Mike Shevdon - The Road to Bedlam

"Unwitting?"

He threw his arms wide in a gesture of innocence. "I swear I did not know she would be part of what is done here. There was never any intention that she would become involved. She was brought here without my knowledge or approval and it was only after she was within the establishment that I discovered she was here."

"You? What would you be doing at Porton Down?"

"That I am not at liberty to divulge."

I turned to face him and poked him in the chest with my finger. "Oh no. You don't get out of it that easily. If you are involved, you can't just deny all knowledge and expect me to accept it."

"It is not my secret to tell." He looked down at my finger and it was my turn to remove it.

"But you know what's going on. Come on, Raffmir, what are you up to?"

He shrugged and turned to face the distant buildings.

I stepped into his line of sight, forcing him to look at me. "You've done something that caused my daughter to come to harm in direct contravention to the vow you made. Otherwise I would not be here. I think you'd better tell me what you've done. Either you explain it to me or I'm going for Garvin and the Warders."

"By the time you return she will be dead."

"And you knew that would be the case."

He sighed. "I suppose that one way or another it will be known tonight. By the time this night is over, what is done will be done."

I waited for an explanation.

"The Seventh Court have been funding research into a cure for the condition with which your daughter is afflicted."

"What do you mean, afflicted?"

"A way of reversing the effect of fey bloodlines, of returning those who have inherited fey abilities to a normal human life."

"It's not a disease, Raffmir."

"There are those who would disagree with you. Within this establishment there are a number of individuals who would gladly receive treatment if it would only reverse the changes visited upon them."

"And you have been funding this?"

"The Seventh Court has, through a network of foundations and trusts, yes."

"That's ridiculous. This is a defence establishment. Surely they check into the sources of their funding? Otherwise they could be infiltrated by spies or enemy agents."

"We are not spies, though, are we? And we are not foreign. The foundations of which we speak were established in this country hundreds of years ago and have been engaged in supporting research and building understanding for all of that time. There are no enemies here."

"But why would the Seventh Court get involved in human research?"

"Because if a treatment can be found then the mongrels can return to being human and the Feyre can return to being fey. The reason for our exile becomes a moot point. You have not lost anything and we have everything to gain."

"But you would be forcing this treatment on the half-breeds?"

"It is a humane alternative to culling. You would live as long as you were ever going to. It is a compromise."

"This is what Altair's been discussing with the High Court?"

"No. We hoped to, but unfortunately it doesn't work. I will not say that I understand the science but whatever they are doing has the effect of removing the ability to contain the power without quenching it."

"I don't understand."

"Nor I, but the effect is simple. Once the treatment is applied, the magic is unleashed and it consumes the subject. They have lost every patient they have tested. Your daughter is the next test subject and they are planning to run the test tonight."

"My daughter!"

"I have tried to delay it. I have done everything in my power, I assure you, but she is next on the list. They are very hopeful for the results. Unfortunately I remain pessimistic."

"This is barbaric! They can't do this on human subjects."

"They have consent from the patients and from the families. They can do it, and they already have."

"They don't have Alex's consent. How can they? She's a child."

"They don't need hers. They have yours."

Of course they did. I had signed the papers myself. It hit me, then, what they were doing. They were waiting until families were in the position that Katherine and I had been in at the hospital and then putting forms in front of them.

What was the phrase?

We will do everything in our power to save your daughter.

This was what they meant.

"I know what I consented to, and I didn't mean this."

"It makes no difference. They have all the permission they need."

"It's immoral. It's wrong."

"They believe they are helping them."

"They're killing them!"

"In pursuit of a cure. If they can make it work they believe they will save far more than they harm."

"You know that's never going to work. You know what being fey is like. Once the magic is active, it's there forever. You can't just send it back."

"They think they can."

"That's ridiculous."

"So is putting a man on the moon. They did that."

I turned away, speechless at the obscenity of it.

"There is not time for this, Dogstar. If we are to rescue your daughter, it must be now."

I turned back. "You did this, Raffmir. You're responsible."

"Did I not bring you here in time to set things right? I am doing everything in my power, but without you tonight's endeavour may fail with tragic consequences. I need your help."

"Then let's go."

"This facility has been constructed to contain those with fey abilities, mongrels who have lost control and are capable of murder and worse. It will not be easy to get inside."

"But you know a way?"

"Fortunately it has been constructed to stop fey getting out, not to prevent them getting in. It has its weaknesses, but once we begin we cannot stop. There are no friends here, Dogstar, and no innocents. Everyone involved knows what transpires here. Because it is night, the staff is much reduced, but the facility runs continuously – there will be people there."

"I'm ready."

"We will go to the roof. They are not expecting us. Their strength is limited and we have the advantage. Once inside we cannot afford for them to organise resistance. We will need to be ruthless."

"You shouldn't have a problem with that."

"It is not me I'm concerned about."

"I can do my bit."

"Your resolve must be firm if you want to see your daughter again."

The memory of what a few misguided men had done to the missing girls on the boat returned to me, but in a form that was distilled and cold. It left me feeling empty and full at the same time.

"I have seen what people do to each other, Raffmir. I don't need a lecture."

In my mind, though, I began to wonder whether I would be able to contain the anger again, if it was once released. Raffmir watched me. Whatever he saw, it was enough.

"Come then," he said. "It is time I took you to your daughter."

He stood close, pointing across the heath to the cluster of buildings. "The building we need is the one at the back there, near the road. That is Bethlem Wing."

"What did you say?"

"Bethlem Wing. That's what it's called. Why do you ask?"

Another piece fell in to place for me. Bethlem Wing, Porton Down. The initials on the B files were BWPD. That was what it meant. He was right, this was where they had taken her.

"Never mind. How do we get in?"

"As I showed you on the hill, that day, we must travel to the roof of the building. Once we are there, you must not draw power unless absolutely necessary. The alarms are set to detect changes in temperature, so if you draw power for any reason you will alert them to our presence. Use glamour alone until I give the word."

"OK. How do we get inside?"

"I have a way. Once we are in the building we must try and avoid raising the alarm for as long as possible. The longer we have before the alert goes out, the better chance we have of getting in, finding your daughter and getting out."