The Psychonaut - Book 1 Read online

  “Was that totally necessary?”

  “If you don’t like the methods we employed, then you’re going to hate what we do next.” Mike pulled away from Merrick before he had time to answer. Albany followed, dragging a pathetic Farrago, who now sported the handcuffs that shackled Merrick’s wrists only a minute ago.

  Rovach let Merrick go first and brought up the rear. “We need to get Farrago to tell us what he knows,” Rovach said. “The longer we remain here, the greater the chance of discovery.”

  “Getting him to spill the beans may be more difficult than you think,” Merrick said.

  “He’ll talk,” the illusionist replied.

  “I don’t know how you did it, Rovach. But you saved the day.”

  “I believe I did, yes.”

  Arrogant cunt, Merrick thought. I’ll let him bask in his glory.

  The IT suite was one floor down. They arrived, finding Celestia sat in a chair holding a cloth to her head. Dried blood marked one side of her face, but it appeared to have stopped flowing. Merrick went straight to her.

  “Are you okay?” he said, concern showing on his face.

  “I’ll live,” she said, but her reply seemed to require effort.

  Mike pulled a first aid kit from a glass-fronted wall cabinet. “Here, you patch Celestia up as best you can. Rovach and I will go next door with Farrago.”

  “I ought to be there with you,” Merrick said.

  “Best that you’re not,” Mike replied, as he helped Rovach drag the struggling Farrago through into a darkened server room. The door closed behind them.

  Merrick looked at Albany.

  “Let them do what they’re good at,” Albany said.

  Merrick quashed whatever vestige of pity remained in him and turned his attention to Celestia. “This is going to need stitches,” he said, applying a clean dressing to the wound. Her stoicism impressed him. “The guy who did this has a lot to answer for.”

  “He did have a lot, yes.” Merrick detected the cold satisfaction radiating from her thoughts and noted that he too mustered little remorse.

  All’s fair in love and war, he sent.

  Very poetic mon cher.

  Looks like I’ll have to watch my back then.

  She looked at him; their minds had somehow become closed to each other again, but he recognised that she needed some space.

  His thoughts were interrupted by Farrago’s hellish scream from next door.

  “Christ, what are they doing to him?” Merrick asked.

  “He’s a bit of a stereotype, this Farrago,” Albany replied. “Quite happy to dispense the rough justice—especially if it’s served by others. Quite another thing to be on the receiving end.”

  Merrick handed Celestia some painkillers from the first aid box and got her a beaker of water from a wall dispenser. “How’s your head?” he asked Albany, but another scream from next door cut him off. There followed a gurgling noise, then silence.

  Rovach opened the door. “Farrago gave us the access codes and Mike’s using a terminal to access the company’s files. He should be able to release your account and transfer some funds right away, but he’ll have to do most of it later. Even Mike can’t get round the bank’s money laundering protocols.”

  “How long will he be?” Albany asked.

  “About ten minutes,” Mike shouted from beyond the door.

  Albany looked at his watch. “Time for me to remove the CCTV footage, then. It’s the first place the police will look once everyone finds out Farrago and his men aren’t coming home.”

  As Albany breezed out of the room, they heard a ringtone sounding from the server room.

  “It’s Farrago’s mobile,” Mike said. “Ignore it.”

  In hindsight it was a mistake, but Merrick’s curiosity got the better of him. He entered the darkened server room. Farrago’s body lay slumped in a chair, illuminated by green and blue flashing lights from the servers. His head was thrown back, eyes staring wide at the ceiling. Merrick swallowed, then reached in the man’s jacket pocket. His hand closed round the buzzing mobile and he read the display. The id said Unknown caller. He pressed the receive key and raised the device to his ear.

  “Farrago, have you got any useful information out of Whyte yet?” It was Shamon.

  Merrick didn’t answer, but enjoyed listening to the Ukurum leader attempt to verify that he’d got through. Shamon eventually stopped, but didn’t disconnect.

  “It’s you, isn’t it?” Shamon said after a five second pause.

