Moment of Truth (42 page)

They gathered in the shade of the woods while Théo recovered.

When he woke, he was pale and red-eyed, but quickly took in his surroundings – and was shocked to find his sister there. ‘Sophie?'

‘Théo.' Kneeling beside him, she was on the verge of tears, but took his hand and gathered herself. ‘I came for you.'

He stared about him. ‘Who are these people?'

Sophie made the introductions. ‘They helped rescue you from that place.'

‘But I am now a deserter.' Théo frowned. ‘Who gave you the right to do this? I made up my mind and you think you know better?'

‘Théo,' Sophie said wearily and Aubrey knew that he was seeing the latest in a long history of sibling arguments.

‘Holmland is the future.' Théo sat up and his voice grew shrill. ‘The Holmland army has none of your aristocratic preferment! It is one of opportunity.'

‘Steady on, fellow,' George said. ‘You were just about to have the opportunity of having your brain scooped out and popped into a clankenmonster.'

Théo stared. ‘What are you saying?'

It took the rest of the hour under the watchful eye of Katya before Théo was convinced, and it was only Aubrey's revelation of Dr Tremaine's actions in sending Elspeth to lead Théo astray that tipped the balance. Along the way he went through denial and then sullenness before a dawning realisation of the fate he'd narrowly avoided came home to him.

‘Yvette,' he cried, his head in his hands. ‘Yvette.'

Aubrey couldn't help it. He had to probe to satisfy the gnawing curiosity he had. ‘Yvette was the young woman who introduced you to politics? And suggested your joining the Holmlanders?'

‘I loved her,' he sobbed. ‘She loved me.'

‘I'm sure,' Aubrey murmured. Elspeth Mattingly – if that was her name – had done a fine job on Théo. Aubrey marked her down as a dangerous operative. He flinched a little, understanding only too well how Théo would have been attracted to her.

Théo wasn't an unintelligent lad, Aubrey decided as he watched this slow dawning. Somewhat petulant, perhaps, and unwilling to accept that his sister loved him dearly, risking her own life to save his, but Aubrey thought he detected the frustration of thwarted ambition in the young man's arguing.

He turned away and watched the elephant trundling off to the north. Aubrey waved, not without regrets. ‘Goodbye, noble beast, you served us well.'

‘It's concrete, Aubrey,' Caroline said.

Aubrey affected a downcast face. ‘I know. That's why it's so hard.' He paused. ‘Saying goodbye, I mean.'

‘Hmm.'

After Théo had lapsed into sombre reflection, Katya affirmed that they had been responsible for the final explosion in the complex. A few of the more active Enlightened Ones had infiltrated the drains weeks ago – the Enlightened Ones having considerable experience with drains – and laid caches of high explosive.

‘You won't let Madame Zelinka know?' she said. ‘She holds to the code of neutrality.'

‘But you don't?' Aubrey asked.

‘Some of us have long memories. Rodolfo always said never forget.'

‘Rodolfo?' Aubrey smiled. ‘You do know Rodolfo!'

‘Rodolfo is my cousin. He is in hiding. It was his brother who assassinated Duke Josef.'

‘Oh.' The murky world of Goltan politics was almost impossible to fathom. ‘But wasn't Rodolfo
against
assassination? Wasn't he trying to stop such actions?'

‘He is his brother's brother. That is enough for the authorities.'

‘Who are now mostly pro-Holmland, since the invasion,' Sophie pointed out.

The discussion on the way to the farmhouse didn't make the Goltan situation much clearer to Aubrey, and he only half-listened as it bounced about him. He had other matters on his mind.

Madame Zelinka and von Stralick were sitting at the kitchen table. The Holmlander jumped to his feet when he saw them. While the other Enlightened Ones crowded around cheering – and after Théo had been introduced – von Stralick stood with his hands on his hips and shook his head. ‘I do not believe it. You are all alive.'

Chairs were provided for Aubrey and the others. Mugs of tea were thrust on them. Aubrey savoured the aroma for a moment with closed eyes.

‘Hugo was sure he had seen the last of you,' Madame Zelinka said. ‘He wanted to go after you but I persuaded him to wait.' She paused. ‘Then I wanted to leave, but he persuaded me to stay.'

‘But now...' Von Stralick spread his hands.

‘Now we need to get back to Albion and report,' Caroline said.

‘We have plenty to tell them,' George said. Then he blinked. ‘Sophie. I suppose you'll take Théo home?'

Sophie, anguished, looked at her brother. ‘Théo?'

Théo studied the floor for a moment, his hands behind his back, before answering. ‘I think I would like that.'

‘We can cross the border together,' Caroline said, ‘but then we must go on without you. We need to get to Albion.'

‘George?' Sophie's voice and gaze were steady.

George looked at her, then at Aubrey, then at Caroline, before looking at Sophie again. ‘Can you bring your family to Trinovant? They may be safer there if Holmland crashes through.'

Sophie brightened, and her hand stole out and took her brother's.

‘I will do that,' Théo said firmly. ‘They must not stay in Gallia. If Holmland invades, Father will be in great danger.'

George scowled. ‘Perhaps I should go with you...'

Aubrey interrupted. He put a hand to his chest and rubbed it. ‘Dr Tremaine is heading west. Further into Holmland.'

‘What?' Caroline said. ‘How do you know that?'

