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go through with this.  So, what do I do? she asked, leaning her back against
the cool trunk of a tree, and letting golden-green light caress her body.
You merely have to remember. It will not seem painful. The past will truly
become the past, the present the future. Your life, after you have spoken to the
Dreamguide, will have meaning once more. Meaning that you, yourself have
given it, not us. That is the Pridka way.
 Sounds cool, said Suzi.  Could I have a vodka and lime while you re at it,
please?
She thought she was joking, but a cocktail shaker appeared, on a small
picnic table at her side. Reality shifted once again, and to her astonishment,
there was a young man in a waiter s tuxedo, smiling as he shook her drink for
her. He had a friendly, lopsided grin that creased his face, and a black fringe
falling over his eyes.
We hope you find this image pleasing. The memory is summoned from a
favourite Terran entertainment archive of yours.
 You extracted that rather niftily, Suzi said with a smile.  Plenty of ice,
please.
He is named Hugh.
Suzi couldn t help laughing.  Yes, I know. She took her glass.  Thanks.
The young man s hand, as he gave her the drink, brushed Suzi s.
It was a pale, mottled hand, the flesh flaking from it like steamed fish.
Startled, she looked up into his face. It was no longer the face of her
favourite vid-actor. She saw 
Empty, white eyes 
A putrefying skull, rippling as if immersed in unquiet water 
Suzi leapt to her feet and tried to scream.
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On the horizon, the face of the Dreamguide shimmered and blurred, splin-
tering into a thousand howling Pridka faces. Ten thousand.
 Hello, Suzi, said the dead Colm Oswyn, reaching out a rotting hand to her.
 I thought we would meet again soon.
When the Doctor entered the sculpture of pastel light which represented the
office of the Pridka Dream Centre Director, the V-shaped chair was turned
away from him.  May I see you for a moment?
 Of course, Doctor.
The Doctor s surprise did not really have time to register. The chair swiv-
elled, and the imposing figure of the Director of the centre sat there. The
Doctor took in the salient details of the face: the proud crest of fins, the sheen
of his blue skin. His eyes were open wide, his hands were folded neatly in his
lap and he was smiling in a benign, welcoming manner.
He did not move at all, due to the fact that his head had been neatly severed
from his body and was fixed to the back of the chair, about twenty centimetres
above the neck, by a thick bolt of steel.
The Doctor was repelled, but he leaned across the desk and examined the
incision. It was a clean cut, which seemed to have severed all of the nerves
and muscles at once.
The door sealed itself behind the Doctor. Out of the shadows, a dark, lan-
guid figure unfurled itself. Without turning round, the Doctor straightened
up, alert, listening, like a hunting cat. Only when he was fully ready did he
turn around and face the other occupant of the room.
He knew who it was  what it was  immediately. The mane of black hair,
the oval face with its staring, round eyes and impressive dual sweep of cheek-
bone.
Jirenal folded his arms, tilted his head to one side and unleashed his
hideous clown s smile.  Welcome, Doctor, he said.  You requested an audi-
ence with me. What can I do for you?
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23
You Win Some
Livewire stood at the curved window. In her white clothes, with her bow slung
at her waist, she was like a statue of some ancient hunting goddess. They d let
her have the bow back because she had screamed until she got it. Unloaded,
of course. That was the compromise.
A shadow fell across her, but she did not look around. She knew her
brother s footfall.  I can feel it growing, she said.  The pool of hatred.
 Look, Trinket said anxiously,  do you think you ve rested properly?
Livewire turned to face him now. She could tell by the fear in his expression
that he had noticed her bright, feverish eyes. Well, that was good. They were
still afraid of her.  I don t want rest, she said.  I won t rest until Banksburgh is
our home again.
Trinket ran a hand through his hair.  Look, I ve been asking a few ques-
tions. The relief ship s due shortly to take people off the orbital. I don t think
anyone s going to be living here any more.
 I will, she said.  I want to. He looked perplexed, but then, she thought, he
never had understood her.  When the Phracs came, she murmured, stroking
her forefinger down his smooth face,  we wanted to get them. To hit back.
And now it turns out the war was all a con anyway, and this, this creature
turns up. Takes over my mind, kills Poly. Well, I tell you this. I m not sharing
Banksburgh with any alien. Not any sort.
 What are you going to do? Trinket asked. It was a reasonable question,
but there was that very slight wavering, the undercurrent of fear.  They won t
let you go with them. Bernice and Cheynor said  
She moved closer to him, her eyes glinting.  I don t care what they said. She
held something up. It was the size of a credit card, and inlaid with circuitry.
She was pleased by the way Trinket frowned.
 What is it? he asked.
 Security key to a skimmer.
Trinket paled.  You re not  fragging hell, Livewire, how did you get that?
A momentary expression of disgust crossed her features.  This TechnOp
took a fancy to me. Tzidirov, he was called. It only took me half an hour, and
a bit of pride. She patted his cheek.  Don t try and stop me.
 You re not armed. Your crossbow  
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 I m going to improvise, she said sharply.
She was by the door.
 You can t   he began.
 I mean it, little brother. Follow me and the first arrow is yours.
Her parting smile left him looking chilled, alone, lost.
Bernice Summerfield stood in the observation gallery of the Phoenix and
stared out over the higgledy-piggledy ruins of Banksburgh.
She reached into her pocket, then frowned, shook her head. Too easy. But
a moment later she put her hand back in her pocket and took out the small
holo-pyramid. Bernice stroked it, placed it on the walkway at her feet, and
the image of the Doctor blossomed upward.
He was looking askance at her and leaning on his umbrella.  You can t
expect this program to solve all your problems, you know, said the familiar
voice.  After all, if it could, there d be two of me running around the Universe
without even violating the laws of time. The h-Doctor appeared thoughtful
for a moment.
Benny smiled wearily. She was just starting to realize how recent events
had taken their toll on her.  There were times when it would have been very [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]