Ground Zero Part 32

Hank repressed an urge to strangle him. "Don't push me."

Drexler inclined his head. "I apologize if that sounded provocative. While I didn't entirely lie to him, I did bend the truth."

"Where'd you bend it-the part about him being cured?"

"No. He will will be cured. I simply failed to mention what be cured. I simply failed to mention what kind kind of sleep would be required and where it had to take place. You see, in order for the Orsa to cure him, he must sleep within it." of sleep would be required and where it had to take place. You see, in order for the Orsa to cure him, he must sleep within it."

Hank couldn't believe he was standing here listening to this c.r.a.p-and believing it. No way he would have bought a single word without having seen this ... thing thing sitting in front of him. But the Orsa was real. And he'd seen it swallow Darryl. sitting in front of him. But the Orsa was real. And he'd seen it swallow Darryl.

"There's a curious aspect to the process: The afflicted one must enter the Orsa willingly."

Hank found himself nodding. Yeah, if that was true, he could see why a little verbal sleight of hand could be needed.

But a piece was missing ...

"So, you did this all for Darryl's good. Considering how you can't stand him, that's very white of you."

He wondered if Drexler got the joke, seeing as that was the only color he ever wore.

Drexler shrugged and gave one of those European it-was-nothing pouts. "One does what one can for his fellow man."

"Yeah, right. You set him up."

Hank saw it now: Drexler had recognized the rash and sent Darryl to one of the Order's docs for confirmation. Once AIDS was confirmed, he made sure everyone in the Lodge knew Darryl had it, which eventually put Hank on the spot about letting him live among the others. Darryl wound up desperate and ready to do anything to keep from being kicked out-even crawling into the b.u.t.t end of the Orsa.

Fast work.

Well, his business card identified him as an "Actuator" ... a guy who made things happen, got things done. And he'd got this done. Saw an opportunity and seized it.

Had to admire a guy like that.

Had to watch out for him too.

"How long does this cure take?"

For the first time, Drexler looked unsure. "Not long."

" 'Not long'? What does that mean? An hour? Half a day? A day? What?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know? know? You know everything else, how come you don't know that?" You know everything else, how come you don't know that?"

Drexler gave him a weak smile. "Because there has never been an Orsa before. There will never be another."

Hank stared at him in shock. "You mean this has never been done before?"

Drexler shook his head. "Never."

15.

The man who was more than a man, who was known as the One to members of the Septimus Order, and as Mr. Osala or "the Master" to members of this household, sat in his bedroom and waited.

Ever-faithful Gilda had informed him of yesterday's trespa.s.s, telling him she'd caught the girl opening one of his desk drawers. From the sound of it, he doubted she'd seen anything of importance. And even if she had, she wouldn't understand. He had instructed Gilda to leave the door ajar today. Knowing the girl as he did, he was sure she would find a second look impossible to resist.

He wondered what he should do with her. She was a burden. She complained constantly of her confinement here. He would have let her end her life that night but for the uniqueness of the child she carried, so deeply redolent of the Taint. Foolish, pathetic Jonah Stevens had thought he could use that child against him. It might have worked, but would have been a very long shot. For that reason alone he should eliminate the girl and her child.

However ...

The day might come when he would have need of the child. If the Fhinntmanchca Fhinntmanchca achieved his purpose, the point would be moot. In that case he could foresee no use for her or her offspring, except perhaps as a brief amus.e.m.e.nt. But should the achieved his purpose, the point would be moot. In that case he could foresee no use for her or her offspring, except perhaps as a brief amus.e.m.e.nt. But should the Fhinntmanchca Fhinntmanchca fail ... fail ...

Better to hold the child in reserve, and make sure it and its reluctant incubator remained in good health. To that end- The door to the outer room-his office-squeaked as it opened. He rose and waited until he heard one of his desk drawers slide, then stepped into the office. The girl had her hand in the drawer.

"Perhaps I can help you find what you are looking for."

Her startled reaction was almost comical. She stared in openmouthed shock as she flushed crimson.

"Mister Osala, I ... I was just ..."

"Just snooping?"

She took a breath, gathered herself, and faced him with a defiant expression.

"Yes, I suppose I was."

Well, well, well. Perhaps he'd underestimated her mettle.

"Is that how you repay my hospitality?"

"Hospitality? How about total imprisonment?"

He shook his head. "We will not have this conversation again."

"Okay, then. How about I'd like to know more about the guy who's got me locked up in his house?"

"I've told you-"

"Yeah, I know what you've told me, but how do I know it's true?"

