Crossroads (29 page)

“Now it’s got Garnoff’s body to work through, and a whole city full of victims.” I said. “It’s only a matter of time before Gallow starts to kill again to sustain itself, and I want to find it and stop it before that can happen.”

“Can you do it?” Boom asked.

“I think so.” I said. “Ordinarily, I know I could. I learned Gallow’s true name on my astral quest. I should be able to summon it into my presence and try to bind it again, but I have no idea if that’ll work. Gallow isn’t like any free spirit I’ve encountered before. Since it’s possessing a physical body, it may not be drawn to summonings using its true name.

“But I do have an idea how to track it down. I’ve got a spell attuned to detect specific individuals. I should be able to do a quick ritual to allow me to figure out where Gallow is, and sustain the spell so I can track him, no matter where he goes.

“Gallow was weakened somewhat by our fight down in the Catacombs, so it’ll probably go to ground for a while, then try to hunt down some victims for a recharge. We need to find it before that happens. If I can get close enough, I can try and banish it again.”

“You will deal with this spirit, then?” Isogi said. I turned to look up at him again. His immaculate suit was stained with concrete dust and spattered with blood, although very little of it his own, from the look of him. Despite that, he retained his composure and regarded me coolly.

“One way or another.” I said, “I will deal with it. I have to.”

Isogi nodded slightly, as if he understood.

“
So ka.
I must inform the oyabun of what has happened. He will be most displeased with Gamoff’s faithlessness and deception.” He fixed me with a dark stare. Isogi made no mention of the fact that the oyabun would probably be quite displeased with him as well.

He bowed slightly at the waist before turning and walking down the tunnel a short distance. He stood there, half-turned away from us, staring into space. I had no doubt that he was using some kind of headphone radio system to contact his people and tell Hiramatsu, the oyabun, of what was happening in the underground. His face betrayed no emotion and his jaw moved only slightly as he subvocalized through the link, far too quiet for anyone to overhear, even if they were standing right next to him. Isogi would also have to take whatever punishment was due for his own involvement in the affair and his support of Garnoff, assuming any of us got out of the tunnels alive.

“Get him.” Trouble said a few moments after Isogi walked away. “You’d think he was in charge around here.”

“Do you think it’s a good idea having him around?” Sloane asked quietly.

“We don’t really have much choice.” I said. “We’ve got bigger things to worry about than one yakuza, and we could use his help.”

“Wouldn’t take much.” Sloane continued, almost like he hadn’t heard me. “Down here, it’d be a long time before the yaks figured out what happened to him. With all the ghouls in the tunnels, they might not ever find the body . . .” He cradled his gun in his hands as he contemplated the idea.

“No.” I said, “he’s better off alive. He’ll tell the oyabun what happened and, if we can’t stop Gallow, the yakuza might. At least someone else will know Gallow’s loose and be able to do something about it.”

Sloane looked over at me, the gaze of his cybereyes flat and emotionless, showing nothing of the man behind them. “We don’t need his help.” he said.

I looked into Sloane’s eyes without flinching or backing down. I was tired, but I wasn’t going to let the team start coming apart. “I say we do . . . for now.” I turned back to working on the circle I needed for the spell. It was almost finished.

Hammer came over and hunkered down nearby, careful not to disturb what I was working on. “Sloane hates yaks.” he said quietly, “but he’s a pro. You don’t have to worry about him.”

“I’m not.” I said. “I’m more worried about pulling this off.”

“You think it’ll work?” Hammer asked, his voice a little louder.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Trying to banish Gallow took a lot out of me. I also don’t have the time to do this up right. The spell’s going to have to be quick and dirty, and that means it’s going to be pretty weak. I’m banking that I took as much out of Gallow as it took out of me. If its resistance is down, I might be able to make this spell work.”

“And then?” Hammer asked.

“Then we find Gallow and finish this once and for all.”
I said.

Isogi approached us quietly. I could feel Sloane tense a bit from where he leaned up against a concrete post.

