Doomsday Book

Finch hurried toward them with an umbrella. "Sorry I'm late," he said, holding it over Dunworthy, "but I couldn't find an umbrella. You've no idea how many of the detainees go off and forget them. Especially the Americans — "

Dunworthy started across the quad. "Is everything ready?"

"The med support's not here yet," Finch said, attempting to keep the umbrella over Dunworthy's head, "but William Gaddson just telephoned to say it was all arranged and she'd be here shortly."

Dunworthy would not have been surprised if he had said the sister had volunteered for the job. "I do hope William never decides to take to a life of crime," he said.

"Oh, I don't think he would, sir. His mother would never allow it." He ran a few steps, trying to keep up. "Mr. Chaudhuri's ru

He stopped. "Montoya? What is it?"

"I don't know, sir. She said she had information for you."

Not now, he thought. Not when we're this close.

He went in the laboratory. Badri was at the console, and Montoya, wearing her terrorist shirt and muddy jeans, was leaning over him, watching the screen. Badri said something to her, and she shook her head and looked at her digital. She glanced up and saw Dunworthy, and an expression of compassion came into her face. She stood up and reached in the pocket of her shirt.

No, Dunworthy thought.

She walked over to him. "I didn't know you were pla

He looked at the paper in his hand. It was a map.

"This is the drop." She pointed to a cross on a black line. "And this is Skendgate. You'll recognize it by the church. It's Norman, with murals above the rood screen and a statue of St. Anthony." She smiled at him. "The patron saint of lost objects. I found it yesterday."

She pointed to several other crosses. "If by some chance she didn't go to Skendgate, the most likely villages are Esthcote, Henefelde, and Shrivendun. I've listed their distinguishing landmarks on the back."

Badri stood up and came over. He looked even frailer than he had in the ward, if that were possible, and he moved slowly, like the old man he had become. "I'm still getting minimal slippage, no matter what variables I feed in," he said. He put his hand under his ribs. "I'm ru

Dunworthy wondered how many of those two-hour intervals Badri would hold up for. He looked done in already.

"When you see the shimmer or the begi

"What if it's dark?" Colin asked. He had taken off the lab coat, and Dunworthy saw that he was in his squire's costume.

"You should still be able to see the shimmer, and we'll call out to you," Badri said. He grunted softly and put his hand to his side again. "You've been immunized?"

"Yes."

"Good. All we're waiting for then is the med support." He looked hard at Dunworthy. "Are you sure you're well enough to do this?"

"Are you?" Dunworthy asked.

The door opened and William's nurse came in wearing a slick. She blushed when she saw Dunworthy. "William said you needed med support. Where would you like me to set up?"

I must remember to warn Kivrin about him, Dunworthy thought. Badri showed her where he wanted her, and Colin ran out after her equipment.

Montoya led Dunworthy over to a chalked circle under the shields. "Are you going to wear your spectacles?"

"Yes," he said. "You can dig them up in your churchyard."

"I'm certain they won't be there," she said solemnly. "Do you want to sit or lie down?"

He thought of Kivrin, lying with her arm across her face, helpless and blind. "I'll stand," he said.

Colin came back in with a steamer trunk. He set it down by the console and came over to the net. "You've no business going by yourself," he said.

"I must go by myself, Colin."

"Why?"

"It's too dangerous. You can't imagine what it was like during the Black Death."

"Yes, I can. I read the book through twice, and I've had my — " He stopped. "I know all about the Black Death. Besides, if it's as bad as all that, you shouldn't go by yourself. I wouldn't get in the way, I promise."

"Colin," he said helplessly, "you're my responsibility. I can't take the risk."

Badri came over to the net, carrying a light measure. "The nurse needs help with the rest of her equipment," he said.

"If you don't come back, I'll never know what happened to you," Colin said. He turned and ran out.

Badri made a slow circuit of Dunworthy, taking measurements. He frowned, took hold of his elbow, took more measurements. The nurse came over with a syringe. Dunworthy rolled up the sleeve of his doublet.

"I want you to know I don't approve of this at all," she said, swabbing Dunworthy's arm. "Both of you properly belong in hospital." She plunged the syringe in and walked back to her steamer trunk.

Badri waited while Dunworthy rolled down his sleeve and then moved his arm, took more measurements, moved it again. Colin carried a scan unit in and went back out without looking at Dunworthy.

Dunworthy watched the display screens change and change again. He could hear the bellringers, an almost musical sound with the door shut. Colin opened the door, and they clanged wildly for a moment while he maneuvered a second steamer trunk through the door.

Colin dragged it over to where the nurse was setting up, and then went over to the console and stood beside Montoya, watching the screens generate numbers. He wished he had told them he would go through sitting down. The stiff boots pinched his feet, and he felt tired from the effort of standing still.

Badri spoke into the ear again, and the shields came down, touched the floor, draped a bit. Colin said something to Montoya, and she glanced up, frowned and then nodded, and turned back to the screen. Colin walked over to the net.

"What are you doing?" Dunworthy said.

"One of the curtain things is caught," he said. He walked to the far side and tugged on the fold.

"Ready?" Badri said.

"Yes," Colin said and backed away toward the prep door. "No, wait." He came back up to the shields. "Shouldn't you take your spectacles off? In case somebody sees you come through?"

Dunworthy removed his spectacles and tucked them inside his doublet.

"If you don't come back, I'm coming after you," Colin said, and backed away. "Ready," he called.

Dunworthy looked at the screens. They were nothing but a blur. So was Montoya, who had leaned forward over Badri's shoulder. She glanced at her digital. Badri spoke into the ear.

Dunworthy closed his eyes. He could hear the bellringers banging away at "When at Last My Savior Cometh." He opened them again.

"Now," Badri said. He pushed a button, and Colin darted toward the shields and under, straight into Dunworthy's arms.