“With the provisions we have, we can stay inside for three or four days,”Nathan said. “More if we want to stretch them. If I know Booth, and I do, he’snot going to want to wait around out here that long because he’ll be worriedabout demons finding us.” He turned from the steering section and looked at theSimon even though he didn’t have to with the HUD operational. “In a game ofnerves, we’ll win.”
Simon looked at the High Seat’s image. “This isn’t about nerves. For whateverreason, Booth thinks he has to win. That’s always when he’s at his mostdangerous.” He paused, but in the end knew that they had no real choice. “Ifhehas to, he’ll kill us.”
“There are a lot of Templar who wouldn’t put up with something like that,”Nathan said. “Despite the fact that we’ve defied orders, we’ve got friendsthere. They know what we’ve been doing in the city and how many lives we’ve saved.”
Simon felt certain that was true. But if they forced the issue, Booth would be able to get his troops to open fire.
“That’s probably the only reason Booth didn’t try to have us killedoutright,” Simon said.
“Then we brinkmanship him,” Danielle stated.
Simon glanced at her.
“We, and the other two ATV crews, train our weapons on Booth’s vehicle andtell him where going to shoot him if he tries anything. He doesn’t particularlycare to have his neck on the chopping block.”
“That would also mean firing on other Templar,” one of the warriors in thesling-seats said. “I’m not comfortable with that.”
Neither am I, Simon told himself. He racked his brain for another way out of the situation, but just couldn’t find one.
“Simon.” Macomber’s voice was soft and unsteady. He looked sick and gray.“These are other Templar, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Why, then, are you at odds?”
“Because Booth and most of the other Templar want to remain in hiding andpretend they have been defeated,” Simon said. He felt compelled to tell the oldman the truth. Macomber deserved to know what was going on.
Macomber nodded. “To grow their strength back from all they have lost.”
“Yes.”
“It’s a good plan.”
“Except the demons are going to be growing stronger too. And the Burn isgoing to be changing our world more and more, providing them even better and more user-friendly terrain to find us on.” Simon shook his head.
“Waiting isn’t a good idea. Waiting isn’t going to save people still trappedin the city.”
“I understand that, and I empathize with what you’re trying to do.” Macombertook a deep breath and shuddered just a little. “These menthis man Boothnoneof them wish me any harm, correct?”
“I don’t think so,” Simon answered.
“If they did, they would have already attacked us with their weapons.”
Simon nodded, and hoped that he was right.
“What do they want from me?” Macomber asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe they want to know what you know. Or maybe they justdon’t want me to know what you know.”
“They want to stop you?”
“Booth and the others are afraid I’m going to make things worse.”
“How can you make anything worse?”
“I don’t know.”
Macomber cursed in English and French. “That man is a fool. Everything youcan find out about the demons early on is better. That was one thing your father and I agreed on. That was why he came to me when I started translating the demon texts. Knowledge is the best kind of power.”
“My father used to say that knowledge was the sharpest weapon you would everhave in your arsenal,” Simon said.
“Intelligent man, your father.”
“Smarter than I thought he was. But I never got the chance to tell themthat.”
Macomber unbuckled his seat and walked over to Simon. The professor put his hand on Simon’s shoulder. “I’m sure your father knows.”
Simon hoped so.
Macomber drew a deep breath into his lungs then let it out. Of he offered Simon a smile. “Then let me be as brave a man as Thomas Cross was in thisinstance. Let me out of here and I’ll turn myself over to this man Booth.”
“I can’t let you do that,” Simon said.
“You don’t have a choice. Not from your enemy, nor for me. This is myundertaking. Let me do it while I’m still brave enough.”
“Simon,” Leah said, “what he says makes sense.”
Simon knew that, but it still made him angry that he was forced into the situation.
“Please,” Macomber said.
In the end, there really was no choice.
TWENTY-THREE
When Simon gave the command to open the control center and allow Macomber outside the ATV, he went with the professor. As Simon stood on the rear deck and stared at Booth’s ATV, the guns of the other vehicles tracked on to him. If hewas wrong and Booth decided to eliminate any further problems from him, Simon knew there was a chance that the first round to hit him might not penetrate his armor and only knock him from the ATV.
If. That was suddenly a big word standing there out in the open. It was almost easier standing up to demons. At least those were guaranteed to attack and he didn’t have to wonder.
He left his faceshield open, which was another risk, but he didn’t like theidea of simply presenting the armor’s blank face to Macomber as the professorleft. It was a small personal touch but Simon needed to do it.
Macomber looked up to him and spoke in a whisper. “I’ve told you where youcan find the Goetia manuscript. I will hope that you do.” He looked overhis shoulder as the nearest ATV’s control center hatch opened. Two Templarstepped out onto the ATV’s deck “I will forestall them as long as I’m able. But,if I were you, I wouldn’t take too long.”
“Understood, Professor. Take care of yourself.”
“Until we meet again.” Macomber offered his hand.
Simon took the old man’s hand gently for just a moment, then released him.
Macomber negotiated stepping from one ATV to the next with ease. It helped that the vehicles were butted up against each other.
Neither of the Templar spoke to Simon as they watched him. The
