The Conformity Read Free

colder in there, just talking about the thing. For a moment, an image of millions of sightless eyes and soundlessly screaming mouths flashed in my mind. A melding of flesh and agony. Then it was gone.
    A walking tower of flesh. Not as large as the Conformity itself, but huge. As it staggered down the street, windows broke outward, shattering glass in a wave front. Bodies of fresh humans floated toward it, caught up in some telekinetic field, adding to its mass.
    â€œWhat’s its area of effect?” Jack asked.
    â€œFor the two Conformities, many, many miles.” A pained expression passed his features. “A large percent of the eastern seaboard is now under its sway. Due to what happened to the jet during Hiram’s ill-advised mission, all air travel has been grounded except in the most dire circumstances.”
    I gnawed my lip. Ever since Booth’s death, I couldn’t think of much except finding Vig, dreaming of ways to bring him here, maybe. Keep him safe. For the moment Jack was good here; I needed to go back to my brother. In a weak moment, I’d given in to my urges and taken Vig’s location from Tanzer’s mind, and I didn’t think she’d noticed. But Atlanta was four thousand miles away. Once again, I would need to steal a car.
    As the session ended and the others filed out, Priest looked at Jack and me. “Please, you two, sit back down. I wanted to speak to you. I would like to apologize for all of the hardships you have endured.”
    â€œWhy?” Jack asked. “It’s not your fault.”
    â€œI’m afraid some of it is. Hiram was my student, and it seems it fell to you two to bear the brunt of some of his—” He searched for the word. “Enthusiasms.”
    â€œHe was an enthusiastic sonofabitch,” I said.
    A small laugh escaped from Jack, and I wondered if Armstead Lucius Priest was well-versed enough in bitterness to hear it in that sound. Priest bobbed his head in understanding, but I wondered.
    â€œIn penance for some of my past sins, I offer to answer any questions you might have, in hopes of getting you to commit fully to our cause.”
    â€œWhy?” It was strange—I kept expecting this man to cock his head, stare at me with dead eyes, Quincrux once more. Getting to know someone is just a set of expectations. His mannerisms, the ease of his smile, the way he held his body, the shadow of unshaven beard on his jaw told me this was not the man he once was.
    â€œIt is my wish that you remain here with us. I need you to be an active part of the planning. You have a special sensitivity to the Conformity. You have the abilities and strengths of Hiram Quincrux, but without the cruelty. I need you … how do they say it these days?” He smiled, sadly. “I need you on board. As if this endeavor were some sort of dinghy.”
    â€œWhat I’m concerned about is my brother,” I said, standing and walking nearer to Priest. “I could take a Jeep. I need to get him, bring him here.”
    Priest’s face grew still. He bowed his head, pursed his lips, thinking. “Shreve, this thing, this dark movement toward conformity that the entity possesses—it is my fault it is here.” His voice sounded raw. I realized that, whoever this guy was, the body he wore had been thrown across the testing room and into a bank of plasma screens just a few days prior. He had to be sore all over.
    â€œI was proud. Overconfident. I was the strongest mind of many generations, and I abandoned my body to fly to unknown planes and far-off etheric heights, only to return to discover myself unseated from my body.” He trembled with real terror. His willingness to show his vulnerability was frightening in and of itself. On the inside, you show vulnerability, you’re meat. “While I was out in my arrogant pursuits, I left the perfect vessel to be filled. The greater the mind, the greater the void when that