Темное, кривое зеркало. Том 3 : След на песке - Гэрет Уильямс

"You creep me out when you do that." She shivered. "Oh, don't look at me like that. One minute you're almost the Jeff I knew, and I can almost forget you've got that damned bone growing out of your skull, and then…. and then you switch personalities and creep me out. What has that stone garden got to do with anything anyway?"

"What do you see when you look at it?"

She shrugged. "Rocks. Sand. More sand. What am I supposed to see?"

"I see footsteps stretching out across the sand, running forever on into the distance. And I know that I'm following them, travelling a path that has already been travelled…. There's a man waiting for me at the end…. and he's me.

"Catherine, I remember things that I have not yet done. I can see my future…. your past. The Vorlons did that to me. They changed my appearance, my memories, took away almost everything that made me human…. leaving just enough so that I would be the Valen of history. They took you away from me. They took everything away from me.

"I have no choice but to follow this path. They made sure of that."

"You…. remember your future?"

"I know what is to happen. The histories record everything I said, and did, and all the mistakes I made…. mistakes I have to make again. Footsteps in the sand."

"Then you…. you know how you're going to die?"

He shivered and bowed his head, gripping the balcony rail tightly. "Don't ask me. I can never tell you. Never tell anyone."

"I don't know if you're Jeffrey or…. the other guy at the moment. I don't think I want to know. What are you going to do now?"

"Stay here. I have to. I don't think the Vorlons want me to go too far…."

He must stay here, until the time is right.

Catherine recoiled at the alien thoughts, but she said nothing. He did not seem to notice.

"Besides, if I head out into the galaxy, there's too much that could happen. The Minbari are…. falling apart at the moment. If I tried to help, I'd just make things worse. I know I would. Neither of the factions out there wants me, not really. But here…. I can help. There are some Minbari who…. remember what I'm meant to represent, and they're coming here. They're coming to safety and strengthening this place…. all at the same time.

"I have to stay here. But you, Catherine…. what are you going to do? I…. I would like you to stay."

"I don't know. I'd…. been told I would find you here, but I had no idea it would be like this. I…. I need to think. I'd like to see a bit more of this place."

"Of course. I'll give you a guided tour."

"I just hope that no one back home gets word of me hanging around with a Minbari."

He smiled, but it was a false smile. She looked at him, and wondered what thoughts were there, behind that so-alien face. For a brief moment equally alien thoughts flitted inside her mind — but only for a moment, and then they were gone, the Vorlon influence receding to her subconscious, content to wait. For the moment, at least.

Delenn stood still, looking out into space. All she could see were the human ships floating there. The same human ships that had destroyed Minbar.

"No," she muttered. "We destroyed Minbar. Our arrogance. Our sins. Us, not them."

She grimaced, placing her hands against her forehead. Her head was pounding. She had been concentrating on this for…. she did not know how long. A long time. It had been foolishness to imagine this would work, but she had to try. All communications signals were blocked. There was still no word from the Machine and she had accepted that something had happened to G'Kar. Sinoval had gone, and would in all likelihood not return even if he was aware of what was happening here. His loyalties lay elsewhere.

There was only John, and only one way to contact him.

She had never tried using her link with Lyta in this way before. Neither of them was sure how it worked or what it was capable of. Delenn knew only that it was a connection of some sort, and part of what had led to a wonderful friendship.

Lyta was with John. If only she could somehow…. get…. something…. through.

A warm wind seemed to be blowing into her mind, a rush of gold on blue. She fell to her knees, almost screaming. She had touched something all right. But what?

"Lyta? Lyta?"

Are you ready?

"Kosh…." The Vorlon who had placed a part of himself within her, the same part that was now within Lyta; the source of their connection.

A deal was made. My part in it is almost done. Remember what you saw.

"What I saw…? I don't…."

Remember.

She screamed as something seemed to explode in her mind. She fell forward to her knees, her hands clawing against the plastics, seemingly clawing against space itself.

"Delenn?" Lyta! At last! "Delenn…. what is happening? You're…. you're hurting me."

"We…. need you, Lyta. We…. we…. need you…."

"What is…?" Lyta was screaming. "Delenn…. What…?" Her voice was growing quieter, only her screams remaining. "What…?" It faded, and there was silence again.

