‘Yeah? So what about her?’ Des pointed at Eleanor. ‘I don’t ~( see no card.’ ‘She’s with me.’ p ‘No shit?’ ‘Des, the man has our card, that makes him one of us.’ The new voice was deep, it didn’t seem loud, but it carried to everyone. Authoritative, Eleanor decided. The Trinities were suddenly still and attentive. There was a hint of irritati in the voice, which she was very grateful wasn’t directed at
When she looked round she saw a tall black man picking his way over the cracked concrete footings of a stillborn MINDSTAR RISING 193 employment workshop. She thought he looked about the same age as Greg, moved the same way too, dangerous grace. Most of his two-metre frame was muscle. He was wearing combat fatigues, clean, with knife-edge creases, a blue beret sporting a single silver star; she recognized it as an old-style British Army regimental insignia. Greg’s memory cores at the chalet were full of military trivia like that. ‘Shit, yeah, Father. But-‘ Des began. ‘But nothing! Man with a card is one of us, always. We don’t all dress like crap. You got that?’ Des’s head lolled about like a moody nodding doll. ‘Sure, OK, Father. I just didn’t want to take no chances, y’know?’ The tension had evaporated from the other Trinities. Some of them grinned publicly at Des’s squirming, led by Suzi. ‘I know, boy. Now, is it going to happen again?’ ‘No, sir.’ ‘I don’t hear you so good.’ The big man’s eyes flashed round the circle of Trinities. ‘No, sir!’ they yelled gleefully. ‘Dismissed,’ he barked. Suzy flipped Greg a jaunty wave as the troop filtered away over the barren artificial moonscape. Greg and the black man were bearhugging each other. •Muscles slackened all over Eleanor’s body in one convulsive shiver, she hadn’t been aware how tightly wired she’d become. So many weapons, and not even Greg could’ve protected them if that animal Des had got it into his mind to shoot. Mucklands Wood was like nothing she’d heard of before, undiluted anarchy. The cold flush pricking her skin wouldn’t abate now until she was back in the safe sanity of the Duo, heading out. Greg and his friend released each other, both smiling broadly. ‘Man, you’ve been AWOL a long time.’ ‘That’s the way it goes.’ Greg shrugged. ‘I can’t afford to be seen with the likes of you nowadays, I’m a respectable professional now, legitimate.’ ‘Legitjma~e, shit. Soft, that’s what.’ ‘Yeah. Teddy, meet Eleanor. Mate of mine.’ Teddy’s smile got wider as he swept her with an appraising 194 PETER F. HAMILTON
gaze, then he pulled his beret off in a gesture of hopeles gallantry. ‘Christ, officers always did steal the best of every thing.’ He offered his hand, and drew her knuckles to his lips The ultimate stamp of approval. It cleared the air marvellously ‘Bit jumpy, aren’t they?’ Greg said as the three of walked towards the nearest tower. ‘Yeah, sorry about that,’ Teddy growled. ‘We had us chunk of extra-parliamentary action against some Party hac two days back. Couple of my troops got hit. They’re keeping alert. Can’t blame ’em for that.’ ‘You expecting some retaliation?’ Greg asked. Teddy shrugged. ‘Dunno. The war isn’t nearly over, C There are tens of thousands of card carriers out there. Sm well organized, and tough with it. They’ll do it to us all again if we let ’em.’ ‘Are the Blackshirts making any serious moves?’ ‘No bulishitting, Greg, they are screwing this city. Almosi as bad as we did. Trouble most nights, police are stretched to the limit. Inquisitors can’t seem to get on top of ’em, Black-shirts have got Walton sewn up tight and hard, nobody in, nobody out unless they say so. We sit and eyeball each other over the A15; and I keep pissing myself over what they’re cooking up in there. Son watches what he can, of course, but even he’s got limits. What I’d like is some Spiral-armed Mi-24s, go in and beach-head the place, flush the bastards out. Just like the good old days.’ ‘This isn’t the good old days, Teddy. We got rid of them, and they aren’t coming back. The Blackshirts are just a bunch of zombies, don’t know they’re dead yet.’ p ‘I know how to tell ’em.’ ‘How many of them are in there now?’ ‘Maybe two hundred regular Blackshirts, five if they calle in the hardliners they’ve got scattered about the county it’s the rest who give me sleepless nights. Half of ’em still work in city chambers. If they get their act together they could cause a lotta pain. This inflation is stirring people up, man, lotsa grumbling about the New Conservatives. And you bet they’ve got it all planned out, fucking Party always loved plans. I can’t fight that, Greg. That ain’t physical, man. Physical I MINDSTAR RISING 195 can handle. I gotta leave ’em to the New Conservative inquisitors. More fucking bureaucrats. I tell you, it plain drives me nuts.’ ‘People won’t fall for the PSP twice,’ Eleanor said. ‘They’re not that daft.’ Teddy smiled softly down at her. ‘Gal, I sure as shit hope you’re right. Cos it ain’t just here, every town in the country is the same. Party ain’t got the power no more, but that don’t mean they don’t want it again. Bad. But whichever way it tilts we’re ready for ’em, AKs loaded and Bibles to hand. You bet.’ ‘So how is Goldfinch, anyway?’ Greg asked.. Teddy rolled his eyes, sighing in despair. ‘Crazy as ever. Man, you should hear his sermons now. He’s overloading on the vengeance routine, hot for it he is, and slick with it. Keeps the kids in line but good, they know they’re fighting for what’s right. Time just floats on by when he’s in that pulpit. Even been getting civvies from Mucklands coming, too. You want to see him?’ ‘I’ll pass. It’s Royan I’m here for.’ ‘Thought so. See you’re loaded up with his rubbish.’ Two Trinities stood guard at the doors into the tower. They saluted smartly as Teddy walked by, never even giving Eleanor the eye. The hail belied the appearance of the building’s external decay, clean and tidy, if somewhat spartan. She thought she saw Greg wink at a tiny camera lens peekmg out of the top of the doorframe. ‘I won’t come up,’ said Teddy. ‘Your rap’s probably big hush anyway.’ ‘Not from you,’ Greg said. ‘Thanks, man. Anything you need the Trinities for?’ ‘It isn’t shaping up that way. But if it does.’ ‘We’re here, Greg, always here. Ain’t got no place else to go. You come in and say goodbye before you go.’ ‘Right.’ Teddy gave Eleanor another fast smile and disappeared into the old warden’s flat. She got a blink of maps and screens on the wall, heavy-duty communication gear on boxy desks, and an enormous colour print of Marilyn Monroe. The lift doors opened, and Eleanor leant heavily on the rear PETER F. HAMILTON wall. She let out a hefty relieved breath, and gave Greg a hard nare. ‘Perhaps you were right about me not coming,’ she said. ‘Hey, I apologize about Des, I didn’t know that was going to happen.’ He punched for the top floor, and the lift began to hum upwards. ‘Maybe you didn’t, but I should’ve. This estate, it saps hope, breeds people like that.’ ‘You’re wrong there. Mucklands Wood is one of the safest places to live in Peterborough.’ She snorted disbelief. ‘Straight up. Providing you’re a resident. The Trinities don’t tolerate theft and violence against their own.’ ‘Vigilantes.’ ‘Call them what you like. Just don’t forget those troops are the ones who stood against the PSP’s Constables when the violence was at its worst.’ ‘I’m sorry, Greg. I didn’t mean to knock them, I see how. deep your involvement goes. And I am glad I came. When my nerves calm down I’ll be able to express it better.’ ‘Tell you, you did all right out there. Lot of people would’ve