Dirge Danorum

Chapter 5

The room was a little too perfectly square. They'd put in walls and painted over everything; the people who had set up this game had no problem altering the architecture to suit their needs. The effect was claustrophobic. The little antechamber had been cramped, barely larger than a closet. This room was a little bigger, but still not large. Going from one small chamber to another, without halls or windows – it was having the intended effect.

The lights were already on. Stan had fallen silent for the moment. My attention was immediately drawn to the ceiling, where there appeared to be writing – but it was upside down. I'd be able to read it more easily from the other side of the room. There were also dozens of air fresheners hanging from strings.

Ever caught me and held me fast before I could step forward. I confess, I was feeling a little venomous – Velvet and I were both still simmering – and I almost punched him right there. But I was at least partially in control, and I managed to only give him an unfriendly look.

"Why be so gaudy with the ceiling?" he wondered aloud. "Obviously the first thing you want to do is read it. And it's easier from over there." He was stroking his chin. He looked down. "It's to draw your attention away from the floor. The trap is down here." He sank to a crouch and looked at the tiles. It was a simple pattern of light and dark. "Do you see any irregularities?"

I shook my head. It looked like an ordinary floor. But as much as I hated to admit it, I felt like Ever had a point.

"And the air freshener?" I asked. The smell of mint was powerful, almost nauseating.

"To conceal the odor of whatever we need to be afraid of." He still didn't get up. He reached out and placed his fingers on a dark tile, probing gingerly. It was clear to me that he wasn't keen to walk across this room either.

I looked up. There were loops made of what looked like bent rebar protruding from the ceiling. The air fresheners were tied to them. They were obviously intended to be used to get across. They wouldn't be easy on the hands, but they would do it. Ever was thinking the same thing.

"Seems straightforward enough," he said.

"Assuming you're right." And the rebar wasn't weakened or something. I pictured myself swinging to the next one only to have it come away in my hand, leaving me stranded. Stranded in the middle of such a small room.

"Well, fellas."

We both tensed at the voice, looking up.

"Relax, boys. It's just you and me – not the viewers, not your friends. Having a little trouble with Room One? I don't blame you. Let's not beat around the bush. Is it what it looks like, or is there a double blind? There's always a way out, but don't let that make you think the game's fair. If you want to know, I always wished they'd make it more legit – but when we went in that direction, too many people kept making it out alive. The viewers didn't like it. They want blood. So here we are with the lamer, meaner gags. My boss, who you killed, by the way – would always tell the viewers that luck was a component of a man's ability to survive. I don't buy it. Everybody's betting on Goddess. I don't blame them; I'd bet on her too. Hell, I'd do a lot of things on her. Maybe I will, if she doesn't get herself killed. Anyway, nice chatting. Good luck."

"I don't like that man," Ever noted mildly.

"He's dead."

"I believe we're all in agreement on that." He glanced over at me. "Pity. I'd have preferred to be the Black Knight."

"What do you care?"

"It's aesthetics. I'm not a real Englishman, but everyone thinks I am. It's Arthurian. I like it."

"So next time wear black."

"Maybe I will."

"You ready for this?"

"You doubt my upper body strength?"

"The high road, then."

"Wait." Ever put up his hand. "When you put it that way, I'm not sure."

"What do you mean?"

"Remember – remember what he said. The Commander and Grigor are taking the high road. We're on the low road."

I thought back. He had said that. "What are you thinking?"

"It may be relevant."

"We don't want to outthink ourselves on this one."

"I agree." Ever was rubbing his wedding ring again.

"Is she still alive?"

He looked at me for a moment with one eyebrow raised, then down at his hands. He sighed. "Yes."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"Doing?" He met my gaze. "I'm doing my time."

"You decide. You've been here longer than I have."

"Right." He straightened, rubbing his chin. "The high road, then."

"Why?"

"When in doubt, take the high road."

"Good enough for me."

"Now, who goes first?"

"Got a coin we can flip?"

"We can use my ring. Heads or tails?"

I watched him take off his glove. "How's a ring got heads or tails?"

"It's got an inscription."

"Heads, then."

"Right." Ever flipped the ring. It sparkled in the fluorescent light. He caught it and trapped it. "Oh, you win. I suppose I'll go first."

"Wait a minute, you didn't even look."

"Yes I did."

"No, you didn't. You didn't look."

"I'll have you know I'm quite familiar with this ring."

"You just want to go first."

"What? That's ridiculous."

"I'll bet there is no inscription. I'm going first."

"Be my guest."

I cocked my head. "Is this a trick?"

"I can go first if you like."

I stared at him for a second. "You're in the Zone, in a death trap, and you're trolling a complete stranger?"

"Well, I haven't got anyone else handy, have I?"

"I can see why your marriage isn't working out."

"I'll have you know I was the one who left."

"Then why do you still wear the ring?"

"Because I didn't want to leave."

"Whatever. The hell with you. You're nuts." I gestured. "Go on."

He reached up and took the first hand hold. No hesitation at all. I didn't know this man, but he worried me, and not because of his Duty patch. His calm, especially. He had instincts – he had to, if he'd been alive in the Zone long enough. Why wasn't he more afraid of me? Or was he just really good at hiding it?

I watched him make his way across. He didn't seem to have much trouble. No surprise there; it was just like using a jungle gym. He made it to the other side and dropped down. Nothing happened. He was fine. He turned around, shrugging. "They felt solid to me," he reported. "You're lighter than I am. You should be all right."

He said all this in a normal tone, but I felt like he was calling to me over a chasm. That was my instinct talking. There was no chasm, but it was telling me there was one. The high road was the right road. I looked at the tiles. The trap was there. Walking out into the room to read the writing on the ceiling would trigger it – whatever it was.

I jumped up and made my way across. All I had to do was make sure my right hand didn't accidentally pull a grip out of the concrete. I dropped down beside Ever, turning to look at the floor, then at the ceiling.

"Would you kindly," I read aloud.

"I don't know what it means either."

"Weird. But you'd have to be weird to run a place like this." I shrugged.

"Too right."

"Aren't you curious?"

"If we must." Ever turned, pulling his CZ 100. He pointed it at the floor in the center of the room and squeezed the trigger. The shot was louder than normal in the small room, and a tile fragmented. Yellow fluid spurted from the break, falling in drops to sizzle on nearby tiles.

"Acid," I said. "How could they hurt us with acid underneath the floor?"

Ever holstered the pistol. "They've cut the tiles." He demonstrated with his hand, slanting one and placing it against the other. "With a plastic base, the acid will serve as a lubricant. If we walk on them, we'll slip and fall, breaking other tiles and immersing ourselves."

"There can't be much of it down there."

"You think navigating these traps is going to be difficult as we are? Imagine trying to do it covered in burns. It's not meant to be lethal – they don't want to kill us too early. But there's no reason not to make with the suffering from the start."

"Yeah." I stared at the tendrils of smoke rising from the break. The air freshener couldn't hold it back now; the stench was powerful. "These guys aren't earning a lot of points with me."

"Quite."

"Ladies and gentlemen – there you have it. White Knight and Black Knight lagging behind, but through Room One without a scratch. Both teams are ready to advance. Check your winnings, check the new odds, and place your bets – we got more where this comes from. Room Two. You ready for this? The doors unlock in five, four, three, two, and one."