“I have recovered files regarding the location of Big Daddy. Video and data files. Do you wish this shown now, Cyn?”
It wanted her permission.
Well.She squinted. “At the meeting, yes. Is it far?”
“To reach Big Daddy? Yes.” The eye lights rapidly scrolled from side to side. “The journey by foot will take many days. Nineteen to fifty-two days approximately, depending on the route.”
“Crap. Still, that’s quicker than this Armageddon is advancing.” She smiled at Willow. “We go there, and if this Big Daddy is intact, we find out what we are, what I am, and I have a feeling that will be a nail in the coffin of the Ghoul Lords.”
It was a huge leap of faith.
“There will likely be much violence required for any party to reach this destination,” Little Mo said.
“Damn, woman, you’re getting this sorted fast.” Surprisingly, Rutger had said that.
Vargr chuckled. “She is something else.”
“Hmmm.” Cyn wanted to crack her knuckles and lick that gun, again. She loved leaps of faith.
She loved violence, death, destruction.
Which… was news to her.
I do?
25
At the coming of dawn,with sunlight creeping across the land in a revealing tide of brilliance, sunglasses were donned by most—living in the dark took its toll. People began to wander off to find rooms. Cyn found herself with Vargr, Willow and Toother, Rutger, Locke, and her groupie, Little Mo. They ascended a grand staircase to reach the first terrace of rooms overlooking the Parklands, where Willow left them to head down a long corridor. Toother padded after her—he seemed to be happy with her, which was good. A lonely dog was sad. A lonely nanodog the size of a mountain was ten times more tragic.
“Before I wander off,” Locke said. “Could I take Little Mo with me? It has ports, and I think I can connect him up with a screen. I could get him to show any vids that are useful at the meeting.”
Funny how no-one could decide if Mo was anitor ahe. “I’ll tell him. Mo, you go with Locke, and do as he asks you to.”
Mo agreed, his front lights doing that fluid ping-pong from side to side.
The pair of them walked away together, with Mo trotting at Locke’s heels. Despite the spidery legs, he reminded her of a small dog.
“We go further in?” she asked Rutger, suppressing a wide smile. The wine was giving her a crazy high.
“Yes. Most Worshippers have rooms near each other, and we’re cautious in case of a daylight attack. So we choose ones deeper in, even if these terrace rooms have prettier views.”
Vargr leaned on the balcony, looking down at where they’d come from. “Pick a front room and you’re the first towed away kicking and screaming by stinkers?”
“That’s the theory. There are plenty of other rooms free. Thousands, but only some have been connected to a water reservoir. Most of this was part of a resort.” He gestured at the opposite terrace, a mile away across the faux forest floor. “Want me to help you choose a room?”
The suggestion there was obvious, to her anyway.
“Maybe.” Vargr turned to rest his back and elbows on the railing, which drew her eye to his bulging groin.
The black leather pants he’d adopted lately left exactly enough for her imagination to play with… especially with how above the waistline his muscles were wrought in perfect taut ridges.
“Cyn?” His eyes narrowed. “IthinkCyn would like you to show us a room. Like you to be in the room.”
What?Her mouth opened as she fumbled for a reply.
Of course Rutger clearly loved Vargr baiting her. Before she could answer, and the prospect of actually being shared between them was both hot and frightening, Vargr grabbed her wrist and reeled her to him.
He stood, wrapping her in his big arms. The veins on those bulged as he flexed his muscles to trap her. Damn, if she didn’t like this. It made her want to stay here forever.
