CHAPTER SIX

HER VOICE WAS FAINT AND SWEET

Alexandra came first to the Tunnels. She waited for Jamie to openthe secret entrance. Then she stood in the entrance tunnel and waitedfor me to get word of her arrival. When I came to the entrance,Alexandra was standing perfectly still on her spot as if she couldhave waited an eternity for me. She held a book in her arms. Jamiewas leaning against a wall near her. The Head Protector had her armsover her chest, a crossbow hooked over her shoulders and a watchfullook on her face.

"Go to the Cavern of the Falls" was the only thing I said toAlexandra. She said nothing in reply. She just went deeper into thetunnels with the cautious yet fluid stride I recognized. Jamiefollowed behind her.

I waited for Layla. That took twenty minutes. I don't recall anyof my thoughts from that time. When Layla arrived, I opened theentrance for her. "So," she said after the wall slid shut behind her,"what did you want to show me?"

"It's what I want to show everybody." I picked up a wrench behindone of the pipes. I tapped a code several times. Then I put down thewrench and said, "Come with me."

Layla kept her hands in her pockets as she followed me. I wonderedif she had brought her knife. Or a gun. Strangely enough I stilldidn't feel worried around her.

Not too worried, anyway. I felt confident that I knew her mind.She did not blame me for Joe's murder. So what else could make herwant to kill me? I considered all the angles and came up with noanswer.

There was one angle I didn't consider, though. And that wasprecisely the angle at which Layla would surprise me.

For the moment she didn't seem much of a threat. As we got closerto our destination, the Builder Robert and his son Max emerged froman intersecting tunnel. They stopped suddenly when they saw Layla.She froze as well.

"It's okay," I said. "She's with me."

Both Robert and Max looked at me with more suspicion than atLayla. For the past two months I hadn't been one of their favoritepeople. Robert thought that my reckless actions had almost destroyedthe Tunnels. Max regarded me as someone who would turn against hisfriends. Both of them were right. Or they would have been right twomonths ago. I was different now, hopefully.

After giving me the eye for a few moments, Robert softly said,"Let's go, Max." Then they went on their way.

I turned to Layla. Before I could say anything, she said, "RobertSawyer."

"You know him?" I said in surprise.

"I know of him. Ten years ago he was a construction worker wholearned which crime boss had taken over his union. He agree totestify against him."

"Oh, yeah. Right. Joe was handling the prosecution."

"And that's when I started working for the D.A. office." Shewinced. "What a fuck-up that turned into."

"I know all about it." The source of that particular fuck-up hadbeen a mole in Joe's office. The Sawyers had been placed inprotective custody, including Robert's wife. The mole led hitmenstraight to Molly Sawyer.

"Well," Layla said, "what I didn't know was where Robert and hisson went after the mother was killed. Joe said that he would 'takecare of it,' but he didn't say how."

"By then, he knew about the Tunnels. He asked Grandfather...he'sour big elder around here... Joe asked him to protect them. So Robertand Max lived down here until Robert had to pop up and givetestimony."

"And then he came back here."

"Robert feels that he and his son are safer down here. Can youblame him?"

"No."

I didn't follow up with the obvious question -- do you think theTunnels are crap now? That would have been a little cheap. Instead Ilet Layla mull over this new information as I led her further.

We encountered more Dwellers heading in the same direction wewere. They greeted her with cautious looks, but nobody objected toher presence. In return Layla stared at the men, women and childrencrossing our path. At one point she leaned over to me. Before shecould speak, I whispered, "No, I don't know why they're dressed likethey're at the Renaissance Fair. That's just the way it is."

Layla raised her eyebrows and smiled a little. Then she almostjumped when she heard, "Hey, Jacob! Who is this?"

We both turned to see Mouse running toward us. "Layla," I said,"this is Mouse. Mouse, Layla."

Mouse stuck out his hand. "Hello!" he greeted.

"Hello," Layla said as she shook his hand. "What is that on yourhead?"

Mouse looked confused at first, then touched his head. He felt thefootball helmet there. Two long antenna rose from its surface.

