by Andrew Novak
Then his companion tugged at his sleeve.
“Where are you going? Why do we need to go this way?”
Jack realized that his feet were carrying him to his own cluster. And that’s the first place Brandt would go to look for him. He stopped, tried to gather his scattered thoughts and finally asked what had been bothering him:
“Where’s Lisa? Where are they holding her?”
The old man took a step back.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“Jack, listen and try to stay calm,” the old man said. “Ready? So you know… Brandt never wanted this. He explained to Lisa, in front of me, about five times that her kidnapping was just a guarantee. Just to ensure that you would hand over the infragun. That you’d get the money he’d promised and everything would be fine. She struggled, tried to fight… Somehow, somehow got it into her head that they wanted to kill you, and that they took her hostage to keep you pliant. And Brandt explained again… I was even surprised how patient he was.”
Jack listened and did not understand what the old guy was talking about at all. Which is probably what kept him from interrupting.
“She sort of calmed down and Clive released her. He’d been holding her tightly by the arms, but then it seemed safe enough to let her go. She got Brandt good between the legs, a solid kick, and took off for the door. Well, Brandt hadn’t counted on this. He’s got the prosthesis and it’s heavy. Brandt caught up with Lisa, tried to grab her — she almost scratched his eye out — and he brushed her aside with his arm. That prosthesis is heavy. He hadn’t wanted to kill Lisa. It was an accident.”
Jack’s ears rang, went deaf to what was said next. He seemed to hear the senile chattering, but all meaning escaped him. In his head, again and again, pounding like a hammer: wanted to kill Lisa, wanted to kill Lisa, wanted to kill Lisa…
Jack sat down heavily, leaned his back against the wall of a trailer and closed his eyes. It was easier that way. He wanted to disconnect, fall out of this world, leave. But where? Didn’t matter. Somewhere, anywhere, where people didn’t die. Or the other way around, where they died together, and he wouldn’t remain alone. And it was almost possible. The world lost color, darkened, drifted away. But not for long, because the persistent old bastard was still muttering:
“Then Brandt ordered me into the box, saying, ‘Enough, I won’t lose anyone else.’ He told his people to hang out of sight, so as not to frighten you. He didn’t want to upset you prematurely. Now, he said, things wouldn’t go as planned.”
Jack resurfaced from his thoughts and opened his eyes. The old man was standing before him, but was still afraid to approach him. But he wouldn’t shut up, just kept telling the story.
“I will kill him,” Jack muttered quietly, woodenly.
His fists clenched again. Inside, everything seethed, burned. He wanted to yell and beat someone, to break something… but by force of will, he stamped down the fire inside so that the sparks did not burst through. Not until it was time.
“Of course!” the old man immediately responded. “Brandt said as much. ‘Either we bring Jack down right away, or he will kill us both, and everyone nearby.’ Therefore, he ordered everyone to lie on the roof and wait. When you came, he wanted to start a conversation, which would give his people time to quietly descend. But you deceived him. No one anticipated that you wouldn’t enter through the door. He also thought that you’d really go to the tower and bring the infragun. Then he’d need to hide from you for a week. Well, maybe two weeks, to be on the safe side.”
“Why?”
“ One who goes to the Middle Finger is dead. The Middle Finger, that’s what you call it, right? It’s good that you decided to deceive Brandt and not go there. You didn’t go, after all?”
“I went.”
The old man hesitated and blinked. Then he said slowly:
“Really? Jack, then you’re dead anyway. You have a week left.”
Chapter Seven
The Dark Portal
“A WEEK?” Jack was outraged. “What are you going on about? And what exactly do you think is going to take me out?”
“Radiation. The place you call the Middle Finger, should still be a horrific setting.”
“Old man, I don’t know what game you’re playing at, but I know a thing or two about nuclear bombs. I saw traces of an explosion. If there’d been a real nuclear explosion, the tower wouldn’t be standing. It would be nothing more than tiny pebbles scattered around the area. At the time, I wondered how Clive knew about the arrangement of rooms in the Middle Finger. Now I see that it was all from you. You’ve been in the skyscraper, but you’re still alive. You wanna try telling me the truth now?”
