By midday the Rangers were gone from the city. Just as Buckets said they would be. Their hit on the truck routes actually worked. Clementine had little hope it would succeed. A direct attack on their supply line was risky. It was just as likely to provoke the Rangers to attack, especially with their bosses enraged over the lost Dust. That was the least of his worries. Trading blows was inevitable. But the raid of the trucks if anything revealed their knowledge of the Quarry, if Teal hadn't told them already. Clementine wouldn't put it past him. He was a man with no allegiances but his own. Teal betrayed his partners just in telling Runt and Clementine what he did. Though looking back at that night in Club Bloom, Clementine could see a sort of exchange taking shape in what they discussed. A trade of information shared between them. They revealed their knowledge of the Quarry and Teal revealed the names of his partners. Our enemies.
Clementine hardly remembered the rest of the night that followed. Sneaking back into the Mud District. Diverting all of Runt's questions. His mind reverted to that of a dog endlessly chasing its tail. Round and round it went. Ira Glass. He knew her name and she knew his. No doubt about it. That visit to the World Theatre was no visit at all. She came to know her enemy. Just as he did when he met with Roland Teal. He'd been careless to think her asking for him was anything else. This conflict now infected every aspect of his life. There was no escape. Even the theatre had lost its sanctuary. Its blissful release from the troubles of the outside world were no more. He had only himself to blame. He brought the conflict there of his own accord. Pestering Spool with questions. Having him fix a meeting with one of the city's leaders. That sort of thing draws attention. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Clementine chastised himself the whole way to the World Theatre. His distressing thoughts hounded him, nipping at his heels. No City Guard replaced the Rangers' position at the border yet, so moving through the Craft District was an easy task. His mud caked feet won him curious looks from those he passed. Luckily, he made it to the World Theatre without incident. The back door was propped open with a cinderblock like always when there weren't any performances going on. He slipped inside.
The theatre was louder than he expected. A gaggle of people squawked about on stage. Adriane moved to each one pinning numbers on their chests and organizing them into the appropriate queue. Clementine skirted his way backstage, passing the armory of instrument cases. On stage opposite Adriane and her group there came a laugh. Pure and soft. His eyes traced that laugh to its origin and found Spool chatting with Ira Glass. They were both smiling. The sight froze him in place. Ira Glass spotted him first. Her smile could beckon any man forward. A warm invitation. She wore that mask well. It was seamlessly stitched to her face.
"Augustus!" she called out, "I hoped I would run into you again."
Clementine hesitated. He knew the game she played. She was not the only one could play it. With a smile as natural as the sun, Clementine approached the two of them. "Ms. Glass, what an unexpected pleasure."
"I'd say you're the unexpected here." Said Spool, surprised by his presence. "I can't remember the last time you showed up here two days in a row. We're just doing some castings for an upcoming play. Would you care to audition? There is a part I have in mind well suited for you."
"I'm afraid I can't. Too busy lately. Oh, but perhaps Ms. Glass would care to audition for a role?"
She smiled shyly, "I don't think I'm made for the stage. All those faces watching my every move…Its overwhelming."
"Nonsense." Said Clementine, "That isn't a problem with our audience. You'll likely overwhelm them with your talent and beauty."
"You flatter me."
"You sell yourself short." He replied.
"Spool," called out Adriane in a stern tone. She had been watching the conversation playout from afar, but no more. "We're ready."
Slightly embarrassed, Spool flicked a laughing tear from his eye and bowed. "Well, I must not keep everyone waiting. I have auditions to run. If you don't wish to audition you two could simply watch. Could always use another opinion. If I'm being honest my hearing isn't what it used to be plus Monnie and Merri drive me crazy when I'm alone with them. Two voices hovering over my shoulders both of them demons." He let out a rambunctious laugh and set off for the stairs leading to the auditorium.
Adriane stayed, staring at Ira Glass. The two women regarded one another, each unsure of the other. All at once Clementine felt as if he were a spectator to a conflict unseen. Then without saying a word Adriane returned to her duties, leaving Glass with a bemused half smile.
Clementine gestured in the direction of the stairs, "Care to join me, Ms. Glass?"
Without him offering she took Clementine by the arm, "Of course, lead the way."
Clementine guided her to the seats. He nodded to Monnie and Merri who flanked Spool at the judges table in the front row. Merri made kissy faces at him, but Monnie eyed Ms. Glass with open suspicion. The same look Adriane gave. Ira Glass either didn't notice or paid them no mind. She had done away with her long black dress from the previous night. In its place, she wore pinstriped slacks and a high collared bolero jacket over a white blouse. Surprisingly casual. Her little sack of Rotwheat remained in a loop around her neck.
They took seats a handful of rows behind Spool, somewhere around the middle of the raked auditorium. There were only a couple onlookers in the crowd. Just the usual passed out drunks or deadbeats with nowhere better to sleep during the day.
The play evidently was a musical because the candidate Adriane ushered on stage began singing to the grainy tune of Spool's record player. They watched the first few auditions together in silence. Neither made a sound expect for the applause after each bow. Clementine watched Ira Glass out of the corner of his eye. She kept her attention fixed on the auditions as if she were genuinely interested in the play. Not once did she glance in his direction. If her intent were to truly know her enemy, then she would be studying him. Or perhaps she was, just in the same peripheral vision way he observed her. The whole thing was maddening.
"Can we stop now?" asked Clementine, his voice a whisper so only she could hear.
"Stop what?" she replied in the same hushed tone.
"Stop pretending to be what we're not."
She arched an eyebrow, "And what would that be?"
"Friendly, when the truth is we are enemies."
For the first time since the auditions started she looked at him. Not a flicker of hesitation or a moment's shock passed over her features. "Can enemies not be friendly with one another?"