"Oh, this," he said with embarrassment. "Just something I'mworking on." Before Layla could ask more questions, he removed thehelmet and said, "Excuse me! We're having a meeting!"

Then he took off. Layla gave me a look. I shrugged. We continuedon our way.

After we made a turn into another tunnel Layla saw a familiarfigure walking ahead of her. "Hey, Vincent!" she called.

He turned. So did the woman who was holding his hand. Once again,Layla looked surprised. I was getting used to that expression.

"Diana?" Layla said. "Diana Bennett?"

"Hello, Layla," Diana responded politely.

"You knew about this place?" Layla said as she strode toward Dianaand Father.

Diana nodded and said, "So do you, now."

Layla looked down at Diana's hand and Father's hand. She lookedback at Diana, then at Father.

Father returned her gaze for a moment, then looked at me. "Did yousummon this meeting?"

"Yes," I said.

"Is Alexandra..."

"She's waiting for us."

"Very well." Father gave Diana a slight pull, and the two of themcontinued on their way. Layla waited for me to catch up with her.

"Your dad...and Diana?"

"M-hm."

"That kind of blows my mind."

"Yeah. Come on."

I took her down two more levels and then we reached ourdestination. She stepped into the Cavern of the Falls. In a nightalready loaded with startling things the hugeness and beauty of theCavern almost knocked her off her feet.

"Fuck me twice," she said. I heard giggling. I turned and sawchildren covering their mouths. Their parents did not look so amused.Layla was oblivious to them and everyone else in the Cavern. Her eyeswere blinded by the colors and waterfall's flow.

Then she lowered her eyes and saw Alexandra. The young woman inblack was standing next to the shoreline. Her head was inclinedtoward the ground, but you could never be sure where her covered eyeswere looking.

"Look who's here," she muttered.

"Alexandra is my final surprise."

"I was surprised enough by her last night."

"That's why I want you here. Just stay and listen."

"To what?"

I didn't answer. I walked a path through the crowd of assembledDwellers. My coded message had called everyone to the Cavern. Theywere gathered on the wide shore before the lake, talking andwhispering and wondering why they were here. Most of all, they talkedabout Alexandra. Word about her attack on Layla hadn't spread past aselect few, but her motionless posture and covered face were enoughto make them uneasy.

I reached her side. She didn't look at me. I held up my arms andsaid, "Excuse me, everyone. Please, I need your attention."

The talking and whispering faded out. "Everyone, please getcomfortable," I requested. Most of the Dwellers sat down on theground. Some remained standing. Not surprisingly, everyone who knewabout the incident in the Library remained standing. Father andGrandfather watched Alexandra intently. I could see Diana had alreadygone into profiler-mode. Jamie still carried her crossbow. And Layladid not look pleased at all.

"Alexandra wants to read something to you," I said. Then I turnedto Alexandra and whispered, "Go."

She still did not raise her head. She remained motionless as Imade my way back to Layla. She muttered, "What the hell,Jacob..."

"Shhh. Listen."

Alexandra didn't move for another few moments. Then she raised herhand and pulled the scarves off her mouth. Layla tensed as she sawthose white lips.

Then Alexandra opened the book in her hands. She began to read outloud.

"'Tis the middle of night by the castle clock/ and the owls haveawakened the crowing cock...'"

I had not heard Alexandra read poetry for many weeks. Theexperience was as wondrous as the first time I had heard her voice.When she spoke of night, you didn't just see the stars and the moonin your mind's eye. It *was* night as far as you were concerned, evenif the time had been noon. The castle clock was towering over you,and the owls were flapping their wings over your head.

The experience was a shared one. Nobody moved an inch. It was asif every muscle in each body was caught in the act of listening.Grandfather and Diana were stunned. Jamie almost let her crossbowslip from her shoulder. Father closed his eyes and let the words rushover him. Even the children were completely silent and attentive.Trust me, if you can get children not to laugh at phrases like 'thecrowing cock' and 'a toothless mastiff bitch,' you're one hell of areader.

