by Ben Farthing
"Because she showed up here a couple hours ago. Someone tipped her off the rebellist is her brother. She wants to meet you."
Everard's mind had been elsewhere since discovering he had a half-sister. He'd never known her, and had established his life just fine without a family. But now with the opportunity right in front of him, he had to at least say hi.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Bill Bill escorted Everard through the antique hallways, Brian trailing along after them. In stretches without candelabras close by, work lights were set up. Orange extension cords ran along the wood floors. Burgesses ran back and forth, preparing for whatever their leaders had planned.
Everard composed a text to Abby. I messed up earlier. Can we talk?
"Ryker's a fugitive from the federal government," said Bill Bill, "so it'd be bad news if anyone discovered we were harboring her, even if it's only for a few minutes."
Everard put his phone away without sending the text. "Don't worry. I'm not on good terms with the feds."
"Don't tell Mr. President, is what I'm saying."
"Ah, gotcha," said Everard, and mimed zipping his lips.
"What are you gonna say to her?" asked Brian.
"I don't know," said Everard. "I just want to meet her. See what she's like. Shouldn't you be catching up with Loretta?"
"Nah. I'm supposed to help you. I'm just helping Loretta because you are."
Everard wasn't sure he believed that. Even easy-going Brian would want to see Inc punished for Renae's death.
Bill Bill led them into a sitting room, with two pairs of doors on the far wall. A clerk in colonial attire sat behind a desk, playing a game on his phone. "Go on in, but you'll need an ID badge if you want to check anything out." He looked up and saw Bill Bill. He set his phone down and sat up straight. "Sorry, sir. Anything I can help you find?"
"Contemporary oppressive social structures," said Bill Bill.
The clerk said, "two floors down, east wing." Then a look of realization hit him. "Oh. She's a floor up, south hall."
"Thanks, Oliver," said Bill Bill.
Oliver beamed that Bill Bill knew his name.
Bill Bill faced Everard. "I'll be with Mr. President where you found us before." He walked away.
Brian rocked on his heels with his hands in his pockets.
"So are you coming in with me, or..."
"No, I'll let you meet your sister in private." Brian was terrible at faking a smile. Poor guy had to come back to where his sister was murdered just yesterday. "I'll be here when you're done."
"Okay, thanks," said Everard, wondering how long Brian was going to stick around with him.
Oliver handed Everard a flashlight. "I commandeered as many worklights as I could, but there's still some shadowy areas. Try to stay out of them."
Everard thanked him and went through the doors, into the biggest library he'd ever seen. Abby would love this. Twenty-foot high shelves stretched at least a thousand feet ahead. He stood on metal floors, the kind that looked like chain-link fence but coated in a thick layer of plastic. Floors extended far below and above.
"Everard."
Everard nearly jumped out of his skin. His cracked rib protested.
Loretta leaned against the wall by the doorway. "I heard you've got family in town."
"I found out like two minutes ago. I thought you were talking to Mr. President."
"I wanted to catch up with Ryker first. I need another favor."
"If it's about stopping Inc, it's not really a favor. We're on the same team."
"Then I have another order for you."
"Not better."
"Shut up and listen. The Resistance is planning an assault on an NSA Explorer outpost."
"Where they force people to explore past the Periphery? Sounds like a good plan."
"They're planning it for tonight."
"Good. They take her captive, she hits them back." Maybe they were more alike than just sharing the same mother.
"The branch of the NSA that monitors the Periphery isn't a large organization," said Loretta. "They'll be completely distracted tonight."
"Oh," said Everard. "So if your plan to destroy the converter goes south..."
"No NSA to step in."
Everard leaned against the wall next to Loretta. "Awfully convenient timing for Inc."
"My guess is Inc had a hand in her escape, whether she realized it or not. Not hard to figure out she'd make a move as soon as she could."
"You want me to talk her out of attacking the outpost?"
"God, no. Those places should be swallowed up by the nooks beyond the Periphery. I want you to talk her into putting it off for a day. I hate to rely on the NSA, even as a failsafe, but I've got a feeling things are going to get dangerous tonight, and most of the benters who could do something about it have already cut town."
"Why don't you talk to her yourself?"
"I did. That's how I know her plans. She wouldn't listen to me."
"So I'm a last ditch effort?"
"I've got faith in you."
"I don't see why she'd listen to me, but I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks." Loretta left through the door, prompting a concerned Oliver to ask how she got in there.
Everard took the stairs. He expected his steps to echo, but the space was too massive. He went one floor down, and followed the signs to the south hall. It looked exactly like the rest of the library, books for miles, all resting on steel shelving atop steel flooring.
He found Ryker sitting on the floor, a book open in her lap. She was smaller than him, with light brown hair pulled into a quick bun. She wore loose fitting cargo pants, and a sleeveless shirt. Everard didn't know the details of his family, but by his skin tone and facial structure, he'd assumed he had a mixture of white, black, and hispanic grandparents. Ryker's skin had the same color as his, although it was obvious she'd been trapped inside for months; there was a pale, sickly, shade to her, and she was mostly skin and bones.
