by Jon Steele
‘Everything?’
‘Yes, everything. You do realize you took a grave gamble with the first light of creation.’
‘Seemed like a good idea at the time. Especially as you didn’t tell me what the hell was going on.’
‘You’re not alone, Mr Harper.’
‘You’re joking.’
‘Contrary to what you may think, Mr Harper, I don’t know everything there is to know. Should have spotted it though. Yuriev coming to Lausanne, trying to contact the Doctor at the IOC.’
‘The Olympic flame; the fire of the gods.’
‘Quite the clever clue when you think about it.’
‘Not like you to miss a clue, Inspector.’
‘Indeed.’
‘What else?’
‘I beg your pardon.’
‘What else do you know about it?’
‘Like you, nothing more than the legends of men. That one day the light will be revealed to them again, and that the light will pass them on to the next stage of their evolution. And on that day, this place will be paradise once more.’
‘And our job is finished.’
‘Yes.’
‘Any idea when that might be? I mean, we’ve already been here for two and a half million years.’
The Inspector took a long pull of smoke.
‘The knowledge of the whens and hows of this place is well beyond your pay grade. Mine too for that matter. But there is a plan, I’m sure.’
‘Speaking of plans, how could you be sure I’d find the key, or figure out what the hell it was for?’
The Inspector smiled.
‘I was wondering when you’d get around to asking that. We’d been tracking Komarovsky’s communications, knew he’d gone rogue. We knew his plans to drug you and return you to the cathedral to kill the boy. All we needed to do was evacuate the cathedral of partisans and resting souls and leave you alone with the boy and Miss Taylor. There was every confidence you’d take the boy under your wings, as they say, and that he’d lead you to the key and together you’d sort the rest. Which brings me to something I’d like to ask you.’
‘Go ahead.’
‘I read your debriefing report. Beyond your description of events you didn’t offer details about the boy.’
‘And?’
‘One would think you had come to know him a good deal.’
Harper slid back in time, saw himself trying to strangle the lad, then the faintest light flashing deep within his eyes.
‘You mean that he was a half-breed, bred by our own side?’
‘I think child would be the better word in his case.’
Harper looked away, his eyes watching ripples on the lake.
‘I’ve been fighting a war longer than … longer than time. And for what? Come back after a hundred years and find we’re doing the same damn thing as the enemy. The very thing that started this bloody war.’
‘Mr Harper, you know how it is. This is all the paradise there is for these creatures of free will. It was choking on the greed and fear. Our forces were decimated, things were desperate, it was an experiment.’
‘The Two Hundred bred a race among men and we called them traitors, we do it and it’s called an experiment?’ Harper tapped his cane on the cobblestones. ‘How many more half … children are there stashed away in that school of yours? Mon Repos is one of your operations, isn’t it?’
The Inspector gave it a few seconds.
‘How do you know about the school, Mr Harper?’
‘The lad told Miss Taylor, she told me.’
‘I see.’
‘How many?’
‘The number is classified. And with that, I suggest you drop it.’
Harper looked up at the belfry.
‘Newspapers said he died in an accident, slipped over a patch of ice on the upper balcony and fell.’
‘It was the most plausible cover story.’
Harper looked the Inspector in the eyes.
‘Accident at birth, accident at death. He was bred for a job and died doing it. No part of that lad’s sad life was an accident.’
‘Part of him was human, so yes, he had a life of some sadness. They all do. But he also had a life of dreams and wonder as only they can have. And I would’ve thought the manner of his death speaks to the best of him.’
‘He was listed, remember? What sort of choice did he have about the manner of his death?’
‘The boy wasn’t listed, Mr Harper. We told you that to keep the emotions of your form in play.’
‘I don’t get it.’
‘You’re a warrior, Mr Harper. You exist to hunt down and slaughter the enemy. Your social skills are, how should I put it, somewhat lacking.’
‘True. But I still don’t get it.’
‘We’d been aware for some time the boy was awakening to the duality of his being despite having suffered a brain injury at birth. Our medical team had him on a regimen of potions to keep his imaginations in check, but his imaginations became increasingly profound. It must have been terribly confusing for him. We had arranged for him to be married to the daughter of a partisan, someone to care for him and give him a sense of normality in his life. We were planning to take him from the cathedral, to a small cottage in the country. For his own good.’
‘He would have never left. To him, that place was alive. It’s as if …’
‘As if what, Mr Harper?’
‘He knew before any of us the reason the cathedral is sacred beyond belief.’
‘Yes, that does seem to have been the case, doesn’t it? And in the end, he killed one of their chiefs and sent the enemy into a tailspin. Intelligence tells us they’re locked in internecine slaughter. A rather good result for our side.’
‘And what about the locals? Lucy Clarke and Stephan … I never knew his family name.’
The Inspector took another pull of smoke.
‘Gomaz, his family name was Gomaz. And for the record, the loss of their souls was unforeseen and regrettable, but it happens. You know it does.’
Harper wanted to tell the Inspector to fuck off. Then again, he thought, what’s the bloody use.
‘You really play hardball, Inspector, don’t you?’