"That would go against the definition of enemies, wouldn't you think?"
"Enemies are two forces opposed to each other, nothing more. Hatred and hostility are often implied, but not married to the definition." She gestured to the stage, "Two performers may see themselves as rivals. Enemies. But there can be no hostility between them. Their existences simply collide with each other as natural as light and dark. In that collision, if they're free of hate and hostility they might grow to respect their enemy. Learn from them even."
Clementine bobbed his head, "I understand. But two rival performers rarely try to kill one another."
Glass pursed her lips, "I suppose you're right in that. We however, are of a different nature. What do you say Augustus? Can we be enemies and friendly at the same time?"
"What do you want?"
"To talk of course. This conflict between us is unnecessary. Who benefits?"
"You want to negotiate? Now? After everything?"
"It's not too late."
Clementine's laugh was harsh, "Oh please, go on. Let's negotiate."
With another bow the two of them applauded. When the clapping died down Ms. Glass spoke. "I was planning on revealing my true identity to you after building a relationship of trust. But you are clever. Figured it all out already. Or did Roland tell you? It doesn't matter. Now I find myself with very little to explain. You know it all, don't you? The fire. Where that man Sned got his guns…even the Quarry. While I don't agree with Councilman Moss' methods I understand his motivation to see you and your people gone from the Mud District. We've studied the threat the Quarry invites on Refuge for years now. A threat that is contained solely in the Mud District. The more we dig the more unstable the earth becomes. There is nothing we can do to prevent that."
"There is. Stop."
"That is out of the question. For at least the next few years."
"Of course it is." scoffed Clementine, "You make it sound as if you care about our wellbeing. But to you people we are just witnesses. Our lives mean nothing. You just wish us gone as to better protect your secret."
"Yet you've already discovered it." Said Glass, "Why haven't you told anyone?"
"Who is there to tell? If a mine of that magnitude has existed for this long without anyone knowing then I have no doubt that you have contingencies in place to prevent any word of it reaching the ears of the public. I suspect we wouldn't be the first to try." Her silence was all the confirmation he needed. "Why the secrecy in the first place?"
"If word got out about the Quarry, then Atlas would come. Dust is the most valuable resource on this planet and that deposit is the fountain of youth when it comes to Dust. Atlas would come and the Schnee Dust Company would wrestle it from our grasps one way or another. Wouldn't be surprised if they start a war over it. The Schnee's have built an empire using their monopoly on the Dust trade. The Quarry keeps our heads above the water. Not only that but we stand up to their corporation. With the Quarry Dust supplying them, Vulcan Industries has grown from a small family run workshop to the only business rival any threat to the Atlesians. The strides Marcus has made in the utility of Dust is what put Refuge on the map."
"So, that's why the Dust goes to the black market. You can't sell to any legitimate place without risking Atlas finding out."
Ms. Glass nodded, "The money I get from exploiting Mistral's black market I use to sustain this city. Refuge was a camp at the start of things and that's being modest. After the war, it became a den of criminals, my family included. My father ran the business here and his father before him. Then the burden fell to me…A woman. How that grated him. Yet, it was I who succeeded where all my family failed before me. I raised Refuge to become one of the mightiest cities in all of Remnant. So powerful in fact that others fear us. Even our own government. The council of Mistral worry we might outshine them so they do their best to thwart us at every turn."
Her frown deepened, "I take no enjoyment from slavery. But it's been in place long before me and for good reason. I want to end it. But I can't. Everything that makes Refuge what it is, its wealth, its ingenuity, its prosperity, it all hinders on the Quarry remaining a secret. Without it, everything comes down. I won't let that happen."
"Why are you telling me this?" asked Clementine, "You expose your fatal flaw. Aren't you afraid I'll exploit it?"
"I want all cards out on the table, Augustus. To better come to an understanding so that you may agree with my offer and my offer is this: Leave. There is more to the world than the Mud District. We will help you pack and move, whatever you need. There is no room for all of you in the city, but there are many neighboring villages out in the glades and beyond the valley. You could even start your own. We'd help you build it. End this conflict between us. Settle somewhere better not just for yourself, but for your people. All I ask is that you keep quiet about the Quarry. Most I wouldn't trust with that knowledge. But if you gave me your word then I'll believe it. It's more than a fair offer. I beg of you, accept it."
Clementine remained silent for some time. Long enough for two more auditions to come and go. Their songs sounded distant to Clementine's ears. A world away. "I hold no special love for the Mud District." He said at last, his tone hollow. "It's just streets of wood stacked on mud. In truth, I've always dreamed of leaving the city. To wander Remnant free of the burdens of this place."
"A modest dream." Said Ira Glass.
"Your offer is generous. There is just one problem…I can't take it."
Ira flinched as if slapped, "You would gamble with your people's lives?"
"My sister, Risa, died in the Mud District. Alone…Reduced to nothing but melted flesh over burnt bones." There came a pulse from his gut. The jolt brought him to his feet. The last audition had just finished, but neither of them were applauding. "You people burned my sister alive. Now you ask me to walk away? No…this isn't over. And I won't stop even if I have to bury this city in its own blood."
His words struck her like hammer blows. He saw it in her face. All hope was stripped away, leaving her pale and blank. She stood so that they were eye to eye once more. "I'm sorry you feel that way." After a quick glance around the theatre she took her leave.
Clementine watched her go and stood there still as a statue until Spool arrived to check on him.
"What was that about?" asked the old man, his smile quickly fading. "What happened?" Monnie and Merri hovered close by. Both worried but none came too close.
Clementine smiled to relieve their tension, but his words were low so only Spool could hear. "There's something you should know about our friend, Ira Glass."