The Scar - China Mieville [23]
Shekel grinned. He was drunk and excited.
“Did you ever see Salkrikaltor City, Tanner?”
“No, lad. I ain’t never left New Crobuzon before,” Tanner said softly. He kept his voice low, hoping that Shekel would imitate him.
The boy rolled his eyes and sat back. “You take a little boat, and you row past big buildings that come plumb out of the sea. Some places they’re close together like trees. And there’s massive bridges way above, and sometimes . . . sometimes you see someone—human or cray—just jump. And dive, if they’re a human, or tuck in all them legs otherwise, and land in the water and light out swimming, or disappear underneath.
“I was just in a bar in the the Landside Quarter. There was . . .” His hands jigged in and out of tight shapes as he illustrated what he was saying. “You just step out of the boat through a big doorway, in a big room, with dancers—woman dancers.” He grinned, puerile. “And next to the bar, the floor’s fucking gone . . . and there’s a ramp, going down for miles into the sea. All lit up underneath. And cray coming and going, up and down that walkway, into the bar or home again, in and out of the water.”
Shekel kept grinning and shaking his head.
“One of our geezers gets so drunk he sets off himself.” He laughed. “We had to haul him out of it, sopping. I don’t know, Tanner . . . I never saw anything like it. They’re scrabbling around right now, right underneath us. Right now. It’s like a dream. The way it sits on the sea, and there’s more below than above. It’s like it’s reflected in the water . . . but they can walk on into the reflection. I want to see it, Tanner,” he said urgently. “There’s suits and helmets and whatnot on the ship . . . I’d go down in a minute, you know. I’d see it the way they do . . .”
Tanner was trying to think of something to say, but he was still tired. He shook his head and tried to remember any of Crawfoot’s Chronicles that told of life in the sea. Before he could speak, though, Shekel swayed to his feet.
“I better go, Tanner,” he said. “Captain’s put signs up everywhere. Assemble in the morning, important instructions, blah de blah. I’d best get shut-eye.”
By the time Tanner remembered the story of Crawfoot and the Conch Assassins, Shekel had disappeared.
Chapter Five
When Bellis rose the next day, the Terpsichoria was in the middle of the open ocean.
It was growing less cold as they traveled east, and the passengers who congregated for the captain’s announcement no longer wore their heaviest coats. The crew stood in the shadow of the mizzenmast, the officers by the stairway to the bridge.
The newcomer, Silas Fennec, stood alone. He saw Bellis watching him and smiled at her.
“Have you met him?” said Johannes Tearfly, behind her. He was rubbing his chin and watching Fennec with interest. “You were with the captain below, weren’t you? When Mr. Fennec appeared?”
Bellis shrugged and looked away. “We didn’t speak,” she said.
“Do you have any idea why we’ve diverted?” Johannes asked. Bellis frowned to show that she did not understand. He looked at her with exasperation. “The sun,” he said slowly. “It’s on our left. We’re heading south. We’re going the wrong way.”
When the captain appeared above them on the stairs, the murmurs on deck silenced. He hefted a copper funnel to his lips.
“Thank you for assembling so quickly.” His raised voice echoed tinnily above them in the wind. “I have unsettling news.” He put down the mouthpiece for a moment and seemed to consider what to say. When he spoke again he sounded pugnacious. “Let me say that I will brook no argument or dissent. This is not for discussion. I am responding to unforeseen circumstances, and I will not be questioned. We will not be heading to Nova Esperium. We are returning to Iron Bay.”
There was a burst of shock and outrage from the passengers, and mutters of bewilderment from the crew. He can’t do this! thought Bellis. She felt a surge of panic—but no surprise. She realized that she had been expecting this, since Cumbershum’s hint. She