Un Lun Dun - China Mieville [117]
“We should have killed him, see?” Hemi spat.
Portals swung open the length of the vessel. Deeba and her friends moved closer together as police emerged in riot gear.
“Miss Resham,” the officer in the hatch called. “I’m Chief Inspector Sound; this is Inspector Churl. We’re with the Special Constabulary for UnLondon Monitoring. We’d like to ask you some questions.”
“What for?” said Deeba.
“You’re nicked is what for,” growled Churl. “For terrorism.”
“What?” said Deeba. The CCTV cameras swarmed back to the police vehicle.
“Alright, alright,” Sound said. “I’ll deal with this, Inspector.”
“You’re coming with us, girl,” Churl sneered.
“Hear that?” screamed Murgatroyd. “You’re never getting out of jail! It’s special rendition for you!”
“Will you two stop it?” muttered Sound. “Listen, Miss Resham, I’m sorry about all this. Let’s just get it sorted out—”
“I’m not a terrorist!” shouted Deeba. “Listen—they’re helping the Smog. He is. They’re going to let it take the whole of UnLondon, and he’s in on it, and his boss, Rawley the Environment minister, and you’re going to help them!”
“You seem to have mistaken me for someone who gives a monkey’s,” Churl said. The three men climbed out of the vehicle. “Were you terrified, Murgatroyd?” Murgatroyd nodded eagerly. “There you go, girl: you’re a terrorist. You make me twitchy, and under Article Forty-one of the 2000 Terrorism Bill, that’s all I need. Time for some reasonable force, I think.” He cracked his knuckles.
“And her friends!” Murgatroyd shouted.
“Inspector, Mr. Murgatroyd, enough,” Sound said. “We’ve no jurisdiction over locals, and so long as they stay out of our way I’m not bothered.”
“Except,” shouted Churl, “unless I’m very mistaken, that is Joseph Jones, originally of Tooting, now of no-fixed-abode. You’re a Londoner, sonny-jim, and that means you’re mine. Bring ’em!”
The rows of police began to march towards the travelers, truncheons raised.
“How do they know you?” Deeba hissed. “The phlegm effect…?”
“There are ways round it,” said Jones, backing away. “This lot never forgave the conductors; they weren’t going to let themselves forget us, either.”
“Miss Resham,” Sound urged as the police bore down, faces invisible behind their masks, “listen to me. I know you’ve got certain concerns—there are certain parties you think you may have irritated—and I want to assure you we can protect you.” He stared at her. “D’you understand? Let me help you.”
Deeba’s eyes widened. Protection…? she thought with a sudden stab of emotion.
“There are too many,” Jones said grimly. “We can’t get out.”
“What about your family?” Sound said to Deeba over the slow approach of the police. “Don’t you want to get back to them, eh?” He watched shock and hope come and go on her face. “You know,” he said gently, “I’ve got a daughter about your age. I can’t imagine how I’d feel if she were down here.” He held out his hand.
Deeba stared. His words reminded her painfully that her family were not worrying about her, and that was suddenly unbearable. She looked at Sound, beckoning her.
“Oh, them,” said Churl. “Those three other enemies of the state resident at your address. Cause any trouble, I’m going to enjoy ensuring their arrest and detention.”
“Leave them alone,” Deeba screamed at him. “You can’t—”
“Inspector, hush up,” hissed Sound. “Miss Resham, come quietly now, let me sort all this out, and you have my word—I’ll make sure we lose that paperwork about your mum and dad. And don’t you look at me like that!” he added curtly to Churl, staring at him until his assistant looked down sulkily. “None of us wants this, Miss Resham. You never wanted all this! I know there’s just been a big misunderstanding, and I can sort it. Let me take care of it. And meanwhile you’ll be safe, in our custody, and you can see your mum and dad. We’ll make sure you’re all protected…and your friend, too. Understand?”
“Protection…” Deeba said at last. Sound clicked his fingers, and the police paused in their approach.
“Guaranteed,” he said.
“Deeba…” she heard Hemi say, but she ignored him.
I could go home, she