‘In other words, a geomancer is defined by the madness they embrace. And you alone reject that delusion of control?’
Mary jutted her chin. ‘You either believe me or you don’t. I’m still here.’
‘’Tis strange,’ said Simeon. ‘I’m the captain of a vessel named the Ship of Fools, and though fools we were for ever entering this benighted land, it is not often we are still taken for fools.’
He raised his eyebrows at her and she felt his forensic gaze uncover her guilt, even though she’d not done anything wrong. Yet. Could she resist the thoughts she was having? She’d had the maps to herself, so it wasn’t just the lack of opportunity. Perhaps she really was going to see this through to the bitter end.
‘I won’t let you down.’
‘You don’t get to be in charge of a band of pirates by taking anyone at their word, my good woman. Which leaves us caught between the Scylla of blind naivety and the Charybdis of unwarranted suspicion. Steering a course between those two monsters is not an easy task.’
‘But I don’t want to let people down. I don’t want to let Dalip or Mama down: if there’s any chance of getting them back home, I don’t want to fuck it up for them.’
‘Which is commendable. That does not, however, preclude you from rash actions that might harm my domain. If this has not been impressed on you already, allow me to be the first: this is the greatest treasure on Down, and must be treated as such. All men will desire it. All men will kill to possess it.’
‘I’d figured that out.’
‘Very perspicacious of you.’
‘There is a way around it, though.’
‘Oh?’
‘We make copies of it. As many as possible. Give them to whoever wants one.’
Simeon was momentarily taken aback. ‘Audacious.’
‘We promised Crows he could have all the maps as soon as we’d copied them.’ She held up her hand. ‘I know, I know. But he was horrified by the idea of even one copy. So fuck him. Let’s make lots.’
‘Your plan has merit, though it’s not without its own dangers. I’ll ponder the matter for a while. However, we must return to the present. For as surely as we have bottled up the Lords of the White City in their palaces, so are we also confined, and this valley is as much a gaol for the gaolers as it is for the gaoled.’ He took off his hat and ran his hand through his thinning hair. ‘I can no more order a half-dozen men to their deaths than I can a single one. I understand you had sight of this weapon?’
‘If you’re asking about how many bullets it has or its range or anything like that, I don’t know◦– children’s homes were rough, but not that rough. But just going on what it looked like, it was a rifle a soldier would take to war, maybe fifty, a hundred years ago.’
‘Or two hundred years hence. You understand my reluctance to confront the threat head-on. The defile is narrow, and as easily defended as Leonides’ Thermopylae. Alas, it now only takes one Spartan with a futuristic powder gun where previously it would have taken three hundred with pikes. Can this map solve any of our current travails, or offer us guidance as to our next move?’
Mary looked down at the map. How could it possibly help? ‘I don’t know. I just don’t. Don’t make any of your decisions in the hope that something will come up. It might, but…’
‘No, that’s wise counsel. We have what we came for. Scouts have been sent to the valley head, and up the steps to the plateau: the moment we have a way back to the ship, we leave.’ He laid his hat back on, and rubbed the side of his nose. ‘You have that long until we depart, and I’m afraid I must insist on the maps accompanying us, even if you choose to stay here.’
She was in no position to argue.
‘It’s both my duty and my honour to protect the lives that serve under me. Be forewarned that those who Down has touched with the gift of magic cannot sign on as crew. We have no truck with that, being too deeply scarred by our early encounters with geomancers. Otherwise, I wish you well and, after today, hope we hail each other as fellows, not foes. I must be about my business.’
He bowed again, lower and deeper, and left her staring blindly across the courtyard at the wall opposite.
Shortly, or in a few hours, however long it took the scouts to return, she was going to lose the maps for ever. And Dalip. And Mama. She’d already lost Elena to exile, Luiza to the Wolfman, Stanislav to the storm, Grace to… whatever had taken her. Of course, Dalip and Mama could choose to stay with her, rather than Simeon, but she couldn’t even contemplate them having to make that decision, let alone its outcome.
She could force Dalip’s hand, by revealing that he, too, had been changed by Down. He’d have to leave the ship as well. But would he join her?
What should she do?
Running wasn’t an option◦– well, it was, but without the maps. No one was going to stop just her leaving. Simeon might even welcome it. And Dalip would be left with the obvious solution, which was going back to the ship, and Mama.
But the White City was where everyone needed to be. Her, him, the maps. This was somehow what Down wanted, and it might never happen again.
She carefully picked up the sailcloth again, and carried it back to the space in front of Dalip. She laid it out and teased it until it was flat, then shook him gently awake.
He came to with a start, desperately trying to work out where he was and what he was supposed to be doing.
‘It’s morning,’ she told him, ‘and we have a problem.’
He massaged his face and worked his jaw. He glanced at the cloth, and looked again, harder.
‘You finished it,’ he said.
‘Most of it, yes. That’s not the problem.’
‘But, you finished it.’
‘Dalip. You have to concentrate. Simeon, the rest of the pirates, and all the maps are leaving here, soon.’
‘What about the gun?’
‘He thinks there’s a way out over the top. I don’t know if he’s right, but there probably is. The point is, you can go with them, but I can’t.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because I can do magic. Now, listen. You have to work out how these portals join together, where the lines cross, and what the fuck it all means before we have to pack this shit up. After that, it’ll be too late to do whatever it is we’re supposed to do with them. Do you understand?’
‘I… yes.’
‘Good.’ She took one last look around the room. ‘Don’t fuck up.’
‘Wait. Where’re you going?’
‘I’m going to try and buy you some more time.’ She aimed her finger at him. ‘Stay. Work. Do what you do best.’
She ran for the nearest ladder, climbed down it quickly, then adjusted her dress and fluffed out her hair. If she was going to do this, then she had to not just act calm, but be calm.
She walked towards the front door. There was a guard posted in the corridor, lolling against the wall. He received a beatific smile. It didn’t open the door, but it got her close to it.
‘I’m not letting anyone out,’ he said.
‘That’s fine,’ she said. ‘I don’t want to go out, just to stand in the doorway and get some fresh air.’
A look of doubt crossed the man’s face.
‘Stand in the yard,’ he said.
‘I said fresh. None of those fuckers has used soap in years.’ She gave him another smile. ‘Remember soap?’
‘I can’t open this door. Captain’s orders.’
‘Okay. Can’t blame a girl for trying.’ She turned away, then turned back. ‘Although,’ she added, and slammed her hand hard against the man’s chin. His head went back and hit the wall behind him with an audible tock.