The Prophecy Machine

enemy as well as the Nuccis themselves.”

The doctor unwound his skinny frame, stood, and stalked about the cramped room.

“It's true you're taking blame for sins you couldn't likely help. My church has got its hats on crooked because you helped the Nuccis get away. The whole damn town's up in arms because you're staying there. Hospitality is the Fourth Deadly Sin in our religion and seventh in theirs. Sabatino and Cal are flaunting that in our face, and we're all wondering why.”

Nicoretti stopped his pacing, turned toward Finn with a questioning brow. “Maybe you could help me, Master Finn. I expect you have a guess at what's going on up there. It'd help me and others understand if you could shed a little light on that. Could you be of some aid in this?”

All this was delivered in calm and easy tones with a reassuring smile, an actor switching roles without a single change of scene, setting off alarms of every sort in Finn's head. Was this a trap of some kind? Did Nicoretti know about the madness Calabus was brewing in the depths below his house? And if he did, why then would he care? It was all a lunatic's obsession anyhow.

“I'll be honest with you,” Finn said. “I may be wrong, but I think you're trying to be straight with me. If the Nuccis are up to anything, as you say, I don't know what it is. I don't know why they took us in, except we helped Sabatino save the old man from your yellow-hatted maniacs. No offense meant.”

“Oh, I assure you, none taken, sir.”

“I must admit, I find it hard to believe they're the sort that's easily overcome with gratitude.”

“I'd agree heartily with that.” “I'd guess there are two factors here, Dr. Nicoretti. One, they take pleasure in flaunting custom, shocking the locals who clearly have no love for them. Two, I suppose you're aware Sabatino's a hopeless lecher, obsessed with my- companion, Letitia Louise. I cannot tell you how difficult it was to leave her there with him.”

“Ah, but you did, though. In spite of those fears …”

The sudden flare of interest in Nicoretti's eyes, the way his body tensed as if he might spring from a branch upon his prey, told Finn this was a topic that had best go astray.

“The Nuccis,” he said, with an irritation that was real, “have no perception of decent food. Squeen William's dishes are horrors in gray. I had to risk a visit to get us something we could eat.”

“I see you've done a shoddy job at that,” Nicoretti said, nodding at the nearly empty basket on the floor.

“Food doesn't fare too well if one has to stop and fight. I intend to replenish my supplies, if it's any concern of yours.”

Nicoretti spread his hands and smiled. “It is not my concern, as you say. And if it were the only reason you were here …”

“I said it was, did I not? I would be gone if those louts hadn't tried to do me in.” Finn answered Nicoretti's virtuous smile with one of his own. “How lucky for me your Bowser boys were about. Nearby and ready to save out-of-towners who might come to harm in some way.”

“Fortunate, indeed. I'm delighted they could help.”

Nicoretti curled his lips as if he'd tasted something foul.

“Their manners are impossible, of course. Nasty types, I'm sorry to say. Stiff-necked bastards. Do a lot of marching and strutting about, that sort of thing. Where did you get the idea for your lidard, Master Finn? Do you mind if I ask?”

“Lizard, you mean to say. People have asked me this before. I fear my answer won't suffice. When I made the very first one, ‘lizard’ was the word that came to mind. As the word ‘stone’ might well have occurred when a man first saw one lying in his path. It simply seemed to fit.”

“Well, then …” Nicoretti brought the jug of ale out again and filled Finn's cup. The stuff was still flat, warm and unpleasant to the taste, but there was clearly nothing else around.

Still, Nicoretti downed his drink with great delight.

“I will not delay you further, Master Finn. By my reckoning, you should just make it back before market closes down. Our Hatter folk have no service planned till tomorrow afternoon. However, I'd advise you to get back to your companion and your lidard before it gets dark. The Hooters, I believe, have choir tonight, and that can get rowdy sometimes.

“One more thought before we part, if I may. Let's put aside the foolery, lad. We've been lying to one another since our talk began. There is something going on in that wretched house, and it's not impossible that you know what it is. You'd be wise to tell me, but you won't. You'll play the fool until it's much too late to ask for help.

“Now, would you tell me why you're looking for a Mycer called Rubinella? A fact every farmer, every bumpkin, every clown in town knows now? I would strongly advise you to tell me, sir, before you get in something completely over your head!”

Finn was not surprised to learn his search had reached Nicoretti's ears. The man was a meddler, that was plain to see. Why, though, what was he up to? That was the mystery here.

And no matter how well he masked his emotions, he had clearly betrayed, along with open anger, a slight hint of fear-and that bothered Finn a great deal.

“I see no reason to tell you,” Finn said. “If it's true we're both liars, my answer would do you little good. I could ask, though, why you care who I'm looking for, but then you'd lie too. So what's the point here?”

The sudden flush of color in Nicoretti's face let Finn know the doctor didn't care for that.

“You'd best not be too clever, friend. A man's been known to laugh himself to death, chuckle to his coffin, giggle to his grave.”

“Sir, I have no idea what that means.”

“Of course you do, don't play the fool. Now, what do you know about that filthy old man? The one they keep hidden up there, the one who's goofy as a loon?”

“What do you know about him? You tell me.”

Nicoretti shook his head, his patience at an end.

“There's nothing else I have to say to you. If you come to your senses, we might talk again.”

Dr. Nicoretti stood, a clear invitation for Finn to leave.

“I suppose I should thank you,” Finn said, coming to his feet, making his way to the door. “But I don't know what for.”

“Of course you don't, you're quite an ignorant boy. I'm surprised you've managed to survive.”

Finn didn't have to hide his anger. He truly felt nothing at all.

“I did mean to ask, but you're so full of questions, Doctor, I didn't have the time. You're Sabatino's uncle, so you're kin to the family some way. Might I ask why you loathe the Nuccis, and why they feel the same? What happened to cause such a rift, one I assume goes back many years?”

Nicoretti's eyes went wide. His mouth began to move, but no words came out, only strangled noises in his throat.

“I'm sorry if I caused you alarm,” Finn said, “but you, sir, have done your very best to humiliate me, so perhaps we're even now. And Calabus' wife, I meant to ask- Sabatino's mother. Is she deceased now? I wondered, as no one's spoken of her at all-”

“Get-get-out-of-my-sight!”

Nicoretti's gaunt, aged frame began to tremble, his face turned black with rage. Finn stepped back. If the man fell rigid with a stroke, Finn was in the way.

“I surely will, sir. I fear I've overstayed my welcome, I do regret that. One thing more. I'd like to get a cool mug of ale somewhere, yours isn't good at all. Do you know someone who might let me in?”

Nicoretti looked appalled, as if Finn had hinted at some immoral act. Again, he tried to mutter, tried to mumble, tried to speak, but Finn didn't wait to see the end of that …

26

Nicoretti was right. To Finn's great alarm, he saw that the day was fading into late afternoon. The shadows were long, and the bleak and gloomy streets even darker than before. Still, he hadn't been out as long as he'd thought. There was still time to get back to market and fill up his basket again.