“The truth will take time. Let’s get out of here… wait! Did you go to the Middle Finger in this same cloak? Did you change clothes afterwards?”
The old man took a few steps away.
“No, I went there in a fancy suit,” Jack grumbled, “and I wore this especially to meet you. Listen, if you don’t want to be upfront with me, then at least don’t lie. And we really do need to get out of this place.”
Jack took a few steps and the old man, still keeping his distance, ambled along behind him.
“Wait, where are you going? You can not return home. Hey, wait!”
“What difference does it make if I only have a week left to live, eh? So I’m going home.”
“No, Brandt will send people there. Follow me. We’ll find a place to hide. But, for God’s sake, change your damn clothes. I’m surprised you’re not glowing, you’ve got so much radioactive dust on you.”
“There’s nothing on it,” Jack remembered when he and Lisa had hid under that cloak, and he closed his eyes.
But his strange companion was right — he shouldn’t return home. So Jack followed him. The old man began to speak:
“Come to think about it, I’m not sure that my hiding places are safe. Need to think of something… But you’re going to have to get rid of your cloak and hat. Just heed my advice. That’s all. Did not you notice that something was wrong with you after your trip in the Wasteland? Fatigue, nausea, sudden weakness?”
“Maybe there was something like that.”
“Radiation sickness,” the old man nodded. “Take off your outerwear. They need to be hidden. Here, so you don’t think that I’m lying to you. I’ll tell you something that no omega knows. This skyscraper, the Middle Finger, used to be the headquarters of the GenoTech corporation. This corporation was created by very rich people, people with giant fortunes. They called their community the Inner Circle.”
“Never heard of it. Is this… some kind of secret organization or what?”
“Exactly that, so no surprise you’ve never heard of it. Experiments were conducted in many different fields inside the laboratories of the Middle Finger. On the seventeenth floor, which you probably visited, they developed weapons that use infrasound.”
“The infragun,” Jack remembered what Clive had called it.
“That’s it. Did you bring it? Where is it?”
“Don’t worry about it. I don’t even know your name, so why should I tell you my secrets?”
“You can call me Goodwin. Tell me or not. So, the primary objective of these experiments was to restructure the human genotype. And in the basement, they worked with radioactive materials. I don’t know what exploded there, but it was very powerful. Maybe terrorists sabotaged something down there? GenoTech was hated by many. There were many attempts to destroy them, so the building was well-protected. But in the basement lab, where they worked with radioactive materials, an explosion occurred.”
“The skyscraper survived it.”
“Sure did. It was designed to stand forever. The Inner Circle had almost managed to bring its human genotype project to completion. Everything was almost ready. But the explosion resulted in the release of radioactive materials. the staff fled. Part of the project’s results were taken to the place that later became New Atrium, part of it was lost in an
accident on the way there.”
“A helicopter that crashed into an envoy of vehicles?”
“You saw the roadway in the Wasteland? That’s the one. So, for example, the results of their work in the martial applications of infrasound were lost. That is, the prototype remained at the laboratory, but all diagrams, details, other experimental models were all lost. At the time, though, the Inner Circle cared more about taking the equipment for genotype correction. And that’s when it all began.”
“When what began” Jack asked absentmindedly.
He was thinking about Lisa, about the week he had left, about how he would use that week to dispose of Brandt. But he was listening to Goodwin’s muttering, somewhat.
“The cataclysm, Jack. The Gendemic. The collapse of civilization.”
“Something I don’t understand… So, was the Gendemic somehow connected with the actions of the Inner Circle?”