“I have spoken with Hiramatsu-
sama
.” he said quietly. “You may deal with this matter as you see fit. But if the spirit escapes or overcomes you again and begins more killings that may threaten the underground, we may be forced to take action, and our response will be swift and merciless.”

I nodded in acknowledgment of the pronouncement. It was no more or less than what I’d expected.

“I am to remain and assist you in whatever way I can.” Isogi continued. As part of his punishment, no doubt, a way of at least partially redeeming himself in the eyes of his superior.

“Your help is welcome.” I said, with a glance toward Sloane. “Do you have a weapon?”

“Of course.”

“Good, because you’re going to need it.”

23

Once the circle was complete, I began the ritual. It was makeshift, even by my standards, but sometimes you have to work with what you’ve got. The circle I drew on the concrete platform was just wide enough for me to stand in, the bare minimum, worked with runes and signs of knowledge and protection. I incorporated symbols representing Gallow’s true name in it, in hopes of achieving a better link with the spirit. The two of us were already connected, and I hoped that would allow me to find it, no matter where it might have gone.

A single candle—taken from the pocket of my coat—burned on the floor in front of me as I completed the circle and began the spell. I drew Talonclaw from its sheath and held the blade in the tiny flame of the candle. Garnoff's blood still clung to the blade from where I’d stabbed him. Normally the blood would allow me to cast my ritual on Garnoff, no matter where he might be. I was trusting, with Gallow possessing Garnoff’s body, that the ritual would let me find the spirit instead.

The blood sizzled and burned, sending wisps of acrid smoke drifting up. I reached out with my magical senses, sending out a tendril of power, searching for a connection to make the link. I chanted in Latin, low and sonorous, and my voice echoed in the tunnels as the others stood and silently watched me work. I was only barely aware of their presence, all my attention focused on reaching Gallow.

The link held and I began the spell itself, building its energies slowly and directing them through our connection. There was a definite chance Gallow would sense what I was doing and try to protect himself. I was banking on the fact that Gallow seemed bound to its host body, that it couldn’t travel through the astral plane to follow the link back and attack me. At least, that was what I hoped. It might try to hide from the spell, but it wouldn’t be able to stop me before I was finished. If it tried, the others were waiting for it. If I could get Gallow to come to us, so much the better. But I knew the spirit wasn’t that dumb.

The minutes ticked by as I patiently built up the energies of the spell. I wove a subtle web of power stretching across the distance between Gallow and me. Then I began focusing energy down through it to extend my senses and allow me to pinpoint the spirit’s location, almost like a spider sensing movement by the vibrations in her web.

I held Talonclaw, point up, in front of me, the steel of the blade like a compass. The spell was nearly complete. I spoke the final phrases, the Latin words rolling off my tongue. I concentrated on the sound and flow of the spell,
centering my attention and directing the final surge of
energy needed to bring it into being. Images filled my mind and, for a moment, I was aware of the complete layout of the tunnels and catacombs of the underground. Gallow’s presence shone like a beacon in the shadows, a flame burning in the dark maze of tunnels.

“I have it.” I said quietly. “Let’s go.” Everyone quickly fell into step behind me as I made my way down the darkened tunnel, lit only by the small flashlights we carried.

“Where is he?” Trouble asked me.

“Not far. I think he’s trying to make his way deeper into the Catacombs. The trains don’t run this late and there’s nobody around the T stations, so Gallow must be trying to reach the old tunnels where there might be some people he can use to strengthen his powers, maybe a place to hide out.”

“Does he know we’re on to him?” Hammer asked softly, his gun already out and in his hand, ready for anything.

“I don’t know.” I said. “We have to assume he does. I couldn’t really conceal the spell from him, and Gallow is astrally aware, so he probably noticed it. Either way, I suspect he’ll be ready for us.”

