Темное, кривое зеркало. Том 3 : След на песке - [41]

There she was, chained as if set out for a sacrifice.

"I am lost in darkness!" she cried. "Find me. I am here for you."

And then they were…. around him. They were not in the light — they were the light. They spoke to him, and their words chilled him.

Follow us into darkness, into fire, past death and despair.

The darkness or the light. Choose.

"I…. I'm afraid of the darkness."

Then do what must be done.

He knew what to do. There was a dagger in his hand. Perhaps it had always been there. He stepped forward and looked into her eyes.

"I am lost in darkness for you," she whispered, staring at him. There was no fear, no accusation, only…. acceptance in her eyes. "I came here for you. There was no other way."

"I am afraid of the darkness," he repeated.

"No," she said softly. "I am afraid of the light."

Follow us.

He raised his hand. There was a trace of pity in Delenn's emerald eyes as Sheridan drove the dagger into her, killing her with one stroke.

Chapter 2

"Tell me, Miss Hampton, what is the current situation on the Sakai problem?" "Everything is proceeding as you planned, sir. Her partner was killed, and Sakai escaped. We have her under surveillance, and she is currently heading for Dome Three."

"Hmm…. is there any likely indication of why she is going there?"

"Little accurate information. Records do show that Miss Sakai has several friends and associates there. One in particular has some influence and a little power. A Miss Julie Musante. A former member of the Ministry for the Interior and currently a private lawyer specialising in interstellar commercial law…."

"Yes, yes, Miss Hampton. Thank you for your information. Maintain surveillance on Miss Sakai and inform our agents in Dome Three. Also…. establish a base of operations somewhere near Miss Musante's residence."

"Yes, sir."

The conversation ended and the man sat back, stretching out in his chair, the one item of luxury in an otherwise spartan office. "You see, Mr. Zento. Everything is going according to plan."

"I still don't see the point of this, sir," replied a man many would identify as being one of the richest and most influential in what remained of the Earth Alliance. "Surely we could have managed this with much less effort…."

"Oh, if it was just our own concerns involved, then yes, of course we could. But…. we are working on orders from a different source here, Mr. Zento, and they, for whatever reason, want Miss Sakai put through the proverbial wringer. We can only assume that their reasons are important and do as we are told. Everyone, Mr. Zento, answers to somebody, and I am no exception. Do you understand?"

"Of course I do, sir."

"Good. I am glad this is going so well thus far. I had anticipated it being much harder. Oh well, sometimes the Gods smile on us. If not on others…. Wouldn't you agree?"

"I'm an atheist, sir."

"Ah, that is a pity. One should always have something to believe in, Mr. Zento. Something to pray to, something to curse…."

"If you say so, sir."

"Ah." He fell silent. "Ah," he repeated, more sadly than before.

Both of them resumed their waiting.

* * *

"This is a beautiful place."

Delenn looked at her companion thoughtfully. For all that Valen — or Jeffrey Sinclair — represented, she was still unsure of his status and her relationship with him. There was so much about him she simply could not understand, and was not sure she wanted to understand. He was a legend and a hero and…. now…. he was what?

"How so?" she asked softly.

It had been a long day, but with as much work done as she could reasonably cope with she had gone for a walk, feeling the light and the darkness of her new home. He had come across to her and joined her. No word had been spoken and none had been offered…. until now.

"There is hope here. A hope for the future. Something I have seen so rarely…. except in the last days of the war, and then only briefly."

"But…. after the war, surely? There was hope then? A time for rebuilding and healing…."

"A time of hardship and betrayal. The war lasted so long, too many just did not know what peace was meant to be. The clans warred among each other for years afterwards. It took decades for the Grey Council to be accepted and even longer for a true balance of power to be struck. And then there was Marrain…. No, the war might have been over, but the aftermath…. that still endures even now."

"Marrain, yes…." Delenn said his name softly. Some — mostly religious caste, it had to be said — referred to him as 'the Betrayer'.

"A great man…. once. Time…. and darkness…. can seize us all."

"You are maudlin today," she whispered softly.

"Perhaps…. I am remembering a great deal, some of which I have not yet experienced, some of which I have. My thoughts often come back to Derannimer."

"Yes…. We know so little of her. She led the Grey Council for many years after you…. went beyond."

He stopped and looked a little surprised. "She did? That is good to know."

"You did not know?"

"No. Not everything. I…. recall making her my successor, but not how she would endure. I am glad she did well. She was…. a beautiful person. Not just in flesh, but in spirit. She shone so brightly…. That light once shone also in Marrain and Parlonn, but there is no light so bright it can never be eclipsed by shadows."