Molly and I both looked at him, and he wriggled delightedly in his chair, enjoying himself; a disturbing movement in one so large. He looked me over, taking his time. Still ignoring Molly.
I never thought I d have to look at a Drood again, said Crow Lee. But then, you re like cockroaches, aren t you? So many of you, and so hard to kill. But worth the effort.
So you admit you re responsible for the attack on Drood Hall? I said.
Crow Lee laughed happily. Admit it, little Drood? I boast it. I glory in it! I ve known all about Alpha Red Alpha for years and years, just waiting for someone in your family to be foolish enough to use it. I had the remote control, you see, the means to override the mechanism, but
I cut in. I knew he was teasing me, but I just couldn t help it. I had to know.
How did you get your hands on the remote control? Who did you get it from?
From the same person who first told me about Alpha Red Alpha, Crow Lee said easily. You have a traitor in your family, dear Eddie. A very old and very well-established, very well-hidden traitor. And I have always been so very well served by traitors. He hates you even more than I do, and with much better reason. But as I was saying before I was so impertinently interrupted I had to wait for someone in your family to feel so threatened that they d actually risk using Alpha Red Alpha, before I could use my remote control. You see, you have to lower all the Hall s protections before you can activate the dimensional engine. They interfere with its workings, apparently. Can you imagine what it was like for me, learning that you d used the thing at last? And that all I had to do was wait for you to return and then hit the button on my special remote control? No, you can t imagine what it felt like, knowing I finally had the means to send your whole stupid, interfering family away, forever.
I struck while you were vulnerable, and just like that, you were gone! Good-bye, Droods, forever! Rotated out of reality and dumped somewhere else. I do hope it turned out to be somewhere really appalling. I sent them there and I left them there, and I laughed and laughed and laughed.
And then you dropped the other Hall in its place, I said, and something in my voice stopped his laughing. To hide what you d done.
Oh no, said Crow Lee. That was just a happy accident. An entirely unanticipated and fortuitous side effect. I did enjoy it, though. A wrecked and ruined Hall and dead Droods lying everywhere what s not to like? They weren t the actual family I hated, but they were Droods, and I m sure I would have hated them if I d known them.
You bastard, I said.
I started forward, and Crow Lee stopped me with an upheld hand.
Think, little Drood. Consider the implications of what I ve done. Whatever happens next between you and me, I want you to understand that you cannot undo the one thing I ve done that really matters. I have proven to the world that Droods can be beaten. The wrecked Hall and dead Droods are proof of that, forever. Even if you do somehow escape my wrath and continue as the Last Drood, even if you somehow find a way to bring your nasty family back the world will never see you as unstoppable again. I ve seen to that.
I had to smile. All right. You re reaching now.
Am I, little Drood?
Bring my family back, I said. And I promise I won t kill you.
Crow Lee lost his easy smile. He scowled fiercely at me. No one gives me orders, boy. I ve never needed a family to make me strong. I ve never needed armour to hide behind. I made myself what I am through sheer force of will!
And by killing a whole lot of people, I said.
Mostly through treachery, backstabbing, and getting other people to do your dirty work for you. Don t try it on me. I ve read your file.
Crow Lee leaned forward in his chair and fixed me with his dark, disturbing gaze. And suddenly he was the most fascinating thing in the room. I forgot about everything else, forgot about Mr. Stab, forgot about Molly, forgot about my poor lost family. I was staring into Crow Lee s eyes and I couldn t look away. Didn t want to look away. Crow Lee spoke directly to me, and his voice was the most compelling thing I d ever heard.
You don t want to fight me, said Crow Lee. I am your friend. You know you can trust me. My enemies are your enemies. You want to protect me against my enemies. Like that woman standing beside you. You can t trust her. You know that. She s always getting in the way, meddling in your affairs. You want to be free of her. So kill her. Kill her for me and for yourself.
All the time he was speaking to me, I knew it was all bullshit. Knew it, knew he was lying through his teeth. I didn t believe a word of it, but still I couldn t stop listening to him. He held me with his dark, hypnotic gaze and his persuasive words. I fought him with everything I had. Fought his influence and the words he was saying, and bit by bit I drew back from him.
I took a deep breath and looked away, breaking Crow Lee s gaze. His influence was gone in a moment. He looked at me openmouthed, as though he couldn t believe it, and I looked back at him and laughed in his face, just a bit shakily.
Had me a little bit worried there for a moment, sweetie, murmured Molly.
Droods are trained to withstand mental challenges, I said loudly and confidently. Because we are, but it had still been a bit too close for my liking.
You dare defy me? whispered Crow Lee. You dare?
Were you bullied as a child? I said. Did they make your life hell at school? Is that what this is all about? Because this whole Most Evil Man bit strikes me as just so much overcompensation.
Crow Lee turned his burning hypnotic gaze on Molly. Kill him! Kill him!
Molly just laughed at him. Oh, come on. You have got to be kidding. I m the wild witch, remember? The laughter in the woods and the lightning in the storm? Frankly, I m offended you even thought that would work.
She brought the bottle of gin to her lips, took in a good mouthful and then leaned forward abruptly and sprayed the whole lot across Crow Lee s face. The stream of neat gin burst into flames as it left her lips, and Crow Lee screamed shrilly, like a small child, as flames leapt up all over his face. He wiped them away quickly with his bare hands, burning them too in the process, and jumped to his feet. His face was scalded bright red where it wasn t flushed with rage, and his eyes were already puffing shut. He snapped his fingers imperiously at Mr. Stab.
Do your job, old monster! he said fiercely.
Rid me of these nuisances!
There was a pause. Mr. Stab didn t move a muscle. In his cold, calm voice he said, Regretfully, I cannot. I fear you overestimate my abilities.
Crow Lee stared at him blankly. Do as you re told, damn you! Kill them! Kill them both!
I can t, said Mr. Stab. They re a Drood and a Metcalf, and I m just an ill-made monster. It s a wise monster who knows his limitations.
Crow Lee took control of himself, with an obvious effort. Drops of steaming gin were still falling from his burnt chin.
I know there is a history between you and them. That should make it easier. That s why I hired you!
Look at the Drood s torc, said Mr. Stab.
Look at his armour.
Crow Lee stopped and then stared at me for a long moment before nodding slowly, grudgingly. Ah yes. I do See what you mean. Well, then, Eddie and Molly, we ll do this little dance another day. When I m better prepared.
He gave us both a sly self-satisfied smile and snapped his fingers loudly. And just like that he was gone. The oversized armchair was empty, and Mr. Stab no longer stood beside it. There wasn t even an inrush of air to fill the space where they d been. It was as though they d never been there.
No! said Molly. You can t do that! He can t do that, Eddie!
I think you ll find he can, I said.
And he has.
The bastard said Molly. I was all fired up and ready to go, and he just runs away?