The seven of them, in their snug-fitting coveralls and white sneakers, were led along more corridors and past more prying vid cameras. Ryan had tucked his scarf carefully into the neck of the coverall so that it didn’t show.
“Them fucking blasters can sting you,” Finnegan whispered, raising his sleeve to reveal a nasty burn, like a red zigzag , across his forearm. “Just tried to keep a fucking blade behind, and one of ’em saw it. Said it was a warning and next time’d be for keeps.”
“That the worst they can set them on?” J.B. asked.
“No. Looked at that dial on the butt. Bastard had it set at two. Scale goes up to twenty.”
As they continued walking, Ryan got the impression that the building rambled over a vast area beneath the surface of Crater Lake. It was decidedly functional in design, with raw concrete, weeping a little from the damp, lining all the walls.
“Stop here,” the sec leader commanded suddenly.
Ryan noticed another body scanner was built into the trim doorway ahead. He reached up casually and tucked his hands inside his coveralls, as if they were chilly, then grabbed the metal weights at each end of the silk scarf and folded his fingers around them, hoping that it might just be enough to mask them from the detectors.
“Induction will follow food. Through this door is non-sec area. Go in peace.” There was a pause. “And have a nice day.”
None of the guards followed them through. The door swung gently shut behind them, and they stood, gasping, finding themselves in a totally different world from the harsh cubism of the concrete. Here there were pastel wall hangings and soft carpets of nonstatic acrylics. Music played from concealed speakers in gentle swaying cadences that lacked any distinctive tune.
The lighting was muted, with pink and cream shades over the naked bulbs. Several doors, all closed, were covered in teak veneer. And the voice that came floating to their ears was totally different from the artificial speech of the mutie guards.
It lisped softly. “Welcome, outworlders, to Wizard Island. Induction will follow shortly after you have been fed in the eatery in room 18 to your left. For now, welcome from everyone here on Wizard island. All of your questions will be answered just as we hope you will cooperate with our own interrogation.”
Ryan wasn’t sure he liked the sound of the word “interrogation.” He’d been interrogated before and had never found it much of a pleasure. It was always associated in his mind with broken fingernails, drilled teeth and electric terminals attached to genitals.
“Come on,” Finnegan said, attracted by the sound of the words “fed in the eatery.” He moved briskly along, checking the numbers of the rooms. Doc and Lori followed, then J.B., while Jak walked with Ryan and Krysty at the rear.
“Don’t like it,” the boy hissed. “Bad taste. Bad air.”
“Seems fine,” Ryan said.
But Krysty disagreed. “No, lover. The kid’s right. If ever I met somewhere to take care, it’s here. Gives me the creeping.”
“Here’s eighteen!” Finn yelled.
“Enjoy your nourishment. Here on Wizard Island it is always the present. But we are also our own past. And we shall soon be the future.”
Ryan thought the voice sounded like an extremely reasonable and balanced lunatic.
Chapter Fifteen
KRYSTY WROTH PULLED A FACE, spit the first mouthful of food back on the cream plastic plate and dropped the cream plastic spoon alongside it.
“By Gaia!” She shook her head in disgust. “That’s the worst food I’ve ever tasted. Grade alpha mutie dreck. It’s” Words failed her, and she sat in silence, looking at the small pile of light brown goo that rested smugly in the center of the plate.
“It even looks like shit,” J.B. said, pushing his plate away from him.
Jak Lauren, on the other hand, savored the food. “Had worse. Ate a cottonmouth once. Been dead weeks. Melted in mouth. Like jelly. Bits like rice.” He paused as everyone waited for the explanation of the bits that seemed like rice. “Maggots,” he explained as he grinned and took another spoonful of the soft mix on his plate.