CHAPTER NINE

WHISPERING TONGUES

I didn't really feel angry until I reached Knucklebones. Betweenthere and the Masquerade I had just felt numb. As my feet touched thepavement, they seemed to be a mile away from me. My fury didn't kickin until I entered the bar. I had expected hard rock from the jukeboxthere. I needed something loud and fast to distract me from mythoughts.

One of the Cretins must have been in a sentimental mood thatnight. Instead of Motorhead, a sixties ballad was playing on thejukebox. "I saw you...I saw you comin' back to me..."

That's when I clenched my fists. Despite the gentle music, I couldhear a roaring in my ears. I stomped toward the bar and told thebartender, "Gimme a beer."

The bartender sighed. "Jacob, if I've told you once, I've toldyou..."

"Gimme a beer now."

The bartender saw the look in my eye and instinctively sought outDan. The leader of the Cretins must have seen the bartender's worriedexpression because I heard his heavy step as he walked toward me.

I ignored Dan. "Gimme a beer," I said, "or I'll tear this wholeplace apart."

The bartender looked again at Dan. I don't know what signal Dangave, but the bartender opened a bottle of Michelob and placed itfront of me. I stuck the bottle's neck into my mouth and got down asmuch beer as I could get in one gulp.

"Rough night?" Dan asked.

I swallowed the beer and said, "Fuck off. And stop playing thatshit on the jukebox."

Dan stood next to me for a few seconds, then walked away. Afterthe ballad was over, the Cretins only played rock. And I keptdrinking beer.

I was on my fifth (or sixth) bottle of beer when I sensed afamiliar presence. Inebriation hadn't dulled my senses so much that Icouldn't sense her behind me.

"Dan called you?" I asked without looking at her.

"Your liver did," Diana replied. "It's sending out a SOS."

I sucked more beer out of a bottle. Diana sat on the stool next tomine. She waited for me to talk.

I said, "You knew about Layla and Alexandra, didn't you?"

She hesitated, then said, "I suspected something."

"Hell, everybody suspected something, didn't they?"

"I don't think that everybody..."

"That fucking Coleridge poem. 'Her gentle limbs did she undress/And lay down in her loveliness.' Shit."

"Well, yes."

"Right in front of my goddamn eyes. But I didn't see it. My maleego couldn't handle it."

"It's not a question of ego. It's a question of love. You loveAlexandra intensely." Diana paused, then added, "And she still lovesyou as much."

"Oh, you think that?"

"I know it. It's just that...she has the same quality of feelingfor Layla."

I smacked my bottle down on the counter. "But how? They justmet..."

"And how long did you and Alexandra know each other beforeyou..."

"She tried to kill Layla!" I shouted. I could be heard over therock music and other voices. Everybody turned to look in mydirection.

Diana touched my hand. "And why?" she said softly in my ear. "Whatmade her react so strongly?"

A truth managed to push itself into my drunken consciousness. Iplaced my elbows on the bar and held my head in my hands. The otherseventually turned away from me.

"Tell me what happened tonight," Diana said. Even though her voicewas gentle, I could hear the cold curiosity of the profiler. I didn'tmind, though. At that moment her analytical skills felt like the onlything I could grasp for safety.

So I told her about the Masquerade. After I was done with mystory, Diana took a few moments to think. I could sense her shiftingthis new information in her mind and forming it into a clearpicture.

"Jacob," she said, "you have to understand something -- you andLayla are a lot alike. You are both people with strong wills and aneed for justice. But you are also different."

"Yeah, I can pee standing up."

"That's not what I mean."

I looked at her. Diana's expression seemed odd to me, and itwasn't just the drink. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"If you understand that, then you'll understand what it means toeveryone."

I shook my head. I felt like my brain was bouncing in my skull."Diana, what are you..."

"Let's go back to the Tunnels."

"I..."

"Let's go back to the Tunnels."

Dan made a good choice in calling for her. I couldn't say no toMiss Bennett. She aided my wobbly ass out of Knucklebones and alongthe streets. As we headed to the Tunnels, I slurred, "We have aspy."

"What?"