And then there was Layla. Nothing on this night -- not Robert andMax, not Diana and Father, not the Cavern of the Falls -- startledher like Alexandra's voice. She stared at the woman who had tried tokill her, but there was no suspicion in her eyes now.

I felt so happy. Others could now see why I loved Alexandra. Atthe same time, I thought --

Holy shit, I didn't know she was going to read this poem. Not'Christabel.' If you know this poem, then you know why I was uneasyabout kids hearing it. I don't think we're particularly prudish downin the Tunnels. We don't worry too much about what the young 'uns get'exposed' to. Of course, we don't have television.

But I knew what was coming. So did Father and Grandfather. So dideveryone there with knowledge of poetry and that was a lot of people.(Again, no TV, so the Dwellers read.)

No one tried to stop Alexandra, though. I don't think anybodycould have. We were all transfixed by that voice.

So Alexandra got to tell everyone the story of Christabel andGeraldine. She described how "the lovely lady" Christabel metGeraldine by a "huge, big-breasted oak tree." And through her voiceand Coleridge's words we could see "a damsel bright...

"Drest in a silken robe of white,

That shadowy in the moonlight shone:

The neck that made that white robe wan,

Her stately neck, and arms were bare;

Her blue-veined feet unsandal'd were,

And wildly glittered in her hair."

There was no doubt that this was a woman "beautifulexceedingly!"

"'Mary mother, save me now!'" Alexandra cried out. A collectiveshiver traveled across the Dwellers and me. It wasn't just theemotion in her voice. It was a different voice. She had assumed thecharacter of Christabel -- the daughter of a baron, the girl who losther mother during childbirth, the young woman entranced by thestranger she had met in the forest.

Then she became Geraldine -- "'Have pity on my poor distress, Iscarce can speak for weariness.'" Even though I knew that Geraldinehad a secret agenda, I was completely fooled by her "faint and sweet"voice. Or, rather, I was fooled by Alexandra's voice. But, again, itwasn't her speaking. There were three separate people living insidethat dark outfit -- the narrator and two female characters. It wasfrightening and lovely at the same time.

Christabel brought Geraldine back to her father's hall. I wasreminded of Geraldine's intentions as Alexandra described how thewoman in white had to be carried across the threshold and how themastiff bitch moaned in its sleep. They reached Christabel's chamberswhere Geraldine commanded the spirit of Christabel's mother to leave."'Off, woman, off! This hour is mine!'"

Then Geraldine drank the wine made of wild flowers. (Even though Ihad no idea what such a thing tasted like, I could feel the winepouring down my throat.) She said to Christabel --

"But now unrobe yourself; for I

Must pray, ere yet in bed I lie."

Oh, jeez, I thought. Here it comes.

"Quoth Christabel, So let it be!

And as the lady bade, did she.

Her gentle limbs did she undress,

And lay down in her loveliness."

I had to sit down on the ground. The last thing I wanted anybodyto see was my growing erection.

Yeah, laugh it up. You weren't there. You didn't have to listen toAlexandra describe how Geraldine "unbound the cincture from beneathher breast." Or how her "silken robe, and inner vest dropt to herfeet and full in view."

"Behold!" Alexandra said to her audience. "Her bosom and half herside/ A sight to dream of, not to tell!/ O shield her! shield sweetChristabel!"

Shield us, I thought as my groin warmed. I instinctually looked atCynthia and Jane, our token lesbian couple. Their heads weretouching, and Cynthia was breathing on Jane's neck. They weren'taware of what they were doing, nor were they the only ones gettingcuddly. Diana had one hand under Vincent's vest, and his lips lightlytouched her forehead. Every married and dating couple in the Cavernwere getting intimate, including some people who had just discoveredanother person willing to hold their hands. As for Layla, her breastsrose and fell with deep breaths. The youngest kids didn't quite knowwhat was happening, but they knew it was something intense.

