Crucible Zero by Devon Monk Page B

experiment had been successful, I would never have known her.”
    â€œThe experiment was successful.” I shrugged. “I’m in here now.”
    He nodded. “Tell me how you know Slater.”
    I paused. Wondered if I should tell him everything.
    â€œHe was the head of House Orange in my . . . um . . . timeway.”
    â€œTimeway?”
    â€œThat’s what I think it’s called.”
    â€œIs this a timeway?”
    I nodded.
    â€œGo on.”
    â€œThe Houses were separate of the others, working for their own interests. Slater was human, not galvanized.”
    â€œAbraham said he’s galvanized.”
    â€œHe wasn’t born that way. But he is that way. Now.”
    My brother was smart; he could put the two and two together. “I did it, didn’t I?” he said. “I transferred his personality into a galvanized body.”
    â€œRobert’s body. Yes. Under the threat of death—mine and your own. Slater was here when I went back in time, his mind in Robert’s body, just like mine was in Evelyn’s. Slater was thrown back in time, just like I was thrown back in time. Or, rather, he was inside Robert’s mind and body, just like I was inside Evelyn’s mind and body, and we sort of woke up back in time. In them.”
    â€œAre you sure it was him? Slater?”
    I remembered the boy’s cold gaze as he held the gun on Abraham, intending to kill him and as many galvanized as he could find.
    â€œYes,” I said. “I’m sure it was Slater in Robert’s body.”
    I waited. Didn’t have to wait long.
    â€œHe remembers your time . . . timeway,” he said. “He remembers what I did in that timeway, what you did in that timeway. I take it we were not his friends?”
    â€œHe imprisoned you. He killed our parents. He murdered heads of Houses and killed galvanized. We were not friends.”
    â€œSo he knows I have a medical and stitching background. If one of my contacts mentioned my name, I could see how it might draw his attention. It makes a little more sense as to why he focused on me. I was very careful.”
    â€œTaking data from the Houses is illegal?”
    â€œVery. Which means I trusted the wrong people.”
    â€œSomeone in House Brown—shoot. Earth—betrayed you?”
    â€œI think so.”
    â€œHow much of the plague cure have you manufactured?” I asked.
    â€œOnly one dose. I have the formula. I think it’s right. But I haven’t had a chance to test it.”
    â€œDo you have the supplies to make more?”
    â€œNo. But House Earth should.”
    â€œWhat will it take to make the cure available to all the Houses?”
    â€œI’d need to partner with House Earth. Pool resources, medical equipment, staff.”
    â€œI suppose whoever has the cure could gain a lot of power in this world,” I said.
    â€œI wasn’t doing it for power.”
    â€œI know.” I wasn’t thinking about Quinten trying to rule. I was thinking about Slater. “But Slater wants power. He always has. He wants to rule the Houses, rule the world. And he knows as long as I’m alive, I’m not going to let that happen. Do you know anyone in House Earth you trust to help manufacture the cure?”
    â€œI think so. But from my previous judgment?” He held up the paper. “I don’t know.”
    â€œWell, it’s a risk we have to take, isn’t it? Putting the cure for the plague in Slater’s hand won’t do anyone any good.”
    â€œHe could claim it as his own, deliver it to the masses as if he were their savior,” Quinten said.
    â€œNo. He doesn’t save people. He breaks them and forces them to serve him. If he allowed the cure to be released, it would be given only to the people whom he decided deserved it. And he loves no one except himself.”
    â€œWhich rules out House Earth and all of House