"In the Tunnels. Bradbury has a spy."

Diana paused, then said, "Are you sure?"

"Got it from an impitch...impreacha...got it from a goodsource."

"Well...I'll tell Father."

"You do that."

She eventually guided my staggering body back to the Tunnels. Aswe walked through Below in our weird Siamese twin act, we passed byRobert. Judging from his dirty overalls and the hammer in his hand,he had just gotten back from a late-night building job.

With a frown he said, "Is he drunk?"

"Yes," Diana said.

Robert shook his head. "Disgraceful. When is he going to..."

"Shut up, Robert."

I have rarely heard Diana get snappish like that. Robert lookedstunned. As for me, I had to smile. Because, y'know, I had gottensick of Robert's disapproval. Yes, I fucked up two months ago. Buthow long was I supposed to be judged for that? Didn't I try to makeamends? Hadn't I been willing to give up my life and my freedom forthe sake of protecting Robert, his son, everybody in the tunnels?Piss off, Robert. Go hammer something. If Layla could forgiveme...

Layla.

I pulled away from Diana so I could vomit against a tunnel wall.As she patted my back, I cursed myself for going to Knucklebones withMouse and Jamie. But how was I supposed to know that I had met arival for Alexandra's heart? What kind of world was this when asimple decision could make your life so complicated? Goddamn destiny.Goddamn dyke bitches...

I finished puking. Diana practically carried me over the finalsteps to my chambers. She lowered me to my bed and pushed my legsonto the mattress. I looked up at her and said --

"Why couldn't I have met someone like you? Or Catherine?"

"Because you met Alexandra. Now go to sleep."

My body assented before my mind did. Past the darkness of myclosed eyes I could hear Diana walk to the doorway. She paused therebefore walking away from my chambers.

Images of Layla and Alexandra flashed in my drifting mind.Alexandra attacking Layla, then dancing with her. Alexandra jumpingupon me in lust, then showing no awareness of me. Layla holding aknife on me. The two of them stopping on a street...

Then the tower of 817 5th Avenue blocked my view of them. I couldsee Edward looking down upon me from the very top of the building. Isaw him sitting at a curved table with the Nobles. I heard thelaughter of a defeated foe.

Voices echoed through the Tunnels. I remembered strange littlecomments, odd phrases, words carrying a meaning that I hadn't fullycomprehended. For one brief moment I saw a larger truth.

I looked away from the truth, immediately forgetting what it was.I was convinced that I had already learned everything I had toknow.

But I hadn't. Revelations hid themselves from me and waited topounce.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I had been stabbed two months ago. Waking up after that had beenless difficult than waking up with a hangover. I started to open myeyes, but I remembered the things that had started me drinking. Plus,my brain didn't feel completely functional yet.

So I decided to go back to sleep, but then some force -- myconscience or my body or both -- shoved me back toward the world. Fora long time, I was pushed back and forth. I eventually decided toside with the morning and opened my eyes.

She was sitting on a chair before my bed. Her face was exposed. Sowere her scaly hands. She looked at me with sympathy.

I spent a minute just lying on the bed and looking back at her.Then I said in a rough voice --

"What do you want, Alexandra? What do you really want?"

She took a breath, then said "That is a question I've been askingmyself since I met you. Or perhaps the question was there all along,and I'm just finally paying attention to it."

I groaned and rubbed my eyes. "Enough with the riddles..."

"Very well. You want to know if I choose you or Layla as alover."

I uncovered my eyes.

"It's not a question of choice for me," Layla said. "I love youboth equally. I need both of you equally. I want to share my worldwith both of you."

"Ah. I see."

"Do you?"

"Yeah. You're a real modern New York gal. You should have been onSex and the City."

"I am a child of my times. And I am a child of the past, and ofthe future." Alexandra held out a hand. Even though the rest of herbody was still, her hand trembled. "The world is converging on me. Imust either take control..." She clenched her hand, then slowlyopened it. "...or allow myself to be washed away."

She lowered her hand to her lap. "I need someone at my side, nomatter what I choose. I need a person whom I love and trust." Shepaused, then said, "I need two people."

