36 PLAYTIME

36
PLAYTIME

S carab and Billy-Ray walked over to inspect the bomb on the table.

“That was quick,” Scarab murmured. “We had all the materials ready for you, but still, how did you do it so fast?”

“This one has secrets,” Professor Grouse said. The chains that kept him on his side of the room weren’t bound, but they were enough to slow him down. “Who cares? I did the job, didn’t I? Didn’t I do the job? Now the job is done. Now you release me, yes?”

“You added the specifications I asked for?”

“Yes, yes, yes,” the Professor replied. “It was no problem, not for someone like me. This mind is a wonderful thing. I’d be sorry to leave it, if the body wasn’t so decrepit.”

Scarab didn’t know a whole lot about Desolation Engines, but everything seemed to be where it should be.

“We’re not releasing you,” he said. “You’re too mischievous. You might tell our enemies where we are.”

Grouse’s smile dropped, very slowly, from his face. “Your enemies are my enemies. My enemies are everywhere. Everyone is my enemy. You release me now!”

“Not goin’ to happen,” said Billy-Ray. “But we sure do appreciate the work you’ve put into this. Assumin’ our plan goes well, we’ll release you after.”

“You said now!”

“Calm down, Professor. We understand how upset you must be, so we have a gift we’d like to give to you.”

Grouse cocked his head curiously. “A gift?”

“A lovely gift,” Billy-Ray said, smiling. “One for you to play with to your little heart’s content.”

The door opened and, with a clang of shackles, Tanith Low was led in.

“Our gift,” said Scarab, “to you.”

Grouse clapped his hands and laughed.

37 CHINA’S DARK SECRET

37
CHINA’S DARK SECRET

Over the bed there was a sigil painted on to the ceiling and it glowed gently, its power drifting down into China’s body. She lay with her eyes closed, hands folded on her stomach, her mind attuned to the sigil, manipulating its properties. The ebb and flow of magic raged like a storm-tossed sea, and yet none of that was evident from outward appearances. Instead of a storm-tossed sea there seemed to be a still lake, not even a ripple on the water’s surface, exactly the way China preferred it to be.

The sigil stopped glowing and her eyes opened. She sat up smoothly, without hurry. As she dressed, she observed herself in the mirror. She looked pale and weak. Her body was still tired, her magic still exhausted. She wasn’t strong enough to do what she needed to do, but it had to be done.