The Wraeththu Chronicles (31 page)

"I'm sorry . . ."

"Greenling. With Seel. You gave us guns . . ."

Realization dawned across her face. "Pellaz! Pellaz, isn't it? My God, you've changed! Sorry, I mean . . ."

"Oh, that's OK, I know. What are you doing here?"

"What, at the moment? Oh, visiting friends. I'm a bit stranded . . . waiting for a boat. . . waiting for work . . . you know . . . low on funds. How about you? God, I can't believe this! I never thought I'd meet you here!"

"I'm just passing through really. The power of coincidence ... I don't even know how long I'm staying . . ."I said.

She laughed. "Long enough for a drink with an old friend, or shall I say acquaintance?

"Long enough for that," I confirmed.

She took me to a quayside tavern where we could see the sleek Ferelithian ships bobbing like impatient race-horses upon a dark blue sea. We sat outside at a canopied table, and Kate waved away my offer of Vaysh's money. "No, I'll pay. I'm not that broke." She was dressed like a man with her long hair clasped high on her head with gold circlets. But for her admittedly vestigal bosom, she could easily have passed for Har. She sat sideways in her chair, her nervous arms clanking with bangles. I could not remember her being that restless before, but of course it had been some time since I had last seen her. Now that we had said hello to each other, it was difficult to think of anything to say. I began with the obvious, "I'm surprised to find a woman here . . ."

"Why?!" she snapped. "I have no quarrel with Wraeththu, and neither have many other women ..."

"You are tolerated here then?"

She rolled her eyes and rocked back in her chair. "God forbid! We're not back in the homeland now, Pell, thank heavens! There's quite a few women here. Ferelith like us, we amuse them, we have good friends. God knows womankind appreciates the vagaries of Man's nature just as much as Wraeththu. You've just got here I take it?"

"Mmm, yesterday."

She nodded, poking out her lower lip. "Have you any cigarettes?" she asked.

"For the first time in years, yes," I replied, thankful that I had actually bothered to buy some of my own at last.

"Where've you come from, Pell?" she asked. "You haven't stayed back home all this time have you?"

"No, not all the time . . ." Something about the tone of 'all this time' alerted me and I said, "How long has it been Kate?"

She smiled, flicking ask over the table, twirling the cigarette in her hand. "1 low long? God . . ." she screwed up her eyes. "Two years in Tahralan, some months in Lipforth... God, I don't know... what about five years?" She raised her eyebrows for confirmation.

"Five years?!" I slammed down my mug and ale slopped on the table.

Kate dabbed at her arm where I'd splashed it. "OK, OK, maybe not that long . . . four years something . ... What's the matter, Pell?"

I looked at her; I could not explain. "I didn't realize," I said. "Time goes so quickly doesn't it?"

"When you're having fun . . ."

"That's not always the case." Five years; I couldn't believe it. How much of that time had been spent in Thiede's care? I couldn't work it out.

"Where's your friend?" Kate asked and for a moment I thought she meant Vaysh. Then last night's wounds began to seep a little and the familiar cold numbed my head.

"Oh, you mean Cal..." Just saying his name brought me sorrow.

"We got split up," I explained and it came so easily after that. "That's when I came over here; I don't know where he is now..." (Now; five years later.)

"He really hated me, didn't he," she said, pulling her lip thoughtfully and staring into her beer

"He hated all women. It was nothing personal. . . God, why do I talk about him as if he's dead?" Even in that hot, kind sunlight, I could not shake off the cold. I was shaking, my teeth were chattering. Kate was staring at my arms and must have seen the goosebumps.

"Do you miss him? Oh shit, yes, you miss him. Shut up, Kate." She took a mouthful of her drink. "He was gorgeous, can I say that?"

I laughed bitterly. "You just did. Hell, it doesn't matter. I'd like to tell you about it, but I can't. At least I think I shouldn't ..."

"Where are you heading?" she asked, to change the subject.

I wondered whether I should tell her and then said; "Immanion."

She raised her eyebrows, swilling a mouthful of liquid thoughtfully. "Well, well, how privileged."

"Indeed. You must come visit me sometime," I returned sarcastically.

