The Marus Manuscripts (28 page)

F
or the rest of the day, the castle seemed to bustle with activity, but none of it involved Wade. Dr. Lyst was gone for most of the afternoon, and when he returned in the evening, he locked himself in the lab to work. Even Thurston was unavailable to Wade, since he’d taken Cromley to a veterinarian.

With time on his hands, Wade wandered the castle like a small ghost. He tried reading but found the books in Tyran’s collection too political for his taste. He walked up and down the halls, glancing at the various paintings and statues, but he soon tired of that. Then he peeked in the various unoccupied rooms, strolled along the castle wall, and felt generally bored. Without Dr. Lyst, he didn’t know what to do with himself.

He thought about his mother and wondered if she were upset because he’d been gone so long. It was wrong of him not to try harder to get back to his world, he figured, though he didn’t have the slightest idea how to do it. Dr. Lyst had promised he would attempt to figure it out, but could he? What if
he
didn’t know how? Wade then thought of Arin, who’d suggested that the Unseen One might return Wade to America.
Did Dr. Lyst remember to have Thurston tell Arin I’m all right?
he wondered.

Arin . . . Dr. Lyst . . .

They were so different. Arin believed in the doom and judgment of the Unseen One—that the end of the world was near. Dr. Lyst believed in the hope and future of Tyran—that a new beginning was at hand. And somehow Wade was the missing piece to
both their beliefs. How was that possible? Wade didn’t know
what
he believed.

That night, he dreamed of Arin preaching in the streets and a giant mushroom cloud growing on the horizon behind the city.
The atomic bomb!
Wade tried to shout, but he had no voice. Thousands died from the explosion.

The next morning, Thurston came to Wade’s room as usual and threw open the curtains. Wade flinched and covered his face, as if protecting himself from an explosion.

“Are you all right, sir?” Thurston asked.

Wade was breathless. “I had a bad dream,” he said.

“I’m sorry,” Thurston sympathized.

Wade sat up and asked, “How’s Cromley?”

Thurston turned, clasping his hands anxiously in front of him before saying, “Bad news, I’m afraid. He died last night.”

“Oh no!”

“I’m going to miss him terribly.”

“Me, too,” Wade said with a nod, then asked, “How did he die?”

“The veterinarian wasn’t sure. He’d never seen anything like it.” Thurston pulled the covers aside so Wade could get out of bed. “It’s all very mysterious,” he added.

Wade looked at him, perplexed.

“Not only about Cromley, but the others, I mean.”

“What others?” Wade asked.

“Some of the staff have taken ill. We have only about half of our usual people in place.”

“Does anybody know why?”

“No, sir,” Thurston said. “Tyran called for a doctor.”

Thurston went into the bathroom to start the water for Wade’s bath. Wade got undressed and wrapped a robe around himself. He walked into the bathroom, where Thurston was testing the temperature of the water.

“Thurston . . .” Wade began hesitantly.

“Yes, sir?”

“Did Dr. Lyst ask you to deliver a message to Arin?”

“No, sir.”

“Oh.” Wade thought for a moment. “I’d like to go see him if you can arrange it.”

“Arin?”

“Yes, please.”

“I’m afraid that isn’t possible,” Thurston said.

“Why isn’t it?”

“Tyran has given express orders not to allow anyone in or out of the castle right now.”

“Why?” Wade asked in surprise.

“He and Dr. Lyst are in the middle of some very important work, and they fear that a breach of security could compromise them.” Thurston stood away from the bathtub. “At least, that’s what they’ve told me.”

“In other words, he’s locked us in,” Wade said.

“Yes, I suppose you could put it that way.”

Wade folded his arms and thought for a moment. He wanted Arin to know where he was and that he was safe. “Thurston,” he said finally, “I have to get a message to Arin. I want him to know I’m all right.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Wade was in the middle of his bath when it suddenly occurred to him what the “important work” was.
Dr. Lyst is making the bomb!
he thought excitedly.
He’s figured out how to do it!

