Terminal World (70 page)

‘We do not seek your charity,’ Kalis answered. She stood behind Nimcha, with one hand on her daughter’s shoulder.

‘They survived outside Spearpoint, under conditions at least as lawless as anything here,’ Quillon explained. ‘That’s not to say that I don’t want them properly cared for. But that isn’t why I’ve brought them to see you.’

‘It isn’t?’

Quillon glanced at Tulwar’s lieutenant. ‘There’s something delicate that we need to discuss.’

‘Mister Kargas, would you be so kind as to leave us momentarily?’

Kargas was understandably indignant. ‘They haven’t been searched.’

‘I trust them, just as I trust the doctor and Meroka. Dismiss the organmaster as well. Pressure will hold for a few minutes.’

‘Very well,’ Kargas said, making no effort to hide his displeasure.

When the doors had been closed and they were alone again - save for the still-piping calliope, churning through the same banal melody - Tulwar nodded once. ‘Continue, Doctor. What is it that can only be entrusted to my ears alone?’

‘I came here to save your city,’ Nimcha said.

Tulwar seemed at least as unsettled by her answer as he was amused by it. ‘Did you?’

‘She’s a tectomancer,’ Quillon said.

Tulwar smiled again, but there was a quality of fading expectation in his smile, as if he had anticipated better of Quillon. ‘Some would say they don’t even exist.’

‘They exist,’ Quillon affirmed. ‘But tectomancers are ... not what we imagined. There’s much that we still don’t understand about them - much that we may never understand. But I know this: there’s something in her mother’s blood, some cluster of inheritance factors, that has expressed itself in Nimcha. She has the mark. Show him, Nimcha: he won’t harm you.’

Nimcha’s hair had still not grown back where Spatha had cut it away. She presented her scalp to Tulwar. He took a step forwards, the calliope creaking behind him.

‘It’s just a red blemish on her skin,’ he said.

Quillon nodded. ‘Yes, but it’s a perfectly formed blemish intended to mark her as one with a special, world-altering power. It’s a symbol, not a disfigurement.’

‘And this world-altering power is ... ?’

‘She can shift the zones. They bend to her will.’ Quillon hesitated, mindful that it would be unwise to mention Nimcha’s part in the storm that had brought Spearpoint to the edge of ruin. ‘I’ve seen her do it,’ he went on. ‘She doesn’t yet have full control of that power, but her ability’s growing by the day. This isn’t magic, Tulwar. It’s just a kind of technology we don’t understand any more.’

‘Technology,’ Tulwar said, as if the word itself had sordid implications.

‘I don’t know how or why it works. But I do know that Spearpoint isn’t what we thought. It’s not unique. We found another one in the middle of the Bane - smashed and lifeless, not at all like the city we know. But the underlying structure was unmistakable. Someone made these things for a purpose, and it wasn’t just about giving us somewhere to live. And the tectomancers, the people like Nimcha, were in some way vital to that purpose.’

‘Sounds a lot like guesswork to me.’

‘Ricasso - Swarm’s leader - and I saw the same symbol, the same baubled star, marked on the side of the structure. It must have been there for thousands of years, unseen by human eyes. Had anyone been able to live there, they would have covered it or worn it away almost as long ago. That’s why we have no record of it here, except via the myth.
Had
we remembered, things might have been different. Perhaps if we hadn’t been persecuting people like Nimcha for so long - treating them like witches and mad women - we might have got somewhere.’

‘Some would say the world works fine as it is, Doctor.’

‘For some. But I’ve seen what it’s like beyond Spearpoint, and now Spearpoint’s had a taste of that as well. It can be better, though. Nimcha can put things back the way they were.’

‘Before the storm?’ Tulwar asked.

‘I’m optimistic. So is Nimcha. The city’s been calling to her, speaking to her on an almost telepathic level. She’s linked to it by some bond, some communicational channel, something that can reach right through zone boundaries as if they don’t exist.’ He shrugged helplessly. ‘I don’t pretend to understand it, only to accept that it functions.’

‘And the city wants what, exactly?’

‘Spearpoint - or whatever Spearpoint really is - needs her to take control. Her powers work at a distance, but to be truly effective she needs to be here, as close to the Mire, even the Eye of God, as she can reasonably get.’

‘She’s pretty close already,’ Tulwar said.

