Feersum Endjinn

now awoken, and that they await the asura.

'And be assured that the asura is our very last chance; there was never any need for our salvation to rely on so fragile a method of deliverance, but our forbears, like our present rulers, did everything in their power both to locate and destroy any information pertaining to the defence systems and to attack and corrupt the automated systems themselves within the fast-tower; they have always known that these might save us, but long ago chose — again, on our unknowing behalf — to attempt to extinguish even that link with the Diaspora.  Luckily for all of us, they have failed.  It is only through the patience and tenacity of exactly the sort of Artificial Intelligences our rulers so despise that even this last slim chance has been preserved, and we can only hope that it will be successful.'

The girl bowed, slowly and formally.

Suddenly the bonds restraining the seated people vanished, as did their gags.  Gadfium staggered back as they rose and rushed shouting in towards the girl.  Oncaterius, who'd been standing rather than sitting, had a one- pace start.  Something appeared in the air above him, red and glistening and twisting violently; it fell upon the girl, screaming:

'Gidibibigibidibibidibi!'

The girl looked exasperated.  She plucked the thing from her hair with one hand and crushed it; first it and then she vanished, an instant before Oncaterius' grabbing hand would have clamped onto her arm.

The room, all the people in it and the fabric of sensation itself seemed to waver and haze then, and Gadfium felt a moment of sickening dizziness before everything seemed to snap back into focus again.

Adijine whirled to Oncaterius. 'Check the distribution on this,' he said, then — as the others in the group started to disappear, some of them together, already talking urgently — the King looked round the crowd of watching people and raised his magnificently leonine head, frowning. 'Fellow citizens,' he intoned. 'Obviously most of what you have heard is untrue.  What can be confirmed is that an act of war has been committed upon us; an attempt had been made to extend the chaotic levels to include the crypt's higher functions.  That attack is being resisted vigorously.  What you have witnessed here has been a bid to spread confusion, despair and contempt for the rule of law amongst all loyal subjects.  I know that it will not have succeeded.  Please, do not panic.  We shall keep you informed on the progress being made to combat this despicable and treacherous attack.  Thank you, and remain vigilant.' Adijine glanced at Oncaterius, then he disappeared.  The crowds vanished an instant later.  The huge room was almost empty.

Oncaterius turned to glare at Gadfium.  They were the only people left in the representation for a second or two, then the place filled with Security personnel.  Most of them levelled weapons at her.  Two of them pinned her arms.

'You,' Oncaterius spat, pointing at her, 'are under arrest.'

– Oh no you're not, laughed her own voice.

The room vanished.

She staggered, unsure of both where she was and where she was supposed to be.  She was sitting.  The girl who'd called herself Asura stood in front of her.  Gadfium looked around; she was in what looked like some sort of small lobby.  It was pleasantly if rather old-fashionedly furnished.  The air was warm and smelled odd; stuffy, somehow, even stale.  Two sets of double doors faced each other across the room.  The lammergeier was perched on a table beside her, gazing levelly at her.

'Now where are we?' Gadfium asked.

'Not far from where we were,' Asura said.

– Near Oubliette, her own voice told her.

Asura looked at one of the sets of doors. 'We're waiting,' she announced.

– For the elevator, to take her to the top of the fast-tower, said the voice in Gadfium's head.

– How did-

– The presentation as she called it took place in base-level time, with a half-hour hiatus immediately afterwards when the whole upper crypt became chaotic.  All of that gave her time to get herself and you back into the tunnels.  The mammoth troop is either standing guard or leading any pursuit away in the wrong direction.

– What did she do, carry me?

– No; you walked the last bit.  You just weren't really here, that's all.  But it means you don't know where you are, which is what she wanted.  Oh, and I'm only in your implants now; I had to leave the data corpus or Security might have been able to trace our movements through me.  Only temporary, though; I can download again.

– I see.  Well, welcome back aboard.

– Thank you.

Asura was looking down and smiling at a ring on one of her hands.  It appeared to be silver with a small red stone.

– What about the bird?  Gadfium asked, smiling uncertainly at the animal.

– It isn't under Asura's control.  It is some sort of ally though and it may be the birds are avatars of whatever is in the fast-tower.  They get instructions from somewhere and they seem to have their own agenda, but nobody has been able to work out what it is yet.  Well, I haven't and Asura says she hasn't either.

– Why has she brought me?

– You're a waif, Gadfium; a stray.  You've been picked up for your own good.  But don't worry about it.

– What about you?  Does she know about you?

– Yes, of course she does.  There isn't much she doesn't know about.

Gadfium looked over at the girl.  Every now and again she would look down at the ring she wore, and smile.

– So, is this lift on its way?

– Not yet, I think.

– Shall I ask her how long she intends to wait?

– If you like.

'Until the elevator arrives,' the girl told her before Gadfium could say anything. 'Or until we are captured or some different circumstance otherwise determines our course of action.' She smiled. 'We must be patient, Hortis,' she said. 'This place is not recorded on the plans that Security use, and it took me a very long time to find it, even with help.  It ought to remain undiscovered and so safe for some time, though doubtless Security — and especially Consistorian Oncaterius — will be doing all they can to find us.  I imagine we ought not to have to wait more than a few hours.  Would you like to sleep again in the meantime?'

'No, thank you,' Gadfium said, quickly holding up one hand. 'No, I'll stay awake, thanks.'

'Good,' the girl said, and sat down, her hands clasped on her lap and her gaze fixed on the double doors across the room.

– Oh.  So she can hear what we're saying.

– Yes.

Asura turned to her and smiled as though coy, then turned her attention to the double doors again.

Gadfium took a deep breath and watched them as well.

5

Itz a very strainje feelin wakin up alive when u wer fooly expectin 2 b ded.  Speshily when u fot u wer reely reely ded, like compleetly uttirly & finely.  U sorta cum roun sloly thinkin; I muss b ded, but Im finkin, so I cant b, so whots goan on heer then?  U r evin a bit fritind about wakin up eny moar in case thers sum sorta unplesint surprise in stoar, but then u fink, wel, Im never goan no whots goan on unless I do wake up, & so u do.

I opin my Is.

Gloari bleedin b, its brite & warm.  Im lyin on ma bak lookin up @ sum sorta sculptchir or mobil or sumfin; a bludy hooj 1, 2.  Thers this grate big planit fing suspendid rite abuv me & ol theese uthirs suspendid