"You are Mr. Negri's secretary. Ask him what he wants."
Again, and, "He wants to talk to you about your work," she said.
"I am busy just now," I said, as I began dusting a chair. 'Tell him that you will fill him in a bit and describe to him the structure of the House, with its Wing setup and its internal organization. Answer any questions he has about it."
This took a long while. I had finished cleaning the filth of ages from the chair, doing a very thorough job,- and had seated myself in it before she turned to me again.
"He wants to know whether he can speak with you now."
I shook my head. I lit a cigarette.
"Tell him that the wall is down on Wing V, and that people are going outside. Tell him that you are going back to provide a program for sheltering the exodus that is to come."
"I am?"
"You want to, don't you?"
"Yes, but—"
"You possess knowledge of the necessary equipment? Of its fabrication and employment?"
"I think so."
"Then tell him about that, too."
I finished smoking. After a long while, I lit another one.
"He wants to know what you think has been learned from all this," she said finally.
"How the hell should I know?" I said. "I am not even certain what I have learned myself, except that I now appreciate what it feels like to have been assumed into the workings of a great machine."
She spoke with him briefly, then said, "He says he would like to hear your voice. He says he would like you to say something to him. Anything."
I rose to my feet and stretched.
"Tell him the debt of honer is canceled between us," I said. "Tell him you are sorry, but Mr. Negri is not receiving any calls at this time. Then hang up."
She did this, and I accepted her arm once more and allowed her to help me back out of the ruin. The sun was up and the clouds were nearer. I thought we might be able to beat the rain. Then again, maybe not, but what the hell.
Zelazny, Roger - Novel 05 Page 18