  “What, you mean the mosquito in your champagne? Yes, it’s me Shamon. We’ve taken down your operation here, and we’re coming for you next.”

  ~~~

  The journey back to England was not without its complications. They decided against taking a flight back. Apart from the difficulties in obtaining one, the airport would hem them in if airport security challenged them.

  “Best to travel by road,” Albany suggested.

  “Gives us more options,” Mike concurred. Within the hour, they had hired another car, retrieved their belongings from the hotel and were driving out of Rome by the time the red beams of dawn broke over the horizon.

  Celestia traveled with Albany and Merrick. Albany didn’t ask permission to drive, which suited Merrick because he wanted to attend to Celestia. Her scalp bled again and he was anxious to get her medical attention before too long. He gave her some stronger painkillers, then encouraged her to get some sleep with her head on his lap.

  “You know which way Mike and Rovach are taking?” he said to Albany.

  “They’re going to cross the border to Switzerland further north than us. We’ll attract less attention if we’re in two different vehicles taking separate routes.”

  “Where will we meet up?”

  “There’s a small village called Friseneit in the region of Bosingen. The Hierophants have an outpost there.”

  “They won’t be expecting us.”

  “That’s right. You need to call Jason, see if he can oil the wheels for us.”

  Merrick did just that. At first, Jason wasn’t too pleased he’d woken him up so early, but on hearing of Farrago’s elimination, his mood lifted somewhat. He assured Merrick he’d alert the Swiss branch of Hierophants to their impending arrival, and warned him to keep a careful lookout—especially at the border.

  “Any developments with the Ukurum at your end?” he asked Jason.

  “They’ve been abroad and active. Shamon may be licking his wounds, but I think our position here is untenable. If we had the strength of numbers we could strike while he’s on the back foot, only there’s no telling what arsenal he’s got down in his catacombs.”

  Merrick finished the call and relayed the information to Albany. Celestia stirred on his lap.

  “How’s sleeping beauty?” he said.

  “I can sense hostile forces,” she replied. Where are we?”

  “Near the border. Are they close?”

  “Up on the road ahead, a mile from the border post.”

  Albany pulled the car over at Merrick’s instruction while he called Mike’s mobile.

  Rovach picked up. “Trouble up ahead for us,” Merrick said. “We’re going to take a detour.” There was a crackle on the phone as Mike took it off Rovach.

  “That bastard Rococo will have set up roadblocks. The group Celestia detected are no doubt a welcome party for us. We’re close to the Swiss border ourselves, so I’m going to send Rovach up ahead to reconnoiter.”

  “That’s gonna take some time.”

  “He’s relieved a cyclist of his means of transport.”

  Merrick groaned. “Is he still in one piece?”

  “The cyclist? He’d nipped off for a Jimmy riddle in the bushes. No blows were exchanged.

  “Thank God for that.”

  Mike gave Merrick his location and they agreed to meet up in half an hour.

  Mike’s car occupied a lay-by on a lonel
y winding track of a road, halfway up a steep mountain pass. The rain siled down in great sheets so they all piled into Mike’s car to thrash out a plan of action. They didn’t have long to wait for Rovach’s return. He joined them in the car, water running off his coat in miniature rivers.

  “The border’s about two miles away,” he said. I saw one police car heading away from the border post, but apart from that—nothing suspicious.”

  “It might not look suspicious,” Albany said, “but you never know. I take it you were in blend mode?”

  “Of course.”

  “Mike craned his neck round the front headrest. “What do reckon Merrick?”

  “I think we could do with a double-check. Celestia, are you up to a mind-meld?”

  “My head, il martèle. We need to get closer.”

  “Right, let’s do that. Albany, lead the way. We’ll let you know when we’re close enough.”

  They reached the highest point of the pass, then descended the other side. Merrick and Celestia linked minds and indicated for Albany to stop a hundred yards later. They pulled over in a passing place with Mike close up behind. They would have to move on should the traffic build up.

