Mike Shevdon - The Road to Bedlam

"Perhaps it would be better if you retrieved your sample," said Carler.

Krane reached forward, took the plastic container and returned it to his coat.

Carler put as much conviction into his voice as he could muster. "We did not, and have not, sanctioned the development of a biological weapon to be used against the Feyre."

"That you know of," said Krane. "Nevertheless, one has been created."

"I can assure you that we had no knowledge of this."

"We have a treaty, Secretary Carler. The treaty was made long before you were born. Guillaume was both clever and capable, and when he sealed our bargain he got more than he hoped for. Since that time your kind have spread and become far more numerous than even we expected. Regardless, we gave our word and we will keep it-"

"That's good to hear-" began Carler.

"-as long as you keep your side of the bargain," said Krane.

"We have acted in good faith-"

"The hoarding of weapons against the Feyre is specifically prohibited in the treaty."

"Our understanding is that the research was for medical purposes."

"Nevertheless," Krane repeated, "a weapon was created. We are not so naive as to suppose that this-" He touched his jacket over the pocket where the vial rested "-is the only example of it, or that the research that created it was destroyed along with the facility."

"I can assure you that all the research associated with this project will be destroyed and that any records will be eliminated."

"Let us imagine for a moment," said Krane, "that through circumstances beyond your control this weapon was deployed. Let us imagine that it got out into the human population. The Gifted, those who share the bloodlines of both our races, would fall like blossom in a hailstorm. Our hope of renewal and strength would fail."

"That would be most unfortunate," agreed Carler.

"Under such circumstances, our treaty would be annulled, the purpose of the Seventh Court's exile would become moot and the peaceful coexistence that we have all worked so hard to preserve would be… unsustainable."

"I'm quite sure that would never happen," said Carler. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

Krane continued his quiet musing. "The lights in the sky over Porton Down might be a foretaste of what would follow… over London, Manchester, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol."

"You are talking about open warfare."

"Teoth believes that the weapon can be altered. He believes that, given encouragement, it would develop and grow. He thinks the sample can be used to create a weapon that would be effective against humanity. Do you remember the Black Death, Secretary Carler? Do you know of it?"

"The plague? I read about it."

"A dark time for humanity. During that time the human population diminished. Nature reasserted herself. Forests grew back, meadows flowered. It was a good time for the Feyre."

"Is that a threat, Lord Krane?"

"Teoth says that the serum would make a disease such as you have not known, enhanced to spread through power, seeded on the wind, flowing in the water, immune to fire or acid, lethal in hours but able to lie dormant in the earth for centuries to come… The Feyre would be immune to it, of course, though the Gifted would suffer along with humanity."

"Why would you create such a thing?"

"We would not. We did not create this abomination. You did. We would simply be turning it to our purpose."

"But the Gifted would die along with everyone else."

"Those that remained, yes. It would be a tragedy for all of us. Still, it is only speculation. We have a treaty, after all."

"I do not believe that these threats are helping us, Lord Krane."

"Threats? No, I am simply speculating on a chain of events arising as a consequence of activities of which you had no knowledge or oversight."

"Quite so," said Carler. There was a long pause. "What would the Seven Courts have us do, Lord Krane? What assurances do you require?"

"You cannot assure us of things of which you have no knowledge, and therefore any assurance is only as good as the oversight which supports it. It is a weakness, but I wanted you to be aware of the consequences, should that oversight fail us. It is in your interests, Secretary Carler, and the interests of humanity, to ensure that your oversight extends as far as needed. Beyond that we only require that you abide by the treaty to the fullest extent. We, in turn, will do the same."

"May that long continue to be the case," said Carler.

"Indeed so," said Krane.

Carler cleared his throat. "We continue to have a live situation in progress. We can deal with Porton Down and the inquiry. The helicopter crash is an unfortunate accident, a sad and regrettable loss of life. I'm sure that the inquiry will conclude that a combination of a failure in navigation systems and pilot error was to blame. The radiation will be harder to explain, but we will think of something."

"That sounds acceptable."

"In the meantime, several dangerous individuals have escaped the facility. Some of them are dangerously psychotic. None of them are harmless. We can't just ignore them."

"The Warders will take responsibility for the escapees. Garvin, I believe this falls to you."

"I have someone in mind for the job, my Lord," said Garvin. He looked meaningfully at me.

"It would be embarrassing for any of this to come into the public domain," said Carler.

"The Warders are the soul of discretion," smiled Krane.

There was a lull. Then Carler said, "If you would like us to dispose of the sample safely for you, Lord Krane, I'm sure that can be arranged."

"There is no need. Destruction of the sample is well within our capability. It will allow you to concentrate your efforts on making sure that the research developed at Porton Down is properly contained and the records disposed of in a suitable manner, for the benefit of us all."

"For the benefit of us all. Indeed."

Krane stood. "If that concludes our discussions, I will leave you to make the appropriate arrangements. I'm sure there is much to do."

"Certainly, of course." Carler looked relieved.

We turned to the doorway. Fellstamp opened the door and the dark-suited man ushered us out. As we exited the building, Tate was waiting for us, watched warily by the policemen. He leaned close to Garvin and spoke briefly.

Garvin nodded and then drew Krane aside for a moment. Krane looked up at Tate and then spoke briefly with Garvin in low tones. Garvin nodded. Fellstamp and Tate faded into the mist as they escorted Krane across the grass back to the Way-node, while Garvin and I lingered by the doorway. After a moment the first of the two dark-suited figures emerged.

Garvin addressed him. "We meet here in good faith."

"That's right." The accent was Scottish, the voice low and hoarse. He looked tired.

"By tradition, he who calls the meeting secures the ground. That would be your responsibility, would it?"

"Security, aye." He took a cigarette from a packet, lit it, dragged heavily on it and blew smoke out to merge with the mist.

"I assume the two snipers are yours, then?" asked Garvin.

"Two, you say?"

"Two. They are unharmed, but you might need a ladder."

"And why would I need a ladder?"

"To get them down from the trees." Garvin turned and walked away, and I followed.

As we walked into the mist, he called after us. "What if there were three snipers?"

Garvin continued walking without looking back. As we reached the Way-node, Tate materialised out of the fog.

"Security is suggesting that there are three snipers," Garvin said quietly to him.

"Nope," said Tate. "And their recording devices weren't very well hidden either."

He placed two tiny tape recorders in Garvin's open hand.

"Is that all of them?"