"Sorry, I'm only jealous," she said with a grin. "Look, I know it seems terribly ill-mannered, but I have to go soon, but I'll tell you what, meet me for a drink tonight; you can buy me one back. I might be in a sorry state if I don't get this job I'm after."

"I'd like that," I said. "I was hoping to find something to do tonight. I have a traveling companion who's about as lively as the grim reaper. Where shall I meet you?"

She quaffed the rest of her drink and wiped her mouth. "There's a leisure-warren not far from here ..."

"A what?"

"A place to enjoy yourself, drink, dance, listen to music, whatever. It's called Temple Radiant ... not far, OK?"

I watched her hurry back into the crowd, heading for the harbor. I had not even asked her how she had got here.

Vaysh was waiting for me in my room. "You've been gone a long time," he said, in his flat, disinterested way. I did not welcome the prospect of Vaysh destroying my mood.

"I met a woman in the market," I said. "From Greenling. You remember Greenling, Vaysh, surely!"

He ignored the implication. "What did you tell her?" he asked ominously.

"Nothing I shouldn't have!" I snapped. "I was surprised to see her though. Is it fate, Vaysh, or did Thiede organize it for me?"

"Shut up, you fool," Vaysh droned.

"Are all Wraeththu in this land kindly disposed toward women?" I asked, looking at myself in the mirror. I could see him behind me; his narrowed eyes.

"Some women are as pleased to see the decline of men as we are," he said. "It's a bleak prospect for them though and depressing for us. We have to watch them grow old alone. I had women friends once . . ."

"Vaysh, one more word and I'll consider you good-natured," I teased, making him pull one of his sour faces, of which he had an inexhaustive variety. I could still see him in the mirror. Sometimes, not often, Vaysh could be almost approachable and then he'd retreat behind a barrier of unpleasantness. He made disagreeable noises when I told him I was meeting Kate that night and then insisted on accompanying me

"Ah, you just want to enjoy yourself," I said. "You're going to dance and get drunk aren't you?"

"I am not!" Vaysh snarled. "I just want to keep an eye on you."

We dined at the inn and Vaysh pointedly refused a glass of wine. He grumbled continuously whilst I tarted myself up to go out. The last time I'd had a social life was in Galhea; I was determined not to let Vaysh spoil our evening.

"Get changed, comb your hair," I told him.

"I don't have to," he replied haughtily, which was true. I had bought several brass bangles that afternoon and offered him one because I felt sorry for him. (Good humor often brings out a strange side to my nature.) Surprisingly, he took it. I had also spent a rather lavish amount of money on getting my ears pierced again, with half a dozen, heavy gold rings.

"The money's yours anyway," Vaysh said. "Waste it how you like."

We discovered that Temple Radiant was the place to be seen in Ferelithia. I was surprised how much it cost to get in. Inside, it was almost dark; what light there was glowed purple or dark green. The music was so loud and so strange, strident, pounding; I wasn't sure if I liked it.

"Stop gaping," Vaysh said.

"I've seen nothing like this," I murmured inadequately. Vaysh sniffed.

"I used to come here, before," he said.

Several rooms of varying murkiness led to the main auditorium. The furnishings were all of black velvet, leather and simulated animal skins. Black netting strung with painted bones hung down from the ceiling. Vaysh led the way into a room named Gehenna. I must admit I shrank at the door; its occupants, what I could see of them, seemed unpleasantly suitable for the name.

"Blend in, Pellaz; buy a drink," Vaysh advised, firing his basilisk stare at anyone who looked at us.

"Where's Kate?"

"Buy a drink first. . ." he said impatiently.

I didn't know what to order so Vaysh bought two glasses of something colored neon purple that tasted like acid perfume on first acquaintance and increasingly pleasant after the first swallow.

The Ferelith were undoubtedly the most exotic and colorful race I had yet seen. Their hair, their clothes, their careful mannerisms combined to form a breathtaking glamor. "Do stop gaping!" Vaysh said. I saw several women who looked just like hara; some of them may have been, it was impossible to tell. Vaysh pointed out Wreaththu of different tribes; most of them unfamiliar to me. Then someone touched my arm; a warm dry hand. "Pell, you've come," Kate said, sounding surprised.

