cspector.worldwithoutend-第27部分

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yet　another　day　with　the　tension；　boredom；　and　Caimbeul's　habits。
　
　At　four　we　began　to　get　ready；　and　by　five　we　were　in　the　rented　limo　heading　for　the　meeting。　It　was　already　beginning　to　grow　dark　as　we　finally　reached　the　estate　where　the　meeting　was　to　take　place。
　
　It　was　located　west　of　the　city。　As　the　car　swung　into　the　wide　gates　flanking　the　drive；　I　saw　that　there　were　hundreds　of　rose　bushes　lining　the　drive。　They　were　denuded　of　foliage。　Their　thorny　canes　stark　and　skeletal　against　the　fading　October　sky。
　
　Several　other　limos　were　parked　in　front　of　the　large　house　as　we　pulled　up。　There　were　also　a　couple　of　high…octane　performance　cars　modified　with　body　armor。
　
　〃Looks　like　the　joint's　jumpin'；〃　said　Harlequin。　〃Nice　cars。　I　wonder　who　they　belong　to。〃
　〃Jinkies；　Caimbeui；　maybe　you　and　the　boys　can　go　drag　racing　after　the　sock　hop；〃　I　said。
　〃You　don't　have　to　get　snippy　about　it；〃　he　said。
　〃You're　a　gadabout；〃　I　said。　〃Utterly　irresponsible。　Can't　you　keep　your　mind　on　the　matter　at　hand？〃
　〃Why　should　I？〃　he　asked。　〃When　you're　perfectly　capable　of　doing　all　the　worrying　for　both　of　us。〃
　〃Jerk。〃
　〃Shrew。〃
　〃Shmuck。〃
　〃Harpy。〃
　
　I　laughed。　I　couldn't　help　it。
　〃Well；　shall　we　go　and　meet　the　crowd？〃　Caimbeui　asked。　〃I　understand　they've　finished　with　the　pagans　and　are　moving　on　to　the　Christians。〃
　〃I　think　they'll　find　us　stringy　and　unpalatable。〃
　〃One　can　only　hope。〃
　
　We　were　met　at　the　door　by　a　retinue　of　Surehand's　Paladins。　They　were　attired　in　their　Crusaderish　armor　and　toting　SMGs；　pistols；　and　other　sidearms　and　pieces　of　gear　I　knew　nothing　of。　Such　blind　reliance　on　technology　could　get　these　boys　in　a　lot　of　trouble；　I　thought。
　
　We　were　escorted　into　the　massive　foyer　and　down　a　wide　hallway　leading　to　the　back　of　the　house。　More　like　a　palace。　Fifteen…foot　ceilings；　twelve…foot…wide　hallways；　heavy；　cream…colored　damask　wallpaper；　marble　tile　underfoot。　The　Pala…dins'　boots　made　loud　echoes　against　the　floor。　Doorways　leading　off　the　halls　showed　enormous　rooms　decorated　in　luxurious　fabrics；　woods；　and　stone。
　
　I　wondered　whose　property　this　was。　It　dwarfed　Lugh　Surehand's　place　in　size　and　richness。　I　couldn't　imagine　Aithne　here。　Nor　Ehran。　It　hardly　seemed　their　style。　Our　invitation　to　the　Council　had　mentioned　only　the　time　and　location：　six　p。m。　at　Ozymandias。　Caimbeui　seemed　to　know　where　to　go。
　
　At　last　we　came　to　a　set　of　doors　at　the　end　of　the　hallway。　The　lead　Paladin　opened　the　doors　and　announced　us。
　
　〃Aina　Sluage　and　Caimbeui　har　lea　Quinn；〃　he　said。
　
　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　stepped　into　the　room。　Caimbeui　was　close　behind。
　
　Had　I　been　Harlequin；　I　would　have　delighted　at　the　expressions　passing　over　those　faces；　but　I　was　too　nervous。　I　knew　they　wouldn't　guess　how　I　felt。　None　of　them　knew　me　well　enough　to　see　that。
　
　〃Courage；〃　I　heard　Caimbeui　whisper　in　my　ear。
　
　Fires　burned　in　the　hearths　at　either　end　of　the　hall。　Oriental　rugs　were　scattered　over　the　inlaid　wood　floor。　Oversized　chairs　and　couches　were　arranged　in　fortable　groupings。　That　is；　fortable　if　you're　expecting　a　hundred　or　so　of　your　closest　personal　friends。
　
