cspector.worldwithoutend-第8部分

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　〃I　like　it；〃　I　replied　as　I　leaned　forward　and　nudged　the　volume　button　up　a　little。
　〃I　know；〃　he　said。　〃You　always　did　have　terrible　taste　in　music。〃
　〃No；　I've　always　had　broad　taste　in　music。　Unlike　you　who　only　seem　to　like　classical　music　and　the　occasional　jazz　group。〃
　〃I　prefer　to　think　of　it　as　a　refined　taste。〃
　〃I　know　you　do。〃
　
　We　didn't　say　anything　else　and　I　went　back　to　watching　the　kilometers　slip　by　as　the　rain　streamed　across　the　windows。
　
　Edinburgh　was　crowded。　Old　ladies　were　crying　and　hugging　unfortable…looking　teens。　Suits　hurried　by；　oblivious　to　everything　but　their　own　sense　of　self…importance。　I've　never　been　too　fond　of　corporate　thinking。　That　whole　bigger　is　better　drek　was　what　had　led　to　most　of　the　problems　in　the　world；　as　far　as　I　could　tell。　Okay；　indoor　plumbing　was　the　one　exception　to　this　rule；　but　otherwise。。。
　
　We　found　the　gate　for　the　flight　to　Tir　na　nOg。　As　we　came　around　the　er；　I　saw　that　the　usual　security　measures　were　in　place。　All　our　luggage　was　going　to　be　searched。　There　would　be　the　usual　weapons　scan　and　the　endless　procession　of　bureaucratic　red　tape。　Like　I　said：　corporate　thinking。　
　
　The　worst　of　it　was　that　once　we　got　to　the　Tir；　all　this　would　begin　again。
　
　As　we　approached　the　head　of　the　line；　the　elver　official　looked　up　from　the　display　screen　where　he　was　sliding　credsticks　to　check　documentation。　He　gestured　us　forward；　ignoring　several　people　ahead　of　us。
　
　〃May　I　see　your　passports　and　visas？〃　he　said。　He　tried　to　keep　it　polite；　but　you　could　tell　he　wasn't　going　to　take　no　for　an　answer。
　
　We　handed　over　our　sticks　with　our　Ids　and　travel　permits　on　them；　and　he　asked　us　to　step　into　a　small　room　off　the　main　corridor。　As　the　door　shut　behind　us　I　could　hear　the　other　passengers　whispering　to　each　other。　You　could　cut　the　paranoia　with　a　knife。
　
　〃Is　there　a　problem？〃　Caimbeui　asked。
　
　The　security　drone　didn't　answer　as　he　sat　down　at　a　display　on　the　far　side　of　a　small　formica　table　in　the　center　of　the　room。　The　walls　were　a　dirty　white　and　one　of　the　fluorescent　lights　flickered　on　and　off　erratically。　I　read　his　name　off　his　badge：
　
　Clovis　Blackeye。　No　wonder　he　was　an　officious　prig。　With　a　name　like　that　I'd　be　a　drekhead；　too。
　
　He　was　gaunt　and　stoop…shouldered　for　an　elf。　His　hair　was　tied　back　into　a　ponytail　and　was　shot　through　with　premature　gray。　A　perpetual　expression　of　misery　lined　his　face　and　made　his　eyes　look　sunken　and　bruised。　He　knew　he　would　never　be　anything　more　than　a　low…level　bureaucrat。
　
　Sometimes　there　was　no　explaining　UGE。
　
　〃I　said；　'Is　there　a　problem？'　
　Clovis　finally　looked　up　from　the　screen。　His　beady　eyes　swung　from　Caimbeui　to　me。　〃It　says　here　that　you're　visiting　relatives　in　Tir　na　nog。　But　it　doesn't　list　who　those　relatives　might　be。〃
　〃Is　that　necessary？〃　I　asked。
　〃How　do　we　know　you　really　have　relatives　in　the　Tir？　Maybe　you're　from　that　other　place；　e　to　cause　trouble。〃
　〃That　other　place？〃
　〃Tir　Taimgire。　The　fallen　ones。〃
　I　glanced　at　Caimbeui　and　he　rolled　his　eyes。　Nothing　worse　than　a　patriotic　officious　prick。
　〃And　perhaps　we　have　relatives　who　don't　want　every　low…level　clerk　knowing　who　their　relatives　are；〃　I　said。
　
　His　flat　piggy　nose　flared　slightly。
　〃That's　not　for　you　to　decide；〃　he　said。　〃Now　tell　me　or　you　don't　get　on　that　plane。〃
　
　I　leaned　forward　across　the　table　then　and　grabbed　his　collar。　For　a　moment　I　thought　he　might　resist；　but　the　force　of　my　will　kept　him　from　moving。　It　was　as　easy　as　a　snake　hypnotizing　a　rat。
　
　〃Listen　to　me；　little　brother；〃　I　said　in　Eireann　sperethiel。　My　accent　might　have　been　a　bit　off；　but　otherwise　I　was　letter　perfect。　〃You　are　playing　in　things　far　beyond　your　knowledge　or　concern。　You　wish　to　know　who　we　are　to　visit？　Then　e　closer　and　I　shall　tell　you。〃
　
　I　jerked　him　across　the　table　and　whispered　a　name　in　his　ear。　The　blood　fled　from　his　already　pasty　cheeks。　As　he　pulled　away；　I　let　him　see　me…really　see　me。　These　are　the　kinds　of　tricks　I　hate…　obvious　displays　of　power…but　he'd　slotted　me　off。
