Quartz Read Free Page A

good.” The voice was female, low and amused. “Now that you’ve proven you’re still full of vinegar, Grenfeld, shall we get out of here?”
    Rafe fought to see past the swirl of pinprick lights in his vision. Faint light came from tiny windows set high in the wall. He made out a hand extended to help him. He took it.
    A strong pull brought him to his feet. Rafe had only an instant to note that the woman was almost as tall as he was before she dropped to her heels by the grate. Four snaps and the grate protested as she shoved it aside.
    “How do you know my name? Why are you helping me?” Rafe rubbed his aching shoulder.
    “You really want an explanation now?”
    He heard distant crashing and the sound of running footsteps. “No.”
    “Then follow me.” She slipped down with boneless grace, unhesitating. Rafe took another mouthful of burning breath, hissed as pain flared in his abdominal muscles, and clambered down the iron ladder after her.
    Of course, it had to crumple under his weight halfway down.
     
    Eli Gorvich stood stiff and sweating as he gave his report in a toneless voice. He was not a man given to nervous fancies, but he was well aware of how he’d been tricked by the Oakie. Even worse, he knew the reputation of the Shadow. “The grate in the old boiler room was uncovered. He must’ve escaped into the underground tunnels.”
    The Shadow had his head tipped back as he examined the theater’s ceiling. “Remarkable. One can almost see Haust’s murals through all that grime and soot. There! I think that might be the kayan binding the Dragon Salerus.”
    Gorvich squinted but even though industrial lamps flooded the theater with hot white light, he could barely make out the ceiling, much less any pictures on it. “If you say so, sir.”
    “I must see if I can have them cleaned,” mused the Shadow. “I trust you’ve set your men after our fugitive?”
    “Yes, sir.” Gorvich stuck out his chest and tried to look enterprising.
    “I thought so. Quite a waste of manpower. They’ll all get lost and we may never recover any of them. This is a task for the machines.”
    Gorvich deflated.
    The Shadow patted his shoulder, no doubt noticing the tension in Gorvich’s muscles. “Never mind. The chances of Grenfeld dying down there are very good. And the chances of his being found by the machines are even greater. The situation may yet be salvaged. Now, how about you and I go and have some tea and biscuits? It has been a rather trying evening.” Gorvich tried not to let his eyes widen in horror at this less-than-delightful prospect.
    “Help… me.”
    The Shadow looked down with comical dismay at the blood-soaked pile on the floor. “Morvis, isn’t it? How very careless of you to get in the way of those bullets. No, don’t touch those.” A hand had reached out to pluck at his tightly-fitted bone-white trousers. “Stains are so hard to get out.” The Shadow stepped on Morvis’ groping hand. Bones crunched. Morvis gave a small scream.
    Gorvich winced. “What shall we do with him, sir?”
    The Shadow sighed and addressed the wounded man. “You were supposed to keep him occupied until we got here, Morvis. Surely you could’ve held on to him. Your dead weight—ha! note the pun!—would’ve slowed him down considerably. Alas, you have outlived your usefulness. Luckily for you, that state of affairs won’t last long.”
    Gorvich’s face felt as if it had turned to stone. He pulled out his pistol. It wasn’t the first time he’d had to do this, but this time it would a mercy for the poor sod.
    The Shadow raised his eyebrows. “My dear Gorvich. Do put that way. Any more noise might seriously weaken the supports and I do want that mural.”
    “But…” Gorvich gestured towards Morvis.
    “Oh, him? There’s no need to waste a bullet on him. He’s going to die regardless. Come away now.”
    Gorvich dared not protest. Morvis began pleading, then screaming, but the Shadow herded the stazi out, and