Tyrant's Stars: Parts Three and Four by Hideyuki Kikuchi Page A

right.
    After the span of a breath or two, the female voice announced, “We’ve come to a stop.”
    Beyond the windows, the scenery continued to roll by.
    “So, your computer’s been taken in, too?” the left hand said. Perhaps it was a quirk of its character, but it seemed to delight in the problems of others—even when it was caught up in the same situation. “Yeah, this is probably the work of whoever’s been helping Seurat. That’s a formidable opponent. The computer alone would be bad enough, but whatever it is has screwed up our sense of direction, too.”
    That’s right, Sue thought, her blood running cold. The Nobleman and D’s left hand had both easily fallen prey to this spell.
    “I’m sorry, but I’ll have to leave this to you. I’ll send out a projection of myself. You may use it as you see fit.”
    The count’s words overlapped with the creaking of his coffin’s lid—the coffins of the Nobility always made this sound. Perhaps their kind had a sort of nostalgic need to hear it.
    “Damned irresponsible Noble,” the left hand yelled, but then it quickly gave the command, “Hey, stop the car!”
    It didn’t stop.
    “So, you won’t follow my directions either, eh? Okay.”
    “What are you gonna do?” Sue inquired, no longer able to restrain herself.
    “Wait until it stops. Come what may, we’ll be safe so long as we stay inside the car.”
    It was more than an hour before the vehicle finally halted. The blinds had closed automatically, so there was no way to view the scenery outside except holographic images, but the computer didn’t comply with the left hand’s requests.
    Just then, the lights went out. They were enveloped by the darkness. “Hmm, looks like we have no choice now. Shall we step outside?” “We can’t do that!” Sue shouted in the direction of the left hand’s voice. “It’s certain to be dangerous. If our enemies brought us here, they’ve obviously laid traps for us.”
    “I agree with you there. But we’re not gonna accomplish anything sitting here like this, either. The first thing to do is let in some fresh air and sunshine, eh?”
    “But—can you get the door open?”
    “That’s the rub.”
    There was a rap down by the floor—apparently the left hand had banged against it. Perhaps it was trying to say the girl was right on the mark.
    “Hey, open the door!”
    Light beat back the darkness.
    “It opened up . . . just as I thought. Well, here I go.”
    “But you—” That was all Sue managed before she fell silent. She couldn’t think of what to say next.
    Skillfully manipulating its fingers, the left hand leaped outside, and as soon as it did, the door shut.
    The car had stopped in the midst of dark earth dotted with cobblestones. Ruins lay up ahead. Marble columns, collections of stones that had formed the foundations of buildings, and sculptures stretched out under the blue sky. Judging from how discolored and weathered they were, they had to be quite old—probably thousands of years.
    “Why, this is—” the left hand began to say, its tone one of both astonishment and amusement. Apparently it knew what this place had been. “Hmm, it looks like we’ve come to a nasty little spot. We’d better get out of here quick.”
    Turning toward the door, the left hand said, “Open up.”
    But it didn’t open. It seemed the hand had been lured out. “Show yourself,” it called out.
    “I’m right here,” someone answered immediately from behind the hand. A figure in a long crimson robe stood there.
    “Are you the eighth assassin?” the left hand asked.
    “Indeed I am. But I’m not your foe. At least, I have no intention of fighting. If you were to force the issue, I suppose you could call me a sort of rear support unit.” “Did you bring us out here?”
    “Oh, my! I should’ve expected as much from you. Do you know what this place is?”
    “The Nobles’ treatment center. Asclepion,” the left hand said. “It specialized in mental