The old man was silent. Jack noticed a suitable vacant lot and turned toward it to hide his cloak. Whether the old man was right or not, he needed to do something about his gear. If for no other reason because the cloak and hat were too noticeable. They’d be looking for Jack in them. It took a few minutes to empty the pockets and stuff the knife, cartridges, cigarettes and other things he usually kept in the bottomless pockets of his cloak into new places. While he was packing up the junk and covering the cache with gravel, Goodwin continued his story:
“The Inner Circle moved to New Atrium. Then, it was called something else… Manhattan. Although that doesn’t matter now. The corporation had another base there. That’s where they finally worked all the bugs out of the equipment. And a hell of a thing happened in the world. The owners of GenoTech established the survival of the city on the island, created the Barrier, and organized its security. They eventually became the unspoken lords of New Atrium. The equipment recovered from the Middle Finger was brought there and debugged, and I was a programmer then, and I participated in the work. So I know how it works there. In the end, the health problems of the Inner Circle of members disappeared, and that’s exactly what the goal of the genotype experiments had been. But, after the series of disasters had ended, they found themselves trapped inside the Barrier. They wanted something… something that would make their world a little bigger. So they recovered Alterra.
* * *
Goodwin went silent. Jack squinted at the old man, who occasionally glanced at the glowing windows of nearby cluster of trailers. What was he looking for? Or maybe he wasn’t searching for anything, but simply looking into familiar windows out of habit? Then Jack remembered that they weren’t far from where Egghead had set himself up. And, perhaps, it all fits. Who, if not Goodwin, could remember how to run an older version of Alterra? He was Egghead’s secret buddy that disappeared several days ago. That is, he fell into Brandt Ironfist’s clutches.
The memory of Egghead led Jack to an interesting conclusion: Egghead didn’t know about the Inner Circle. He let it slip that he’d pay dearly for information regarding the masters of Alterra. So, did that mean Goodwin hadn’t told fat man? But now he was spilling his guts to Jack? Made him wonder why. Because Jack was doomed anyway? Yeah, and for the rest of the week, he could spread the info to whomever he wanted.
“I’m wondering why you’re telling me all this?” he asked.
The old man stepped toward Jack. His eyes flashed in the darkness, reflecting distant lights from the towers of New Atrium.
“Do you want to live? Survive and avenge your woman? I can help.”
“Do I want to survive,” murmured Jack, “what a difficult question. I don’t even know how to answer it. But you go on, keep talking.”
“It’s true, I know how to cure you. There is a way,” Goodwin momentarily forgot his fear of the radioactive dust on Jack and came close. He would have looked Jack in the eye but was too short. The old-timer was quite short. “To do this, you’ll need to get into New Atrium. There’s a GenoTech building with equipment for genetic correction still inside. All it’ll take is to get in, run the program and lie in the capsule.”
“Ah, well, that’s a piece of cake. Just gotta make it through the Barrier, then get into this top-secret laboratory, and run equipment that I haven’t the slightest clue how to work. Kid’s stuff.”
“Alone, of course, you’ll never make it,” nodded the old man. “I should go with you. I’ve been in New Atrium, and I can guide you to the GenoTech building. Plus, I’m familiar with the equipment. Hell, I programmed it! But I have no idea how to cross the Barrier. If you want to live, think up a way to do it. And your time is short. You have to act now, while you still can. The illness progresses rapidly.”
“It sure is progressing,” nausea was sweeping over Jack again. “But I don’t have any ideas yet.”
“Think,” Goodwin said. “You pulled something like this off once. When you ran the backup of the old version of Alterra.”
“You know a lot about me,” Jack noted, “but tell me, what’s in it for you? Why did you decide to help me?”
“Because we’re in a similar position,” Goodwin scratched at the gray stubble on his wrinkled cheek. “I’m going to kick the bucket soon, too. If old age doesn’t kill me, then there’s always Brandt. He really needs that infragun. Or some other weapon. He’s got it in his head that I’m an expert in these things. But I’m just a programmer. Yeah, I worked with the software of different pieces of equipment, including a bit of work with the infrasonic weapon and the gene correction project. But I’m not a weaponsmith or geneticist! I just programmed the instruments.”
