of the gun near his daughter's mouth. "This is Sarin.
Not as painless as the pentobarbital, I fear."

Richard staggered backward. Dr. Know pulled
the trigger before Rail Blade even seemed to realize what was
happening. The pistol gave a small click. Dr. Know's brow wrinkled
in bewilderment.

Rail Blade turned her face toward him, the
faintest hint of a smile on her lips. "There's a small steel
spring," she said, through labored breaths, "just inside the
trigger."

Dr. Know stepped back as Rail Blade sat up.
She nearly toppled backward, like a toddler surprised by the
momentum her body possessed. She steadied herself, and brushed her
hair back from her face. "You'll also find the taser in your watch
has malfunctioned," she said. "The syringe in your other pocket—the
needle just knotted itself."

Dr. Know nodded. Then, fluidly, he flew
forward, delivering a savage kick to her throat. She fell, arms
flying limp. He leapt into the air, almost faster than Nobody could
follow, and thrust his foot down with his full weight aimed at the
side of his daughter's head. Just before he made contact, a crown
of gleaming spikes materialized around Rail Blade's brow. He landed
with a cry of pain, as four inches of slender red steel punched
through the tops of his fine leather shoes.

He pulled himself free, hopping backward
until he reached his command chair. He leaned against it for
support, then cried out once more as the chair came to life. Steel
belts snaked out and encircled his waist, pulling him sharply into
the seat. Bands of metal snapped from the armrests, pinning his
arms. A rake of iron rose from behind the chair and dug into his
scalp, forcing his head back.