by Mick Farren
In many respects, his gravitation towards the company of Edelline-Lan was because nobody else would have anything to do with him. What he didn't quite understand was why she gravitated to him in return. He'd asked her about this, but she'd shaken her head.
'I don't know. I really don't. There's an awful lot wrong with you, but somehow you seem more real than all the rest.'
'If this is what being real gets me into, I think I'd rather be a less than real flake. My mother never raised me to be a hero.'
'Maybe that's your attraction.'
Halfway through the first night at the Hanging Goddess, despite all of Phaid's preoccupation, companionship had progressed to sex. For Phaid, it had been a climactic release from the constantly nagging fear of what the next few days would bring. After it was over, however, the demons had all crowded back. Finally, Phaid had climbed out of bed and begun pacing Edelline-Lan's temporary bedroom.
'I've got to get out of here. I need some air and a look at the sky. I'm starting to feel like a prisoner.'
The courtiers guarding the front door of the tavern had taken a lot of convincing on the part of Edelline-Lan that Phaid should be let out of the building. They had only agreed to it when she'd assured them that she was not only armed, but also prepared to take full responsibility for any attempt by Phaid to escape. The other courtiers didn't make it easy for Edelline-Lan. They treated her with a certain aloof, chilly curtness. They seemed to take the attitude that she had somehow become a traitor to her class by associating with Phaid.
As the two of them walked away from the door, across the courtyard, Phaid deliberately took hold of her hand so the courtiers on watch couldn't help but see. She didn't resist and, in the skyline, they were the ideal picture of the loving couple.
Once they were in the shadow of the high wall, Phaid spun Edelline-Lan around and kissed her hard on the lips.
'Let's run away.'
'Sure.'
'I'm serious.'
'Okay, one day we'll run away. It might really be fun for awhile.'
'I'm not talking about one day, I'm talking about now.'
Edelline-Lan's face fell.
'Oh dear.'
'What's the matter? It'd be easy. We could just sneak away. We'll take Streetlife's flipper. He'll be madder than a wet cat, but he'll get over it. You and I wouldn't have any trouble getting out of the city, and once we're away, well . . . we could do anything.'
Edelline-Lan slowly shook her head.
'No.'
'No?'
'It all sounds very nice and romantic, but no.'
'What do you mean, no?'
'Exactly what I said. I'm not going to run away with you, and I'm not going to let you run away on your own, either.'
'What's the matter with you?'
'I gave my word to Roni-Vows. I gave my solemn word that I'd see this thing through to the end. I'm not about to break my solemn word, even for you. That's what it means to be an aristocrat. These are my people, and I'm not about to betray them.'
'You gave your word to Roni-Vows; how much can that mean? He's about the most treacherous, lying bastard that I've ever met. How can you worry about breaking a promise to him?'
'There's a certain level of promise that cannot be broken.'
'Does Roni-Vows see it that way?'
'Of course he does.'
Phaid was dumbfounded. 'I can't believe this!' He took a step back. 'I think I'm just going to walk to the flipper, get in it and drive away. That way I won't compromise your aristocratic honour and it'll save my ass.'
'I'll kill you before you're halfway to the flipper.'
'You wouldn't.'
'Try me. I already told you, I gave my word to see this thing through to the end. Part of that means making sure that you play your part. I like you, Phaid, but I gave my word.'
Phaid was close to speechless.
'I don't believe this. Less than an hour ago you and I were . . .' Phaid's face became set. 'I really don't believe this. I'm walking.'
He turned on his heel and started carefully across the courtyard.
'I warned you, Phaid. I don't want to do this, but I will if you make me.'
Phaid glanced back over his shoulder. Edelline-Lan had a blaster pointed straight at him. Phaid stopped and turned.
'You're quite serious, aren't you.'
'Quite serious.'
Phaid spread his hands in a gesture of resignation.
'I might as well get killed the day after tomorrow rather than today. What we are supposed to do now?'
'We could go back to bed as though nothing had happened.'
'You're joking.'
'I'm not. I'm sorry I had to do this, but it was my duty. I don't see why it has to make any difference to us about sleeping together. I understand that you had to try to get away just like I had to stop you.'
'You're incredible.'
She lowered her blaster.
'Aren't I just.'
'No, I mean really incredible.'
'Are you getting miffed because I won and you didn't?'
Phaid started back towards the door of the tavern.
'I don't know.'
Although the hours dragged slowly, they did actually pass. All too soon, Edelline-Lan was shaking Phaid awake and telling him that it was time to go. He got out of bed, splashed cold water on his face and dressed quickly. Out in the main lower room, Roni-Vows was waiting with most of the group of courtiers. The air was electric, but Phaid felt strangely on top of the situation. He suddenly realised that he was probably more in control than anyone else in the room. The knowledge made him a little light-headed. He faced the grim assembly of courtiers with a smile.
'So, is the queen ready to travel?'
Roni-Vows didn't look amused.
'The president will do everything that is required of her.'
'That's what worries me.'
'You seem to be taking all this with a great amount of levity.'
'I think I'd rather die with a smile on my lips and a song in my heart. I mean, this entire operation is a bit of a joke. How are we going to go about this idiocy?'
