Station, стр. 69

Hadder. Congratulations on your successfuljourney East. I must say, I'm a hard man to impress, but you'vedone just that. In a short time, you've run through the CelebrationCluster, made a home here in The Royal Jelly, met both EgoRounds and The Krown, won a contest in the Meat Show, and made itout of the Rising alive. You've been in Station less than allothers but have accomplished more than most everyone else. I wasright to bring you aboard."

By now, Hadder had shaken the few remaining cobwebsof sleep, had moved to sit on the edge of the bed to face AlbanyRott. "And why did you bring me aboard, Mister Rott? Ego Rounds andThe Krown seem to think I am here to unbalance things, expeditesome inevitability."

"And what do you think, Marlin Hadder?"

"I think I don't like being the pawn in some largergame."

"Tsk-tsk, Marlin Hadder. Larger game? Yes. But pawn?Oh, no, my dear boy. You are much, much more than a mere pawn. Youare an essential piece. Not the king, obviously, that would be moi.But you are what dictates the game. The decisions you make willdetermine the future of Station."

"But why? This is your city. The future is yourresponsibility."

Rott stood, began to pace the room. "I'm a creator,Marlin Hadder, the greatest creator. But that's what I do, Icreate. I create, and I observe. I'm as excited as anyone as to howthis will all turn out."

"Everyone's terrified, not excited."

Rott shrugged. "Same chemistry involved."

A thought struck Hadder. He narrowed his eyes atRott. "If you really don't care about any of this, then why notopen the doors? Allow those who want to leave to do so?"

"Impossible."

"Why?"

"There are larger rules at work, those far beyondyour limited comprehension. No one can leave the city."

"What about Viktor Krill?"

Albany Rott stopped his pacing. "My biggest mistake.My only real mistake. If I were a fisherman, he'd be the one thatgot away. I underestimated that evil little man. I never thoughtsomeone could decipher the code."

Hadder was at a loss. "What code."

"Why the code of the human body, of course. To itscredit, humanity figured out some time ago that it fully utilizes asmall percentage of its brainpower. What it never figured out,however, is that this inefficiency also applies to the humanbody."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, dear boy, that that old body that you walkaround in is a super-powered machine with restrictors installedthroughout it. Somehow, Viktor Krill learned how to remove thoserestrictors. He discovered the code."

"Isn't that what Elevations are?"

Rott snorted derisively. "Elevations. Simple ways tospruce up your jalopy. Lipstick on a pig. No, I'm talking aboutabilities at the foundational level, real superhero shit." Rott'sred eyes brightened as he spoke. "The stuff of gods."

"Like the Caesars."

Rott waved his finger in the air. "No, no. TheCaesars are a completely separate construct. They are what you see,killing machines given simple, direct tasks. Viktor Krill issomething much more sinister."

"And where is Viktor Krill? They say he lives. Thathe's out wreaking havoc on the world as we speak."

"He lives. But he'll be dealt with." Rott sat backdown, thought a moment before continuing. "This is more than I'vetold anyone in forever, you know. For some reason, I feelcomfortable speaking with you, Marlin Hadder. And that is an oddfeeling for me."

"Why is that, do you think?"

"That. That, right there. You're inquisitive. You'reriddled with anxiety but still do what needs to be done, ask whatneeds to be asked. You have compassion and kindness, but all ofthis resides under a blanket of barely controlled Rage, a Rage thatis willing to do unspeakable acts. Tell me, how did Skeelis's headlook on that pole?"

"Better. Much better."

Rott laughed, a strange sound from the powerful man."Oh, but how I like you, Marlin Hadder!"

"If you like me, Mister Rott, then tell me thetruth. Why do you tell me all this? Is it because you know I won'tlive long enough to do anything with this knowledge? Everyonespeaks of the Fall. Is it inevitable?"

Rott's blood eyes tore into Hadder, reading hissoul. "You want the truth, Marlin Hadder? I'll give it to you. Idon't know why I divulge my secrets to you. I feel a strangecompulsion to share with you. And for someone like myself, whocontrols so much, compulsion is a novel feeling that I wish tofeed. Is the Fall real? Is the Fall inevitable? Much of thatdepends on the players involved. Much of that depends on you,Marlin Hadder."

And with that, Albany Rott rose, bringing an end tothe conversation. "Get some more sleep, Marlin Hadder. UnlikeViktor Krill, you haven't unlocked anything in that weak body."

"Tell me one more thing, Mister Rott. How do youknow of this hidden code in the human body? What makes you such anexpert on us?"

"An expert? Oh, you think so little of me, MarlinHadder. I am much more than an expert. I am the warm handthat touched the soft, cold clay, making something fromnothing."

As he finished his sentence, the room went dim, thendark, complete blackness enveloping Hadder. As quickly as it cameon, it lifted, and Albany Rott was gone, leaving Marlin Hadder withdisturbing thoughts and complicated truths.

After tossing and turning for the better part of theSolay, Hadder finally gave up on getting any sort of restful sleep.He showered, obtained new clothes from a lemma manikin, ate a smallmeal, and headed out to find Lilly Sistine.

He first stopped at Cranesman, where Glen satat his usual seat at the bar. Glen offered Hadder a slap on theshoulder and a smile as he sat down, tantamount to a raucous screamfor the reserved Key. "Good to have you back, Hadder. All wentwell, I assume."

Hadder motioned for a beer from the manikin behindthe bar. "As well as any trip to the Rising can go, I guess. Headstill on my shoulders and all that."

"Which is more than we can say for the Riser thatkilled Reena Song."

The manikin delivered the beer, and Hadder drankdeeply. "Word travels fast, I see."

Glen smoothed his beard. "Well, when someone mountsa head on a pike in front the Celebration Cluster's most popularBar before knocking out said Bar's proprietor who is also anoriginal Key, word tends to move