‘And so do you, that’s why we’re here.’
Harper looked at the lake, saw windtrails on the surface.
‘Mind if we walk back? I need another drink.’
‘Of course.’
They walked over the cobblestones to the fountain. Harper handed the Inspector the cane.
‘Mind holding this?’
‘Not at all.’
Harper leaned over the well and grabbed the spout. He bent down, let the cool water run through his mouth. He straightened up, looked at the Inspector.
‘Really does taste better from the spout.’
‘Glad to hear it.’
‘So that’s what this chat’s about, is it? Make sure I keep my mouth shut about the lad and your school?’
The Inspector handed Harper his cane.
‘Oh, I’m sure once given the order to keep your mouth shut, you would. No, it’s something else. Miss Taylor is leaving for America today.’
‘America, why?’
‘Because I say so. She’s going deep underground. We’ve given her a new identity, a complete back story.’
‘Where?’
‘I’m afraid you’re not cleared to know the details. But I will tell you she’ll be in a very quiet and remote place where she’ll open a candle shop.’
‘Candles?’
‘Yes. She took up candle-making as part of her recovery. Seems to have helped her immensely.’
Harper remembered the night in the nave. Her holding a candle, talking about calling all angels in the darkest hour before the dawn.
‘That’s good.’
‘Officer Jannsen will be heading Miss Taylor’s close-protection unit. They’ll be travelling together.’
‘Does she know?’
‘Does who know what?’
‘My, my. We are feeling like our old selves, aren’t we? Happy as I am to see it, I wouldn’t push your luck. You’re well within kill range of Sergeant Gauer, you know how serious those Swiss Guard types can be. Simple tone of voice can set them off.’
Harper saw the Swiss copper next to the Merc. Jacket open, SIG sidearm and a killing knife in his belt.
‘Point taken. Does she know?’
The Inspector crushed his smoke on the fountain wall and tossed it in the nearby bin.
‘There was a genuine concern it would drive her insane. For the time being we’ve masked it from her consciousness. Once in America we’ll help her through it. Given the trauma she’s experienced I think you’d agree it’s the best thing.’
‘Maybe.’
‘Maybe?’
‘Or maybe you’re cooking up another one of your whizbang experiments. Raise one of their half-breeds as our own, see if you can flip him to our side.’
‘Mr Harper, I understand you have … feelings. But I promise you it’s not like that. Something’s happened to her through all of this. Her light readings are off the chart. It could be her exposure to the fire, it could be the dream revealed to her in the nave. We just don’t know.’
‘Have you debriefed Gabriel?’
‘I’m afraid I’m forbidden to question him regarding his revelations to the locals. Always been that way. From the time of the unremembered beginning. Damn inconvenient but that’s the fact of it. However, we’re picking up some interesting enemy chatter.’
‘They know Miss Taylor’s pregnant and they want the child.’
The Inspector reacted with a steel-eyed stare. No fucking comment.
‘Just tell me you’re not using her as bait.’
‘Quite the opposite, Mr Harper. We have a duty to protect her and the child, have we not? You do remember the First Law of Existence, I trust?’
‘The souls of men are born of the first light, we are forbidden to snuff it out.’
‘Correct.’
Harper heard the bells from Place de la Palud ring the quarter-hour.
‘So, seeing as you didn’t drag me out of bed to tell me to keep my mouth shut or remind me there’re things you can’t tell me, why am I here?’
‘I’ve received new orders regarding you.’
‘Orders? Rather quick, isn’t it?’
‘I’m afraid so.’
‘If that’s the case, maybe I will have one of your flash fags, Inspector.’
‘Of course.’
The Inspector offered his cigarette case and a light. Harper pulled a smoke and lit up, drew in the smoke, waited for clarity to seep into his blood.
‘Right, I’m listening.’
‘HQ’s expressed concern about the intense level of emotions you experienced on this mission, especially after the results of your last medical. It seems they aren’t dissipating. In fact they’ve become embedded to your eternal being. And now that you’re out of danger of dying in your form, HQ wants you returned to stasis and separated from Captain Jay Harper, without delay.’
Harper took a deeper drag. Without delay. Meaning right the fuck now.
‘Understood, where do I report?’
The Inspector pointed to the cathedral.
‘In ten minutes, the bells will ring the six o’clock. Stand before the doors of the cathedral and place your right hand on the iron handle and wait for la grande sonnerie of the bells. When they finish, and before the sound fades, enter the nave. Monsieur Gabriel will meet you at the crossing square. I believe you remember the rest of the drill.’
‘From what I remember it’s a hell of a lot easier than awakening.’
‘Yes, it is. You’re in for a very long rest.’
‘Long enough to sleep?’
‘Perchance to dream, Mr Harper.’
Harper rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the weariness of eternity bearing down.
‘Now that would be interesting.’
The Inspector cleared his throat.
‘However, I’ve convinced HQ to come up with alternative orders, in the event you wish to stick around.’
‘You did what?’
‘I do have considerable influence and managed to float the idea that the very emotions they’re concerned about could prove helpful to our cause. Give us an edge in predicting what the enemy may throw at us next.’
