Part 105 (2/2)

”Wife, wife, our Sacred Way forbids-”

”Do you want to lose?

If we cannot take him suddenly, before the game's end, the aircraft with their Milieu armaments will come at us from all directions! Will we have the skill to fend them off-and cope with Aiken Drum at the same time? Call up the offensive!”

Sharn did as he was told.

In the middle of the Rainbow Bridge, Aiken felt the psychic tension begin to mount, perceived the terrible coherence of the Foe-mind gathering back on the Field of Gold.

He said to his people: Slonshal to Us! It was a grand game after all.

Then he saw the two black armoured forms materializing inside his mental bubble, side by side on the deck of the bridge.

From the righthand CE rig came Marc Remillard, s.h.i.+mmering through the impermeable cerametal as though it were the insubstantial projection of a Tri-D. The other suit of armour abruptly split open and the blind helm lifted to show that it was empty.

”Hurry!” Marc told him. ”Get inside. The coverall isn't necessary and your own armour will fit within the sh.e.l.l. I'll not oppose them directly, but I'm willing to show you how to use the cerebroenergetic enhancer yourself. There will be pain. Pay no attention. Now hurry!”

Without thinking, Aiken dived for the gaping lefthand rig.

Marc's simulacrum had vanished back inside the other. As the body halves closed over him, Aiken levitated to keep his head above the neck seal. Something deep inside the armour stabbed him on both sides of the groin. He felt his legs growing cold, his entire body numbing, disappearing ...

It's only the femoral circulatory shunt and the start of the refrigeration. Are you keeping your protective bubble up?

Yes. Aagh! It hit my jugular!

Carotid arteries. The primary shunt. Here comes the helmet.

Don't panic. Have your people holdfast as best they can. You'll be out of it for the next few seconds.

Descending darkness. Clang! Liquid rising, filling mouth, nose. I'll drown! I won't ... I'm cold, not breathing.

G.o.d-no-lasers drilling my skull-my mind sees the crown of needles plunge into the helpless brain, sprout filaments, hurt me as the energies pour in-Marc make it stopOstopOstopOG.o.dmakeitstop no no ... ??? Jesus.

Can you see now? Fa.r.s.ense?

Yes. O yes. YES!

Find the enemy executive. Your fa.r.s.enses will stay in peripheral mode. As normal. You're power-phased only for psychocreative metafunction. Now quickly-this is the way to augment the faculty with the enhancer. Let me monitor ... merde alors you are a strong little b.u.g.g.e.r aren't you? Christ they're winding up to strike!

Have you the fix on Shorn and Ayfa? Hurry for the love of G.o.d Aiken hit them hit them now forgetmetaconcertBoyhitthem yourselfyourownpowerhithitHe did.

Oh, it was so good. He hit, and the Foe burned. The encroaching Night was thrust back by the intensity of the fire.

Was the game over? Had the horn blown? Was the sun down?

He didn't know. The Rainbow Bridge seemed to be tumbling down, and golden onion domes and lacy spires. He was aware of minds fleeing and minds dying and minds whirling like sparks in a hurricane all around the central fire of the s.h.i.+ning One.

<script>