Hell.
“How long do I have to be perfect in their eyes?”
“Just to be safe?” he said. “I’d start now.”
Great. I pressed my lips together and wondered how long it would be before I messed this up.
It took us three hours to reach the west coast. After that, a very short drive took us to a sprawling building lit up with pulsing lights and colors.
“Someone’s having a party,” I remarked.
“Several someones,” he said.
He wasn’t kidding. The expanse of parking area around the building was filled with vehicles, and a steady stream of people flowed into the building from streets and skywalks.
“What is this all about?” I asked.
“Let’s find out.”
He drove the car around to the back, where a door in the side of the building opened up for us. He drove into the very nice garage, parked, then got out of the car and started off toward an elevator.
I got out too, pulled my duffel over my shoulder, and after a moment’s hesitation, left the rifle in the car. I had my revolver and a scarf full of time. I figured I could handle just about anything that came at me.
Abraham was waiting in the elevator, so I picked up the pace and joined him there.
He punched the button for the main floor.
“You’ll want to hang back a bit, blend in, but don’t get out of my eyesight, understand?”
“Sure. Of course,” I said.
He didn’t buy it.
“Just . . .” He turned and set his shoulders, taking up all the room in front of the doors. “Try not to draw attention to yourself, okay?”
“Like anyone would notice me.”
“I don’t know how anyone could miss you,” he murmured.
The elevator came to a soft stop, a light chimed on, and then the doors opened wide.
Before Abraham had even taken a step, a rise of excited voices got louder. The crowd out in the huge lobby area milled between rows of three-story columns that were lit a vibrant green, washing the ceiling, the reflective floor, and everyone else in that light.
But when Abraham stepped out of the elevator, the columns were washed in a soft gray light, making it feel like early dawn in the room. Hundreds of people oohed; more than a few shrieked. A rising chant of “Seventh, Seventh, Seventh,” spread across the room in a rising wave of sound.
Abraham strode out into the crowd, his arms stretched to either side like a beloved warrior returned from battle.
The room erupted in cheers.
Don’t draw attention to yourself,he said. Ha! No one was looking at anythingbuthim.
I strolled out of the elevator and threaded through the crowd until I was leaning against one of the columns, out of the way of the main flow of people.
“First time?” a woman asked me.
She was about my height and general coloring, maybe a little younger than me, and had dimples and a generous mouth. She wore a white shirt, blue overshirt, green pants, and bright orange shoes. Strips of yellow, violet, and every other House color ringed her arms.
“My name’s Listra.” She held out her hand.