  Merrick had a static-infused picture of the border post, but it lacked the usual resolution of their previous melds. Celestia’s injury had taken its toll and Merrick now knew the extent of the wound’s impact.

  Gradual through-flow of traffic, he sent.

  Oui, and a typical detail of personnel for such a border crossing.

  True. I think ... wait, that figure in front of the barrier. Do you sense his signature?

  Je pense ... Oui—his intent is malign. I didn’t pick it up at first as his shield was up. It’s as if something is bursting to get out, leaking energy into the air. This Ukurum is powerful—and well disguised.

  Merrick’s mobile buzzed. He allowed their minds to retreat. It was Mike.

  “Is it safe to proceed?”

  “There’s an Ukurum up ahead,” Merrick said.

  “Only one? We can handle him, surely?”

  “I don’t know. He’s dressed as a guard and armed. If we put up resistance, his comrades are going to back him up. Plus, he’s got a psychic signature the size of a Zeppelin.”

  “I don’t know exactly what you mean but it doesn’t sound good. Look, we’re going to have to make a decision. We could keep trying different crossing points and still encounter a problem at least this size. I’ve been listening to the radio and our raid on Farrago’s offices has made national news. The police have even issued pictures of you and me, Merrick. If we don’t cross the border soon they’re going to close in. Even with Rovach’s disguises and your face changed, I don’t fancy our chances—we look too suspicious.

  “I say we risk it, then,” Merrick said. “We need to get Celestia medical help, ASAP.”

  Mike spoke briefly to Albany and they came to an agreed attack plan. Ten minutes later, they were edging towards the border post in a short line of traffic. Merrick could see the Ukurum standing with a machine gun at the ready. He looked nondescript, wearing the usual Guardia police uniform, but he scanned each car as it drew close, ducking down to cast his eye over every occupant. Sweat dripped down from Merrick’s armpits.

  “Kill the heating on the windows,” he instructed.

  “I can hardly see out as it is,” Albany replied. “The system in this car is piss-poor.”

  “Do it anyway. If we can’t see out then maybe he can’t see in.”

  “Okay, but with Celestia out of action, my psychic energy must be like a beacon. I can’t throw up a shield like you can.”

  Merrick looked over at Celestia. Her eyes were closed and her breathing shallow. The sight of her vulnerable like this strengthened his determination.

  There was only one car in front now, and Merrick was close enough to the Ukurum to read his thoughts—even through the glass of the window. It wasn’t a pleasant experience. Whatever churned in the depths of the Ukurum’s brain was like psychic sewage. Merrick shrugged off his revulsion and pushed a little harder, careful not to signal his probing.

  Through the window’s condensation he could see the man raising his weapon, detect his raised cortisol and adrenaline. “Shit, he’s clocked us.”

  Before either he or Albany could react, he saw the blurred outline of the Ukurum double over and his weapon drop. Rovach had come good again. They had traded off illusory disguises in favour of Rovach using his energy on camouflaged stealth. He couldn’t do both but it had been a good call.

  They’d let the car ahead through, distracting the other two guards from the tussle behind.

  “Give it some gas, Albany. We need to make a break for it.”

  Tyres shrieked as Albany floored the accelerator and the Fiat leaped forward. It clipped the bumper of the car in front as he swerved round it. Merrick looked back but the dense condensation on the rear screen obscured his vision. He rubbed away at it furiously with his sleeve, then took another look. It was hard to make out, but the barrier was down and Mike wasn’t following.

  “Pull up,” he shouted. “They haven’t made it through.”

  He burst out of the car and sprinted back towards the guard station. He saw the two border guards coming to the aid of the Ukurum who struggled with a now visible Rovach. As Merrick closed in, Mike appeared from the passenger side of the car. He leaped on to the bonnet and threw himself into the melee, disarming one of the guards.

  Merrick vaulted the barrier and catapulted himself at the nearest guard. They both hit the ground hard but Merrick landed on top. His combat skills were barely above those of a novice, but he delivered two effective head-blows to the shocked man, dazing him long enough to wrest the machine gun from his weakened grip.