　At　one　end　of　the　hall　were　a　handful　of　the　Council　members。　Lofwyr　had　changed　from　his　black　suit　into　a　lurid　peacock…blue　satin　that　would　have　done　a　pimp　proud。　He　smiled　and　bowed　slightly　at　me。　I　knew　he'd　probably　remain　neutral；　no　matter　what　happened。　Sometimes　you　just　couldn't　depend　on　dragons。
　
　Ehran　was　ensconced　on　one　of　the　couches。　He　wore　his　usual　black；　a　habit　that　I　found　a　trifle　annoying。　As　though　wearing　black　made　you　somehow　more　imposing；　or　cool；　or　serious。　Though　it　did　contrast　nicely　with　his　white　hair　and　cold　blue　eyes。　We　made　eye　contact；　but　I　couldn't　tell　what　he　was　thinking。　It　was　as　though　our　meeting　the　other　day　had　never　taken　place。
　
　Sean　Laverty　was　perched　on　the　arm　of　one　of　the　chairs。　Unlike　the　other　men；　he　was　clean…shaven。　His　eyes　were　clear　leaf…green；　his　hair　auburn。　I　knew　he　was　against　the　technological　leanings　of　the　Tir。　Of　the　group；　his　garb　was　the　simplest。　A　T…shirt　and　jeans　with　a　jacket　thrown　on　tqp。　In　one　earlobe　he　wore　a　dangling　silver　dragon。　I　wondered　what　Lofwyr　made　of　that。
　
　Sitting　in　the　chair　was　Jenna　Ni…Fairra。　She　was　whispering　something　to　Laverty　as　I　approached　the　group。
　
　〃Sean；　Jenna；〃　I　said。
　〃Aina；〃　they　replied　in　unison。　I　wondered　for　a　moment　if　they　were　joined　at　the　hip。
　〃Did　anyone　miss　me？〃　came　a　voice　behind　me。　An　all　too　familiar　voice。　I　turned。　Alachia。　She　glided　over　to　Jenna　and　kissed　her　cheek。　They　were　remarkably　alike。　Except　for　the　coloring；　they　could　have　been　twins。　Where　Alachia's　hair　was　deep　red；　Jenna's　was　platinum　blond。　Alachia's　eyes　were　clear　sapphire　blue；　Jenna's　emerald　green。　But　the　face　was　the　same。　Delicate　and　fey。　Unearthly　beauty。　What　a　bore。
　
　〃Why　must　you　wear　these　things？〃　asked　Alachia；　grabbing　Jenna's　black　leather　jacket　and　giving　it　a　shake。　〃Upstairs　I　know　you　have　a　closet　full　of。。。〃
　
　Jenna　gave　her　a　hard　look；　and　Alachia　laughed　it　off。　〃A　mother's　prerogative；〃　she　said　lightly。　She　glanced　around　the　room。　〃Well；　it　looks　as　if　we're　almost　all　here。〃
　
　Just　then　there　was　the　sound　of　raised　voices　ing　down　the　hall。　We　all　turned。　In　a　moment；　the　doors　flew　open。　Aithne　burst　in　with　the　Paladin　guard　hot　on　his　heels。　They　tried　to　slow　him　down；　but　he　thrust　one　hand　up　behind　him　and　they　flew　back　into　the　hall。
　
　〃What　the　hell　were　you　thinking　of　with　those/　damn　roses？〃　said　Aithne。　〃Alachia；　if　this　is　youir　sick　idea　of　a　jok…〃
　
　Then　he　saw　me。
　
　His　face　had　been　flushed。　Now　it　went　white。
　
　〃What　the　fray　is　she　doing　here？〃　he　asked。　His　voice　was　cold。　Utterly　devoid　of　emotion。
　
　〃Isn't　it　the　nicest　surprise？〃　said　Alachia；　ing　up　next　to　him　and　tucking　her　arm　in　his。　〃Aina　asked　Lugh　to　call　a　meeting　of　the　Council。　And　he　agreed。〃　She　leaned　against　Aithne　and　beamed　at　me。
　
　I　wanted　to　throttle　her。
　
　〃I'm　leaving；〃　he　said。　〃There　is　nothing　that　woman　can　say　that　will　interest　me　in　the　least。〃　
　He　swung　around　and　headed　toward　the　door。
　〃You'd　best　not　go；〃　said　Surehand。　〃I　would　look　unfavorably　upon　it。〃
　Aithne　stopped；　then　turned　again；　slowly。
　〃And　what　is　that　supposed　to　be？〃　Aithne　asked。　〃A　threat？〃
　〃No；〃　replied　Surehand。　〃I　don't　want　you　to　let　old　personal　matters　hinder　your　judgment　of　these　events。　If　you　leave；　you　give　tacit　approval　to　anything　we　decide。〃
　〃Not　if　I　leave　under　protest。〃
　〃The　result　will　be　the　same。　We　will　make　a　decision；　and　you　will　have　to　live　with　it。〃
　
　Aithne　glared　at　Surehand　for　a　long　moment。
　
