Toys - A Novel Part 15

Then I blasted a pulse outward-an electromagnetic shock wave moving literally at the speed of thought.

The monitor's screen shattered with a crack, crack, and the interrogator's feet left the floor by a good six inches. His bulging eyeb.a.l.l.s looked like they were blistering on the inside. The headset smoked against his temples. and the interrogator's feet left the floor by a good six inches. His bulging eyeb.a.l.l.s looked like they were blistering on the inside. The headset smoked against his temples.

In the stunned silence that followed, the room's door opened and Lucy stepped in, along with a well-dressed older man.

He glanced appraisingly at the half-melted equipment and the lurching, drooling interrogator.

"Point taken, Agent Baker," he said. "Major, set this man free. He's an ally. And a friend of Megwin's."

Chapter 64 64.

AND STILL, THE carefulness persisted. Or was it just human paranoia at this point? Hard to distinguish between the two sometimes.

"So that wretched psychopath President Jacklin actually told you of a plan to wipe out humankind?" said Sir Nigel Cruikshank-the man who had ordered my release and the chief of Britain's top intelligence agency, the MI7. He had a deeply lined, world-weary face and a sense of tough integrity. He'd already apologized for his soldiers' rough treatment of me, but I countered that their suspicion was understandable, and actually prudent.

I respected Sir Nigel instinctively, and I was already starting to like him. Imagine that, me liking a human. me liking a human.

"Jacklin used the phrase 'making the world a safer, cleaner place,' but that's not what he meant," I said.

"But he gave no indication of how this would happen? Or when, Hays?"

"Actually, no. I a.s.sumed he was talking about a military attack. A big one."

"I see," he said, p.r.o.nouncing it somewhat like I say. I say.

He walked to the rim of the ancient stone tower of Old Sarum, which we were standing atop, and leaned his forearms on the wall, gazing out over the wide expanse of Salisbury Plain.

Lucy and I followed him. A team of armed guards followed us us everywhere, although now-supposedly-they were here for our protection. everywhere, although now-supposedly-they were here for our protection.

"Are you thinking the plan is something different?" Lucy asked Sir Nigel.

"We're preparing for a full military attack, of course. Monitoring their troop movements and readying our own forces. But something about it just doesn't feel right to me."

"How so?" I asked.

"Hard to explain, Hays. I've spent long years going point-counterpoint against the Elites-in older times, it was called a 'cold war.' Got to know their ways quite well.

"Now I just can't rid myself of the sense that what they're doing is too obvious, even for their tidy minds. I don't believe they want anything resembling a fair fight. They're very cerebral, and totally ruthless. The Elites have zero respect for human life. We're skunks, insects, ciphers. As you well know, Hays."

"I'm sorry I can't help more," I said. "But I am here to do what I can." "But I am here to do what I can."

"It's fine, Hays. Well, have a good look 'round. That's why I brought you here."

He waved a hand toward a military installation that was visible in the distance-a large complex of buildings, airfields, missile launchers.

"That base there is our defensive nerve center. You'll get to know our best people, our best minds. I happen to think they're the world's world's best minds: a.n.a.lytical, very creative, and, most of all, compa.s.sionate. The human race has come a long way since 7-4 Day. I hate to say it, but we're better because of it." best minds: a.n.a.lytical, very creative, and, most of all, compa.s.sionate. The human race has come a long way since 7-4 Day. I hate to say it, but we're better because of it."

For the first time in my life, I was struck by the contrast between the ugly modern buildings and highways in New Lake City and these landmarks from the ancient past-the spire of Salisbury Cathedral piercing the sky and the fantastic pillars of Stonehenge. Like the Old Sarum tower, they weren't just beautiful, they were magnificent-and all built by human minds and hands, long before the sound of a machine had ever been heard. Amazing feats of architecture and engineering.

With Elites, newer and more efficient was always better, particularly with anything built before 7-4 Day. If they hadn't torn it down already, it was only because they hadn't gotten to it yet.

Sir Nigel swung around to face me.

"Hays, I want want to believe in you-in the way I believe in Lucy-so I'm setting aside my usual caution," he said. "I'll be blunt as to why, and it's not flattering. I simply feel that we've reached a point where my people have nothing to lose. But I must bring up one more seriously troubling issue." to believe in you-in the way I believe in Lucy-so I'm setting aside my usual caution," he said. "I'll be blunt as to why, and it's not flattering. I simply feel that we've reached a point where my people have nothing to lose. But I must bring up one more seriously troubling issue."