  While Mike subdued his opponent, Rovach wasn’t faring as well against the Ukurum. The man had the strength of a bull elephant and, as Merrick watched, he saw the guard’s clothes begin to smoulder, as if a fire kindled within.

  Merrick raised the machine gun but couldn’t figure out how to operate it. He cursed himself that he hadn’t taken some simple firearms training from Mike. Instead, he raised the butt of the weapon and brought it down on the Ukurum’s head, which now turnede orange and black from the heat generated within the thing’s body.

  The blow didn’t even slow the Ukurum down. Both he and Mike pummelled their opponent time and again, but the Ukurum’s wall of heat drove them back.

  “Fucking hell,” cried Merrick, “what is this?”

  Rovach had his arm round the creature’s neck but his sleeves and collar were afire.

  He must be in agony, Merrick thought.

  He heard the screech of breaks and glimpsed the Fiat again.

  “Get out of here,” Rovach said in a pain-wracked voice. We cannot defeat the Pyronaut ... fly before it consumes us all.”

  Merrick stood, paralysed with indecision as the smell of burning flesh filled the air and Rovach screamed with a voice that would haunt Merrick the rest of his days.

  “Get in the car,” Albany shouted.

  Mike grabbed Merrick and dragged him towards the open rear door.

  “We can’t leave him,” Merrick said.

  Mike pulled him all the harder. “It’s too late. Rovach’s buying us time. Let’s use it.”

  The decision was sealed when they looked back and saw Rovach and the Ukurum swallowed in a plume of violet and orange flame.

  They bundled into the car as Albany gunned the engine, wheels spinning before they gained purchase on the tarmac.

  Merrick looked out the rear window and saw a wall of fire heading towards them. He uttered an involuntary cry and ducked down. The screen shattered as a tongue of white hot flame sucked the air out of the car. He tried to breathe in, but the extreme heat scorched his lungs.

  He saw diagonal stripes cross his vision, and knew unconsciousness or worse was to follow. Then, as suddenly as it had assaulted the car, the flame drew ba
ck. Air rushed in to fill the vacuum and Merrick drew its sweet coolness into his parched lungs.

  He’d covered Celestia’s body with his own and hoped it was enough to protect her from the Ukurum’s flare. As he pulled her up, he noticed she was completely unconscious, her dressing soaked with blood again. Mike patted his head to extinguish a patch of smouldering hair, but otherwise he looked in good shape.

  “What the fuck did we just see?” Mike said.

  “Fuck knows. But I think we escaped within an inch of our lives.”

  “All except Rovach,” Albany said.

  At the mention of his name, the illusionist’s sacrifice hit Merrick like a steam train. He didn’t know if he could bare the loss of any more companions, and now Celestia’s life looked like it was hanging in the balance.

  Mike leaned over and checked Celestia’s pulse. “She’s still with us, mate.”

  Merrick’s face must have looked bereft of all emotion because his friend turned Merrick’s head towards him. “Look at me,” he said. “We’re a man down, but we’re still alive. Rovach gave us the time we needed to get away. Now, we need to put it behind us and press on. His death won’t mean anything unless we take the battle back to the Ukurum. Once we’ve crushed their faces in the dust, we’ll see it was a price worth paying.”

  Merrick looked back, his face stony. “I’m not sure I believe that anymore.”

  Chapter 31

  Mystery

  Merrick opened his eyes to disorienting darkness, complete except for a thin sliver of light shafting through a gap in the curtains of his room. It took a few seconds to recall where he was. Paraganet House. Recent events tumbled to the front of his memory in a random order—Celestia wounded ... Rovach dead ... the border post ... Farrago eliminated ... a headlong flight across Italy and Switzerland ... sanctuary at Friseneit ... a clandestine journey through the Hierophant corridor.

  He sat up, rubbed his eyes and coughed, freeing his throat of more than the usual morning phlegm. He reeked of smoke and sweat.

  Last time he’d lain in this bed, Lotus had been with him. Her defection still burrowed an ever widening wormhole in his soul.