But there was also fear as well as sensuality in the air. Wewanted to hear more of Geraldine and Christabel lying in bedtogether, but we feared the price that Christabel would pay. "In thetouch of this bosom there worketh a spell," Geraldine said, "which islord of thy utterance, Christabel!"

Then came the morning, and Christabel got a look at who was in herbedroom. "Sure I have sinn'd!" she declared. Oh, you don't know thehalf of it, Christabel.

After that Christabel's father met the visitor. Sir Leolinerealized that this was the daughter of Lord Roland of Tryermaine. Itturned out that Roland and Leoline were friends long ago, but

"...whispering tongues can poison truth;

And constancy lives in realms above;

And life is thorny; and youth is vain;

And to be wroth with one we love

Doth work like madness in the brain."

Our other resident gay couple, Alex and Tom, could figure out whatkind of love this had been. Hell, we all could. But we all felt thepain of the words --

"A dreary sea now floats between; --

But neither heat, nor frost, nor thunder,

Shall wholly do away, I ween,

The marks of that which once hath been."

Nor murder, I silently added.

Even as Sir Leoline welcomed Geraldine as a friend, though,Christabel realized that she had allowed something sinister into thehall. A bard described a dream of "a bright green snake coiledaround" a dove. And then "the lady's eyes they shrunk in her head/Each shrunk up to a serpent's eye/ And with somewhat of malice, andmore of dread/ At Christabel she looked askance!"

Christabel begged her father to send the visitor in white away.("By my mother's soul do I entreat...!") She only received herfather's disgust that his own daughter would ask him to treat a guest-- much less the child of a friend -- in such a manner. UnderGeraldine's spell, Christabel was unable to explain her fears.

"'And turning from his own sweet maid,'" Alexandra the narratorsaid, "'The aged knight, Sir Leoline/ Led forth the ladyGeraldine!'"

Then she closed the book and sat down on the ground. She placedthe book to the side and began to wrap the scarves around hermouth.

There was more to the poem -- a conclusion not written byColeridge, but by a friend after his death. Yet it was obvious thatAlexandra chose to go no further.

For over a minute nobody said a word. Gradually Alexandra's spelllifted from us. We suddenly became aware of our heat and the way wewere touching each other. Couples pulled apart in embarrassment.Children stared at the flustered adults. Everybody knew thatsomething wonderful and terrible had swept across the group, and ithad risen from the lady in black.

My father had to break the silence. He cleared his throat andsaid, "I believe the meeting is adjourned."

One by one, the Dwellers left the Cavern. They didn't say a word,but they kept looking back at Alexandra and me. Their numbersdwindled down to Father, Diana and Jamie. Father studied the scenefor a few moments, then said to Jamie, "Let's leave."

Jamie opened her mouth, but her protest didn't come out. She hadbeen as spooked and aroused as any one had been. She walked awkwardlytoward the exit.

"Diana?" Vincent said.

Diana was gazing upon Alexandra. A stranger would have judgedDiana's expression to be dreamy and disconnected. I knew, however,she was staring straight into Alexandra's soul.

Then she turned that same look upon Layla. The other woman didn'tsee the look. She was watching Alexandra and trembling slightly.

Finally Diana turned to Father. They left together, but withoutholding hands.

I walked gently up to Layla. "So," I said, "what did youthink?"

"It was another stupid fucking story about evil lesbian vampires,"she hissed. "That's what I think."

"It was more than that," I replied sternly, "and you know it."

Layla closed her eyes. I watched her jaw muscles tighten.

Then she opened her eyes and walked toward Alexandra. Herfootsteps were deliberately heavy as if she was sounding out herdefiance. She kept her hands inside her pockets.

She stood before the younger woman. And Alexandra slowly raisedher covered head. This time there was no doubt about where she waslooking. Layla stared back at her reflection in the dark glasses.

Then Layla turned to me and said, "We need to talk alone."

"Okay," I said. "I'll be just outside the..."

"No. Not here. My apartment."

"Huh?"

"I still don't feel comfortable here, Jacob."

"Yeah, but...remember what I told you?"