"Ryker." Everard's heart raced. He hadn't expected to feel this happy.
She looked up. "You're Everard." Setting down the book, she carefully climbed to her feet.
Everard took a step forward, and then struggled with the appropriate physical greeting. They shook hands. He didn't have a clue what to say. "How was your cruise?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Longer than expected. Thanks for agreeing to talk to me."
"Of course," said Everard. He tried to find logic in his happiness. He didn't know this woman. It was great she wasn't trapped and paralyzed anymore, he guessed. And that she could go back to resisting the government.
"You're new to the Periphery," she said.
"Yeah."
"Thoughts?"
"I'm leaving as soon as I can get Inc to leave me alone. I have a life to get back to."
"Oh."
Everard's mood shifted to concern. Not for Ryker, but for himself. That didn't make sense.
Ryker noticed his confusion. "I'm sorry," she said. "I haven't been using my bent for months, and it's kinda hard to control. I influence others’ emotions."
He found himself disappointed that his excitement hadn't been genuine.
"I'll stop," she said.
She didn't do a great job, as he went right back to optimistic excitement. He didn't let it bother him; worse things had happened to him in the Periphery.
"Why are you leaving?" she asked. "Aren't you a rebellist? You could have a serious impact here. Even if you knock Inc down a peg, crime is still rampant, and the government comes down harder and harder on people every day."
"I'm sorry." Why were they even talking about this? Wasn't helping against Inc enough? "I have a business, and a... a girlfriend." Had.
"There's businesses and girlfriends in the Periphery," she said. "And it's not like you'll be able to close your eyes to it. You'll still see 12 Cocoran on the skyline, and all sorts of other Periphery intrusions. I heard about the Mariner's Box. Good work, by the way."
&n
bsp; Everard wondered if that's how his mother would have looked at him with pride. "Yeah, well, I'd rather just keep myself to myself, you know?"
"No, actually. I didn't know you existed until this morning. Did you know our mother?"
Everard shook his head. "Or my father."
"Yeah, me neither. My first set of foster parents adopted me, though. I lived with them as far back as I can remember."
"How'd you discover the Periphery?" asked Everard.
"My dad's a Hoodoo man. My adoptive dad, obviously. I grew up knowing both parts of the city. My parents were surprised when I developed my bent, but they ended up being happy about it."
Everard bet they did.
"I'm guessing you had a more bumpy introduction?" she asked.
"The Perforated Woman attacked me. And some guy with two tongues."
"Jakes," said Ryker. "He's a good guy. Probably would have taken you to the Burgesses."
"I broke his knee."
They stood facing each other, awkwardly.
"You lead the Resistance," said Everard.
"I hate that name, but yes." She stiffened.
"Why?"
"The NSA's watching everything we do. And everyone just looks the other way when someone disappears. They tell themselves it's Undone Duncan making another reskinned, but there aren't that many reskinned. The feds snatch people up then force them to explore the nooks beyond the Periphery. If they come back, it's damaged. Sometimes it's fairly benign, like Jakes. Other times, it warps you, inside and out."
"Like the Perforated Woman," said Everard. Or the little girl he'd seen outside the Junk Shoals, with the extra leg coming out of her lower back. "Why do they care about exploring?"
"Bill Bill thinks it's because they're worried enemies of the United States might use the nooks to sneak a nuclear bomb past our borders. But the nooks don't work like that. It could take centuries to find a consistent path to where you wanted to go. I think someone in the NSA has other plans."
"Like what?"
"I don't know, or care that much, to be honest. I'm mainly upset about them forcing my friends to explore."
"I would be, too."
"We're always looking for more people to join the cause. Perfect cause for a rebellist to get behind. There's a chance to do make a difference, real soon."
Everard shook his head. "There's a million injustices in the world. I can't fix all of them."
"The NSA's watchers know who you are now. You'll never have privacy again."
"As long as I keep to myself, will they care?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. That's not the point. Do you realize how much power that gives the NSA? Everyone's afraid to speak out against the explorer outposts, because they never know when the watchers are recording them."
"I mean, it's obviously messed up, but it's not enough to risk my life over." He felt bad about it, but he'd spent a decade building his independent life. He couldn't risk it now, especially for some doomed cause.
"That's how people like the NSA take power."
Everard bit his tongue. He didn't even know this woman. It didn't matter what she thought of him. "Do you have a first name?" he asked.
"I'm glad I met you, Everard," said Ryker, "but I have enough people in my life too comfortable to face down oppression. Enjoy your Periphery-free life. Good luck convincing the CEO to leave you alone."
She reshelved the book and walked away, shoes tapping on the metal floor.
Shit. He should have brought up her attack on the Explorer's outpost before he pissed her off. No way around it now. "Your plans tonight."
Ryker stopped. "How do you know about that? Who have you told?"
"I just found out. I haven't told anyone. But you have to pick another night."
"Not happening. They kept me strapped to a submarine's engine for four months. I couldn't do anything but blink. I want them to know what happens when they pick a fight with me."
"Do it tomorrow," said Everard. "There's some serious shit going down tonight. Hundreds of people could die. The NSA could be another line of defense, if you're not distracting them."