"I said I would."

"Yes I know, but. . . this way." She took my arm and hauled me into the darkness. I did not look to see if Vaysh was following. Kate and her friends had gathered round a table right next to the dance floor; the music was deafening there. Colored lights swept crazily through the smoke. I could see her mouth moving and presumed she was introducing us to the others. She couldn't stop looking at Vaysh. He was giving one of his virtuoso performances of astounding indifference, resting his elbows on the table, with his chin in his hands, looking bored. Kate was desperate to keep us entertained, although I would have been quite happy just watching the dancers. It was a strain to keep shouting over the noise.

"I got the job!" she bellowed and insisted on buying us more drinks. Restless as ever, she

kept

leaving the table to dance. Her friends realized the futility of trying to get acquainted

with us, so most of the time I was left with only Vaysh to mouth at. He looked sulky and

lovely, and because of the drink, I remember trying to get him to talk to me. "You're drunk,"

he said.

Five empty glasses stood in sticky rings on the table in front of me when the music died down. My ears were ringing insanely; I felt pleasantly unsteady.

Kate leaned over. "Soon you'll hear the real music," she said, her face damp and flushed. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

I nodded and smiled and could feel Vaysh looking at both of us with scorn. Kate waved at someone. "Now be sociable, Pell, here's Rue. I want you to meet him," she said with a conspiratorial smirk. The one she called Rue sauntered over to our table; white light from the stage at the other end of the room shone through his hair. "Wait till you see this," Kate hissed to me through her teeth. "Hello Rue, mixing with the rabble are you? I'd like you to meet a friend of mine ..."

That was where Kate faded out, more suddenly than she had intended, I'm sure. True magnetism is a hard thing to define, but Rue had it in abundance; shameless abundance. This was a classic example of what Thiede had once spoken to me about; instant gravitation. I suppose it was because he reminded me of Cal in a way; he had white-gold hair, but it was much longer. In looks, Vaysh could have outshone him easily (without the sulk), but what he lacked in symmetry of feature, Rue made up for generously with sheer sensuality and confidence. I could almost hear Vaysh thinking, "Ugh, how common!" and that in itself delighted me.

"Rue, sit down," Kate said, with the interested bustle of a voyeur, making room, patting the seat.

"I can't stay," he said, and looked at me. "Oh, hi," he added carelessly. I must have mumbled something inane. He smiled and walked away, leaping up onto the stage and through some curtains at the back.

"A singer," Kate explained and slid me a knowing glance. "Did you like him?"

"Mmm," I agreed, non-commitally.

Kate laughed, "You can't stay in mourning for ever," she pointed out incisively.

"Kate, shut up."

"You can't. I'm not psychic but . . ."

"Kate, shut up."

"Why are you grinning then?"

"Kate!"

"Pellaz, how much longer do you want to stay here?" Vaysh complained in his usual chilly voice beside me. He had barely touched his first drink. I had forgotten he was there.

"You can go back if you like," I said and we stared at each other for several excruciating seconds.

"Don't think about doing anything stupid," he said with a sneer

"What's stupid?" I asked delicately and he would not reply. "Chaperone as well then," I said in a low voice. He still would not answer. Then all the lights dimmed out and I could feel heat rising in the darkness.

Vaysh shifted awkwardly in his seat; his bangle knocked against the table. A sound, like a hissing heartbeat prickled my skin. It built up slowly, louder and louder, and the crowd cheered and whistled. The excitement was infectious; Kate climbed up onto her seat. For a moment, silence, and then with a flash of white light and plumes of steam, drums rolled like thunder and Rue was bathed in a cataract of spotlights upon the stage. I stood up. Primal and thrilling, the music roared through my head. Rue leapt around the other musicians; sparks of light lasered off the chrome of their instruments. His voice was a scream then a snarl; he crouched to tease the nearest of his audience, leaping up; his body supple as a snake. Kate leaned down and put her arms round my neck. "Dance with me," she said. The heat of other bodies pressed against us and for a moment I held her close. She laughed in my face, mocking, bitter, and pulled away. "Demon!" she said and then, in my ear, "but what a way to die!"