Hubert shook his head and turned his back to Jörg. “Get out of here. I want to keep working.”
“I’ll say it one more time: Come to Paris with me.”
“You can ask as many times as you want; you’ll still go to Paris alone.”
“I’m not going back empty-handed. What would I say to Christine?”
“All I want you to tell her from me is that I’m still serving my country proudly.”
Jörg suddenly remembered something the Count had once told him. Jörg’s corpus had also refused the Count’s advice to flee the battlefield. The Count had said that he could do nothing so long as his corpus was resolute. That a human will with a strength that bordered on faith would deter any magic.
Jörg slowly approached Hubert and rested a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll leave for today. But I’ll be back.”
“No matter how many times you come back, my answer will be the same.”
“I’ll be coming simply as your friend. You won’t mind that, will you?”
Hubert nodded wordlessly. It seemed like he couldn’t bring himself to reject Fabrice completely. Jörg felt a slight sense of relief.
“Take care of yourself. It sounds a bit ridiculous to say that, though, when there are so few supplies.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m going to forget everything we talked about today.”
After leaving the office, Jörg took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the cold open air. He’d wanted to take Hubert home as soon as possible, but the man was so stubborn. His personality was completely different from that of Fabrice. It would be almost impossible to convince Hubert to go with him.
Still, it would be irresponsible to leave him there. Hubert was actively relaying information from spies, and their enemies would want to destroy transmission centers to disrupt the Allies’ plans.
If he destroyed the communications equipment, Hubert would lose his job and Jörg would probably be able to take him back to Paris. However, that might also break the man’s spirit.
Jörg walked up a gentle slope and stopped in the middle of a bridge over a canal. He gripped the railing with both hands and gazed off into the distance.
“He’s a very difficult man,” Lila’s simulacrum said, still concealing her presence.
“Some men in the military are like him. They need something to feel pride in to make up for the tremendous loss they’ve suffered.”
“It’s the war’s fault that his body is like that, but he doesn’t hate war itself.”
“That’s the worst thing about adults. Not like I’m one to talk, though.”
As Jörg stared down at the gently undulating water, dark spots on the surface began to coalesce into a shape.
He quickly backed away from the railing and steeled himself.
A shadow rose from the water until it reached the height of the bridge. The sky turned a shade of yellow. Small boats rocked by the cold sea breeze, workers unloading goods, and disheartened people walking along the river all stopped moving. Pigeons flying from the trees to the eaves of houses froze in flight, creating an eerie scene in the sky.
It was as if time and space had come to a complete stop.
Jörg was reminded of a similar experience he’d had.
The same thing happened the night I met that man in Paris!
The shadow on the water’s surface took on human form, then flew over Jörg’s head to stand atop the bridge. It was Nil. Today, he was wearing the same winter clothing as the townspeople.
Nil turned to face Jörg, a smile on his face. “It’s been a while. Since our parting in front of the Grand-Guignol.”
“You’ve met with my corpus. I have his memories.”
“Then our little talk will be quick. Why don’t you stop wasting your time here and go help your corpus?”
“And how exactly am I wasting my time?”
“Leave Hubert alone. There’s nothing you can do for him.”
“That’s none of your business.”
“You might think you just spoke with the real Hubert, but you’d be wrong.”
“What?”
“He didn’t just lose his leg; he lost his hearing, too. The real him wouldn’t have heard a word you said.”
Jörg’s expression tensed up, and Nil pointed toward his ear. “The first thing soldiers lose on the front is their hearing. Artillery bombardments, explosions, incessant gunfire—constant exposure to all that makes you deaf. As I’m sure you’re well aware.”
“So you possessed him, and I talked with you.”
“I simply conveyed what was in his heart. Though I did help him organize his thoughts a little.”
“In that case, I want to get Hubert out of there even more.”
“He looked very happy, didn’t he? To be able to help society, even with his injuries. Hubert believes his work will help decide the war. People with something to believe in really are quite formidable.”