"Or they'll be too distracted to fully defend their outpost," said Ryker.
"I don't think they realize the danger of what's happening tonight. And from what I understand they hate you enough that they'll let it happen if it means recapturing you."
"If Loretta couldn't convince me, what makes you think you will?"
"You're just going to look the other way while hundreds of people are murdered?"
"That means a lot coming from you. How about you run away with your tail between your legs like you've planned, and let me handle my business the way I see fit. Take care, Everard. Let's get together for the holidays." She walked away.
Everard fumed. He'd never met someone so bullheaded and infuriating. He headed back the way he came. This was why he was perfectly happy not knowing his family. The more people he had to please, the harder it was to stay in control of his own life. He didn't need her approval.
As he made his way back to the sitting room, he deleted the text he'd composed to Abby.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Back in the foyer, Brian was making Oliver listen to a song featuring a typical rock ensemble and an excruciatingly slowly played accordion. The lyrics made absolutely no sense.
The clerk breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Everard.
Brian perked up. "How'd it go?"
"Great," said Everard, not slowing.
Brian fell in step next to him. The Burgesses they passed frowned at the music. "We headed to Mr. President's office? Supposedly, there's like a full fledge emergency meeting going on."
Where was he going? He wanted to clear his head. He should still send that text to Abby. Ryker being stubborn didn't change that.
Brian paused the music. "Mr. President might have plans to stop the booms. If you're still planning on stopping Inc, makes sense to work with him, right?"
Everard needed a moment without the kid jabbering at him. "I need to run to the bathroom. Go ahead to Mr. President. I'll catch up."
"Whatever you say." Brian left Everard leaning against the wall in the hallway.
Everard tried to gather his thoughts. It was stupid to feel disappointment from meeting Ryker. He'd only looked forward to it for about five minutes before it happened. She was probably still influencing his emotions. But if she was disappointed, then maybe that meant there was a chance that meeting could have ended with Everard actually having family.
A Burgess bureaucrat shuffled past.
This was insane. He opened his phone to call Abby, then stopped himself. Why had he done that? When things got stressful, talking to her kept things in perspective. And now he'd ruined for that because a crazy old man told him it would help his superpowers work better.
Fuck it. He was calling her.
Everard hit send. It went straight to voicemail, but he didn't think leaving a message was the best choice in this situation.
He started walking towards the main foyer. There was probably a quicker way to Mr. President's office, cutting through back halls, but Everard didn't want to wander down some corridor where he'd break through the floor into some space between nooks.
He should send Abby a text, ask her to call him. She'd see it once she turned her phone back on. He checked his watch. It was almost eleven. Why would she have her phone off?
Everard got a bad feeling about mutually assured destruction. He texted Abby, asking her to call him, and then called Liz.
Straight to voicemail.
He scrolled through his contacts, looking for Liz's group home number. He'd never saved it. Google didn't bring it up, either.
Everard quickened his pace. It was probably fine. Liz did turn her phone off sometimes. And maybe Abby's battery died. He'd go ask Loretta, and she'd tell him they were fine.
He rushed through the hallways, stared down the posted Regulars as he walked into Mr. President's office.
The room was
packed with important angry people. Mr. President raised his hands, trying to calm everyone.
Loretta was nowhere to be seen. Everard texted her, where are you?, while someone interrupted Mr. President.
Minnie, in her usual location at Mr. President's right hand, raised her voice at those gathered, which only prompted an equal response.
Lucy stood up, still wearing her red dress, but apparently casting off her timidness to heighten the mild fury she'd shown the other night. "First you set the Boogeyman loose on the east side, and now this? What if these new monsters don't care about your lure? You don't care, do you? Because you'll hunker down in your nook here." She flipped her wrist, gesturing to the rest of the room. "And you'll all hide out in your prime nook real estate, or bent-touched panic rooms, while the Folkmeisters and the people they tend to are left in the open."
Everard looked around for anyone he could question about Loretta's location. He knew Mr. President and Minnie, obviously. Lucy he'd met. And Fiametta Vine, who looked exhausted. Meredith, the Minuteman who'd saved him from Undone Duncan, leaned against a far wall. And then a dozen strangers sat at the table or stood around it.
Where was Bill Bill? Or Brian?
"The lure will pull both the Jersey Devil and the Mothman away from the city," said Mr. President. "Bermuda designed it himself."
Bermuda wasn't there either.
Everard touched the flintlock he still had tucked in his waistband, made sure no one was watching him. Everyone he knew well enough to trust was missing.
"At least ask the Hunters to stand guard," said Lucy.
"They're quite occupied with the Boogeyman," said Mr. President.
Meredith spoke up. "Has Bermuda ever built anything like this before? How can you be sure it'll be stronger than the Perforated Woman's lures?"
"It distorts hers," said Mr. President. "So it doesn't have to be stronger."
"Why the risk?" Meredith pressed on. "Why don't you dismantle the machines luring them here?"
"That's a delicate political issue," said Mr. President.
"What he means," said Lucy, "is he'd rather put the poor folk in danger than take a chance that Inc makes a fool of the Burgesses."
