Razor Mountain

Chapter 32.1

"Do you know what this is about?" Christopher asked.

"No, he said it was news specifically for you," Cain replied. "He said it was on a need-to-know basis. That's the sort of thing he says all the time though."

The pair walked the halls from Christopher's apartment to his office. Christopher was still groggy from another night of strange dreams. The God-Speaker memories surfaced and integrated, sometimes clear and sometimes fragmentary. He still hadn't caught hold of the key memory of his death, but there was now an image seared in his mind, a shadowy, half-formed figure looming above him, a knife glinting in its hand.

Cain had a squinty look that Christopher had come to recognize as his worried face. Cain worried that anything unexpected was an assassination attempt. It was probably the right mode of thinking, but Christopher found it hard to muster more than a steady feeling of mild dread. His body couldn't pump the chemicals of fear through his system continuously, and his mind was a distracted whirlwind of memories, ideas and emotions.

When they arrived at the office, General Reese was already waiting for them. He was pacing, his service cap in his hands, seemingly rotating of its own accord.

"Ah," he said, when he saw them. "You had an interest in the group of deserters that were holed up in the old 3-F office block?"

"Yes?" Christopher said.

"They were apprehended, and they've been brought back. They're being detained, if you want to talk to them."

"I trust they were treated humanely?" Christopher asked. "And they're comfortable now?"

He imagined the entire group crammed into the white room with four cells, under the ministrations of Sergeant Meadows.

"Yes, of course," General Reese said. "One of them gave us some trouble, but they're none the worse for wear. You can see for yourself."

Christopher didn't like the sound of that. He could see a sheen of sweat on Reese's brow. There was something he was hiding.

"The girl who can't speak?"

Reese's eyes flicked away for a fraction of a second. Then he nodded.

"Two of the members of the capture team were injured. Both relatively minor injuries."

Christopher knew that he shouldn't talk to the exiles. They knew nothing about him, and it was better that way. God-Speaker knew that a king was always a target. He ruled from the shadows, almost unknown in his own kingdom. He was protected from danger by a circle of proxy rulers and the belief that the real chain of command was in Washington D.C.

Still, he wanted to at least see the people who had briefly taken him in, and ensure they were being treated well. They would be court-martialed. Could he somehow intervene in that process? There would be problems if the rules were seen to be flouted.

Cain appeared to read his mind.

"Better to delegate it. Someone else can check on them. I can, if you'd like."

Christopher nodded, but he said, "Where are they being held, Reese?"

"Military prison, standard area for those awaiting arraignment."

"I don't need to talk to them. I'd just like to look in," Christopher said.

"We could get you a video feed," Cain said.

Something was itching in the back of Christopher's mind. He couldn't tell what it was, exactly, but he felt an almost irresistible urge to follow it. An instinct honed over thousands of years.

He turned to Reese. The edges of the cuffs and collar on the man's green uniform were outlined in dark sweat.

"What do you think?"

"It...it's well in hand, sir. But if you want to see for yourself, that's your prerogative."

"Yes, I think I will. Care to join me?"

"Of course."

Christopher turned and stepped close to Cain, so that their right shoulders almost touched, and leaned down.

"You're armed?" Christopher asked quietly.

"I am," Cain said, eyes narrowing slightly.

"So am I. Prepare a message for the rest of the cabinet to be ready for a meeting at short notice. Don't send it yet. Then go straight through town and down to the military prison. Backtrack to us from there. We'll take the back way."

"Did you remember...?"

Christopher shook his head. "No, but I have a feeling that we'll know everything soon."