"What about my needs? Should I have to share you with someoneelse?"

"I may ask you to do more than that, Jacob."

She left the chair and slowly settled onto the bed with me. I wastempted to push her away, but I couldn't move. Just as with a commonsnake, I didn't dare look away from her face. Only this snake hadcome with love instead of venom. And her skin was warm instead ofcold.

I kept my arms to myself, but she curled her arms around the backof my neck. I could feel her breasts through her blouse and againstmy chest.

"What did you think of last night?" she asked.

"Why do you care?" My voice was soft. I couldn't sound bitter."You acted like I wasn't there."

"You weren't. You were so removed from what the event representedthat you could have been in another city."

"And what did it represent?"

"Power. You don't want it."

"Everybody wants power."

"No. Not you. When my father offered you Crown's position, you hadto be forced into accepting it."

"That wasn't power. I would have just been your father'slackey."

"A lackey of my father would still be more powerful than therulers of many nations."

"Maybe. I just don't...Alexandra, what are you getting at?"

"What if I could make you truly powerful? Not as a lackey, but asthe advisor to a queen?"

Of all the Alexandras I had met in the past few days, this was theone who startled me the most. When I first saw her, she was a girlhiding in the darkness of a club. Now my weakened brain was trying toaccept the possibility that she could be so much more. I raisedmyself on my elbow. She kept her hands on my neck.

"What is going on in the Tower?" I asked. "What are you doingthere?"

"I told you that the High Tower could become the true ruling bodyof the world. All it would need is a push in that direction. I'mgoing to push it."

I fell back to the mattress, my face now level with Alexandra'sgentle expression. "You...you're going to..."

"Everything is in place. I only have to give the word, and theTower will change from a shelter to a government."

"A secret government."

"Yes. For awhile."

I remembered the words of the Billionaire. "You've got some of theNobles on your side, don't you?"

"The ones I need. The ones who will accept the change. The oneswho have secretly desired it."

"And what happens to the ones who don't?"

"The world will no more miss them than Masilela."

I rolled onto my back and looked up at the ceiling. I was silentfor a few moments, then asked, "How long have you been planningthis?"

"Since September 11, 2001. I could have used my father's power tostop that attack...and so much else. I decided that I would take thatpower for myself. Slowly and carefully I devised a plan that couldchange the Tower. My gift showed me which strings I could pull andwhich people I could use. The question is -- could I do what wasnecessary for the plan?"

"You mean, could you kill?"

"I didn't know that -- not until Crown."

I looked toward her. I could see traces of regret in her face, butonly traces.

"So I was just an excuse."

"Of course not. I truly wanted to protect you. I also knew that Iwould need you."

I cleared my throat. "To hold your hand while you take over theworld."

"I have allies in the Tower...but no companion. No one who willcare for me, no one who will stay at my side for my own sake. Youwere my only choice."

"Until now..."

Alexandra closed her eyes. "Yes."

"Tell me -- in your vision of Layla killing me, what else did yousee?"

"I saw...me standing next to her. I have my hands wrapped aroundher hands as she points a gun at you. I'm not trying to stop her. I'mhelping her aim."

"That's why..." I paused a few seconds. "...you went crazy. Youweren't mad at Layla. You were mad at yourself."

"It's a shocking thing to know you could kill somebody that youlove."

"Yeah. It is."

She opened her eyes. She reached down and lightly grasped one ofmy hands. She carried my limp hand up to her own neck and laid itthere.

"You could kill me right now," she said.

"I don't want to live in a world controlled by the Tower."

"I know. When I first came to the Tunnels, I hoped that I mightlearn otherwise."

I smiled slightly. "You came here to pick my brain."

She pressed my fingers tighter against her neck. Her pulsethrobbed under my touch. "I have no desire to be a lonely queen," shesaid.

"But you don't need me for companionship anymore. You haveLayla."

"She is a lot like you, Jacob. The one difference is -- she cangladly accept power. She wants it."

"So I'm out of the picture."

"No. Even if you don't help me hold the reins of power, I stillneed you."

