Zelazny, Roger - Novel 05 (27 page)

 
          
 
"He wants to know whether he can speak
with you now."

 
          
 
I shook my head. I lit a cigarette.

 
          
 
"Tell him that the wall is down on Wing
V, and that people are going outside. Tell him that you are going back to
provide a program for sheltering the exodus that is to come."

 
          
 
"I am?"

 
          
 
"You want to, don't you?"

 
          
 
"Yes, but—"

 
          
 
"You possess knowledge of the necessary
equipment? Of its fabrication and employment?"

 
          
 
"I think so."

 
          
 
"Then tell him about that, too."

 
          
 
I finished smoking. After a long while, I lit
another one.

 
          
 
"He wants to know what you think has been
learned from all this," she said finally.

 
          
 
"How the hell should I know?" I
said. "I am not even certain what I have learned myself, except that I now
appreciate what it feels like to have been assumed into the workings of a great
machine."

 
          
 
She spoke with him briefly, then said,
"He says he would like to hear your voice. He says he would like you to
say something to him. Anything."

 
          
 
I rose to my feet and stretched.

 
          
 
"Tell him the debt of honer is canceled
between us," I said. "Tell him you are sorry, but Mr. Negri is not
receiving any calls at this time. Then hang up."

 
          
 
She did this, and I accepted her arm once more
and allowed her to help me back out of the ruin. The sun was up and the clouds
were nearer. I thought we might be able to beat the rain. Then again, maybe
not, but what the hell.