Roni-Vows' face hardened.
'This attitude isn't going to help you any.'
'I don't think there's anything that can help me any. Just tell me what the deal is and let's get on with it.'
Roni-Vows pursed his lips.
'Very well. The journey to the terminal ought to be comparatively simple. It's still early in the morning and I doubt that many of the rebels' random traffic checks will be in operation yet. The Day Oners held a particularly unpleasant ceremony on the Plaza last night. They forced a number of our people to beat each other to death with clubs. If they showed reluctance, parts of them were crudely hacked off. Hands, tongues, breasts and genitals were all carved from their owners' bodies. It was, by all reports, a gruesome spectacle.'
That's horrible.'
'Sadly, it may prove useful to us. The Day Oners turned out in large numbers to watch the horror that I doubt their vigilante patrols will be out very early this morning.'
Phaid continued to smile.
'It's an ill wind.'
'How dare you, you scum?'
Trimble-Dun lunged at Phaid, but Roni-Vows quickly grabbed him and pushed him back.
'Leave him! Don't let him get to you. We need him.'
'How much of him do I have to tolerate?'
'As much as it takes to get the president out of the city'.
Trimble-Dun looked daggers at Phaid but kept his mouth shut. Roni-Vows went back to outlining the plan. He looked at Phaid.
'You and he . . .' he indicated Streetlife, who'd been brought in under guard '. . . will be taken to the line terminal in one flipper. You will have an escort. The President, Edelline-Lan and myself will travel in another vehicle.'
'When do I get my blaster back?'
'You will get your weapon, the travel documents and the first cash payment once you are inside the line terminal. Remember one thing,
though. There will be armed men watching right up to the point that you are past the rebel checkpoint and you are on your way to the train. If you give them the slightest reason to believe that you are about to double cross us, they'll burn you on the spot.'
Phaid's grin faded.
'You've got this sewn up, haven't you.'
'I think so.'
'Is there anything else?'
Roni-Vows shook his head.
'That's all. Now we have to actually do it.'
The journey to the line terminal was uneventful. The Day Oners had yet to set up their spot road checks, just as Roni-Vows had predicted. Phaid's main fear was that, away from Roni-Vows' restraining influence, one of his escorts would take the opportunity to kill him. Fortunately, their discipline was stricter than Phaid had imagined and although they radiated pure hatred, nobody laid a hand on him.
The rebels had made a particular effort to make their mark on the streets around the line terminal. The buildings had been plastered with propagandist posters and displays, and daubed with slogans. As if totally swamping the eyes wasn't enough, they also went after the ears with clusters of speakers strung in every convenient niche.
These pumped out a non-stop stream of revolutionary rhetoric and grating martial music. On the wide steps between the monstrous feet of one of the terminal's stone giants, the five who were to take the line train were reunited. Roni-Vows immediately took charge.
'At this point we should split up. Except for Phaid and the president, who will be together, we will go through the checkpoint separately. The checkpoint is on this level. Once we've passed it and are riding up the tube, we are in marikh country and we should be safe, although I think there will be a danger from rebel spies right up until we're on the train and it's rolling.' He looked around carefully, but nobody seemed to be paying the quintet any undue attention. 'Here's the order that we'll go through the checkpoint. I will go first to test if our papers are in order, then . . .'
'No.'
'What?'
'No. Here's how we go through the checkpoint. Edelline-Lan goes first to test the papers. Streetlife goes next because the only trouble he can get into is his own. The Lady President and I go next because we're the target and you go last because you're just along for the ride. That's it and I don't want any arguments.'
Roni-Vows shrugged.
'If that's the way you want it.'
'And from now on if I want it I get it because it's my ass in the barrel. You got that?'
'I've got that.'
'Give me back my blaster.'
Roni-Vows took Phaid's weapon from inside his coat and handed it to him. Phaid dropped it into its holster.
'Now the rest of the stuff.'
Roni-Vows produced two flat plastic wallets.
'The money and your sets of papers.'
Phaid tucked them in his pocket.
'Okay, now how about you, Madame President. Are you fit to travel or am I going to have to lug a vegetable on to the train?'
The ex-president's slight figure was swathed in full mourning. The hood of the orange and black robe was pulled forward so her face was invisible.
'Keep up the truculent attitude, young man, it might just carry us through.'
The voice that came from inside the hood was crisp and well articulated. Phaid nodded.
'Okay then, let's go. Edelline-Lan in front. Keep an eye on each other and don't do anything dumb.'
The checkpoint was makeshift, slow and less than efficient. Surrounded by jolt fields and thirty or more armed rebels with blue armbands and surly expressions, four harassed looking clerks checked each traveller's papers.
Most of the rapidly growing line moved through the checkpoint with no great difficulty. There were, however, a few casualties of the rebel system. In the space of time during which Phaid was waiting his turn, he saw three unhappy individuals pulled to one side and then quickly marched away under close guard.
Edelline-Lan reached the checkpoint. She gave her papers to one of the clerks. He leafed through them, there was a brief conversation and then he handed them back. Edelline-Lan walked briskly towards the tube that would take her up to the line train. She was through.