　〃Very　well。　This　woman；〃　he　said；　pointing　at　me；　〃is　a　treacherous　bitch　and　nothing　she　says　can　be　trusted。〃
　〃So　much　for　the　impartial　hearing；〃　murmured　Caimbeul。
　〃Your　taste　in　panions　leaves　much　to　be　desired；〃　Aithne　said　to　Caimbeul。
　〃People　in　glass　houses；〃　replied　Caimbeul；　looking　pointedly　at　Alachia。　Aithne　glanced　down　and　saw　she　was　still　attached　to　his　arm。　He　jerked　his　arm　away　and　stalked　to　one　of　the　large　arm　chairs；　where　he　flung　himself　down。
　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃What's　this　all　about？〃
　〃Aina；〃　said　Lugh。　〃If　you　please。〃
　
　Caimbeul　gave　me　a　little　pat　on　the　back；　ther　went　and　took　a　seat　on　the　couch　next　to　Ehran　They　began　a　subtle　war　of　who　could　sprawl　on　tht　couch　most。　Aithne　refused　to　look　at　me；　while　Jenna　and　Sean　whispered　and　giggled。
　
　〃As　you　all　know；〃　I　began；　〃the　magical　forces　have　been　on　an　upsurge　for　the　past　fifty　or　so　years。　Many　of　the　old　ways　have　returned；　though　there　have　been　some　unforeseen　changes　due　to　the　technological　state　of　this　cycle。　But　that　is　neither　here　nor　there。
　
　〃In　the　past；　great　surges　of　magic　have　drawn　the　Enemy　to　this　place。　The　Therans　solved　this　by　leading　the　world　into　the　darkness　of　the　kaers　for　five　hundred　years。　But　we　all　know　the　prices　paid　for　those　choices。〃
　
　I　paused　for　a　moment　and　glanced　around　the　room。　Ehran's　expression　was　carefully　blank。　Caimbeui　gave　me　a　little　wink。　Alachia　yawned　and　looked　bored。
　
　〃There　have　been　two　serious　encounters　with　the　Enemy　in　past　months；〃　I　said。　〃Caimbeui　defeated　them　on　the　metaplanes。　Then；　more　recently；　he　told　me　about　the　encounter　on　Maui　where　the　Enemy　actually　managed　to　get　through　a　portal　opened　by　kahunas　of　a　tribe　there　during　one　of　their　blood　rituals。〃
　
　〃Did　he　say　he　actually　drove　them　back？〃　asked　Ehran。　〃Aina；　you　know　how　he　likes　to　take　credit　for　things　he　had　nothing　to　do　with。〃
　〃I　don't　recall　you　being　there；〃　said　Caimbeui。
　〃News　travels　fast。　Harlequin；〃　said　Ehran。　〃You　always　were　a　braggart。〃
　〃Would　you　both　just　stop；〃　I　said。　I　paced　a　bit。　
　This　was　why　I　avoided　them。　All　this　petty　bickering。　We'd　been　in　and　out　of　each　other's　lives　for　so　long　that　everyone　knew　each　other's　sore　spots。　Where　to　poke　and　prod。　And　yet；　we　still　kept　ing　together　again。
　〃Who　did　what　isn't　important；〃　I　said。　〃The　point　is；　the　Enemy　is　ing　back。　And　they're　ing　too　soon。　This　world　isn't　ready。　Its　people　don't　understand　a　damn　thing　about　what's　happening。　And　we　certainly　haven't　prepared　them。〃
　〃What　do　you　think　the　Tir　is？〃　asked　Alachia。　〃We're　creating　a　place　where　the　strong　will　survive。〃
　〃You　mean　where　the　elves　will　survive　and　everyone　else　on　the　planet　can　shift　for　themselves；〃　I　said。
　〃What's　wrong　with　that？〃　asked　Jenna；　ever　her　mother's　daughter。
　〃Well；　if　you　don't　mind　billions　of　innocent　people　suffering　unimaginable　deaths；〃　I　said。
　〃Innocent　blood　has　never　bothered　you　before；〃　interjected　Aithne。
　I　looked　at　him　and　narrowed　my　eyes。　As　though　his　loss　had　been　greater　than　mine。
　
　〃Things　change；〃　I　said　at　last。　〃So　do　people。　Most　people。　But　this　is　all　beside　the　point。　This　isn't　some　academic　discussion。　I　believe　that　one　of　the　Enemy　is　already　here。　I　don't　know　how　he　managed　to　e　across。　Perhaps　in　Maui。　Or　maybe　there　is　another　point　of　entry。　All　I　know　is　that　he　is　here。〃