　〃Now　you　can　well　imagine　how　annoyed　this　person　would　be　if　they　discovered　their　name　came　up　in　this　sort　of　situation；〃　I　said。　〃So　I　would　suggest　that　we　all　forget　this　unfortunate　incident。〃
　
　Old　Clovis　was　only　too　happy　to　oblige。　He　gave　us　back　our　papers　like　he'd　just　discovered　they'd　been　tainted　with　VITAS。　We　were　ushered　onto　the　plane　without　further　delay。　I　settled　into　the　thick　leather　upholstered　seats　of　the　first…class　section　and　smiled　at　the　attendant　who　handed　me　a　glass　of　single　malt　scotch。
　
　〃Was　that　really　necessary？〃　asked　Caimbeui　after　she　moved　away。
　〃What？〃　I　said；　letting　my　eyes　go　wide　and　innocent。
　〃That　show　you　put　on　back　there。〃
　
　The　plane　gave　a　little　lurch　as　it　backed　from　the　gate。　I　glanced　out　the　scratched　window。　Below　me　I　could　see　the　orange　lights　on　the　ground。
　
　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃We　could　have　missed　the　flight　snaking　around　with　him。　But　I　didn't　have　the　pa…tierce　for　it。　Besides；　he's　going　to　be　too　scared　to　tell　anyone。　He　believes　in　the　omnipotence　of　the　Elders。　You　could　see　it　in　his　eyes。〃
　〃But　you　showed　him。。。〃
　〃I　showed　him　what　would　impress　him　the　most。　Some　people　are　so　literal。〃
　〃I　missed　you。〃
　〃What？〃　It　was　a　strange　and　unexpected　non…sequitur。　And　I　couldn't　believe　my　ears。　
　〃Well；　I　didn't　miss　the　arguing。　But　I　missed　you　when　you　get　like　this。〃　I　didn't　say　anything　to　that。　It　wouldn't　have　made　any　difference　anyway。
　
　She's　running。
　
　The　forest　is　alive　with　sounds　and　smells。　In　the　distance；　the　dying　rabbit　cries　sound　like　a　child's　screams。　The　heavy　scent　of　new…dug　earth　hangs　in　the　air。　Branches　slap　against　her　face；　and　no　matter　how　she　tries　to　push　them　away；　they　keep　ing　back。
　
　Something　is　behind　her。　She　doesn　't　know　what　it　is…only　that　it　will　kill　her　if　it　can。　Looking　over　her　shoulder；　she　tries　to　see　what　it　is。　So　she　doesn't　see　when　she　steps　off　into　space。
　
　She's　falling　now。
　
　Falling　with　nothing　to　save　her。
　
　I　jerked　awake　as　the　plane　passed　into　the　Veil。　It　was　a　nasty　jolt　of　reality；　being　sound　asleep　one　moment　and　wide…awake　the　next。　A　tingling　started　at　the　nape　of　my　neck　and　worked　its　way　up　my　skull。
　
　Pushing　the　plastic　shade　up；　I　peered　out　the　window。　There　was　nothing　but　thick　gray　and　white　clouds　like　the　smoke　of　burning　leaves。　I　struggled　against　the　effects　of　the　Veil。　The　clouds　tried　to　form　themselves　into　shapes。　What　part　of　my　sub…conscious　was　being　dredged　up？　I　didn't　want　to　know　and　pulled　the　shade　down　with　a　snap。　We'd　be　on　the　ground　in　half　an　hour。　I　could　hold　out　against　the　effects　until　then。
　
　〃Pretty　potent　stuff；〃　said　Caimbeul。　〃The　Veil。　It　makes　me　wish　they　would　use　some　other　sort　of　protection。〃
　
　I　shoved　a　hand　through　my　hair。　It　was　virtually　gone　now。　After　centuries　of　having　it　long；　I'd　fi…naily　cut　it　all　off。　All　that　was　left　were　spiky　white　sprouts　about　an　inch　and　a　half　long。　My　head　felt　smooth　and　cool　under　my　fingers。
　
　〃Too　potent；〃　I　said。　〃They're　only　aggravating　things。〃
　
　〃You've　said　that　every　time　anyone's　used　magic　on　any　scale。〃
　
　I　didn't　answer　him；　knowing　that　we'd　just　run　over　the　same　ground　again。　The　engines　whined　and　I　felt　the　thump　as　the　landing　gear　lowered。　Then　I　shoved　the　shade　up　again。　We　broke　through　the　clouds　and　I　could　see　buildings　below　us。　From　here　everything　looked　small　and　not　at　all　real。　Up　here　we　were　still　safe。
　
　I　closed　my　eyes　then；　breathing　slowly　and　deeply　to　relax　myself。　I　had　my　usual　landing　death…grip　on　the　chair　arms。　Blowing　up　in　a　ball　of　fire　was　not　the'way　I　wanted　to　end　my　unnatural　life。　My　ears　popped　several　times　and　I　opened　and　closed　my　mouth　to　help。　Then　I　felt　it。
　
　The　smooth　calluses　and　the　suede　glide　of　Caimbeul's　hand　closing　over　mine。　I　didn't　pull　away。　It　was　too　forting　and　familiar。　I　kept　my　eyes　closed；　not　wanting　to　see　when　we　burst　into　a　huge　ball　of　fire。
　
　There　was　a　sudden　bounce　and　we　were　on　t