"For what? To stand around and look pretty? To listen to youread..."

Alexandra grabbed me by the shirt and yanked me closer to her. Inher eyes were two equally intense emotions of fury anddesperation.

"I need you," she hissed. "I will always need you." It was theangriest declaration of love I had ever heard. I could only stareback at her with my mouth gaping.

She gradually relaxed her grip and softened her face. "And," shesighed, "I will always need Layla as well. If I choose not to takeover the Tower, I hope she will stay with me."

"You mean...you haven't decided?"

"Layla has balanced the two sides for me. I can no longer usepersonal reasons to make a choice. I have to ask, 'Will the world bebetter if I choose to take control?'" She raised a hand to silence myresponse. "I know how you feel, Jacob. I know how Layla feels. Now Imust think on the question."

So there it was. I had found out Alexandra's secret. I finallyknew what she was planning. Layla and I had affected her as much aswe could. Now all we could do was stand back and see what...

I sat up quickly. "Shit!"

"What is it?"

"Your father knows about Layla. The Tower knows..."

She placed her fingers on my mouth. "Shhhh. It's all right. Yes,my father knows about Layla. In fact, she's with him right now."

"Eh?"

"No one will harm her. Not as long as she's with me."

"But what about you? What if the Nobles -- the Nobles not on yourside -- what if they find out what you're considering?"

"They likely know already. But they wouldn't dare to make a moveagainst me. They would know that I have planned for everything."

"Would they really?"

She looked straight at me. Her red eyes were hard. "I've alreadymade it clear. Even in death, I could bring them down."

I had no doubt about it, so the Nobles wouldn't have doubted it,either. "What about your father?" I asked. "Which side is he on?"

The hardness turned to sadness. "My father is a man of tradition.He would keep the High Tower as it has been for centuries."

"He's told me that he has been tempted to do otherwise."

"Tempted, yes. But never enough. And he never will be."

"So, if you go ahead with your coup..."

"He will live -- only powerless. He is, after all, my father."

"Yeah," I said slowly. "He is."

Alexandra sat up in bed so that our faces were even. "I once askedif you saw me as a monster," she said. "Now I'm asking that questionagain."

"I think...that you have a way of looking at the world fardifferent than mine or anyone else's. I think that you are thestrangest person I have ever met." I hesitated, then added, "I'm alsostill very much in love with you."

"So you won't kill me?"

"Christ, Alexandra..."

She touched my cheek. "This is why I need you -- to tell me thatI'm not a monster."

I took her hand and kissed her palm. Then I reached out and cuppedone of her breasts. She sucked in her breath and held it for as longas I touched her.

I eventually lowered my hand. Touching her there was a strangegesture on my part, but it also felt like the right thing to do.Alexandra seemed to agree.

She released her breath and said, "Let's go see my father."

"Okay."

We left the bed and my chambers. As we headed for the exit,Alexandra began to cover her face once more. Dwellers watched us aswe passed. They gave no greetings. They showed none of the goodspirit with which they had first greeted Alexandra. There was nowfear in her eyes. It wasn't just the after-effects of her poetryreading. They knew that something had changed about her. Her stridehad none of the caution of before. She walked like she expectedpeople to get out of her way.

One person didn't. He was waiting for us at the exit. By the timewe reached there, Alexandra's face was hidden again.

She walked up to the large figure in her path. I stood a few stepsbehind them.

"Where are you going?" my father asked.

"To where I live," she replied.

"I see."

The two beasts looked at each other. One was slender, one wasimmense. One looked down at the world from a height of power, theother from below in the catacombs.

Alexandra touched my father's arm. "I will not harm you, Jacob, oranyone in the Tunnels."

"What we promise...and what we actually do...are often differentthings."

"So, we should never make promises?"

"We should know our hearts, and the consequences of ouractions."

"I know both of those."

"Then you have achieved more wisdom than most people do in alifetime."

Father turned and pulled a lever. The wall moved to one side.Alexandra stared at him through her black glasses, then moved throughthe entrance. I followed her.

Alexandra looked back at Father. His face was unreadable as heclosed the entrance.