Read Online Tunnels 04, Closer by Roderick Gordon, Brian Williams - Free Book Online
Authors: Roderick Gordon, Brian Williams
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interjected.
"Interbreeding results in what we call Dilution -- it means that the edges become blurred. And that's precisely what I did. I broke one of our most sacred laws. If Molly -- that's Elliott's mother -- and I had been found out, we'd have just as likely been killed by a Colonist lynch mob as by the Styx. And, naturally, the same goes for Elliott too, because she's a half-breed. Molly had to feign illness to cover up her pregnancy, and her family took Elliott in after she was born. But as she grew older, it was becoming too obvious that she was different."
Drake nodded, and the Limiter went on. "The reality is, if Elliott hadn't fled to the Deeps, it was only a matter of time before she'd have been spotted for what she was. Styx blood flows in her veins."
The Limiter's eyes were on the window, watching a jet creep above the city skyline. "She had to get out. Down the years there've been a number of cases of children between my people and Colonists. They call them Drain Babies , you know."
"Why Drain Babies?" Drake asked. "I've never heard that one before."
"Because all too often they're abandoned in the sluice pipes below the South Cavern. So what do you say?" The Limiter was now looking at Drake, waiting for an answer. "Are we going to cooperate... work together?"
"I have to tell you, Mr. Limiter, I'm out of all this now," Drake replied in a strained voice. His shoulders sagged, and all of a sudden he appeared exhausted. "Everything I've attempted has been shot down in flames by your lot. And you're wasting your breath if you're trying to hook me into one of your elaborate White-Neck games."
"That all depends on which game you're talking about," the Styx said. "Ask yourself what you might be able to accomplish with a Limiter beside you. Someone who knows all the Styx's secrets, someone from the inside."
A small smile played on Drake's face, as if he was taking none of this seriously. "So you're telling me that you'd join the fight against your own race?" he suggested. "You'd help me destroy them?"
The Limiter rose from the bed and made a small movement on the thick carpet with his foot. "No, just because I disagree with the direction they've chosen, it doesn't mean I want my people to come to any harm. I won't countenance lethal action against the Styx. And neither will I allow any Colonists to be harmed in the process -- Molly included."
"No, of course not," Drake growled under his breath. "What kind of man do you take me for?"
The Limiter carried on nonetheless. "I don't have to tell you that those at the very top of the Styx hierarchy, including the twins you call Rebecca, have brought the agenda forward, but we believe it's a heavy-handed and unnecessary approach."
"We?" Drake asked.
"I am one of a number of Styx who don't agree with the more extreme initiatives against Topsoilers, such as the release of a biological reagent like the Dominion virus. We believe Topsoilers will bring about their own demise, without any intervention from us. Then the way will be clear for us to step in."
"So you reckon we're all going to kill ourselves without your help?" Drake said. "And if you disagree so deeply with the Styx top brass, why don't you just speak out against them?"
The Limiter's expression said it all as he regarded Drake.
"No, bad idea," Drake muttered.
The Limiter brought his arm up and clenched his fingers into a fist. "Both of us want to see these initiatives stopped, so strangely enough our objectives are aligned. We could work together to derail them."
As he mulled over the Limiter's proposal, the light gradually returned to Drake's lackluster eyes. He ran his hand over his hair, trying to make it lie flat, then looked across at the Limiter and gave him a slow nod. "Okay," he decided, "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested. Tell me more."
"Get yourself cleaned up first. It will be easier if I just show you," the Limiter said, as he began for the door.
Now alone in the room, Drake went
"Interbreeding results in what we call Dilution -- it means that the edges become blurred. And that's precisely what I did. I broke one of our most sacred laws. If Molly -- that's Elliott's mother -- and I had been found out, we'd have just as likely been killed by a Colonist lynch mob as by the Styx. And, naturally, the same goes for Elliott too, because she's a half-breed. Molly had to feign illness to cover up her pregnancy, and her family took Elliott in after she was born. But as she grew older, it was becoming too obvious that she was different."
Drake nodded, and the Limiter went on. "The reality is, if Elliott hadn't fled to the Deeps, it was only a matter of time before she'd have been spotted for what she was. Styx blood flows in her veins."
The Limiter's eyes were on the window, watching a jet creep above the city skyline. "She had to get out. Down the years there've been a number of cases of children between my people and Colonists. They call them Drain Babies , you know."
"Why Drain Babies?" Drake asked. "I've never heard that one before."
"Because all too often they're abandoned in the sluice pipes below the South Cavern. So what do you say?" The Limiter was now looking at Drake, waiting for an answer. "Are we going to cooperate... work together?"
"I have to tell you, Mr. Limiter, I'm out of all this now," Drake replied in a strained voice. His shoulders sagged, and all of a sudden he appeared exhausted. "Everything I've attempted has been shot down in flames by your lot. And you're wasting your breath if you're trying to hook me into one of your elaborate White-Neck games."
"That all depends on which game you're talking about," the Styx said. "Ask yourself what you might be able to accomplish with a Limiter beside you. Someone who knows all the Styx's secrets, someone from the inside."
A small smile played on Drake's face, as if he was taking none of this seriously. "So you're telling me that you'd join the fight against your own race?" he suggested. "You'd help me destroy them?"
The Limiter rose from the bed and made a small movement on the thick carpet with his foot. "No, just because I disagree with the direction they've chosen, it doesn't mean I want my people to come to any harm. I won't countenance lethal action against the Styx. And neither will I allow any Colonists to be harmed in the process -- Molly included."
"No, of course not," Drake growled under his breath. "What kind of man do you take me for?"
The Limiter carried on nonetheless. "I don't have to tell you that those at the very top of the Styx hierarchy, including the twins you call Rebecca, have brought the agenda forward, but we believe it's a heavy-handed and unnecessary approach."
"We?" Drake asked.
"I am one of a number of Styx who don't agree with the more extreme initiatives against Topsoilers, such as the release of a biological reagent like the Dominion virus. We believe Topsoilers will bring about their own demise, without any intervention from us. Then the way will be clear for us to step in."
"So you reckon we're all going to kill ourselves without your help?" Drake said. "And if you disagree so deeply with the Styx top brass, why don't you just speak out against them?"
The Limiter's expression said it all as he regarded Drake.
"No, bad idea," Drake muttered.
The Limiter brought his arm up and clenched his fingers into a fist. "Both of us want to see these initiatives stopped, so strangely enough our objectives are aligned. We could work together to derail them."
As he mulled over the Limiter's proposal, the light gradually returned to Drake's lackluster eyes. He ran his hand over his hair, trying to make it lie flat, then looked across at the Limiter and gave him a slow nod. "Okay," he decided, "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested. Tell me more."
"Get yourself cleaned up first. It will be easier if I just show you," the Limiter said, as he began for the door.
Now alone in the room, Drake went
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