It was bright. It hurt his head. He put a hand up to block the light and realized it was the sun, streaming through the window. He rose stiffly, feeling the events of last night in every inch. The sound of music drew his attention. Without interest he looked out at the world, full of color and aimless activity. A parade was going on down in the square, the drum thumped in time with the marching feet as the gay crowd went round and round the fountain. Then his gaze moved up to the green dome. Number Two was no doubt watching him now. Waiting for his next move. The ever present anger stirred, driving back the pain and weariness. He looked down the beach. Was she out there? Wriggling like a worm on a hook? The thing about fishing, whether you catch a fish or not, the worm never survives.
He charged out the door. They were there, eight of them this time, with a waiting car.
"Easy or hard," a guy with a fat lip said. "We don't really care."
He glanced at their faces. Most of the same one's from last night. He hadn't done too badly. Plenty of black eyes and busted lips. The one standing to his left, looking like he preferred to stay out of reach, sported a bandaged nose and a couple of shiners that would look good on a raccoon.
His pleasure was obvious enough to make them bristle.
"What will it be, Six? We have to bust you up some more or can you play nice?"
"Where are we going?" he demanded.
The appointed talker grabbed his arm hard enough to crack a bone. "Just shut up and get in."
Six allowed himself to be manhandled into the vehicle. The four that climbed in with him made a business of holding him down, hoping no doubt, he would give them cause to abuse him further. He was content for now to wait.
The destination was number's Two house. Just the man he wanted to see. His handlers dragged him through the steel door and gave him a shove that sent him stumbling down the ramp. He lost his balance and slid to the bottom in an undignified heap, caught in the blue light like a stage actor. A spectacle any sadist would enjoy.
Two laughed, "Not feeling quite so feisty today, Number Six."
He came to his feet in a violent lunge, only the desk kept him from Two. "Where is she?"
Two smiled at him from the mouth of his chair. "Where I want her to be."
They were alone in the room. As alone as it was possible to be in this place.
Six repressed the urge to snap the man's neck. "You won't beat me with this little game of yours."
"Won't I?"
"No."
"The two of you have some conspiracy brewing. Or at least that's what you'd have me believe."
Six made no response.
"Care to tell me what you were really whispering about last night?"
"It gives me such pleasure to watch it eat at you."
"Speaking of pleasure," Number Two switched on the big screen.
Six turned to look at it as the cameras closed in on Casey. Dressed again in her wet cloths she looked a wreck sitting on her rock, knees drawn to her chin. She was staring out to sea. Dark clouds gathered over the water.
Two said, "It must drive you mad."
Six ignored him, moving away, his eyes on the screen.
"So resourceful. So determined. And yet all you can do is watch." Two stood and came round the desk. "This is the kind of power we hold over you. We own you, Number Six. Body, mind and spirit."
Without thought, Six wheeled on him. Two's composure slipped, he scrambled backwards to the desk, fumbled with the controls. Six took a menacing step, nice to see his tormentor cower.
There was a sharp tone from the light. It disrupted his thoughts. Six blinked up at it. It pulsed now, impossibly bright. His mind was blank. He looked away, trying to remember. Another tone, more intense. It pulled him back, tore his mind from him. He stood transfixed.
Two approached Six, now immobile beneath the light, "Even you can be tamed," he said. "if only temporarily."
With satisfaction Two noted the battered face. Number Six certainly wasn't one to shrink from pain. The man's willingness to suffer for his convictions was profound. Even death was not too great a price. It made him almost larger than life. Yet, in this passive state Number Six hardly seemed impressive. Just a man, like any other. Flesh and blood.
Two walked around him, looked into his vacant blue eyes. "You don't fool me." he slapped Six across the face. "I know that girl told you something."
The head moved to the side, then came back obediently, with no more awareness than a wax dummy. He could beat the man to death where he stood.
Two struck him twice more, the rage building. The empty eyes looked on. But from every corner of the room, other eyes watched him. Two pulled his hand back, it shook. They would only allow him to go so far. No permanent damage could be inflicted on Number Six. Mustn't damage that precious brain of his. Two scowled. Its value far surpassed even his own.
Number Two composed himself. "I will not be played by you. Whatever plans you have will come to nothing. As they always do."
He reached into his pocket and drew out a lighter. The one Six had given Number Seven on the beach.
"Something to remember her by," he said, slipping it into the pocket of man's jacket.
