robert Charrette - Arthur 02 - A King Beneath the Mountain by Robert N. Charrette Page B
Authors: Robert N. Charrette
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reasons for wanting access to the sleepers. "For the propaganda value, or do you have something else in mind?"
"We do this for the world's sake. The threat we're facing—"
"Is largely undefined," Spae pointed out. Everyone felt certain that the sleepers were being woken to face a great peril, and so the Department collected every sleeper they could locate. The problem was that no one—including the sleepers— knew what peril they were supposed to face.
"All the more reason to find this sleeper. If he is Arthur—"
"Which remains to be proved," Dagastino insisted.
"Holger Kun will corroborate that he is the real Artos," Spae said.
"Even were he a reliable judge, Agent Kun is in no condition to corroborate anything."
Spae turned to face Dagastino's disembodied voice. Where was Kun, anyway? Why wasn't he here? For that matter, why hadn't he been at any of these sessions? "What do you mean, in no condition?"
"He's had a breakdown," Gere answered.
Spae was aghast. "A what? He's a damned bullyboy. Bullyboys don't have nervous breakdowns."
"The trip to the otherworld—-"
"Or whatever actually happened," Dagastino cut in.
"—unsettled him," Gere finished.
That wasn't surprising; she'd been unsettled herself. Kun hated magic and magical things, but he dealt with them, and dealt with them well—because he was a complete professional. She admired him for that. A breakdown? "He was fine the last time I saw him." Before her first interrogation. Before his as well?
"Mr. Kun is in good hands, Doctor," Magnus assured her. That was something she'd like to know for herself, but rather than making an issue of it now, she let Magnus continue. "Mr. Kun is not why we are here. You are, Doctor. Or rather, the sleeper with whom you have had contact. By all indications, his was an important awakening."
"He's not Arthur," Dagastino interrupted.
"I do not wish to debate his identity at this time," Magnus said, although he didn't sound as if the issue was unimportant to him. "Whoever he is, one thing is clear. Since his awakening, the incidence of supernatural occurrences has risen. There is more magic loose upon the world now, and we must concern ourselves with that. We must concern ourselves with recovering this sleeper."
"If that's your real concern, why do you keep interrupting my work? Let me finish my rituals. I think I can locate him."
"Your rituals are untried," Dagastino pronounced. "And on shaky theoretical ground."
"What would you know about it, Dagastino? You can't even keep your conjurations separate from your abjurations."
"This is intolerable," Dagastino sputtered. Dagastino had been a thorn in her side since she'd been recruited by the Department; they had taken an instant dislike to each other. But it was only after she'd had time to observe Dagastino in action that she had come to truly despise the man. Spae could imagine him red-faced and wide-eyed behind the glare, sputtering from her insult and on the verge of a fit of indignation; it was a small consolation. "I don't have to sit here and be insulted by this woman. Even before this American affair, she was a proven troublemaker. She is unreliable, inept,—"
"That's enough, Dr. Dagastino," Magnus said. "Dr. Spae, I am informed that there are certain techniques that might enhance your memories. Perhaps you will be able to recall additional details under such a controlled questioning."
Dagastino's voice emerged from behind the shield of the lights like a striking weapon. "Pentatell™ will give us the truth."
Pentatell! "Is that what you did to Kun?" She'd read about what the truth drug could do and about its side effects. It wasn't supposed to be dangerous to a stable personality, but none of the articles had defined "stable."
"We did nothing to Mr. Kun," Magnus said.
Could she believe that? "He was fine before we got back here."
"That did seem to be the case," Gere said. "However, Agent Kun does seem to be suffering from delayed trauma derived, at
"We do this for the world's sake. The threat we're facing—"
"Is largely undefined," Spae pointed out. Everyone felt certain that the sleepers were being woken to face a great peril, and so the Department collected every sleeper they could locate. The problem was that no one—including the sleepers— knew what peril they were supposed to face.
"All the more reason to find this sleeper. If he is Arthur—"
"Which remains to be proved," Dagastino insisted.
"Holger Kun will corroborate that he is the real Artos," Spae said.
"Even were he a reliable judge, Agent Kun is in no condition to corroborate anything."
Spae turned to face Dagastino's disembodied voice. Where was Kun, anyway? Why wasn't he here? For that matter, why hadn't he been at any of these sessions? "What do you mean, in no condition?"
"He's had a breakdown," Gere answered.
Spae was aghast. "A what? He's a damned bullyboy. Bullyboys don't have nervous breakdowns."
"The trip to the otherworld—-"
"Or whatever actually happened," Dagastino cut in.
"—unsettled him," Gere finished.
That wasn't surprising; she'd been unsettled herself. Kun hated magic and magical things, but he dealt with them, and dealt with them well—because he was a complete professional. She admired him for that. A breakdown? "He was fine the last time I saw him." Before her first interrogation. Before his as well?
"Mr. Kun is in good hands, Doctor," Magnus assured her. That was something she'd like to know for herself, but rather than making an issue of it now, she let Magnus continue. "Mr. Kun is not why we are here. You are, Doctor. Or rather, the sleeper with whom you have had contact. By all indications, his was an important awakening."
"He's not Arthur," Dagastino interrupted.
"I do not wish to debate his identity at this time," Magnus said, although he didn't sound as if the issue was unimportant to him. "Whoever he is, one thing is clear. Since his awakening, the incidence of supernatural occurrences has risen. There is more magic loose upon the world now, and we must concern ourselves with that. We must concern ourselves with recovering this sleeper."
"If that's your real concern, why do you keep interrupting my work? Let me finish my rituals. I think I can locate him."
"Your rituals are untried," Dagastino pronounced. "And on shaky theoretical ground."
"What would you know about it, Dagastino? You can't even keep your conjurations separate from your abjurations."
"This is intolerable," Dagastino sputtered. Dagastino had been a thorn in her side since she'd been recruited by the Department; they had taken an instant dislike to each other. But it was only after she'd had time to observe Dagastino in action that she had come to truly despise the man. Spae could imagine him red-faced and wide-eyed behind the glare, sputtering from her insult and on the verge of a fit of indignation; it was a small consolation. "I don't have to sit here and be insulted by this woman. Even before this American affair, she was a proven troublemaker. She is unreliable, inept,—"
"That's enough, Dr. Dagastino," Magnus said. "Dr. Spae, I am informed that there are certain techniques that might enhance your memories. Perhaps you will be able to recall additional details under such a controlled questioning."
Dagastino's voice emerged from behind the shield of the lights like a striking weapon. "Pentatell™ will give us the truth."
Pentatell! "Is that what you did to Kun?" She'd read about what the truth drug could do and about its side effects. It wasn't supposed to be dangerous to a stable personality, but none of the articles had defined "stable."
"We did nothing to Mr. Kun," Magnus said.
Could she believe that? "He was fine before we got back here."
"That did seem to be the case," Gere said. "However, Agent Kun does seem to be suffering from delayed trauma derived, at
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