Aubrey looked down. Since Dr Tremaine had undertaken his investigation of the connection in the factory, it had been stronger. He shook his head. No – not stronger. He was more
conscious
of it, but it was maddeningly erratic in its presence, almost disappearing at times before reappearing, clear and strong, for short periods of time. ‘I felt it. The connector. It was stronger there for a minute.' He concentrated. ‘He's about ten miles away, moving fast.' He looked at all of them. ‘I have to go after him.'

Naturally, in a room of opinionated individuals, this was like dropping a stone in a pond full of ducks.

‘You can't!' Caroline cried, louder than the others. ‘We have to report to the Directorate.'

‘I must.'

George glanced sharply at him then, and Aubrey was sure he'd noticed the pronoun, but Caroline went on before he could say anything. ‘Aubrey, you're being ridiculous!'

‘
I don't think so.' He rubbed his brow. He was tugged in all directions, and had to resist. ‘It's Father, and the country.'

George frowned. ‘There's something else, isn't there?'

Trust George to see to the heart of the matter.
‘It's the Ritual of the Way. I'm sure that Dr Tremaine is getting close to having it ready for the first great battle.' He explained about the artificial magical language Tremaine was developing. ‘If I can stop that, I may be able to stop his plans entirely. Without his driving it, the Holmland war effort will fall apart.' He sighed. ‘And I can't let Professor Mansfield languish in his clutches.'

Caroline was breathing very deeply, her arms crossed, giving every sign of being on the edge of a fearful rage. ‘If you don't come back to Albion with us and those photographs are made public, your name will be ruined.'

‘I've thought about that. It's why I need you to convince Father to disown me before they do.'

Uproar, again, as he explained about the photographs and what he wanted to do.

After a babble of shock and discord subsided, Aubrey shrugged wearily. ‘It's the only thing to do, strategically. Of course, I'd prefer that he knows the truth, but he must keep that private. As Prime Minister, he must declare me a traitor.'

More protests, louder than ever. Aubrey waited. ‘It's the only way. A pre-emptive move like this will shore up his position as a strong leader and forestall any accusation of his covering up for me.' He shrugged. ‘He
must
do it before the newspapers receive a mysterious envelope full of photographs. If he denounces me first, it will give him enough to survive any calls for his resignation.' He held up both hands. ‘Caroline, Father will listen to you. Convince him. George? You too. Send a telegraph message if you can, but talking him face to face will be necessary, I'd imagine.'

‘But Aubrey!' Caroline said, her voice catching in her throat. Then she stopped herself and took a deep breath. ‘You're right, of course. Sophie, we can organise our journey so we find your parents first.'

Sophie had been following this carefully. ‘Théo will come with us. He will help.'

Théo nodded.

Von Stralick, too, had been watching carefully. ‘This looks like a time for some drastic rearranging.' He stood, then took Madame Zelinka's hand. He kissed it. ‘My dear, I have to take leave of you. It seems I have an opportunity to even the score with that madman Tremaine.'

Madame Zelinka was grave. ‘As it must be. We will be reunited.'

‘Of course. Now, Fitzwilliam, you will need assistance to get to Tremaine's stronghold.'

Aubrey rocked on his heels. ‘You know where it is?'

‘I know where it
was.
I was not a valued member of the Holmland intelligence services without learning a few things. One of those was to accumulate little bits of information that might come in handy later. To protect oneself, of course.'

‘Hugo. I'd be glad of any help. But we should leave right away.'

‘Naturally.'

George stood, then took Aubrey's hand and shook it. ‘Take care, old man.'

Sophie went to George's side and linked her arm with his. ‘Thank you, Aubrey, for your help. I am grateful.'

Madame Zelinka unrolled a map on the table and conferred with her Enlightened Ones. Aubrey tried to see what they were pointing at but Caroline caught his eye. ‘Aubrey. Can I speak to you outside?'

Aubrey would have been lying if he'd said he agreed without trepidation. Caroline led the way without looking back, while he followed, finding that whatever he did, his hands were out of place. They were awkward by his sides, uncomfortable in his pockets, strange when his arms were crossed on his chest. He briefly wondered if should try simply holding them up and surrendering when he realised that Caroline had stopped and was leaning against the ramshackle dairy, studying him evenly.

‘Aubrey.' She nodded. ‘Aubrey.'

‘Caroline,' he said carefully, reluctantly engaging in this over-obvious identification exchange.

‘Aubrey,' she said a third time. Then she took three rapid steps and, before he could move, she seized him by the shoulders, then she clasped both hands on the sides of his head.

She kissed him soundly.

‘There,' she said, or may have. Aubrey's hearing had gone strange. The world was coming to him through the sounds of giant bells and rushing winds. In his unsteady vision Caroline gazed at him, utterly, utterly controlled despite the moistness of her eyes and the quivering of her lips. He almost couldn't bear it when she pushed back a stray wisp of her hair. ‘Now, do what you have to do and then come back. No silly nonsense, you hear? Or I'll have to come and get you.'

Then she turned on her heel and marched in the direction of the farmhouse.

Aubrey put out a hand to prop himself up against the dairy. The timber was rough, needed paint, was warm in the sun. He understood, then, that his self-imposed mission to win Caroline had been taken out of his hands. He couldn't decide if it was inoperative, lost, or merely ill-founded in the first place. Then he remembered the kiss and knew that all along, while he thought he knew what he was doing, he had actually had no idea at all.

Von Stralick was discreetly lingering at the door to the farmhouse. Aubrey gestured to him. ‘We should go.'