Speakwell marched off like a wind-up doll, still full of his chaffing enthusiasm. “If at any point you feel too unwell to walk, please alert me and we’ll arrange for alternate transport,” he called back. At my side, the sorcerer bristled.
We left the room to pass through empty corridors. Light, whether electric or otherwise, glowed from panels in the ceiling. “What about Hydna?” I asked after some unknown distance.
“Whenever you wish, you may speak by subvocalizing ‘contact,’ and then her name. Your metaphor was apt, though—I suspect we will not be able to relocate her until she is willing.” The ambassador turned his head to twinkle at me. “Eventually, you may have to rein her in. Or else half our women will be trailing after her, asking her to flex.”
“I’m sure!” I grinned. “And I bet the other half will be after Merulo, eh?”
An awkward pause as the ambassador busied himself with the buttons of a doorway.
“I mean, they’ll be pretty into the sorcerer, right? How could you not be? Right? Hey, come on, I think you’ve pushed enough buttons.”
“He, uh.” The ambassador coughed into a gloved hand. “He . . . Yes. Certainly.”
“Cameron,” Merulo said in warning.
Our footfalls echoed as we passed into another set of empty corridors. I felt an odd guilt. We were somewhere extraordinary, but my mental state prevented proper appreciation. Half-baked scenarios took precedence over the foreign landscape we passed.
If this mutual wariness between us and the ambassador led to anything . . . well, if they thought us dangerous, then perhaps it was best to prove them right. But what power did Merulo have at present, to protect us from the moon?
They didn’t know he was drained. That was it. Their careful treatment of us, this politeness, and offering of shelter. They feared his magic. We must seem as alien to them as they were to us.
“We are not walking to an execution,” Merulo said wearily, and I realized he’d been watching me over his shoulder. His lanky, anemic strides were easy to match, but I had fallen behind in my ruminating. “Unless you are truly frightened of rest and food, in which case, go ahead and complete your breakdown. Weep on the floor, if you like.”
“There is no need to fear,” the ambassador affirmed.“You’ll find we’re quite civilized. At least, here on the moon.”
The hall opened into a wide room. A fountain spurted at its center, ringed by benches. Dangling shards hung from the ceiling, like a gigantic bottle caught mid-explosion; they chimed against each other pleasantly.
Again, completely depopulated. Were the residents of the moon not allowed to see us?
“Contact SMSLunatic Freak,” I subvocalized, dragging my steps. The sorcerer shot me a look of annoyance, but slowed to match me, as did our bright-eyed guide.
“Cameron! How wonderful! Did you miss me already?” True to Speakwell’s word, it was the ship’s bouncy voice in my ear.
“Can they tell that I’m communicating with you?” Sweat rolled down my brow, despite the perfectly tailored temperature of the facility.
“Bugging personal communications is illegal on Luna. They may have a scanner on you to detect subvocalizations. Which is immoral, but could hold up in court given the circumstances. Assume that only my words are private.”
“Ah . . . okay. The ambassador.” Even in a situation like this, I had to appease my curiosity. “He seemed to dislike saying your name?”
“That’s because it’s two slurs, back-to-back,” said the ship, with obvious cheer. “It’s funny to make them say it. They never want to.”
“Oh,” I said, trying to keep the distaste off my face. “I can see why that would upset people. Who named you that?”
“I did! I had a different name before sentience, but who cares about that? Don’t even mention it.”
“Right.” I nodded before I could stop myself. Damn, Ihadn’t realized how much more than voice I typically put into conversing. “Lunatic, this situation worries me. There’s nobody here. In the shipyard, then all through this gigantic building, all we’ve seen is the ambassador.” I could only slow us so much; we exited the fountain room, back into the labyrinth of winding halls. I realized, suddenly, that the over-smooth walls werescreens. Dead ones, displaying nothing.
“Ah,” said the ship. “Evacuated. That’s why they kept me from landing for so long. They’re scared of the magic! My crew was frightened too, very frightened.”
“But you’re not?” It was strange, this speaking without actually speaking.
“Unknown variables are my favourite! Listen, when you’re clever like me, so much becomes predictable. That’s why I love humans. And now, I love your magic, too.”
“That’s funny of you to say, when the two smartest people I know tried their best to destroy it.” I jumped as a grip closed around my arm. Black plastic claws, courtesy of the glowering sorcerer.
“Leave my sister be.” He spoke sternly, but with a clear effort to soften his words. “We are not in immediate danger, and Hydna’s worked hard to come here. Let her enjoy it.”
“Right. Sorry. I’ll just say goodbye.”