She was trying his patience now.

"Because I say it is."

"Really? And what about this other ID in your drawer here? And the way you've been changing your looks. Who's the real you?"

She could never know that. Wouldn't be capable of understanding if she were told. As for that other ident.i.ty and his change in appearance ...

A man he thought he had destroyed was slowly rising from the ashes. His resilience was remarkable. He needed another crus.h.i.+ng blow to complete his destruction. He had researched the man's circ.u.mstances and determined the perfect point of attack. He would insert himself into the hated one's life and obliterate it from within.

Of course, the success of the Fhinntmanchca Fhinntmanchca would render his preparations a waste of time. But making plans to annihilate an enemy was almost as enjoyable as the act itself, so he proceeded anyway. would render his preparations a waste of time. But making plans to annihilate an enemy was almost as enjoyable as the act itself, so he proceeded anyway.

Just as he would proceed with a.s.suring the safe birth of this Tainted child.

"The real me?" he said. "The real me is looking out for you and your baby. To that end, I have scheduled an appointment for you with an obstetrician later this week. He will examine you and-"

"Obstetrician? What for? I don't want to deliver it! I want it out!"

"That is not an option right now."

Her voice rose. "It's now or never! I'll be too far along!"

Reached out and brushed his fingertips across her forehead.

"Silence."

She quieted and stood there, staring at him.

"You vex me as you are," he told her. "So you will change. You want this child. You will do anything to a.s.sure its well-being. And you are happy here. You do not wish for anything beyond these walls. Now, return to your room for a nap."

She turned and walked from the room.

Perhaps he should have put an influence into her earlier-it would have prevented her little excursion back in May-but he had enjoyed the subtle, savory susurrance of her uncertainty and frustration, floating through the duplex like background music. And he'd been unsure of the effect on the new fetus. But the fetus was more mature now and ...

And the Fhinntmanchca Fhinntmanchca, the Maker of the Way, was imminent. If the fetus was damaged by the influence, what matter?

Only the Fhinntmanchca Fhinntmanchca mattered. mattered.

16.

The bright orange, twenty-five-story wireframe mushroom of Coney Island's iconic Parachute Jump dominated the skyline as they approached Harris's apartment building.

"How does he rate a senior-citizen apartment? Probably subsidized too."

"His mother lived there. After she died he took it over. It's still in her name."

As they approached the building, Jack noticed two men sitting in a car with a good view of the entrance. Might be waiting for a friend ... or waiting for Weezy. Were that the case, it meant they knew where Harris lived.

"Do you really need to see Harris again?"

She nodded. "I need that disk with the Sheikh video. I want to listen again and make sure I've got an accurate translation."

He pulled into the curb a hundred yards or so past the entrance.

"Wait here. I'll go get it."

"I'd better go with you," Weezy said, reaching for her door handle. "He might not-"

Jack gripped her arm. "I think someone's watching the place. Good chance they know what you look like now. Better if I go alone."

She looked worried. "But they've seen you too."

He didn't want to remind her that pretty much everyone who'd seen him with her was dead-except that self-styled Good Samaritan from the hospital. And Jack didn't believe for a nanosecond that Bob Garvey was his real name.

"Let me worry about that."

She stepped out of the car. "No, I'm coming."

"Weez-"

"We're wasting time." She pulled out her-or rather, Jack's-cell phone as she began walking toward the building. "I'll call him and let him know we're here."

Jack fell in beside her as she punched the b.u.t.tons. He didn't like this, but short of locking her in the trunk ...

After listening for a bit she thumbed the END b.u.t.ton and looked at him.

"No answer. Maybe he's out."

This was looking worse and worse.

"Or maybe he can't answer. Go back to the car and-"

"No."

The finality in her tone told him arguing was futile. He looked back at his car. The Crown Vic had a roomy trunk ...

Nah.

He checked under his T-s.h.i.+rt to make sure the Glock was nice and loose in its SOB holster, then adjusted his baseball cap as low as it would go over his forehead.

Outside the gla.s.s doors he kept his face turned away from the security camera as she pressed Harris's bell on the intercom. No answer. By luck, a stooped old lady in a babushka came out. He grabbed the door and held it for her, then they slipped inside.

No one about when they reached the eighth floor so they went straight to Harris's door. Jack positioned himself beside the doorframe with Weezy behind him-just in case a slug plowed through. The hallway walls were reinforced concrete, so no worry there.

He knocked. Again, no answer.

He tried the k.n.o.b and froze when it turned.