know what I mean.’
‘I know what you mean.’ Another too-charming smile. ‘But of course they could have killed him. They’re the most likely suspects. Imagine having a tyrant who was really yourself. You hate them but can’t bring yourself to leave, because you can’t cope with strangers. So rather than change yourself, so they can no longer tyrannise you, you kill the tyrant.’
‘What about Brother Perry?’ I asked.
‘Ah, Brother Perry. How can I explain Brother Perry?’
‘You don’t have to. I met Brother Perry earlier this year.’
‘Then you’ll know that he is no loss, won’t you? A disgusting little man. And I don’t say that just because he hated werewolves. Besides, he didn’t hate all of us. Last time he was here I thought Rusty would go for his jugular, the way he was sniffing after young Jen.’
I must have started at her words.
‘I used “go for his jugular” in a metaphorical sense,’ added Eleanor dryly. ‘Rusty would never do anything of the kind. Just a little dogsbreath and teeth in his face, and a suggestion that if he valued his testicles he’d stay at home next time a gathering was held up here.’
I nodded. Given that the last time I had seen Brother Perry, he was trying to rape an unconscious girl, Rusty’s reaction seemed quite restrained. ‘So, who are we looking for then? Someone public-spirited?’
‘A vigilante with a taste for blood? Perhaps. Youknow,’ Eleanor’s dark eyes met mine again, ‘we have something in common, you and I.’
‘You mean Michael?’ I spoke without thinking.
‘Well, that too. But something else as well.’
‘Our modifications?’
She nodded. ‘Yes. But not just the fact that we are modified—or that we’re both barred from the City. The main thing you and I have in common is that our modifications frighten the City because they instinctively realise we are superior to them. They are frightened of our ability.’
I shrugged. Suddenly she didn’t seem to be flattering me at all, or trying to ingratiate herself by showing that we were sisters under our skin, but perfectly sincere. ‘The reason they’re frightened doesn’t really change our situation, does it?’
‘Perhaps not.’ Eleanor was silent for a moment. ‘That’s what I have dedicated my life to, you see,’ she said. ‘Showing the City that it needs me. Needs people like my family, like you. People who are different. That wolf genes make us more able, not less. It’s what you should be fighting for too.’
I didn’t answer. She must have read something in my expression though, because she said more gently. ‘The City needs you too. Why do you think Michael has asked you to do this? Not just as a favour to me. He asked you because he realises you can be useful to him. In three years, five at the most, you’ll be like me…employed by the City, but not part of it. Unless you prove yourself so indispensable that if you threaten to withdraw your services they will have to— have to —give in to you.’
‘You mean you intend to blackmail them into letting your family live in the City? They’ll never do that!’
She smiled. It was a close-lipped smile. I wondered if she had practised smiling so those too-wide teeth didn’t show. ‘No, I’m realistic. There is no point being ambitious if it’s an unrealisable ambition. My immediate aim is simply to be allowed into the City in person on a permanent visa—a precedent, if you like—and one or two of my children to be allowed to use their Virtual nets to study there. Sound possible?’
‘Perhaps,’ I said. The more I thought about it the more possible it seemed. ‘I was let in on a temporary visa last year.’
Eleanor answered, ‘I know.’
And, I thought, the presence of modified students—even if their presence was only Virtual—would get the other students in their course used to working with the modified. I was sure Eleanor would choose the courses well too. Her children would be studying
‘I know what you mean.’ Another too-charming smile. ‘But of course they could have killed him. They’re the most likely suspects. Imagine having a tyrant who was really yourself. You hate them but can’t bring yourself to leave, because you can’t cope with strangers. So rather than change yourself, so they can no longer tyrannise you, you kill the tyrant.’
‘What about Brother Perry?’ I asked.
‘Ah, Brother Perry. How can I explain Brother Perry?’
‘You don’t have to. I met Brother Perry earlier this year.’
‘Then you’ll know that he is no loss, won’t you? A disgusting little man. And I don’t say that just because he hated werewolves. Besides, he didn’t hate all of us. Last time he was here I thought Rusty would go for his jugular, the way he was sniffing after young Jen.’
I must have started at her words.
‘I used “go for his jugular” in a metaphorical sense,’ added Eleanor dryly. ‘Rusty would never do anything of the kind. Just a little dogsbreath and teeth in his face, and a suggestion that if he valued his testicles he’d stay at home next time a gathering was held up here.’
I nodded. Given that the last time I had seen Brother Perry, he was trying to rape an unconscious girl, Rusty’s reaction seemed quite restrained. ‘So, who are we looking for then? Someone public-spirited?’
‘A vigilante with a taste for blood? Perhaps. Youknow,’ Eleanor’s dark eyes met mine again, ‘we have something in common, you and I.’
‘You mean Michael?’ I spoke without thinking.
‘Well, that too. But something else as well.’
‘Our modifications?’
She nodded. ‘Yes. But not just the fact that we are modified—or that we’re both barred from the City. The main thing you and I have in common is that our modifications frighten the City because they instinctively realise we are superior to them. They are frightened of our ability.’
I shrugged. Suddenly she didn’t seem to be flattering me at all, or trying to ingratiate herself by showing that we were sisters under our skin, but perfectly sincere. ‘The reason they’re frightened doesn’t really change our situation, does it?’
‘Perhaps not.’ Eleanor was silent for a moment. ‘That’s what I have dedicated my life to, you see,’ she said. ‘Showing the City that it needs me. Needs people like my family, like you. People who are different. That wolf genes make us more able, not less. It’s what you should be fighting for too.’
I didn’t answer. She must have read something in my expression though, because she said more gently. ‘The City needs you too. Why do you think Michael has asked you to do this? Not just as a favour to me. He asked you because he realises you can be useful to him. In three years, five at the most, you’ll be like me…employed by the City, but not part of it. Unless you prove yourself so indispensable that if you threaten to withdraw your services they will have to— have to —give in to you.’
‘You mean you intend to blackmail them into letting your family live in the City? They’ll never do that!’
She smiled. It was a close-lipped smile. I wondered if she had practised smiling so those too-wide teeth didn’t show. ‘No, I’m realistic. There is no point being ambitious if it’s an unrealisable ambition. My immediate aim is simply to be allowed into the City in person on a permanent visa—a precedent, if you like—and one or two of my children to be allowed to use their Virtual nets to study there. Sound possible?’
‘Perhaps,’ I said. The more I thought about it the more possible it seemed. ‘I was let in on a temporary visa last year.’
Eleanor answered, ‘I know.’
And, I thought, the presence of modified students—even if their presence was only Virtual—would get the other students in their course used to working with the modified. I was sure Eleanor would choose the courses well too. Her children would be studying
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