Wade remembered how the atomic bomb was surrounded by top secrecy during its development. The Americans had been worried that the Germans might discover what they were up to, steal their secrets, and develop the bomb before them. Likewise, that must be why Tyran and Dr. Lyst had clamped down on security
around the castle. They didn’t want any of their enemies to create the bomb first. Wade felt excited and proud.

Later, during breakfast, Wade noticed how empty the castle seemed to be. Many of the staff and servants were missing, just as Thurston had said. Wade ate his toast and wondered about the illness that was going around. What kinds of germs and flus did they have in this world? Were they the same as in his?

His thinking drifted back to the atomic bomb and the effects it had on the Japanese at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The newspapers had reported that many mysterious illnesses—some fatal—afflicted the survivors. Doctors were still trying to sort out the causes, but most agreed that the diseases were the aftereffects of the radiation from the bombs. They still had so much to learn, they said.

Radiation
, Wade thought.
Does Dr. Lyst understand about the dangers of radiation?

Wade jumped up from the table and raced to the laboratory. The doors were closed, as he expected. He knocked loudly. When no one answered, he knocked again. This time he didn’t wait and opened one of the doors.

The laboratory looked empty. Then, through the doors leading to the walkway on the wall outside, he saw Dr. Lyst. The doctor was standing, looking out over the city.

“Dr. Lyst?” Wade called.

“Oh, hello, Wade,” the doctor said pleasantly. He looked weary. In the distance, a ribbon of smoke rose from the city’s horizon.

“What’s that?” Wade asked.

“More riots.”

“They’re
rioting
?” Wade was concerned. “Why?”

“The war, a poor economy . . . it’s always the same,” the doctor replied. “What can they expect when they follow the fools who serve as our elders? But the moment is coming—is nearly here—when Tyran will prove himself.”

Wade leaned against the wall and kept his eyes fixed on the city. “You’ve figured out how to build the bomb,” he said as casually as he could.

Dr. Lyst sighed. “Not
the
bomb—not the atomic one—but we’ve come up with at least
a
bomb. A powerful one. My technicians and scientists are exhausting themselves to have it finished by tomorrow.”

Wade turned to him, surprised. “Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow,” Dr. Lyst affirmed. “That’s when Tyran will make his demonstration to the elders.”

“That’s why everyone’s been so busy,” Wade said.

“Yes.”

From somewhere in the city, they heard a loud
crack
, like the sound of a whip snapping. It was followed by a muted scream.

“Can’t the police stop it?” Wade asked.

Dr. Lyst shook his head. “They’ve been trying, but the people are panicked. A lot of them are sick.”

“Sick from what?”

“No one is sure.”

Wade waited a moment, then asked cautiously, “Did you know that a lot of people in the castle are sick, too?”

“I heard that something is going around.” Dr. Lyst touched his nose. “I’m not sure I feel very well myself. But I don’t have time to think about it.”

“Dr. Lyst, have you been using plutonium or uranium in your research?”

Dr. Lyst turned his gaze fully to Wade. His expression was quizzical as he answered, “We don’t have such things here, but we have our own equivalent. We call it viranium. Why do you ask?”

“Because in my world, the stuff that makes the atomic bomb work is radioactive,” Wade explained. “If people are exposed to it, they get sick. Sometimes they die.”

“Oh, I see now. You’re afraid that I’ve brought some of those substances to the castle and that’s what’s making people sick?”

“Yes. Maybe the people in the city are getting sick from it, too. See, I’ve been thinking about it, and maybe if you weren’t careful, it might get into the water somehow.”

“Don’t worry about it, Wade,” the doctor said, his voice full of assurance. “We have the strictest precautions in place. I have everything under control.”

“Then you’re not keeping any of that viranium stuff here—anywhere near the city?”

Dr. Lyst smiled. “I said not to worry. We’re scientists. We’re careful.”

