‘You’ll never get in there.’
‘I already have a way. I trust you, Lestak. I don’t think you’re a part of all this. You can’t go after them yourself, they’d probably just kill you. Just watch Kingdom, watch him close. I’m going to give you a chance to break him and I want you to take it.’
‘You’re mad, Jack. Nobody can topple the gods.’
Jack thought of dead snowflakes.
‘I’ve killed angels by the score. It’s not a big step up.’
[ We’re getting some Pantheon interest,] Fist warned. [ It’s Kingdom.]
‘I’m going now,’ said Jack. ‘Goodbye, Lestak. Don’t let me down.’ She was about to say something, and then she was a statue again. ‘How close did he get to us, Fist?’
‘He knew we were there. Wouldn’t have known who we were, what we were saying.’
‘Good. Now for Ifor.’
The mind shimmered into being before them. ‘Jack,’ he began. ‘Well. You have been causing me all sorts of trouble. We talked of discretion? That flash mob has posted your image all over the weave. It has become a fashion to imitate your dress, and now every single one of your groupies pretends to adore the Totality. We cannot move for Forster fans mobbing us.’
‘I’m sorry, Ifor. I didn’t know that East would play it that way.’
‘It is difficult for us. Our negotiations with your Pantheon have reached a delicate stage.’
‘Kingdom blocking you?’
‘No, he’s been surprisingly conciliatory.’
‘That’s his public stance.’ Jack quickly explained the situation. ‘I’m going to move against Yamata and then Kingdom. You’re in negotiation so you can’t be seen to do it. Lestak’s hamstrung.’
‘Where are you now?’
‘Close to them both. That’s all you need to know. I’m going to get proof of their crimes and share it with the world.’
‘If you are captured or exposed without that proof, we will deny all knowledge of you.’
‘Wanker,’ said Fist.
Ifor chuckled. ‘Realpolitik, my friend. But perhaps that is too sweeping. If I can help you out of trouble, I will. Call for me, little puppet, and I will do my best to come.’
‘You’re still a wanker.’
Jack patted Fist’s helmet. ‘Always the charmer,’ he said. ‘But we’ve got to be going. Spread the word, Ifor: it’s Kingdom. He’s been running Yamata, and we think she’s behind the terrorist attacks.’
‘Spread the word? Now that I know, we all know.’
‘And I’ve got a favour to ask. Something personal.’
‘What do you want us to do?’
‘What we’re about to do – well, it’s risky. If we don’t make it back, could you go to my parents, and tell them about the last few days – about everything we’ve found out?’
‘I will, Jack.’
‘My father doesn’t like the Totality.’
‘We’ll find a way of reaching him. And we’ll talk to your mother.’
‘You’ll need his permission for that.’
‘Perhaps.’
When Ifor had gone, Fist turned to Jack. ‘Now for Heaven and Mr Stabs!’
‘There’s one more thing. Remember we talked about Andrea?’
‘Ah, yes. I could have done with a bit more time. But this should do the trick.’
Fist put his hand out and a little feather appeared. It glowed with shifting colours and patterns. Jack took it from him. Its barbs brushed against themselves, glitching out soft musical notes.
‘Why a feather?’ asked Jack.
‘To unclip her wings. Once she’s installed it, nobody will be able to roll her back, or send her back to the Coffin Drives if she doesn’t want to go. She’ll be free, just like you wanted.’
‘Very poetic.’
There was paper in Jack’s hand. He remembered the notes he’d exchanged with Andrea, such a short time ago. So much had changed since then.
‘I understand everything now,’ he wrote, ‘and I’m going to try and find a resolution. I’m so glad I found you again. I hope the feather helps you fly. Oh, and Harry lied to us both about what he is.’ Jack summarised what Harry had told them in the garden, then simply ended with: ‘I love you.’ An envelope appeared. He addressed it, tucked the feather into it and carefully sealed it.
‘Consequences, Jack,’ warned Fist. ‘If the Pantheon ever trace that back to us we’re in big trouble. Almost as bad as killing one of them. It rewrites some pretty basic fetch code.’
‘Will they?’
‘I’ve been very careful. It’s locked to Andrea only. If it’s just running on her, it’ll be pretty much invisible. And I’ve dropped in some camouflage for her. She’ll be able to make it look like she’s been rolled back or sent down. If she’s careful, nobody will ever find her out.’
‘Good,’ said Jack. ‘Send.’ A flash of light and it was done. ‘Now we’re ready to go.’
Fist let the garden fall away. Once again they stood outside Homelands, shaded by a pillar of Heaven. ‘Well,’ he said, looking up at it, ‘time for an ascension. All security’s in place, and you’re going to love what I’ve done with our beasts. No more panthers.’
He clapped his gloved hands together. Ghosts of animals flitted into being, barely visible against the dark. Jack looked for different shapes, different sizes; for lions and tigers and bears. But they were all the same kind of creature.
There were sharp heads like wedges, dark pointed ears pricking up, lean and muscular bodies made to run and catch and bring down prey. Their skin was pitch-black. Eyes and mouths flamed in the darkness. Burning spit dropped away from tongues of fire. Flames danced around them, a basic fact of their being, scudding across their bodies, dancing down legs, burning out in footprint trails behind them. They milled around sniffing at each other, welcoming themselves into existence.
‘Dogs,’ breathed Jack.
‘Not just dogs – hounds. Man’s best friend,’ replied Fist proudly. ‘Nothing to be scared of. Unless it’s you they’re hunting. They’re a pack, they’ll take commands.’
Jack snapped: ‘To me!’ The pack’s response was immediate. Seven heads snapped towards him. Seven pairs of burning eyes met his, all attention, all engagement. They jostled closer, flame tongues lolling in open mouths. A wave of heat rolled across him.
‘I’ve been burned,’ said Fist, ‘and so they burn. My weakness is my strength!’
‘Back away,’ ordered Jack. ‘Walk around us.’
The dogs pulled back and resumed their prowling. Their footfalls sparked fire, creating a soft circle of flame.
‘Now I know what we’re up against, I’ve tweaked their defences,’ Fist explained. ‘Totalityware won’t touch them.’
‘Excellent,’ smiled Jack. ‘Let’s go.’
He leapt up and squeezed a little propellant out. All of a sudden he was flying in space, his shadow hounds leaping with him through the darkness.
For a long time afterwards he would remember that moment as one of perfection; blazing through night, certain in purpose, ready to unleash his vengeance on Heaven. He wondered if he should have Fist twine him in fire too, a rebel returned to break the rule of his makers. Perhaps he should fly on great burning wings.
He let a little more air squirt out, correcting a drift out of the pillar’s shadow. He thought of the sun. It at once nourished humanity and was completely unaware of it. Here was a god he could worship, he realised, one that gave unstintingly without demanding anything in return. He wondered what it would mean to enter a state of such disinterested grace, to bless without possibility of control or reward. In his mind, the sun roared.
That imagined sound made him realise that his pack was silent. [Let me hear you,] he thought. Pants and growls burst across him. One dog howled and one by one the others joined it. Each shifted in and out of phase with the others, harsh dissonances and subtle harmonies rising and filling in the night. As the hounds roared for their master, fire fell backwards from their gaping mouths, fading into the night. Burning feet found firm purchase in nothing. They were closing in on Heaven. Soon they would storm its gates.