Behind Delenn, standing in the doorway, were four human security officials. One of them activated a link. "Captain Smith. We have her, sir."

"All this…. and for what?"

Kozorr touched her arm gently and she winced from the pain. She felt very dizzy, but something kept her upright. Kats wondered what it could possibly be. By rights she should be unconscious by now.

"A warning. Look closer. All the damage was concentrated on the Administration building, the Government bases, military locations…. next to nothing on civilian targets."

Kats nodded, breathing out harshly. She should have seen that. "But who…?"

"That thing that attacked you. It mentioned…. someone called the Z'ondar?" She nodded again. "Do you think it meant Sonovar? Some sort of linguistic corruption perhaps? Sinoval and I have ben expecting something from Sonovar for a while, but…. nothing like this." He shook his head. "I just wish I knew who these aliens were."

"What…. now?"

"Now, my lady, I am taking you to a place where you can heal. There are survivors who have set up emergency hospitals. Then…. I'll try to take one of these aliens alive. Some of them are still here. I suppose I had better try to find out where Administrator Callen is, but that might be a low-priority assignment."

She chuckled, and then swayed, almost falling. He caught her awkwardly, his ruined hand unable to afford him proper leverage. "Too…. much…. blood…."

"Come on, Kats. There is somewhere not far. Just…. stay conscious. Talk to me…."

"About…. what…?"

"Anything." He took a few steps forward, holding her in as balanced a position as he could manage. "Your childhood. Your parents. Your…. Kats! Stay awake!"

"…. Trying…." She could see Kalain again, floating in front of her, above her, laughing, mocking her. Worker bitch. Murderer! Inferior. Hardly Minbari at all were the worker caste. Nothing more than animals, really. Valen might have raised them up, but that was all they were.

"Kats…." Kozorr's voice was fading, and everything around her seemed dark. "Kats…. my lady…. Stay awake…. my lady."

I love you.

Had he said those words, or had she only imagined them? She tried to think of something to say, but the words would not come out. She reached up for him, but could not move her arm. Darkness took her at last.

She moved as though swimming through treacle. Voices exploded in her mind — Delenn's voice, the Vorlon voices, Valen's words…. she could hear them all. But she knew what had to be done.

Somehow Lyta Alexander managed to reach the bridge of the Parmenion, although she could remember nothing of the journey. She was aware only of Delenn's plea for help, and then the solemn orders of the Vorlon that shared her soul.

"Miss Alexander!" started Captain Sheridan. "What is…?"

Everyone on the bridge was looking at her. Captain Sheridan, Commander Corwin, the third-in-command, Major Krantz, the tech ops. She tried to speak, but could not frame the words. The light was shining so brightly in her mind.

She wanted to scream.

And she did.

Her eyes became reflections of the Vorlon within her. Her mouth was wide open and light and beauty poured from it, from her, illuminating the room.

<Choose your destiny now. The avalanche has begun.>

"What is this?" asked Krantz, from seemingly a whole universe away. "Captain, what…?"

<Choose. The past depends on you.>

The light faded and Lyta, her scream voiced at last, fell to the floor. Sheridan was beside her instantly. "What's happened?" he asked.

"Delenn…. she…. got through to me…. somehow…. She's in trouble…. big trouble…."

"David, try and send a message to Babylon Four. See if you can find out what's going on there."

"Yes, Captain," came the reply. Corwin began barking orders to the technicians.

"Captain Sheridan, we have a duty to be at Sanctuary as soon as possible, do you remember?" Major Krantz again. Lyta found his surface thoughts screaming at her. He was worried about…. something. A conflict of interests. He was…. going to betray them.

"This might be important, Major."

Corwin turned around from the commpanels. "We can't get through to the station. Something's jamming all signals."

Sheridan rose to his feet. "Right, that's it. We're turning about and heading back to the station."

"Captain, you have your orders."

"Yes, I do, Major, and I'm ignoring them. David, how long is it likely to take us to get back?"

"Several hours. We're going to have to reset the navigation and reattach ourselves to the old jump gate beacon. We've still got it in memory, so it shouldn't be too hard."

"Good. Lyta, I'll call for the medics. You look like you need something."