His eyes drilled into mine with a gaze that seemed older than the blunt stones we were standing on. This was the kind of lie-detector test that no machine could match. Face to face, eye to eye.

"Did you honestly have no idea that the chap you worked for, Jax Moore, was the driving force of the genocide on 7-4 Day?" he said. "That he personally planned and carried out the murder of millions of humans?"

It was another jolt, but my armor of numbness was getting thicker all the time.

Seven-four Day had happened before I was born, and I only knew what all Elite kids were taught-that it was the great celebration of saving the world from human destruction, a glorious victory without any hint of cold-blooded ma.s.sacre.

As Elite children, we were also taught that all humans were savage and evil and, on a purely rational basis, hopeless.

"I trusted Jax Moore for years, then found out the hard way that he's a lying snake," I said bitterly. "I never heard anything linking him and 7-4 Day, but I can believe it. I do do believe it. Jax Moore led the attack when my mother and father were murdered." believe it. Jax Moore led the attack when my mother and father were murdered."

Not a muscle in Sir Nigel's face flickered, and his eyes stayed locked on mine like all-knowing magnets.

"Then, of course, you also weren't aware that your charming wife, Lizbeth, was Jax Moore's main accomplice," he said.

There was no amount of armor that could hold that that shock off. I stared back at Sir Nigel, my mouth opening in disbelief. shock off. I stared back at Sir Nigel, my mouth opening in disbelief.

"Is-is this some kind of a trick?" I stammered.

"Nothing of the sort. I couldn't be more serious."

"But-it's impossible! impossible! It can't be true. She isn't old enough, for one thing." It can't be true. She isn't old enough, for one thing."

"Quite easy to prove to you, I'm afraid. I have doc.u.mented her actions myself. Lizbeth's much older than you think, Hays. Much, much older. Decades older."

What he saw in my face must have finally satisfied him, because he gave a grim little nod.

"Right, then," he said. "Let's get on to London. There are people waiting to meet you. You're seen as something of a savior there, lad. I sincerely hope that you are."

Chapter 65 65.

WELL, I DEFINITELY knew that I wasn't a savior in any way, shape, or form. On the other hand, I'd been wrong about so much lately, and maybe there were more secrets about myself I still needed to learn.

At any rate, I was finally in London, and it was a gorgeous city, probably the most beautiful I had ever visited. Clearly, it had the most history.

"I could go for a stiff whiskey just now. Perhaps a double," Sir Nigel muttered as Lucy and I strode with him through a corridor in the famed Tower of London.

I could have used a stiff drink myself. I was still still reeling from the bomb, true or not, that he'd dropped on me about Lizbeth. But I did my best to shake off the shock and get ready for the grilling I was about to receive from England's top government and military leaders. reeling from the bomb, true or not, that he'd dropped on me about Lizbeth. But I did my best to shake off the shock and get ready for the grilling I was about to receive from England's top government and military leaders.

The meeting chamber's ma.s.sive wooden doors were guarded by a pair of the Tower's yeomen warders, in ceremonial uniforms and tall hats-which seemed slightly odd to me, if not downright silly. No matter what I I thought, however. They stepped smartly aside, opening the doors, and Sir Nigel led us to the front of the room. thought, however. They stepped smartly aside, opening the doors, and Sir Nigel led us to the front of the room.

At least a hundred people were waiting in there, and heavily armed soldiers were stationed all around the perimeter.

Savior? I thought. I thought. I don't think so, ladies and gents. Just another human being under a death sentence. I don't think so, ladies and gents. Just another human being under a death sentence.

"You all know by now that Hays Baker is the only human who has lived and operated as an Elite Agent of Change," Sir Nigel announced brusquely. "That and his extraordinary mental and physical abilities make him of immense value to us. So let us waste no time-"

Suddenly, the huge doors swung open again and four of the yeomen warders appeared.

But now they crouched in combat position-leveling rifles they must have kept hidden in their baggy uniforms.

Could this be possible? Clearly, it was. Clearly, it was.

"Elites!" Lucy screamed, with the loathing of a woman shrieking "Rats!" in a four-star restaurant. The room instantly erupted in a spray of murderous gunfire. The British soldiers, taken by treacherous surprise, barely had time to swing their weapons into action before they were cut down in shameful numbers. The crowd of leaders, cursing and shouting, scrambled for cover where none was to be found.

I slammed my shoulder into Lucy and Sir Nigel, sending us all skidding across the floor into an alcove-a nanosecond or less before the wall where we'd been standing exploded in a hailstorm of dust and plaster.

