Maybe the Nightmen would take care of her. Those savage creatures, who scoured the streets of the Dark City and wiped them clean with the blood of those who displeased them, would show no mercy. Even Belochs demands might have no influence.
Or the Truth Breakers might find her and bring her before Beloch. He hated to think of her reaction when she discovered the scholarly old man was a torturer par excellence. He had no
intention of being around when that happened.
He had no idea how far theyd go in extracting the truth from her. For all her fierce, hidden spirit, her body would break quite easilythey would barely have to hurt her to get what they needed. But he realized now that they wouldnt be likely to let her go once they were done with her.
He paused at the top of the stairs. He ought to go back down and lock the door. There were things crawling in the alleys of the Dark City that he didnt want entering the house, but a simple lock was enough to keep them out. He started back down, walking through a faint drift of scent, her skin, her hair, and he cursed again. He moved faster, racing down the stairs, and a moment later he was out into the night, going after her.
Could she see the sickness and decay beneath the gray-brown of everything? Or would she take things at face value? Wouldnt she wonder why she still had a healthy color?
The Nightmen were lurking by the sluggish black river that flowed through the center of the city. He could sense them, hear them, and he knew that she couldnt have made it that far. He heard a faint scream of agony, but it came from a mans throat and he dismissed it. At least she was safe from themby her scent, he could tell shed headed in the opposite direction. She was smart enough to avoid danger. The problem was, danger came at you from every angle here in the Dark City.
He turned his back on the screams and sobs of the dying man and followed her. Hed find her. And when he did, hed drag her back to the house and handcuff her to the bedpost until Beloch was ready to send for her.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A nice night for a walk. The air was warm with just the faint hint of crispness that presaged autumn, and a soft breeze brushed against my skin. If only the shadows didnt lie so heavily on everything, leaching the color from the buildings I passed, from the trees overhead, the cars, and, most of all, the people. They were sepia ghosts of another time, and no one met my eyes or responded to my tentative greetings. It was almost as if they were afraid of me, but that was impossible. I was harmless. Wasnt I?
Because if I held any latent power, if I were the monstrous demon that Azazel declared me to be and the mythology books described, then surely I would have wreaked vengeance on everyone and everything in my path, including Azazel. I would have ripped him apart if Id had the ability.
But the people I passed scuttled by me in their gray ghostliness, heads down, and finally I caught a young woman by the arm, forcing her to look at me. Excuse me, but do you know where theres a public park? I had the sudden longing to kick off my shoes and feel grass beneath my feet, even if the grass was gray.
Shed frozen at my touch, her eyes wide with fear, and I wondered if shed been struck dumb. If I hadnt been holding her gently, I think she might have run.
We dont have parks, she said finally, her voice low and totally without inflection. Almost like a computer-generated voice.
Then is there a place outside where I could sit for a while? I persisted.
It wouldnt be a good idea. There was just a trace more life in her voice, something that sounded like concern. We dont you shouldnt She stopped, clearly frustrated. You should go home. You should leave here. You dont belong here.
Curiosity had always been my besetting sinafter all, Id been a reporter in Brisbane and, I suspected, elsewhere as well. Who does belong here? Who are you?
She looked startled, and even more wary. We earned our places here. It is our reward.
Doesnt look like much of a reward, I said with my usual lack of tact.
You should go away. I mustnt be seen talking to you.
Why not?
Because youre a stranger. The only reasons strangers come here are bad. She tugged at her arm, and I released her.
But
I cant help you, she said. I shouldnt even warn you.
Warn me?
Leave the Dark City if you can. If you cannot, stay in your house and dont wander the streets at night. Whatever you do, keep away from the Nightmen.
Who are the Nightmen? I was trying to hold on to her with questions, but she was edging away.
The police. Keep away from the river.
What
But shed already gone. I stared after her, one more gray person shuffling through the city streets. Shed been young, but her eyes were empty, her clothes shapeless and drab. Instead of finding answers, I was left with even more questions .
Keep away from the river, shed said. I could do that. In fact, if I had any sense, Id turn around and head back to the huge old house and my unpleasant companion.