Station, стр. 18
"Took your time, didn't you, love," stated Jonnywithout any undertones of anger.
"A Baptism was needed."
"Ahh, lucky you," said Jonny through a bright smile,and again, Hadder detected no jealousy in his new friend.
"And anyway," said Reena, "look what I've broughtback."
"But by god, old chap, you do look incredible. Whocould have known what was hidden under all that dirt andcotton?"
"I did," answered Reena, proud of her handiwork.
"Well, of course. But I knew all along you were ingood hands, didn't I, Hadder? Come old boy, it's time to introduceyou to the city. Don't worry, I can already see the concern on yourface, no need to make a speech or open up the book of your life.This will merely save you a lot of time and confused looks laterthis Haela. Just trust me."
Jonny moved Hadder past the throngs that hadgathered on the mezzanine and towards the pearl-like railing thatprotected revelers from nasty falls. As Hadder made his way to thefront, his breath caught as he glimpsed the crowd that had gatheredbelow. Arm across his shoulders, Jonny joined Hadder and touched asmall indentation on the railing. His voice boomed acrossMorning's Echo, amplified by unseen speakers.
"Dear, dear residents, and friends. Silence for amoment, please." Jonny waited for a moment as the crowd quicklyquieted. "You all know me by now."
In unison, the entire bar shot back, "Jonny VV!"
"That's right! Your recognition honors me. But youdo not know this handsome gentleman to my left, for he is new toStation." Loud conversation rose up across the Bar, some excited,some worried. Jonny paused again, then continued. "Now, before youall start asking what this means, please note that Station did notsink into the desert. The drinks are still cool and effective."Jonny shot a smirk towards Hadder. "The showers are still hot andinviting. Nothing has changed. Except we have a new member of thefamily, a striking one at that! So, please, one and all, join me inwelcoming our newest resident and family member - Marlin Hadder!"Applause started slowly but picked up steam. Within seconds, theentire Bar was a theater after a Shakespearean play, pushing Hadderback with the volume and enthusiasm of its welcome. Jonny held hishand up, calming the crowd. "Now that you know Hadder here, pleasebe nice to him. We all know how wonderful but strange our fair citycan be. Help him adjust. Help him forget the Before. Help him liveagain!"
With that, Jonny took two drinks from a glumemanikin who had approached, handing one to Hadder. He lifted it tothe audience. "The Before is no more, we've all closed thatdoor. To Station, our home, where new dreams are born. Cheers!Cheers! And welcome!" With that, the audience exploded. Reena cameover and kissed Jonny on the cheek. Hadder stamped down the sickfeeling that briefly made an appearance in his stomach. Together,they embraced Hadder and moved him from the balcony. Those near onthe mezzanine came up to shake Hadder's hand and clap Jonny VV onthe back. As they paid their respects and spread back out, Hadderturned to face Jonny and Reena.
"What now?"
"Now, old chap? Well, now we party. Like onlyStation can."
Reena leaned back and belted out a scream ofexcitement, her Light Crown spinning faster than ever before.Although he didn't scream, Hadder's nerves began to shake inanticipation of what was to come, what sites he was to see in thisnew world on this first "night."
CHAPTER 7
The next hour passed in a blur of greetings, welcomes,and congratulations mixed with the occasional uncomfortable glanceor angry look, always from a face in the background that quicklyvanished into the throng. Hadder was ushered by Jonny VV and ReenaSong along the length of the mezzanine, hearing but failing toremember countless names. Faces melded together as did outfits,from the garish to the divine, all looking well-crafted.
Once the entirety of the mezzanine had beentraversed, the celebrated trio marched back down the stairs to meetan even more extensive collection of residents, each wanting toeither speak with or simply get a better look at Station's newestaddition. Even more so than on the floor above, sheer numbersoverwhelmed Hadder's ability to understand phrases shouted,comprehend questions asked, or later recall faces encountered.
Jonny and Reena tried to assist where possible, butsoon all they could offer were embarrassed smiles and shrugs thatsaid this is the cost of celebrity. As more and more facesentered the fray, Hadder's confusion and anxiety continued tomount. Everyone who approached was strangely attractive, just offthe pages of Vogue or GQ, many with facial accents that would havebeen hard to describe in words. Now and then, on the edge of sight,Hadder thought he spied more extreme anomalies. Did that woman'seyelashes curl over her bald head? Did that man have two colorfulbirds holding up both sides of a long mustache? Could he reallyhave seen a third eye on that individual who drifted in from thecrowd?
Just as Hadder began to fear that he would beoverrun with attention, that his only escape would be to curl up inthe fetal position on Morning Echo's clean floors, he wasrescued by the piercing shrill of a whistle coming from the Bar'sfront doors. In unison, the congregation halted its carousing andturned to face the whistleblower. Standing in Morning Echo'sopening doorway, the small man looked to have come directly fromthe mind of a steampunk author. He wore a heavily embroidered whitetrench coat, expertly fitted with a swallowtail cut, over a frillyblack shirt with black slacks and knee-high black boots. His eyesseemed overlarge for his head, and stood out even more due to theirgray hue, looking like two raging storms above a placid tannedface. Slicked back gray hair under a black top hat completed thelook.
Once he knew he had the attention of the audience,the small man took the long silver whistle from between his pursedlips with