Chapter 39: Kamura
The black mask stifled her. The red robe wrapped her like a shroud. They cut her off from what was happening around her; they cut her off from herself. She closed her eyes, trying to still the emotions storming in her heart. Beside her, Toko nudged her shoulder. His hand squeezed hers once and let go. It was comforting even through their gloves. They were crowded in with a hundred priests of Nish, close around the throne of the Overlord to be. Kamura thought it fortunate that these people didn’t share her culture’s penchant for orderly ranks and files, because she had no idea where they were actually supposed to stand. They’d slipped in among the others as a wave of priests in red swept by them on their way to take part in the ceremony. Now, in the glossy black throne room, they were a mass, a mob of bodies touching bodies, all facing the raised dais that held the enormous gold throne that crawled with images of the gods and goddesses of Shadriss. Pressing close behind them were green-robed priests of the Lady Ur, and beyond the priests, every noble on Shadriss was crowded into the huge throne room. She heard musicians playing on strings and drums and the shuffle and stamp of moving feet. The priests chanted, and the nobles danced, all in a moving, throbbing mass of color and life. And none of them were aware of what really sat on that throne.
Toko had led her through dark tunnels in the worm matrix. Sometimes, they’d crawled forward on hands and knees. Eventually, they’d come out in a quiet section of the Black Palace. There, they’d donned the red robes, masks, and gloves of priests of Nish.
And Kamura had found a com, a working com. In the moments before they’d joined the others, there’d been no one around to see what she did. Toko had gone to scout the area, picking out the safest way to join the other red-robes unseen. She was alone.
Sick and shaking, she’d realized that she’d be a traitor, a betrayer no matter what she did. Here choices were impossible. Call in the airstrike that would kill Toko, Jak, Tessa, and thousands of others with them? Defy Grandmother Mobutu’s orders, betray her family, and possibly endanger all of humanity? Alone, afraid, she’d made her decision.
Now, she stood shoulder to shoulder with Toko as they waited to see whether Jak and Tessa would succeed. Toko had assured them that the three bodies were one being, and Jak had agreed. Killing or at least damaging one third of that meld should damage the Selok, or so they reasoned.
Then the Prime jerked forward, bent almost double in a seizure of pain. Kamura saw him moan and clutched his head. This was it!
The High Priest bent over the Prime. "My Lord, are you well?"
Beside her, she felt Toko surge toward the throne, his strong, agile body running up the steps of the dais two at a time. She shoved her way forward, following him. Hands reached for her, but she tore free.
Omniphage Invasion Page 39
