begrudging the compliment.
"You getting any names?" Elmo asked me.
I had a nice list. Elmo was pleased.
"We'd better go," Shifter said. "Before Limper strikes."
One-Eye gave us the passwords. Scared, convinced I was not ready
for this, more convinced that I did not dare contest Shifter's
selections, I trudged along in the Taken's wake.
I don't know when it happened. I just glanced up and found
myself walking with strangers. I gobbled at Shifter's back.
Raven laughed. I understood then. Shifter had cast his glamour
over us. We now appeared to be captains of the Rebel persuasion.
"Who are we?" I asked.
Shifter indicated Raven. "Harden, of the Circle. Raker's
brother-in-law. They hate one another the way Catcher and Limper
hate one another." Next, Elmo. "Field Major Reef, Harden's chief of
staff. You, Harden's nephew, Motrin Hanin, as vicious an assassin
as ever lived."
We had heard of none of them, but Shifter assured us their
presence would not be questioned. Harden was in and out of Forsberg
all the time, making life tough for his wife's brother.
Right, I thought. Fine and dandy. And what about the Limper?
What do we do if he shows up?
The people at the place where they were holding Zouad were more
embarrassed than curious when Cornie announced Harden. They had not
deferred to the Circle. They did not ask questions. Apparently the
real Harden possessed a vile, volatile, unpredictable temper.
"Show them the prisoner," Shifter said.
One Rebel gave Shifter a look that said, "Just you wait,
Cornie."
The place was packed with Rebels. I could almost hear Elmo
thinking out his plan of attack.
They took us down into a basement, through a cleverly concealed
doorway, and down deeper still, into a room with earthen walls and
ceiling supported by beams and timbers. The decor came straight out
of a fiend's imagination.
Torture chambers exist, of course, but the mass of men never see
them, so they never really believe in them. I'd never seen one
before.
I surveyed the instruments, looked at Zouad there strapped into
a huge, bizarre chair, and wondered why the Lady was considered
such a villain. These people said they were the good guys, fighting
for the right, liberty, and the dignity of the human spirit, but in
method they were no better than the Limper.
Shifter whispered to Raven. Raven nodded. I wondered how we
would get our cues. Shifter had not rehearsed us much. These people
would expect us to act like Harden and his cutthroats.
We seated ourselves and observed the interrogation. Our presence
inspired the questioners. I closed my eyes. Raven and Elmo were
less disturbed.
After a few minutes 'Harden' ordered 'Major Reef' to go handle
some piece of business. I do not recall the excuse. I was
distracted. Its purpose was to put Elmo back on the street so he
could start the roundup.
Shifter was winging it. We were supposed to sit tight till he
cued us. I gathered we would make our move when Elmo closed in and
panic started seeping down from above. Meantime, we would watch
Colonel Zouad's demolition.
The Colonel was not that impressive, but then the torturers had
had him a while. I expect anyone would look hollow and shrunken
after enduring their mercies.
We sat like three idols. I sent mental hurryups to Elmo. I had
been trained to take pleasure in the healing, not the breaking, of
human flesh.
Even Raven seemed unhappy. Doubtless he had fantasized torments
for Zouad, but when it came to the actuality his basic decency
triumphed. His style was to stick a knife in a man and have
done.
The earth lurched as if stomped by a huge boot. Soil fell from
the walls and overhead. The air filled with dust. "Earthquake!"
somebody yelled, and the Rebels all scrambled for the stair.
Shifter sat still and smiled.
The earth shuddered again. I fought the instinct of the herd and
remained seated. Shifter was not worried. Why should I be?
He pointed at Zouad. Raven nodded, rose, went over. The Colonel
was conscious and lucid
"You getting any names?" Elmo asked me.
I had a nice list. Elmo was pleased.
"We'd better go," Shifter said. "Before Limper strikes."
One-Eye gave us the passwords. Scared, convinced I was not ready
for this, more convinced that I did not dare contest Shifter's
selections, I trudged along in the Taken's wake.
I don't know when it happened. I just glanced up and found
myself walking with strangers. I gobbled at Shifter's back.
Raven laughed. I understood then. Shifter had cast his glamour
over us. We now appeared to be captains of the Rebel persuasion.
"Who are we?" I asked.
Shifter indicated Raven. "Harden, of the Circle. Raker's
brother-in-law. They hate one another the way Catcher and Limper
hate one another." Next, Elmo. "Field Major Reef, Harden's chief of
staff. You, Harden's nephew, Motrin Hanin, as vicious an assassin
as ever lived."
We had heard of none of them, but Shifter assured us their
presence would not be questioned. Harden was in and out of Forsberg
all the time, making life tough for his wife's brother.
Right, I thought. Fine and dandy. And what about the Limper?
What do we do if he shows up?
The people at the place where they were holding Zouad were more
embarrassed than curious when Cornie announced Harden. They had not
deferred to the Circle. They did not ask questions. Apparently the
real Harden possessed a vile, volatile, unpredictable temper.
"Show them the prisoner," Shifter said.
One Rebel gave Shifter a look that said, "Just you wait,
Cornie."
The place was packed with Rebels. I could almost hear Elmo
thinking out his plan of attack.
They took us down into a basement, through a cleverly concealed
doorway, and down deeper still, into a room with earthen walls and
ceiling supported by beams and timbers. The decor came straight out
of a fiend's imagination.
Torture chambers exist, of course, but the mass of men never see
them, so they never really believe in them. I'd never seen one
before.
I surveyed the instruments, looked at Zouad there strapped into
a huge, bizarre chair, and wondered why the Lady was considered
such a villain. These people said they were the good guys, fighting
for the right, liberty, and the dignity of the human spirit, but in
method they were no better than the Limper.
Shifter whispered to Raven. Raven nodded. I wondered how we
would get our cues. Shifter had not rehearsed us much. These people
would expect us to act like Harden and his cutthroats.
We seated ourselves and observed the interrogation. Our presence
inspired the questioners. I closed my eyes. Raven and Elmo were
less disturbed.
After a few minutes 'Harden' ordered 'Major Reef' to go handle
some piece of business. I do not recall the excuse. I was
distracted. Its purpose was to put Elmo back on the street so he
could start the roundup.
Shifter was winging it. We were supposed to sit tight till he
cued us. I gathered we would make our move when Elmo closed in and
panic started seeping down from above. Meantime, we would watch
Colonel Zouad's demolition.
The Colonel was not that impressive, but then the torturers had
had him a while. I expect anyone would look hollow and shrunken
after enduring their mercies.
We sat like three idols. I sent mental hurryups to Elmo. I had
been trained to take pleasure in the healing, not the breaking, of
human flesh.
Even Raven seemed unhappy. Doubtless he had fantasized torments
for Zouad, but when it came to the actuality his basic decency
triumphed. His style was to stick a knife in a man and have
done.
The earth lurched as if stomped by a huge boot. Soil fell from
the walls and overhead. The air filled with dust. "Earthquake!"
somebody yelled, and the Rebels all scrambled for the stair.
Shifter sat still and smiled.
The earth shuddered again. I fought the instinct of the herd and
remained seated. Shifter was not worried. Why should I be?
He pointed at Zouad. Raven nodded, rose, went over. The Colonel
was conscious and lucid
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