‘It’s not close enough for the city. It needs her to be nearer. I don’t think it’s trying to hurt her, but while she’s not where she needs to be there’s a deep-rooted conflict that’s making her ill. For Nimcha’s own good, I must see that this conflict is resolved. If that also works for the good of Spearpoint, all the better.’

‘That’s a lot to take on board, Doctor.’

‘If there was another explanation, I’d embrace it willingly. But as I said, I’ve seen what she can do. I haven’t suddenly started believing in witchcraft.’

‘Meroka ... is this on the level?’

‘As apeshit as it sounds, yes. Cutter’s telling the truth.’

Tulwar raised a finger, provisionally. ‘Let’s - for the moment - take what you’ve said as gospel. What exactly do you envisage happening next?’

‘We get into the tunnels. Meroka knows the way.’ He looked at her, inviting her to take over.

‘They go plenty deep enough,’ she said. ‘Be a long walk, but we can manage that. There’s a sub-shaft not far from the launderette entrance - that’ ll take us most of the way down.’

‘To the Mire?’ Tulwar asked.

‘Near as anyone’s going to get,’ Meroka said.

‘It’s the only option,’ Quillon said. ‘We need to take Nimcha into those tunnels, Tulwar. But with the city the way it is now, only you can make that happen.’

‘You’ve no idea what will transpire when you take her there.’

Quillon glanced at Kalis and Nimcha in turn, knowing that neither of them deserved easy consolation. ‘I don’t, no. But if she’s precious to Spearpoint, it stands to reason it won’t want to harm her.’

‘And when it’s finished with her?’

‘She’ll still be a tectomancer.’ Quillon thought back to the conversation he had had with Ricasso, in the spotter balloon. ‘Once, I think they were the masters. Spearpoint - whatever Spearpoint was - was just the instrument they controlled. The city remembers that. It wants - needs - a guiding hand. It needs a human mind to help it help itself. She’ll still be valuable when the zones are put back the way they should be.’

‘This must be done,’ Kalis said.

‘You’re willing to see this happen to your daughter?’ Tulwar asked.

‘It is her desire as much as it is the city’s,’ Kalis answered. ‘And I have seen how sick the city made her, when she could not answer its call. My mind is clear of doubt.’

‘None of this has been taken lightly,’ Quillon said. ‘We’ve had the voyage back to Spearpoint to think it over. Our decision is already made. Now all we need is access to those tunnels.’

‘Won’t be a walk in the park,’ Tulwar said.

‘Don’t like parks much anyway,’ Meroka said.

‘The angels have Circuit City now and they’re making inroads into what used to be Neon Heights. My men are holding them back as well as they can, but Fray’s entrance is slap bang in the middle of the battle.’

‘The launderette entrance would make more sense,’ Meroka said.

‘No better, I’m afraid. Look, I’m not saying it’s impossible. Just that you’re not going to be able to stroll up to the Pink Peacock without a fight.’

‘We’re not afraid of that,’ Quillon said.

‘I don’t doubt it. But logistical arrangements will need to be made. When are you thinking of going in?’

Quillon glanced at Meroka. ‘How does right now sound?’

‘Take a look in the mirror some time,’ Tulwar told him. ‘You’re a walking shadow. Matter of fact, you all look like you could use a wash, some food and a decent night’s sleep. Nothing’s happening tonight, understood? I’ll need to clear a safe route to one of the entrances and that means reinforcing my troops. At the moment they’re operating close to one of the new zone boundaries, which means I’m having to cycle them in and out before the sickness gets too bad. But now you’ve shown up with new medicines, I can put more men into the area.’

‘The idea was to prioritise distribution to the citizens, not the militia,’ Quillon said.

‘Your call. You want access to that tunnel system badly enough, you’re going to have to make some tough choices about resource allocation. Sleep on it.’

‘If you issue the medicines, we can go in tomorrow?’ Quillon asked.

‘That’ll depend on reports from the front line. If Nimcha - it is Nimcha, right? - is as precious to the city as you claim, I’m not going to commit her to the danger zone until I’ve got a cast-iron guarantee that it’s secure for civilian passage.’ Tulwar paused. ‘I’ll do what I can, all right? But tonight you rest here. Now someone go and bring Kargas and the stoker back in again.’

