The Foundry grounds were surrounded by a twentyfive foot wrought iron fence and Lazlo sniffed when he saw it.
'That thing might look impressive to tourists,' he said, 'but it wouldn't keep out a fly, let alone a…'
Lazlo trailed off as a large black gorecrow approached the fence. The bird flew high enough to pass over the bars, but the instant it crossed the fence's perimeter, there was a blue flash and the bird burst into flames and plummeted to the ground.
'Like I said, Baron's got himself a hell of a security system,' Lazlo said, his voice sounding a bit weak. 'Good thing we're expected.'
'A force field of some kind,' Devona said. 'Impressive. I wonder if it only prevents physical objects from entering or if it can stop magical intrusions as well.'
'If we don't get flashfried trying to get inside, you can ask Baron yourself,' I said.
'I'd love to pick his brain,' Devona said. 'No pun intended. Along with everything else his factory produces, Baron manufactures a number of security products. Reanimated guards, both canine and humanoid, as well as living, organic alarm systems. The Midnight Watch is just small potatoes to someone like him, but if we can learn something from him, or better yet, enter into some kind of partnership, even if only on a small scale…'
Even though I knew it was childish of me, I was irritated by Devona's words.
'We didn't come here to network. We came to get me put back together, remember?'
Devona's eyes narrowed, an expression I knew meant she was struggling to contain her anger.
'Of course,' she said, trying to sound as if she weren't upset and succeeding for the most part. 'I was just thinking out loud.'
If my head had been attached to my body right then I'd have kicked myself for being such an idiot. What was it with me and Devona's business? I'd criticized her employees earlier in the evening and now I'd complained when she recognized a potential opportunity in talking with Victor Baron. Why was I finding it so hard to be supportive? I had no answer, and not wishing to make matters worse, for a change I did the smart thing and kept my mouth shut as Lazlo turned off the road and stopped before the Foundry's main gate.
A metallic skull with organic eyes was mounted on a pole to the left of the gate and it swiveled to look at us. Lazlo rolled his window down and leaned out, but before he could say anything, the skull spoke.
'Damn! You're hideous! No wonder you couldn't wait until morning to see Mr. Baron. But I have to warn you: he may be a genius, but I'm not sure even he's going to be able to pretty up that ugly mug of yours!'
'I'm not the one with the appointment,' Lazlo growled. 'It's my friend Matt. He's in the back.'
The skull sentry turned to face the back window. Devona rolled it down and held me outside so the skull could get a good look at me. The sentry skull's living eyes moved back and forth as it regarded me and I knew there was a living brain encased in that metal cranium. If I'd ever had any doubts that Victor Baron was who and what he claimed to be, they vanished at that moment.
'Just a head, huh?' the skull said. 'Believe me, I share your pain.'
The gate began to open with a soft hum, and when it had opened wide enough, Lazlo drove slowly through.
The intensity of the power thrum increased the closer we got to the main entrance until I could feel my teeth vibrating. The sensation was merely annoying for me, but when I looked up at Devona, I saw that she was grimacing, jaw clenched tight, lips drawn back to reveal her fangs, which were more prominent than usual, and I knew she was in pain. I heard a low moaning sound then that I first took to be coming from Lazlo, although I'd never known the demon to suffer discomfort of any sort. But I quickly realized the moaning wasn't coming from the front seat; instead, it seemed to be coming from all around us. I understood then that the sounds of distress were emanating not from Lazlo, but rather from his cab.
Lazlo patted the dashboard. 'Don't worry, sweetie. It'll be OK.'
There was something about the softness in Lazlo's voice that for the first time made me think that maybe the cab was more than simply a vehicle to him and he more than a driver to it. I've become a lot more broad minded since moving to Nekropolis, but even so, the images that went through my mind at the thought of Lazlo and his cab as a couple were more than a little sickening. But lots of people react to Devona and me the same way, so I told myself to be more tolerant.
A light above the entrance flared to blue-white life as we approached a pair of huge iron doors. Lazlo pulled up and the doors started to swing open before he finished parking.
A being cloaked in a hooded brown robe and pushing a wheelchair stepped outside. The being's movements were slow and it lurched from side to side as it walked. One shoulder was higher than the other and the left arm was considerably longer than the right. The flesh of the hands appeared almost bone white in the fluorescent light, and the skin was covered with thick, ugly scars.
The figure opened Devona's door and gestured for her to step out. She did so, carrying me beneath her arm.
'Welcome to the Foundry, Ms. Kanti, Mr. Richter.' The voice was a rough whisper and I had to strain to hear it over the loud thrumming issuing from the Foundry. Though it was difficult to tell, I thought it belonged to a man – or at least something that had once been a man. He went on. 'I take it the body is still in the cab?'
'I got it,' Lazlo said. He left the cab's engine running, walked around to the rear passenger side and retrieved my headless body. He carried it with ease as if it weighed no more than a straw filled scarecrow. He placed my body in the chair gently and the robed man secured it with leather straps around the chest, wrists and ankles. Despite his obvious deformities he performed this operation deftly and within moments my body was ready to travel again.
Devona turned so that I could face Lazlo.
'Thanks for the help,' I said.
Lazlo grinned, a sight that would make even the most vicious serial killer wet himself in terror. 'You never have to thank me, Matt. You know that. Still, you're welcome.'
Just then the cab's hood opened a crack and a mournful wail came out. Lazlo placed his hand on the roof and gently rubbed its surface.
'I'm afraid we can't stay and wait for you,' he said. 'The sound's getting to her. But we'll stay in the neighborhood and come back to pick you up when you're finished, OK?'
I almost asked Lazlo how he'd know when Devona and I were done – I'd never known him to carry a vox – but there was no point. One way or another Lazlo always knew when I needed a ride.
'Sounds good,' I said.
Lazlo gave us a parting wave before climbing back into his cab and roaring away from the main entrance as fast as possible. For an instant I thought he would ram the now closed gate on his way out, but the sentry skull was able to open it in time, if just barely, and Lazlo zoomed off into the darkness, the skull's obscenityladed shouts of angry protest following him.
The robed man turned to us and for the first time I caught a glimpse of the face hidden within the hood's shadow. Its features were misshapen and twisted, like a wax figure that had melted partway before cooling and becoming solid once more.
'Let's go,' he said. 'Victor is expecting you.'
He gripped the wheelchair's handles and began pushing my body toward the open entrance, walking with that strange lurching gait of his. Devona followed, carrying me, and we entered the lair of Victor Baron.
SIX
Once we were inside the metal doors swung shut of their own accord. Given their size, I expected them to slam closed with a heavy clang, but they made no sound as they shut. What's more, the moment they closed, the power thrum that had been so intense outside disappeared and it became almost eerily quiet.
As if reading my thoughts the brown robed man said, 'The Foundry is completely sound-proofed on the inside.'
I don't know what I'd expected the interior of the Foundry to be like, but it certainly didn't reflect its gothic- industrial exterior. The floor was covered with clay-colored tile and polished oak paneling covered the walls. Stylish
