“It’s just possible that I might be able to get more out of him than you can.”

“How—if you, or her, truly have no relationship with him?”

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that. You’ll have to trust me.”

“We don’t trust you. We don’t know you. Still …”

The officers consulted with each other, then Detective Isi said, “You can ride back with us to the station if you agree to share anything you get from the assailant. First, ma’am, a few more questions ...”

Chapter 2

Twenty minutes later Avery, Hildra and Janx rode in the back of the small, cramped police car as it meandered through the streets of Ethali, capital of The Azadi Republic, also known as Azad or Azad’nis but usually just called the Azads. The police station was located not far from the coast on the northwest side of the island, and from the high points of the city Avery could see a pleasant beach in that direction with many bathers and swimmers in evidence.

“I do believe that’s a topless beach,” Janx said, and, after squinting, Avery agreed. In fact, it looked as if the beach-goers wore as little clothing as they could, some going entirely nude. All were infected, of course, as non-infected wouldn’t risk the waters, but many showed only rudimentary mutations, not the full-body alterations Layanna’s attackers had, and were tanned and copper-skinned and handsome, splashing in the crackling surf as the sun sank in a glory of brass on the horizon. For a moment Avery longed to join them. It occurred to him that now, as a mutant, he could enjoy a frolic on an ocean beach for the first time in his life, despite living most of it near the sea. Of course, there was always the chance of further infection, but if he popped a pollution pill or two that would be minor.

Not all the islanders looked relaxed, though. More than one family could be seen carrying bags and hoisting backpacks, waiting for buses that went to the docks or simply walking. Few owned automobiles in the Azads, but there were many bicycles, more than Avery had ever seen before. Detective Isi constantly honked and swerved around them.

She drew to a halt at the crowded, busy, garishly-colored station, and after checking Avery, Hildra and Janx in at the front desk the two detectives led them back through the busy station to the cells in the rear. In one dark chamber, a lone shape huddled against the blue-painted concrete wall, and Avery noted the bandages that wrapped arm and jaw.

“I’ll serve as translator,” Detective Isi said.

“I speak some Azadi,” Janx said. “We’ll make do.”

“I’m not leaving you here alone with him.”

“Then there’s no point to us having come,” Avery said. “He won’t speak with you around. You can just take us back.”

She paused. “If you get any useful information ...”

“We’ll share, of course.”

The detectives vanished, and Avery returned his attention to the shape in the cell. “I’m a friend of the woman you attacked today,” he said, and Janx translated.

The prisoner had been sulkily staring at a lizard (mutated and finned) tracking its way across the blue wall, but now he looked up. He said nothing, but Avery could tell that he was listening.

“I just have a few questions,” Avery said, and waited for Janx to translate. “First, did a priest tell you to kill the woman—the goddess—Layanna?”

The man remained mute.

“Are you a member of an order devoted to the R’loth—you might think of them as the gods of the sea?”

Janx translated, seeming to stumble over a few words, but the prisoner appeared to understand the gist of it, as he lifted his chin and gave a short reply.

“Yeah, he says they serve the ‘Great Ones’,” Janx said.

Avery nodded. “And they told you to kill Layanna?”

The man spoke, and Janx, looking wryly amused, translated: “`She is evil and must die for the good of all’.”

“Finally, some sense,” Hildra said.

“Will your people strike again?” Avery asked.

“‘If there is time. Even now we should be hastening away, but we remain, sacrificing ourselves, to do what must be done if we can.’” The prisoner said this in a breathless, fervid rush, and Janx related it grimly.

“I guess that’s a yes,” Hildra added.

The response brought Avery to what he really wanted to know, the reason he had come here.

Slowly, he said, “Why would there be no time?”

“‘The wrath of the Great Ones is upon us.’”

With a look to Janx and Hildra, Avery framed his next words carefully: “By that do you mean the force of destruction that leveled the other islands? Is it coming here?”

The prisoner stared at him with fervor, eyes shining. “‘This island will be next. The Judgment could arrive at any time. I’m surprised it’s not already here.’”

Avery blinked.

“I think—” he started, speaking almost at the same time as Janx, who was saying, “We should tell Captain Greggory to ready the ship.”

“He have what supplies he needs?” Hildra said.

“Aye, he’s got enough.”

“Then let’s fuck on out of here.”

At the front desk they asked for the detectives who had brought them to the station, and after some impatient minutes the male officer emerged.

“What did you get out of him?”

“He says to flee the island,” Avery said. “It is coming.”

The detective’s mouth twisted. “Many are already fleeing. It’s our job to keep order among those that stay.”

Like the cultists, Avery thought. Sacrificing your lives for the greater good.

“Is that it?” the detective asked, and when Avery confirmed that it was, the detective said, “You’ll have to call a taxi if you want to return to the hospital any time soon. We’re busy. With people afraid the Thing is coming, chaos is beginning to break out.”

The receptionist allowed Avery to use the phone, and they waited half an hour in the lobby for a taxi to show up. It never did, but Avery, Hildra and Janx were bemused by a parade of local criminals and lawmen coming and going from the establishment.

“We should call the taxi again,” Avery said.

The ground rocked beneath his feet.