‘What we’ve spoken of,’ Quillon said. ‘It stays a secret, understood? You know about the superstition surrounding tectomancers. We can’t risk anyone finding out about Nimcha.’

‘Nothing goes beyond this room. Kargas will have to know about the plans for entering the tunnel, but he doesn’t need to know why. How many of Swarm know about this?’

‘By the time we got to Spearpoint? Only a few people. Their leader, Ricasso;
Painted Lady’s
captain, Curtana; Curtana’s second-in-command, Agraffe. They’re all people I’d trust with my life.’

‘Must have been hard work, keeping a lid on that. But then I suppose you’ve had lots of practice, Doctor Quillon, you being what you are. I’m assuming your companions know all about you.’

‘They’ve accepted me for what I am.’

‘Better hope the rest of the city follows their lead, because you’re starting to stand out from the crowd.’

‘I’m fortunate to be alive. I’ll take whatever else is dished out to me.’

There was a knock at the doors. After a moment they opened, admitting Kargas. ‘I’m sorry to interrupt,’ he said, ‘but they’ve brought Captain Curtana to the bathhouse. She survived the fire.’

Quillon smiled, momentarily relieved, but there was an edge in Kargas’s voice that he couldn’t ignore. ‘But she’s not unhurt.’

‘You’d best see for yourself, Doctor. I’ve had her taken to the same floor as the other injured airmen. The good news is that she managed to get almost all of the medicine out in time.’

‘Good, Kargas,’ Tulwar said. ‘You were right to bring this to our attention. I’m sure the doctor will want to be with Captain Curtana. We’d concluded our discussion in any case. It was very illuminating. Now would you be so kind as to order the organmaster to return? I need more steam. And while he’s at it, have him change the God-damned tune; it’s starting to piss me off even more than usual.’

Quillon, Meroka, Kalis and Nimcha ascended to the makeshift infirmary on the next floor, passing demure girls and sweating, sheepish clients on their way upstairs. It was dark outside now, with barely any sign that the city extended beyond the black panes of the windows. No lights, no fires, not even the subliminal urban hum of distant traffic and commerce, blocks or districts away. It felt exactly as if the bathhouse was afloat on a still, black sea, countless leagues from land and civilisation.

‘Do you trust this man?’ Kalis asked when they were safely out of earshot.

‘I see no option but to trust him,’ Quillon said. ‘If Tulwar meant to betray us, he could have done so the last time we met. We can’t always choose our allies, I’m afraid.’

‘Cutter’s got a point. Man helped us get out of Spearpoint.’

‘What happened to him, to make him the way he is?’

‘He got on the wrong side of the angels. And that, at least, gives us something in common.’

‘Amen to that,’ Meroka said.

‘We may not like it, but it makes perfect sense for his militia to get the drugs ahead of everyone else. If it’s that or see the city slide even further into chaos, the militia must take priority.’ Quillon gave an awkward, self-justifying shrug. ‘In any case, it’s not as if we brought enough Serum- 15 on
Painted Lady
to make more than a token difference to the citizens anyway. Mass treatment will have to wait until the other ships arrive. It’s best that the limited supply we have now is given to those who can make the best use of it.’

‘You say this, but you do not believe it in your heart.’

Quillon paused on the staircase, bile rising in his throat. ‘What do you want me to say? That I don’t think we should do everything we can to get Nimcha where she needs to be? I’m not superhuman, Kalis. No one handed me written instructions on how to do the right thing by you, Nimcha, the city and her millions of citizens. I’m just trying to do my best, without a script, without any real idea who I can and can’t trust, and in the sure and certain knowledge that I’ll be torn limb from limb by just about anyone who discovers my true nature.’

Kalis looked down. ‘I did not mean to criticise.’

He made an effort to soften his tone. ‘This hasn’t been easy for any of us, not least you and Nimcha. But if you don’t think I can get you the rest of the way, you only have to tell me to stop trying to help and I’ll gladly step aside. I’m sure there are thousands of sick people out there I could be treating this very moment, instead of trying to heal Spearpoint itself.’

‘You are doing the right thing,’ Kalis said.

‘Yes,’ Nimcha added. ‘Please don’t leave us, Doctor. I don’t want to go into the tunnels without you.’

‘We’ll be all right,’ Meroka said, giving her an affectionate squeeze on the arm.

‘I do not know how far you will be able to come with us,’ Kalis said. ‘Even if you want to.’