‘Don’t tell me you’re offering me a choice, Inspector?’
‘As a matter of fact, yes. Care to hear it?’
‘Not really but feel free to give it a go.’
‘You can return to stasis or you can make your way down Escaliers du marché to Café du Grütli. Have a saucisse de veau with a good bottle of Villette from our vineyards in Lavaux. Tell Monsieur Dufaux to put it on my tab.’
‘Then what?’
‘You relax, Mr Harper. Think about getting fit for the next battle. That will surely come sooner rather than later.’
‘That’s your idea of a choice?’
‘Unlike you, my experience is limited in that regard. Let’s call it the best I can do. Of course, there will be certain protocols to your staying on.’
‘What sort of protocols?’
‘For one, that you have no further contact with Miss Taylor.’
‘Further? I haven’t seen or talked to her since …’
‘I mean from now, Mr Harper.’
The sound of tyres on cobblestones coming up Rue Curtat again. Another dark blue Merc driving up the hill to the esplanade. The windows tinted and raised.
‘Her?’
‘She wanted to see the cathedral before she left. And to talk to you, of course. I must warn you – she’ll have no memory of Jay Harper after today.’
‘Sorry?’
‘The potions being administered to her to mask the trauma. We’ve adjusted them to remove you from the picture, as it were.’
Harper felt something inside him sink, wanting to hold on to it, whatever it was … but knowing there was no choice but to let it go.
‘Fair enough.’
The Inspector turned and walked away to meet the car.
‘Inspector?’ Harper nodded towards the belfry. ‘Up there, with the bells.’
‘Yes, there’s someone new. A young girl from Iceland with a fine voice to call the hour.’
‘A girl?’
‘I realize you’ve been busy and may not have noticed, but the world has changed a bit since you were last here, Mr Harper.’
‘I guess so.’
‘Plays classical guitar as well, likes to sit on the balcony near Marie-Madeleine on warmer nights to play. She imagines the old thing is sad these days and needs a bit of comfort. Monsieur Buhlmann’s bringing her along. Seems the first thing she did upon coming into the loge was pick up the young boy’s binoculars to have a look over Lausanne. Monsieur Buhlmann thinks she’ll work out very well. If you choose to stay, you might come round of an evening and have a listen. Keep an eye on her, what?’
The Merc made a slow circle in front of the cathedral and came to a stop.
Mutt stepped from the jump seat and scanned the perimeter. Harper saw Jeff at the wheel, Brügger & Thomet submachine gun on his lap, well-notched killing knife in his belt. The Inspector had quiet words with Mutt and then turned to Harper.
‘Only a few minutes, Mr Harper, we need to get her to the airport. And the six o’clock bells will be ringing soon.’
The Inspector pulled open the rear door.
Officer Jannsen slid out, turned back, reached in the car.
Harper saw her take a woman’s hand and, for a second, he didn’t want to see her. He dropped his eyes to the cobblestones. To where a pair of black penny loafers and nice ankles hit the ground. Then he couldn’t keep his eyes from looking up. Black jeans, black jumper, a slender form draped in a long black cloak. Her hair and eyebrows gone blond, grown ou
t some. She held a fat grey cat in her arms.
Officer Jannsen helped the woman from the seat.
The woman stood still a moment before walking towards him.
Harper crushed out his fag, tossed it in the bin. He pressed down on his cane, stood to meet her. She stopped in front of him, she was quiet. He gave her a moment.
‘Hello, Miss Taylor.’
‘Hi.’
‘Looks like the lad’s cat’s off to America.’
‘Yeah, we’ve sort of got attached at the hip. I can’t seem to let go of him.’ She scratched the beast’s head.
Mew.
‘Maybe he doesn’t want to let go of you.’
‘Yeah, maybe.’
‘The scar’s gone.’
She tried to smile.
‘Vitamin E, four times a day.’
‘You look fine, Miss Taylor. You’re going to be fine.’
‘They won’t tell me where I’m going, Harper.’
‘It’s for your own protection, Miss Taylor.’
‘I know. It’s just …’
Harper waited for her to finish. She couldn’t.
‘The Inspector tells me you’re opening a candle shop.’
‘I like making candles. I’ve gotten really good at it.’
‘That’s swell, Miss Taylor.’
She took a quick breath.
‘Anne’s coming with me. She’s going to live with me till I feel better.’
‘Anne?’
‘Officer Jannsen.’
‘Right. Then you’ll be very fine.’
Katherine turned, looked at the cathedral, her eyes rising to the tower.
‘I didn’t think I’d ever want to come here again, but I guess I needed to see the cathedral before I left. I asked Inspector Gobet if you could be here. Hope that’s OK with you.’
‘I’m glad you did.’
They faced the lake and the setting sun, listening to the wind circle the belfry and drift through the trees. He listened to her sigh.
‘Sometimes, I hear him shuffling up behind me.’
‘Me too.’
‘But it’s never him.’
‘No, it’s never him.’
She kicked back her head, trying to keep the tears away.
Harper edged closer to her.