Layla gave Alexandra another long look, then said to me, "I thinkwe'll be all right. Won't we?"

Alexandra said nothing, but that seemed to be the answer Laylawanted.

"Right," Layla said. "I'll see you in the morning, Jacob." Laylathen motioned to Alexandra, and the two of them left the Cavern.

So now there was just me by the lake. I felt more than a littleconfused. I had arranged this reading so that others could see thewonder inside Alexandra. And they did see it now. It was just...

They could see something else alongside that beauty. I saw it,too. I didn't know what it was.

Maybe, I thought, I should ask somebody who might know. I wentlooking for Diana.

I eventually found her in Father's chambers. I could hear her infaint conversation with Father. "Hello?" I said at the entrance. "MayI come in?"

"Come in, Jacob," Father said. I walked into the chambers. Fatherwas seated in a chair, hands folded under his chin. Diana wasstanding next to him.

"Well, Diana?" I said.

"Well..." Diana cleared her throat. "...I admit thatwas...impressive. But it didn't give me any real insights intoAlexandra."

"Still, impressive."

Diana laughed nervously. "Yeah. I can see why you're so attachedto her. I'm sure everybody can see that now."

"Good."

"And I hope you can see why others can be intimidated by her."

I let out a long sigh. "Yeah. I know."

"There's also the simple fact of the Tower."

"I've never forgotten that."

"Haven't you, Jacob?" Diana walked toward me. "Do you reallyunderstand what's at stake?"

I blinked. "How can you ask that? You know what I was willing todo to protect the Tunnels."

"I'm not talking about your bravery. I'm talking about..." Dianaglanced at Father as if trying to get the right word from him. Fathersaid nothing.

She turned to me and said, "Have you considered all thepossibilities? Do you really understand what Alexandra can do?"

"Well, of course I can." My voice rose in indignation. "Christ, Iwas there when she kill...she took care of Crown. Don't youthink..."

Diana grasped my hands and pressed them together between her twopalms. "You're right, you're right," she quickly said. "I'm sorry."She smiled wanly at me and said, "I don't want you to get hurt, youknow. You're my little Jacob."

"I understand. And trust me, I'm being careful."

She nodded, but I could see the doubt in her eyes. I justattributed that to her concern.

"Where is Alexandra now?" Father asked. "And Layla?"

"They, um, went back to Alexandra's apartment."

Diana's grasp tightened around my hands. I yanked my hands awayfrom her and held them up to get silence. "If Layla feels it's okayto be alone around her, then I don't know how we can object."

Father said, "You don't think that's...strange?"

"What around here lately has been normal? I think Layla will besafe around Alexandra. Besides, Layla isn't the type to let somebodyget the drop on her twice."

"What about you? Are you safe around Layla?"

"Well, that's still an open question. But not a certainty eitherway."

"Sounds like you're doing what you're accusing us of doing."

"Excuse me?"

"Waiting for an attack rather than planning ahead."

"Layla is not the Tower, Father," I said, irritated. "She's not athreat to the whole Tunnels."

Father considered my words, then said, "Granted."

"She's just...someone who has wandered into our little story."

"Actually, Jacob, you let her in."

I laughed. "Yeah, I did, didn't I? Leave it to me to complicatethings."

Father grunted. "So what will you do now?"

"Stop by Layla's apartment tomorrow. See what else I can do to getinside Alexandra's mind."

"Maybe you're there already," Diana said. "You just don't knowit."

"Maybe. If I am...well, we can only do what we think is best,right?"

Diana slowly nodded.

I left Diana and Father soon after that. I went to my chambers andspent many hours awake in bed. I was thinking about the events of thepast few days. Something was nagging me -- something important I wasoverlooking.

Later on I realized that something wasn't nagging me -- it waskicking at me, biting my leg, yelling in my ear. I wasn't overlookingsomething. I was staring straight at it, but I was too stupid tonotice it.

Alexandra wasn't the only one whose perception could be blinded byemotion. I was going to get some rude shocks in the next week. And,in the end, everything would change.

Absolutely fucking everything.