"Nothing they can do for me." Her voice sounded dry, as if it were coming from a stranger. "The Vorlons are playing with me again. I'll…. stay here."

"If you think you can."

"Captain Sheridan! You have been ordered to make for Sanctuary."

"Yes, Major Krantz, and I told you I'm ignoring that order. Babylon Four is in trouble, and they need our help."

"You work for Bester, not G'Kar. Remember that!" Sheridan ignored him. In a fury, Krantz activated his link.

"Do you think we should inform Ben Zayn about this?" asked Corwin. "He might be able to help."

"He's more likely to try to fire on us. Something stinks here, David. This whole…. sudden order to leave was just too…. convenient. No, Bester knew about this, I'd bet anything on it."

"It does seem likely."

"Captain!" Lyta cried, falling to her knees in pain. "Sec…. security are…. They're…." The door to the bridge opened and a squad of Narn security officers entered.

"Ko'Dath," ordered Major Krantz. "Captain Sheridan and Commander Corwin are relieved of duty as of this moment. You are to escort them to the brig."

Ko'Dath made a gesture of feigned surprise, and looked at Sheridan. "Captain?"

Sheridan smiled. "Major Krantz isn't feeling too well, Ko'Dath. I think he needs a lie down in one of the holding cells. Take him there, will you?"

"Yes, Captain."

"Oh, and after that, ready your people as much as you can. I think we might need you when we get to Babylon Four."

"We're always ready, Captain."

"You can't do this, Sheridan! You…."

"I've already done it, Major." Sheridan turned his back as the Narn Bat Squad dragged the protesting Major Krantz away from the bridge. None of the technicians stirred as they did so.

"Well, we've done it now," said Corwin.

"Ah, I've been wanting to do that for a long time."

Lyta smiled through her pain.

"You know how to stop his pain, G'Kar. Just tell me."

The Narn coughed, laughter spluttering through his breath. "You…. still…. do not…. understand. The Machine can never be yours…. You…. do…. not…. are not…. ready…."

Donne looked at Ta'Lon. He was unconscious, blood staining his face and the front of his clothing. "Tu'Pari, you idiot! I told you to be careful with him. I don't want him dead."

"He isn't. At a rough guess, he made himself fall unconscious."

Donne was surprised. "You can do that?"

"It was an old trick taught amongst the Thenta Ma'Kur. A trick to protect us from awkward questions if we should be captured. These…. Rangers must have found out about it somehow."

"Ah. Annoying. Wake him up." Tu'Pari nodded.

"I will do what I can."

"And please put that thing away."

"Thing? Oh, this." He held up a red orb, thick blood dripping from it. Behind him, Garibaldi's friend was being very sick. "A trophy of conquest. And please…. lower your tone. I am not your slave, lady."

You will be whatever I tell you to be, came the thought, but she did not give voice to it. She needed Tu'Pari for the moment, and the humans were growing less and less willing to be here. Sooner or later she would have to kill them, but not until she had figured out how to access all the secrets of this Machine. With all its knowledge at her disposal, she would be able to hold off anything. Without it…. Ta'Lon had nearly defeated her just by himself. What if more like him came?

"This thing has some offensive capability. I know it does. But…." She smiled, alien thoughts buzzing through her mind. The Machine was responding to her. Words, thoughts…. images…. all there.

Weaponry, enough to protect this planet for a million years.

She laughed. "Well, G'Kar. You didn't tell me about all those long-range missiles this thing has hidden around. Who knows just how vast this Machine is?"

"I did…. but you do not…. you are not…." He coughed again. "You…. can…. not…."

"Oh yes, I can." She started, and then laughed again. "There's a jump point opening. A ship's arriving. I think I have some target practice. Tell me what I need to know, G'Kar, or I'll start filling the skies with as many of these missiles as I can. And I'll turn that precious station of yours into so much scrap metal.

"Well?"

Alone, off to the side, still comatose, thoughts began to race through Susan Ivanova's mind — guiding her, directing her, pushing her. The Keeper's soft words touched her, and sent thoughts into Donne's mind, manipulating her to the desired end.

Ivanova's eyes opened.

Londo looked out through the window of his transport, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sea beneath him. Unfortunately it was too dark, but he could imagine it there, proud and majestic, knowing nothing of his concerns or his problems.