The Shadows of God - J. Gregory Keyes [126]
Robert landed next to him, a second blur.
“I have to find Lenka, Robin,” he said. “I'm sorry, but that's the way it is.”
Another bullet spanged near.
“I understand,” Robert said. “Me an’ Don Pedro will handle this. A man has to look after his own.”
“You're my own, too, Robert. I love you like a brother— actually, better than my brothers. When you're finished here, clear out south to the redoubts.”
“I love my skin, believe me,” Robert answered.
“I wish I could shake your hand.”
“Don't get all Grub-Street maudlin on me, Ben. Just find y'r wife.”
Franklin nodded, jumped to the ground, and, ignoring the bullets that whizzed by him, started running west, to where he reckoned the army was. He took one look back over his shoulder. He couldn't see Robert, of course, but he could see Don Pedro, who had either forgotten to engage his aegis or disdained to. Franklin figured the latter.
Veronique de Crecy looked up at the sound—a clicking pop, the grating of metal.
“Adrienne—wake!” she said, slapping her friend's face again. Nothing—she was gone into the aether, doing whatever she and Franklin had planned. Even the ships crashing hadn't wakened her. Could she carry her out in time? But Franklin and the rest were fighting someone out there— cries and gunshots were proof enough of that.
She cast about, noticed Euler was still strapped in, looking stunned. “You,” she said. “Carry her out. Now.”
Euler looked up at her with guileless eyes. “I can't,” he said. “She needs me here.”
“Did you hear what I just told you?”
He nodded but said nothing.
“Karevna—you do it, then.”
“We can't disturb her. What she's doing is too important.”
“Not more important than her life.”
“I disagree,” the Russian said, her voice hard.
“Karevna—” But Crecy was interrupted as a part of the metal wall suddenly vanished in a great flare, and a trio of men stepped through.
One of them, of course, was Oliver. One was an ugly, baldheaded Indian she did not know. The third was a boy, and there could be little doubt who he was. There was too much of Adrienne in him.
“Well, Veronique, one last time, eh?” Oliver said. “It's been a merry chase.”
“Stay away from her, Oliver.”
“I intend to, actually. We aren't enemies this time.”
“You're a liar.”
“No, indeed. She's doing exactly what the masters want. The Sun Boy didn't understand that at first—nor did we—but now we are all in accord.”
“Then why did you attack our ship?”
“Well, that's what comes from not understanding—but now, well, there are still those who might interfere.”
“This is nonsense. You just want me to lower my guard. Well, to hell with you, Oliver, the sooner the better.” She pointed the tip of her broadsword at him.
Oliver held up his weaponless hands. “Look, see—I back up. Just wait a moment, Veronique, and it shall all be over.”
Veronique suddenly grinned broadly, and wiped a single copper strand of hair from her eyes.
“You are quite correct, Oliver. It will be over very soon indeed.” And with that she set her stance and bounded toward him.
Curiously, Tug, who had been guarding Red Shoes, did the same, bellowing, waving a cutlass, driving toward the bald Indian.
Nico/Sun Boy seemed to notice none of this, any more than Adrienne did. Like hers, his eyes looked on quite a different world.
The castle was nearly done when Nico appeared again. He regarded her for a moment with his little-boy eyes.
“They say I'm supposed to help you now,” he said, puzzled.
“Really? That's odd.”
“I thought so, too.” He paused a few moments, then asked, “What are we doing?”
“Even I'm just beginning to understand that, myself,” she said. “But it has to do with harmony.”
“I don't understand.”
“You've seen a violin? An instrument with strings?”
“Yes.”
“Long ago, I saw a picture in a book. It was a picture of a monochord—like a violin with only one string. It ran