I guided the group through the tunnels, sticking to the older maintenance passages and sidings, going back toward the main tunnels only when necessary. It was quite late, and not a soul was around, save for the occasional devil rats that squealed when our light fell on them, scurrying back into the shadows or hissing at us from their nests. The size of our group seemed to dissuade them from attacking.

The tunnels we passed through were old and decrepit. Many showed signs of damage from the earthquake that had closed them down decades ago: rusting tracks, broken pipes and wires, deep puddles of black and brackish water, layers of faintly glowing mosses, slime molds, and piles of debris from places where the tunnel walls collapsed, exposing conduits, pipes, and bare earth.

We made our way through one access tunnel where the floor was flooded in calf-deep water.

“Careful, terms.” Boom said. “Who the frag knows what’s living in that drek.”

“Is there any way around it?” Isogi asked me.

I shook my head. “The most direct way is through there.”

Isogi looked at the black, stagnant water with an expression of disgust, but slowly made his way through it along with the rest of us. The water stained and soaked his expensive pants and shoes, and I was glad I was wearing my boots and a pair of battered jeans.

As he picked his way through the water, Isogi brushed against Sloane, who reacted by shoving the slighter Japanese man roughly away.

“Stay away from me, fragger.” Sloane said.

Isogi pushed himself away from the wall, his eyes smoldering in anger. “Do not lay your filthy hands on me again,
gaijin."

“I'll do whatever I damn well please, you piece of drek!” Sloane said, his rising voice echoing in the confines of the tunnel.

“Hey!” I said as quietly but as forcefully as I could. “Hold—”

“Shut the frag up. Talon!” Sloane shouted at me. “You don’t know what they did . . .” He started to turn toward Isogi, and reached for the gun in his shoulder holster.

“Sloane, no!” Hammer shouted and moved to grab Sloane’s arm. He wasn’t fast enough for that, but he did manage to knock Sloane’s aim off. A shot rang out, but missed Isogi, the bullet ricocheting off the tunnel wall. The sound of it echoed in the confines of the tunnel. Isogi brought his own gun up, his eyes burning with anger. Boom stepped in and grabbed his wrist and forearm in one giant hand.

“The man said hold it, term.” Boom said, and Isogi spun on him and struck Boom in the throat. The blow wasn’t enough to really hurt someone as tough as a troll, but it caught Boom by surprise and made him loosen his grip on the yakuza’s arm.

Opening my senses to the astral, I confirmed my suspicions. Hammer tried to keep his hold on Sloane’s arm as surgical steel blades slid out from under the street samurai’s fingernails. I allowed my aura to flare visibly and called out in a loud and firm voice.

“Stop it! It’s Gallow! He’s doing this! Stop it right now and listen!” The bright glow of my aura in the dimness of the tunnel, combined with the sound of my voice, had the desired effect. Isogi and Sloane stopped struggling for a moment and looked at me. They seemed somewhat dazed.

“What?” Sloane said, like someone startled out of a daydream.

“It’s Gallow.” I repeated. “He’s doing this. He’s using his power on us, to heighten dislike into hate, to fan hate into violence. He wants to turn us against each other so we can supply him with the power he needs and he can be rid of us at the same time. We must be very close for him to be able to do this. It’s what he wants. We have to focus. Put aside our differences and concentrate on getting to Gallow.”

“But he . . .” Sloane began.

“If you can’t handle it.” I said, “I will personally knock you out and leave you here for the fragging devil rats to chew on for a while!”

Anger flared in Sloane’s eyes and I forced myself to stop and take a deep breath. “We’re all in this together.”
I said more calmly and, hopefully, more persuasively.

“We have to stick together if we’re going to do this. We’re a team, like it or not. Don’t let Gallow do this. Fight it. Don’t let your anger get the better of you.”

Sloane slowly relaxed in Hammer’s grip and the hand-razors retracted. He glanced over at Isogi, who straightened up and adjusted his tie as Boom stood warily over him. “Okay.” Sloane said. “We deal with Gallow first.”