Peter Hamilton - The Temporal Void

Edeard emerged in the centre of the courtyard at the base of the Culverit ziggurat. The city's senses had already revealed what he would find: a long row of bodies wrapped in white cloth. And Buate, dressed in the robes of a Haxpen District Master, supervising ge-monkeys and cowed tearful staff on how he wanted the corpses disposed.

Just for an instant, Edeard's fright lifted as he perceived Kristabel standing there. But as he began to race forwards, arms open wide to greet his love, Dinlay's soul cried: 'No, Edeard, she is gone like me.

And Kristabel turned towards him as he stumbled to a confused halt. Then he finally acknowledged she was gone, that he was farsighting her soul as it stood vigil over her body.

'I'm so sorry, she told him with a forlorn smile.

Edeard's whole body was trembling with shock and anger. He turned inexorably to face Buate who was slowly backing towards the mansion's main entrance. His guards were also edging away, none dared raise their weapons against the Waterwalker.

'I… I had no choice, a pale Buate cried. 'Owain ordered me to claim the Haxpen Mastership for myself. There was a fight. Many were killed on both sides.

'Who did this to you? Edeard whispered, the words barely coming out of his mouth.

'His men came at dawn three days ago. Homelt and our guards fought valiantly; but the guns, Edeard, they had these terrible guns. None could stand against them. They killed our guards; my cousins and the maids were raped, old and young, they spared no one as they made their way up the mansion. They forced their way on to the tenth floor. Daddy and I tried to hold them off, but they were too strong. Edeard… I jumped. I wasn't going to let them do that to me. All was lost. Daddy and I and Mirnatha held hands and jumped from the very top of the stairs. Did we do wrong?

'No, my love, you did no wrong. I should have been here to protect you. I am the one who failed.

'Daddy and Mirnatha have gone to the nebulas in search of the Heart, Edeard, they follow the songs. Mummy will be there waiting for them. I stayed. I knew you would come. I had to see you one last time before I go.

'What? Buate asked, his farsight was probing the courtyard, trying to discover who Edeard was talking to. 'Who is there?

'Who is there? Edeard repeated numbly. 'My wife is here. My friend is here. My mother and father are here.

Kristabel smiled at the souls of Edeard's parents. 'He is yours?

'He is, Edeard's mother said.

'I loved him so.

'We know. He never knew happiness or contentment like you.

'I see no one, a badly frightened Buate stammered.

'Permit me to show you, the Waterwalker told him.

Buate was lifted from the ground. His guards watched in dread as he began to shake violently in mid air. Then he flung his head back and howled; his mind flooding the courtyard with excruciating pain. Tiny blooms of blood appeared on his robes, swiftly progressing to rivulets that dribbled down to splatter on the courtyard. That was when the guards turned and ran. They had to go a long way before the screams no longer plagued their ears.

Eventually, Buate's soul looked down on his corpse as the Waterwalker dropped it to the ground.

'Do you see now? Edeard asked.

'You have lost, Buate said. 'This is all you can do now: kill. In doing that, in seizing power back in such a fashion, you become us.

Tears filled Edeard's eyes again as the soul slipped upwards. Buate had spoken the truth of it. There was nothing left for him. Owain and his kind had won. Killing them now would achieve nothing. The world was theirs. It wasn't one he wanted to live in.

Macsen and Kanseen drifted through the courtyard wall.

'Bijulee and Dybal are dead, Macsen said. 'Bise came back to Sampalok.

'Our baby is lost, Kanseen's soul declared, she was fainter than her husband. 'He may be in the Heart. I cannot stay. Not here. Not even for you, Edeard. I have to know if he's there. I have to know my son.

'I understand, Edeard told her.

'My friend, I must go with my wife, Macsen said.

'Of course you must, Edeard raised a hand in farewell. 'You will be the first of us to reach Odin's Sea. Keep watch for us. We will all join you there eventually.

'That will be the day we smile again.

Edeard watched them dwindle into the sky, then turned to the souls who remained. 'We have lost. I have lost. There is no one left but myself. His hand went down to the pistol holstered on his belt. 'I don't want to be alone.

'Salrana, Dinlay said. 'He said Salrana was still alive, that they would have her.

Edeard's head came up. 'Oh Lady. He sent his farsight flashing out towards Ysidro district, not daring to hope.

Ysidro's church had been pressed into use as a temporary hospital. Several rows of injured people were lying on makeshift beds in front of the Lady's statue. Three harassed, tired-looking doctors moved amongst them, doing what they could to treat the bullet wounds. Novices scurried round, helping the doctors with dressings, and offering comfort where they could. The church's Mother, a kindly grey-haired woman over halfway through her second century, moved through the clusters of parishioners who sat fearfully on the pews. She offered what blessings she could, but it was plain from her face she was as shocked and frightened as everyone else.

The church doors were shut. Fearful relatives of those who lay inside formed a defiant, protective line outside, waiting for the inevitable return of the militiamen or worse, the Weapons Guild guards who swaggered around the streets brandishing their lethal new guns. So far, the sanctity of the church held.

Edeard rose smoothly through the floor of the church. People gasped at his appearance. Except for Salrana, she let out a single piercing note of joy and ran to him. He scooped her up in his arms and hugged her tight.

'They said you were dead, she sobbed.

'No, he said. 'It's not that easy to kill me.

'Oh Edeard, the regiments shot people. There are men with awful guns, just like the ones at Ashwell, who say they were appointed by the Mayor himself.

'I know, he said, hugging her tight. Her Novice uniform was stained with blood, some of which was days old. 'Are you all right?

'Yes, she nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes. 'I'm sorry, Edeard, I'm sorry I didn't talk to you after—

'Hush, he said, and stroked her brow.

'I was so stupid. So stubborn. You're my friend.

'It's over now. Are you sure you're all right? Has anyone come looking for you?

'No. I've been helping the doctors. So many have died. Everyone is so worried the Mayor's men will return. Can you stop this?

Edeard bowed his head. 'I cannot. Anything I do now will only make this worse. I've endangered everyone in this church just by coming here. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Her fingers stroked his cheek. 'My darling Edeard, you did everything that's right.

'They've killed everyone I know, everyone I love. Except for you. And they'll come for you eventually.

She gasped. 'Your wife?

'Yes, he whispered through the pain. 'Kristabel is dead.

Salrana's head rested on his chest. 'This cannot be happening.

'But it has happened. I want you to come with me now.

'Edeard! She gave the injured a frantic look. The Mother was standing in front of the Lady's statue, a sympathetic expression on her face. 'They need my help.

'They will manage.

The Mother gave Salrana a brief nod of encouragement.

'But—

'Hold me tight, he instructed. 'This will be strange at first. But you have nothing to fear. I will be with you.

'Always?

'Yes, always. He gave Kristabel's soul a guilty glance, but she simply smiled in understanding.

Edeard and Salrana slid down through the floor of the church. He felt her tighten her grip upon him. Then they were standing in a small tunnel beneath the church, with water trickling past their feet. 'There is further to go, he told her, and they continued on their way down to emerge into one of the dazzlingly bright tunnels far below the city streets.