Part 51 (1/2)
”Wait,” Prime said. He turned to Corrundrum. ”We can get you home, if you help us. That is what you want, isn't it?”
Corrundrum's forehead broke with sweat. He stared at Prime. Finally he said, ”I hate this f.u.c.king universe! The food is c.r.a.p! The entertainment is only TV! They have diseases! It's-”
”So you'll help us?”
”What do you want?”
”Just information.”
Corrundrum chuckled. ”There are rules, you know.”
”You talked enough before.”
”I didn't know you were a f.u.c.king native!”
”So?”
”The vig kill people who talk.”
”Why?”
Corrundrum looked at him with wild eyes. ”You won't get it. You won't ever get it. You're just a fixture.” He waved his hand. ”You're a set piece. A G.o.dd.a.m.n coffee table.”
”You're talking like this is entertainment,” John said.
Corrundrum laughed. ”It's worse than that, for those of us who know.”
”Visgrath? Charboric?” John said. ”Ever hear of them?”
”Sound like Vandals.”
”Spray paint?” John asked, confused.
”Capital V. V.”
”Huh?”
”Goths. In the Yankee Doodle universes, the Goths sacked Rome and then a few years later Clovis sacked the Goths. Yay, Europe. Yay, America. You think it's great, but only because it's all you know. When the Goths win, even less great. Goth universes are some totalitarian places. In 2119, they got hold of some transfer technology. Tried to spread their way of life across a couple dozen universes. They were crushed. Some got away. This was a few decades ago. Sounds like you ran into some of the meaner ones.”
”Visigoths,” John said, shaking his head. ”They're Visigoths.”
”The descendents of Germanic tribes that defeated Rome,” Corrundrum said. ”But if anyone asks, I didn't tell you that. Oh, screw it. Did you run up against some Goths?”
”I guess so.”
”Do they know you have a transfer device?”
”Yes.”
”Well, how'd they let you get away?”
”I ran.”
”To him for help?” Corrundrum nodded at Prime.
”Who can you trust, if not yourself?”
Corrundrum snorted.
”What do they want?” John asked. ”What can I give them if I negotiate?”
”Restore the Alarian Empire. Do you have twelve universes to spare?”
”We have the device, don't we?”
”That's what you think.”
”What can I do?”
”Run away. Leave them alone. You have a device. Go somewhere else they aren't. Far away. Take me with you.”
”I can't.”
”Why not?”
”They have my friends.”
Corrundrum looked at John solemnly. ”Hopefully they weren't singletons.”
”You're an a.s.s,” John said. ”Let's go.” He stood.
Corrundrum stood up too. ”Hold on; hold on. We can reach an arrangement where I get out of here, right?”
”How can you help us?” Prime asked.
”I'm no fighter,” Corrundrum said. ”But I know more of what you're fighting against than anyone. I'm a strategic a.s.set. You've gotta take me with you.”
”I don't think the device can take that many.”
”Of course it can. It's a Mark Three? A Four?”
”How would I know?”
”Show him,” Prime said.
John wasn't sure if they should.
”Go ahead. What do secrets matter now?” Prime added.