The old man sighed and finished:
“To be frank, I’d really like you to take care of Brandt, so the loony will leave me alone. Later, when there’s time, I’ve got some stuff to tell you. He’s been hunting me for a while. And I simply want to be left alone.”
“And are you planning to undergo treatment in GenoTech?” Jack had guessed at what the old man wouldn’t say out loud, but was heard in his tone.
When Goodwin spoke about the masters of Alterra and his role in their achievements, his voice telegraphed his envy. Of course, he knew these capsules in GenoTech. He had been right next to them, had seen and touched them, but something prevented him from using them. Jack understood it as clearly as if Goodwin himself had said it. He saw it in how the old man rubbed his hands together when he promised to rid Jack of his radiation sickness. Why not? Why shouldn’t both of them win in this game? Especially when their lives were on the line. And vengeance.
* * *
Jack tried to recall where Egghead’s trailer was. But it turned out that Goodwin knew the way far better. Juan answered at their knock. As before, he peered cautiously from behind the half-opened door, but recognizing his guests, he admitted them both without further inquiries. The number of inhabitants in the trailer had increased. In addition to Juan and the women, there was another man. He didn’t move from his spot, just sat there and kept silent. And kept his hands under the table.
“Wake our host, Juan,” Goodwin demanded, “we have urgent business.”
“Follow me. The master ordered us to bring you directly to him.”
“What, was he expecting us?” asked Jack.
“Mhmm,” Juan gave a wry smile. “The master, he’s a clever guy. He always knows in advance. He knew about you, both of you, but didn’t say that you would show up together.”
This time, Jack wasn’t surprised by the entrance setup to Egghead’s lair. They had to wait for Juan to knock, Egghead to wake up and unlock the door… The big man was sitting in his bed, smiling. He still didn’t know anything, but all this was just great to him. Jack brought news and the missing Goodwin had been found.
There was much to explain, but Jack was in no condition to lay everything out in detail. He just blurted:
“They killed Lisa. Here, in real life.”
Egghead’s smile slipped from his lips and blinked his puffy eyes. Finally, he managed:
“Who? How?”
> “Brandt Ironfist. Who, by the way, put his people on your home in Alterra. That’s how they found Lisa and me.”
Egghead reacted in his own way. He stretched to the row of buttons on the wall, clicked on and said loudly:
“Juan, stay alert. We may be attacked.”
“I doubt anything will bother you here,” Jack waved wearily and sank into a chair. Now that there was no immediate danger, everything hit him at once — despair at the thought of Lisa, his desire for revenge, physical weakness from the sickness. “Brandt had also taken Goodwin captive, and when I got there, Lisa was already gone. Just Goodwin. I dragged him out of there, no chase. You can relax. But mind you, I’m not playing games anymore. There’s no time, so get on with it.”
“Egghead, Jack’s dying. He needs…” Goodwin started.
Jack cut him off:
“I need info about the fiery hound and a way into Alterra. Right now.”
“Into Alterra? Why? What do you mean, dying? Are you injured? Maybe you should see a doctor…”
“Alterra, Egghead. Get me into Alterra. Only there can I earn money for a chip. You can find people who will back omegas for a chip and will take them to New Atrium, right?”
“Er… yes,” Egghead gave it some thought, “yes, I know a few. But it’s expensive. More than two hundred thousand, if we’re talking game gold. Perhaps I can negotiate a discount, but it won’t be much. Still, two hundred or more. No relics will bring in that much, not quickly”
Jack wearily rubbed his face. It was true. Even if he organized a steady flow of artifacts from Gaerthon, he would need several months to collect enough money. But what could he do? Just give up? No, there was another option. But he’d have to work it out very precisely. There was one alpha-citizen… Ruger Eckerhart. If he was wanted to get to the bottom of all this, to find out about fire hound and Theokrist’s Journey, any expense would be insignificant. He would shell out any amount without a second thought to satisfy his whims. The only thing was that he had to want it for himself. Yes, that was the only way. Ruger had to be convinced that it was what he wanted. Jack had to entice him deeper into adventure.