Wade wasn’t sure if he believed him, but he didn’t get the chance to pursue the subject because just then, Tyran appeared in the doorway between the laboratory and the castle wall. “There you are,” he said. “I have been looking for you.”

“Well, here I am,” Dr. Lyst said, his arms outstretched as if he were presenting himself for inspection.

“You have time to stand out here and look at the view?” Tyran teased.

“I
make
time, Tyran,” the doctor replied, then lectured, “as should you. You’re looking very tired.”

“I
am
tired,” Tyran said sharply. “Tired of those idiots who call themselves our elders. They will not return any of my messages now. It was bad enough that they laughed at me yesterday, but now they are ignoring me. I will not tolerate it any longer.”

“Ah! You’ve decided how you want to handle the demonstration?”

“Yes, providing you have good news for me.”

“Good news?” Dr. Lyst nodded. “I suppose I do. Our prototype should be ready to test by tomorrow morning.”

“
Should
be?” Tyran challenged him. “
Will
be, you mean.”

“It
will
be.”

“Excellent.” Tyran rubbed his hands together briskly. “I have determined the perfect site for the demonstration.”

“Where?”

“The home of one of the elders.”

“A
home
?”

“Liven’s mansion on the outskirts of the city.”

“Not someone’s home, Tyran! You can’t be serious.”

“I am very serious, my friend. That will show them how powerful we are, and that we mean business.”

Dr. Lyst lowered his head and said softly, “No, Tyran.”

“No? You are defying me, doctor?”

Dr. Lyst locked eye contact with him. “I know you’re upset with the elders,” he reasoned, “but murdering one of them at home is not the way.”

“Murdering?” Tyran said, then suddenly laughed. “You do not understand,” he explained. “I’m not out to
kill
anyone. I merely want to blow up Liven’s
house
, not Liven or his family.”

“That’s a relief,” said Dr. Lyst.

Tyran continued, “My spies have worked out Liven’s routine. His wife and children are gone every morning at 10:00. His servants use that time to shop for the evening meal. The house will be empty when we do our demonstration.”

“You’re certain?”

“I am certain.” Tyran eyed the doctor for a moment. “You are not convinced.”

“I’m not convinced that blowing up anyone’s house is a good idea.”

“What do you think bombs are for?” Tyran said with a humorless chuckle. “Do you think Wade’s country hesitated to drop those atomic bombs on their enemies just because there were
homes
in the target cities?”

“We dropped them on industrial cities,” Wade said defensively.

“All the same, you destroyed homes and families. It is what happens in war.”

“We’re not at war with our own city,” Dr. Lyst said.

“We may as well be,” Tyran snapped, then turned to Wade. “Thurston asked me for permission to send a message to Arin on your behalf.”

“Yes, sir. I want Arin to know that I’m with you and I’m safe.”

“I told Thurston no, he did not have permission to do what you asked,” Tyran said. He pushed his hands into his jacket pockets. “These are volatile times, Wade. I cannot have one of my servants seen near Arin’s compound. It would give the wrong impression. Besides, why should you care whether Arin knows you are all right?”

“Because he helped me when I first arrived,” Wade replied.

“Your loyalty is commendable but misguided. He would have made a spectacle of you. He only helped you because it suited his own ends.”

Wade thought that statement was unfair. Arin didn’t seem selfish. “And why are
you
helping me?” Wade retorted.

Tyran struck out, clipping Wade on the cheek. “Never question me in that tone again!” he ordered.

Tears sprang to Wade’s eyes, more from the shock than from the blow itself. “Yes, sir,” he said coldly and turned his back to Tyran to look out at the city again.

He heard Tyran march away.

Wade gently rubbed his cheek. Dr. Lyst also looked thoughtfully toward the city.

“He seems harder now, doesn’t he?” Dr. Lyst said.

Wade nodded.

“He’s under a lot of stress.”

Wade didn’t say anything.

“The demonstration will prove to the elders that it’s time to listen to us. A lot is riding on its success.”