Station, стр. 57
"I'm looking for Ego Rounds."
"And what do you want with Ego Rounds."
"To talk. Just to talk. I have a question toask."
She looked up to Cal and addressed him. "Who is thisfool, Cal? Why do you accompany him? Who is he to Mister Rott?"
Cal shrugged. "He's the new resident. He want'srevenge. Father said help him get it."
"Revenge?" Back to Hadder. "Revenge for what,Setter?"
"A friend of mine was killed by a Riser who snuckover the Skirt. I want to find this Riser."
"No one from our clique would cross the Skirt,"stated Kamaria. "We have enough to deal with on this side of theborder. To go poking around in the Setting? Tempt the wrath ofRott? Not us."
"Fair enough," replied Hadder, "But maybe Ego wouldknow of who I seek. Could point me in the right direction."
Hadder could see the wheels turning in Kamaria'smind. Head down, she began to think out loud. "New resident.Seeking revenge in the Rising. Rott sending a Caesar guard. Is thisthe start of the Fall?" Kamaria's head snapped up to stare darklyat Hadder. "Who are you?"
"Marlin Hadder."
"But what are you?"
"Just a man who has a name that needs alocation."
"No. I think you're much more than that. And I thinkthat the fact that you don't know what you are is the only reasonthat you're alive right now. I'll permit you to speak withEgo."
Kamaria then moved like lightning. One moment shewas standing several feet from Hadder, the next she was jammed upagainst him, her long, sharpened metal nails pressed against histhroat hard enough to draw blood. Cal and Otho reached for theirweapons but left their hands on the pommels without drawing them.Everyone stood frozen.
"Just know," Kamaria whispered in Hadder's ear, "ifthis is some trick to harm Ego, I will kill you. All the Caesars inforce wouldn't be enough to keep my nails from your heart. Knowthis."
"I understand," said Hadder, his voice strainingagainst the pain in his neck.
Kamaria slowly lowered her nails and yelled over hershoulder. "Open the gates! Tell Ego he has visitors!" The metalgate slid open on her command, wide enough to accommodate the largetrio walking shoulder to shoulder. "A word of advice. Ego issmarter than you. Speak only truths. He doesn't tolerate liars orfools. You've proven yourself a fool already by coming here. Don'tmake it two for two. That math usually leads to your head on apike."
Hadder simply nodded and moved forward, torn betweenfearing Kamaria and wanting to kiss her.
Hadder and his entourage walked through thecourtyard surrounding Ego Rounds' command center, a Bar whose nameread Thug's Passion above its large golden doors. The yardwas much different than the landscape just outside its walls.Perfectly manicured grounds greeted the trio. Manikins could beseen carving shapes into hedges and planting those wondrous flowersthat were common in the Setting. A small stream ran around thebuilding, populated with iridescent golden coy that waited greedilynear the surface for food.
Hadder crossed a small bridge that traversed thestream and looked back in concern as the two behemoths followed,their weight making the poor bridge groan under strain. The goldendoors swung open at their approach, pulled from the inside by twomen wearing black jeans and matching black vests. Both men sharedan Elevation that caused Hadder to look twice - the back skulls ofthe men had been replaced by metal casings, making them look likerobots with human faces. After opening the doors, they moved to theside and waited at attention.
Hadder passed through and into a long common room.Tables were placed to the left and right, where Risers looked upfrom their meals to look at the new visitors. Despite the plethoraof furnishings and buzz of activity, the center of the room wasleft clear, lending Hadder and the Caesars an open path towards theback, where Ego Rounds could be found sitting on a golden throneplaced upon a raised platform.
Guards were stationed in front of the platform, longspears at the ready, and Hadder spotted additional protection tothe left and right, where women draped in leather fingered handcrossbows. Hadder halted his approach a safe distance from theplatform, not ready to invite violence from this imposing newcharacter.
And imposing was the word that immediately came tomind when Marlin Hadder looked upon Ego Rounds, a giant of a manwho, although not near the height of the Caesars, probably exceededtheir weight. Ego's girth reminded Hadder of the hippopotamus, thatmost dangerous of nature's creations whose enormous size hid layersof muscle and belied tremendous speed.
Ego lounged on his golden throne covered in plushpillows and animal skins. He wore loose black harem pants, blackhigh tops, and went without a shirt, showcasing his unbelievablegirth and a myriad of tattoos that were hard to make out againsthis black skin. Several gold dookie chains accented hisgolden-brown eyes that shone of light of their own, two bits ofcolor that stood out against Ego's black face and thick, darkbeard. Ego's hair was short and nicely shaped, with designs carvedinto it that had also been dyed gold.
As Hadder stared at the hulking man, his eyes fellto Ego's giant hands, where he noticed metal knuckles peering outfrom black skin. Hadder imagined that a blow from those Elevatedhands could fell a Caesar and would put a hole in Hadder'scomparably frail chest.
Two scantily clad women sat on either side of Ego,one petting his bare chest while the other peeled fruit with aknife. The knife seemed too at home in her hands, and Hadderunderstood that these two were not mere window dressing.
Hadder and Ego stared at each other for a longwhile, Hadder determined to allow the intimating man to speakfirst, which he eventually did. "I see you met Kamaria," Ego saidin a soft but powerful voice.
Seeing the confused look on Hadder's face, Egopointed a ringed finger at Hadder's throat. Hadder reached up andfelt the blood that he had forgotten to wipe off before entering."Impressive woman. I commend your tastes in sergeants."
Ego laughed. "If I had a hundred of her, this warwould be over