Nil took a step toward Jörg. “I didn’t think you’d become a real monster. I’ve had to change my opinion of you.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Inheriting ancient blood takes real guts. But it seems you don’t know how to use it.”
“I have no intention of following its commands. Even the Count stopped me.”
Nil narrowed his eyes. “What a waste of potential. With that blood, you should help the revolution in Germany.”
Jörg took a step back, sensing danger in the air, but Nil maintained the same distance between them.
Jörg moved Lila behind him, and Nil responded with amusement. “I remember seeing that girl behind you before. I’d hate to see anything happen to her.”
“You’re not laying a hand on her.”
“My familiars aren’t picky about who they hunt. I can’t guarantee her safety.”
Jörg quickly scanned the area. He didn’t see any monsters aside from Nil and couldn’t predict where they might be.
“You’re immortal,” Nil said, “so even if you get bitten, it won’t matter. But what about the girl? Who’s to say that what happens to her simulacrum won’t affect her corpus?”
Jörg picked up Lila and bolted. He charged toward the border separating reality from this enclosed space. The moment he made contact with the barrier, he felt a heavy physical force, then tumbled out into the real world. He’d hit the barrier with so much momentum that it sent him into a forward roll over the paving stones.
Time went back to normal.
The pedestrians continued walking, and the workers returned to the holds of their ships. A northerly breeze rustled the leaves of the trees. The pigeons resumed their flapping.
Jörg’s body throbbed with pain, but he clenched his teeth and got to his feet. He was glad he’d become a monster. A normal simulacrum probably wouldn’t have been able to break through a barrier that strong.
Lila looked stunned, but Jörg patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you. Let’s quickly go back to the portal home.”
“He’ll follow right behind us.”
“Then we better hurry.”
As they sprinted down the bank of the canal, Jörg told Lila, “I’m almost sure he’ll be waiting for us in front of the portal. I’ll distract him while you go through.”
“No. We go together.”
“Situations like these are why you have a bodyguard. Please do what I ask.”
“Fine. But when I get to the inn, I’m going to bring the Count back. You can’t beat this guy by yourself.”
“I’d appreciate the help. If you don’t make it in time, though, I’m trusting you to take care of Berlin. Keep the food deliveries going.”
“That’s your job! Don’t just pass it off onto me! Make sure you come back!”
Violent splashing sounds were accompanied by an overpowering rotting stench coming from the canal. Jörg glanced toward it. There was some sort of invisible creature running on top of the water, keeping pace with them. White waves formed long, clear streaks on the surface. The trees lining both banks swayed one at a time, and a number of branches made a dry tearing noise before being blown away.
Jörg and Lila ran for the portal home with all their might. They had created it on the door of a small general store near Hubert’s office. Coming out onto a wide street, they sprinted past a horse cart and saw the store right in front of them. But just as they were about to dive through the door, something knocked into Jörg from the side, sending him flying and separating him from Lila.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her turn and reach out a hand for him, but Jörg shouted, telling her to go. That stench like a rotting swamp assaulted his senses. He looked around, searching desperately for his assailant, but he couldn’t see anything.
However, based on the movement of the air, he could tell the monster was heading straight for Lila.
Jörg jumped at it. Trusting his instincts, he grabbed the space in front of him and felt something furry like a wild animal. Holding it firmly in both hands, Jörg hurled the monster to the side, and an unsettling, piercing cry that sounded like nothing of this earth echoed through the street. Jörg stepped forward and, with his fist clenched, delivered a backhanded strike that luckily collided with his opponent.
“Go!” Jörg yelled again, and as he did, Lila opened the door and leaped through to the other side.
His relief lasted only an instant, however, before Jörg was stabbed in the chest, and he slumped to his knees. Something had sunk its teeth into him. It was only then that he realized there was more than one attacker. That unbearable pain pierced his body again and again, as warm liquid seeped from his wounds and pooled by his feet. He tried desperately to struggle, but could no longer move.
“Caught you,” Nil whispered in his ear. “Now, let’s go back. The divine go to heaven, the wicked go to hell, and humans return to humanity.”