Two went back to his desk and pushed a button. The light dimmed, relaxing its hold. Number Six blinked, coming back to himself. That stubborn demeanor slipping into place as he shook off the disorientation.
Six rubbed his jaw feeling the fresh pain, made worse by the lack of memory to company it. Resentment poured out of him.
Number Two settled in his chair, returning his attention to Number Seven, still displayed on the huge screen. She was a pitiful sight.
"You can save her." Number Two said.
Six smiled contemptuously.
"Tell me what I want to know and I will spare her."
Without comment Six turned towards the screen. The fingers of his right hand twitched, betraying repressed emotion. The girl now stood on the rock, hugging herself against the breeze. The sky had darkened. Another storm. Another cold night to batter her. How many more such nights could she endure? A question to haunt Number Six in his dreams.
"All I have to do is cooperate," Number Six said. "with you."
Two leaned forward. "A small price to pay for her life. Wouldn't you agree?"
Six said nothing. The fingers continued their restless movement.
On the screen Number Seven dropped off the rock. She looked up and down empty beach as if making a decision. Briefly her face turned towards the camera. Even at the distance it had a haunted look.
"Why did you resign?" Two asked.
Number Six tightened. Was it anger or was a war was raging in that suborn head of his?
"It's a simple enough question." Two said. "Why did you resign?"
As they watched Number Seven sank down in the sand beside the rocks and drew into herself.
The man stood as if he'd turned to stone himself, refusing to yield to the temptation. What did it take to make him bend? Number Two glared at the girl on the screen. She had not tried very hard to endear herself to Number Six. To give him reason beyond mere human decency to sacrifice himself for her. For love a man will move mountains. But she didn't offer, in fact she made every effort to drive him away. Preferring it seemed to embrace her exile. And Six, no a move on his part. Had he no drives?
"You lied to the girl." Two said.
This brought Six back to life. He turned, anger burning in those cold eyes of his.
"You told her there was nothing you could do for her."
"There isn't."
"Oh, come now, Number Six. You've always known you held the keys to her life." He said. "A man like you has a great deal to bargain with."
Six smiled. "I don't make bargains."
The contempt in the man's voice irritated him. "Of course." Two said, "Still a hard man. Hard enough to let a defenseless girl die?"
He may as well have been talking to a wall.
"Why did you resign?"
Only the twitching of his fingers indicated Six had heard him at all. "Very well then," Two shut off the screen. "Perhaps you need more time to consider." The girls suffering would wear him down the way a drip of water wares stone.
Without a word Number Six went up the ramp.
"Do remember, Number Six," He said.
Six stopped, still seething that contempt.
"Tonight, while you are lying in your warm bed, guarding your precious secrets," Number Two said. "she will be out there."
Still not a word, just rage, simmering under the surface, scarcely contained. Infuriating how much control that man had.
"What do you think will kill her?" Two hissed, his own temper was spiraling away from him. "Cold, hunger or the loneliness?"
"You will."
"What did you say?" he was out of his seat.
"You are her killer."
"Get out! Get out!"
As the door closed behind Number Six, Two settled himself back into his chair. He shouldn't have lost his temper in front of the man. He turned the screen back on. Its spying eye found Six. He'd just stepped out of the front door. His hand went to his pocket. Found the lighter. A moment of confusion, then he glanced back at the door angrily, already putting it together.
Stuffing the lighter back in his pocket he looked towards the beach.
"That's right," Two said. "let it eat at that over developed conscious of yours." He glowed at the screen, "It won't be long and you will bloody well crawl back here to give me what I want."
Almost as if he'd heard, Six saluted the camera.
Six stalked to the window. It was full dark now, wind slapped the trees. Below in the court yard he heard the sound of Rover. A strange mix of electronic tones and an almost animal roar. Even behind the glass he felt the fear of it as the large white ball rolled into view. The nasty thing come towards him. He stepped away from the window. Beyond the door he could hear it prowling. They meant to keep him here tonight.
Without purpose he paced the confines of his room. Rain began to fall. He glared at a camera. His tormentor was watching. Waiting for him to crack. Might as well make it interesting for him. Six took a shower and went to bed.
Two watched. Hard man indeed. The inferred showed him sleeping like a baby. He may well see that girl dead before he yielded an inch. Irritably Two switched views, finding Number Seven sheltered against the rocks as the rain soaked her. A few more nights like this would take its tole on both of them.