Streetlife spent rather a long conversation with the clerk. At one point it become quite animated and Phaid was getting prepared to see him dragged away, but then the documents were handed back and Streetlife's bouncing walk was being directed to the tubes. Phaid's turn was coming up next.
'What is the purpose of your visit, citizen?'
'Now that the revolution is over, I'm taking my new woman and going back to my people in the hills for a spell.'
'The revolution is never over, citizen. Revolution is a continuous process.'
Phaid cursed his luck that he should have to pick a clerk who fancied himself as a philosopher. He grunted.
'Yeah, well.'
The clerk tapped his papers.
'These are important letters of transit for a simple vacation. Perhaps you'd like to tell me how you came by them.'
'I'm Phaid.'
The clerk's eyes widened.
'You are, are you.'
'I can pretty much get what I want. I figure I've earned it. I'm taking my woman and going back to the hills.'
Phaid belligerently stuck out his jaw.
'You have any objections?'
The clerk obviously did.
'Preference and favour are something that we have sought to overturn.'
'You're saying that a man can't take a well earned rest when he wants one?'
'What I'm saying is that . . .'
At this juncture one of the blue armband boys with the blasters decided to find out exactly what was causing the delay.
'Do we have a problem here, citizen?'
Phaid looked up.
'I sure as hell hope not.'
The clerk turned to the guard.
'This is Citizen Phaid. He seems to think he deserves a vacation.'
The blue armband looked him up and down.
'So you're the legendary Phaid?'
'I'm Phaid. I don't know about the legendary.'
'And you're leaving town.'
'I thought I was entitled to a break until our citizen clerk here decided otherwise.'
The blue armband looked outraged.
'Of course he's entitled to a break. We're here to stop escaping aristos, not cause trouble for men who have served the revolution.'
The clerk bridled.
'I was merely pointing out that the revolution was supposed to have put an end to personal privilege. There ought to be no reason why a hero of the revolution should enjoy any better treatment than a humble . . .'
'Clerk?'
'Exactly.'
The blue armband's lip curled.
'If people like you had spent more time fighting and less time pointing things out, the revolution might be getting further than it is.' The blue armband pointed at Chrystiana-Nex. 'Why is the woman in mourning?'
'Her brother was killed during the storming of the Palace.'
Blue armband swung back to the clerk with a gesture of contempt.
'So you decide to ease her grief by tying her man up with your petty officiousness.'
The clerk couldn't take much more. 'Okay, okay, you've made your point. You strutting glamour boys make me sick. When are you going to realise that a revolution requires hard work not just heroics?' He thrust the papers back into Phaid's hand. 'Go through. Enjoy your vacation . . . while you can.'
Phaid sneered.
'You're too good to us.'
Taking Chrystiana-Nex by the arm, he began to move quickly towards the tube. The ex-president leaned close to him and spoke in a low voice.
'You almost overdid the tough guy act.'
'We got through, didn't we?'
'Just.'
The tube was coming up. With a sudden twitch, he realised that there had been so much else on his mind that he hadn't had time for his usual terror of the tube
s. He stepped out into empty space and floated up. His fear of drop tubes came back to him in a single, gut wrenching rush. He shut his eyes tightly and kept them that way until his feet felt the floor of the upper level under them.
Edelline-Lan and Streetlife were waiting by the train's first-class boarding ramp. They made a strange couple, but both looked genuinely pleased to see that Phaid and Chrystiana-Nex had cleared the checkpoint.
'You made it.'
'We made it.'
'Now there's just Roni-Vows to come.'
Phaid walked over and handed the tickets to one of the marikh conductors stationed at the foot of the ramp. He noticed that all means of access to the line train were well guarded by marikh security men carrying businesslike fuse tubes. It was unusual to see the normally selfeffacing marikhs put on such a show of strength. They obviously had little faith in the current situation in Chrystianaville.
The conductor checked the tickets and smiled.
'There is nothing to keep you and your party from boarding.'
Phaid nodded.
Thank you.' He looked back at the others. 'Is there any sign of Roni-Vows yet?'
Edelline-Lan was watching the head of the up-bound tube.
'I think . . . yes . . . that's him now.' She waved and shouted. 'Hey! Over here! He's seen us and he's coming in this direction . . . oh my Lords . . . those three men! They're grabbing him! One of them is pointing straight at us!'
Chrystiana-Nex slapped Edelline-Lan smartly across the face.
'You stupid girl. What did you have to wave and shout for? You've drawn their attention to us.'
A pair of the marikh security men looked around to see what the disturbance was. Four armed men were running across the concourse towards Phaid and his companions. Although they wore no badges or insignia, they were plainly rebel agents. Phaid grabbed each of the two women by the arm and pulled them apart.
'Get on the train, damn it! It's our only chance.'
Streetlife was already pounding up the ramp. After a moment's hesitation Chrystiana-Nex and Edelline-Lan followed. Phaid dropped his hand to his blaster and retreated up the ramp at a slightly slower pace. Their pursuers started pointing and shouting.
'Stop them! They are wanted criminals!'