"It's you you they're after," Sir Nigel yelled. "For G.o.d's sake, run! We can't afford to lose you! You're the most important person in this room. they're after," Sir Nigel yelled. "For G.o.d's sake, run! We can't afford to lose you! You're the most important person in this room. Run! Run!"

But there was no place to run to to. The alcove was blind, without doors or windows, and the Elites had us pinned in there with their blistering cross fire.

Obeying Sir Nigel as best I could, I sprang up in a charge at the alcove's rear wall and crashed against it with all my strength. The old plaster was thick, but I punched on through to the next room-and rammed straight into a row of standing suits of armor.

The metalware went flying in all directions with a clatter like a truckload of cymbals dumped off a high-rise building.

Lucy was right behind me. "We have to jump!" She panted, yanking me to my feet, pointing toward a row of arched windows. "Don't argue. Don't think about it."

Just then, the Elites' laser bursts hissed around us, spang spanging off the cascading armor and smashing gla.s.sed-in displays of ancient pikes and broadswords and such.

"Yes, sir, ma'am!" said I.

Chapter 66 66.

SAVIOR? I DON'T think so. I doubted I could even save myself right now. And why should Elites consider me so undesirable-just because I knew some of their secrets? Or was it Lucy they were really after? I doubted I could even save myself right now. And why should Elites consider me so undesirable-just because I knew some of their secrets? Or was it Lucy they were really after?

At any rate, Lucy went left and I went right, both of us diving headfirst through windows that were located only a few feet apart. We came down in a shower of gla.s.s, landing on opposite sides of a steep tile roof. Without pausing, I bounced off it and into a quad somersault, tucking and twisting to dodge the gunfire still flashing around us.

As I spun, I caught a glimpse of Lucy bravely leaping over the Tower's outside wall. A second later came the splash of her hitting the river far below.

Thank G.o.d-underwater was the safest place she could be right now.

The warders were still following us and shooting, their ridiculous hats sailing off in the breeze as they jumped out onto the roof. I leaped forward and landed on a turret wall, then I scuttled around to its far side.

Next, I threw myself backward off the turret in another long, twisting flip and landed on top of the Tower's outside wall, now facing the majestic Thames. I ran along the wall, sucking in air, straining to reach maximum speed.

The afternoon fog had turned to drizzle, and the surface of the huge bridge cable where I landed next was slippery with moisture. The awful sound of laser fire still hissed with menace in my ears.

But this was an acrobatic act that even the Elite a.s.sa.s.sins couldn't follow. If I succeeded.

I dashed across the bridge's top span and slid on my feet down the cable on the other side. I was like a kid on a s...o...b..ard-being shot at!

I finally saw Lucy again, dripping wet and running across the lower bridge past astonished motorists and a few stiff-upper-lipped Brit pedestrians.

"Don't even slow down," she shouted up to me.

"Couldn't if I wanted to!" I called back. Then I dropped thirty feet or so to the pavement and continued to follow her lead. I had no idea yet why she was so important to the resistance, but she had certainly been a lifesaver for me.

So far.

Chapter 67 67.

SOMEHOW WE MANAGED to get to shelter at a high-priority safe house run by MI7, right there in London. I had wanted to see the House of Lords, Westminster Abbey, the Tate-maybe even take a train to Paris-but I was stuck in an apartment under armed guard.

"What's going on with you?" Lucy finally asked, clinking her fork onto her dinner plate. "You've got to be starving. But you're picking at your food like a weight-conscious canary. And you're looking at me like I'm the cat."

It was our second day in the safe house, an apartment somewhere near Hyde Park that had an anonymous facade in a block-long building row that looked just like dozens of others around it. But were we actually safe here?

I had no idea, but I doubted it. The Elites were definitely on our trail now, and they were very good at this kind of skunkhunt.

The inside of the apartment was s.p.a.cious and nicely furnished, complete with a servant android-who reminded me of Metallico, except female, much more polite, and armed. The gun-toting robot had set out a curious spread of roast beef, mutton, vegetables, mashed potatoes, scones, and jelly. Plus, a stiff drink for each of us.

But my appet.i.te simply wouldn't kick in, and I decided to speak my mind, even though it might create a breach between Lucy and me.

"Did you know about Lizbeth being in on 7-4 Day?" I asked. "You did, didn't you, Lucy? You knew all this time, but never told me?"

She kept looking at me steadily. "Yes, I'm afraid I did, Hays."

"So why didn't you tell me?"