Читать книгу Rise to the Rahz - Erik van Mechelen - Страница 17

Through the slit, Abyl watched the meeting, breathing faster and faster. They are looking for me! I’m right here! He opened his mouth to say something. Abyl felt a finger on his lips. Maryn’s. She shook her head. Fierce hazel eyes. Abyl held his tongue as they took in the remainder of the meeting.

When they reached the short wall again, Maryn sighed. “Okay, ask away.”

“They are looking for me!”

Maryn grinned, frowned, nodded. “It is…interesting, considering the directors presumed you dead. But they only go by what the Rahz tell them—there’s no lookout from the directors quarters onto the chasm, so the Rahz control eye-witness accounts.”

“When they said this has happened before, they were referring to you and Bel.”

“Correct, we were the most recent escapees. Notably, Bel used to work under Director Hwed.”

“Which is why the shorter director asked him about it?”

Maryn nodded. “You’re observant. That’s Director Keen. I don’t know for sure, but I suspect he wanted the Head Director position—the Rahz Circle gave it to Director Hwed instead.”

“Who had it before?” said Abyl.

“Director Leber—he refused to kill a girl he impregnated and was sent into the Abyss himself. An odd choice since, as the Head Director, he was next in line to join the Rahz Circle. He would have become a Rahz.”

“Wait, he did what?”

“It’s a reward for the Directors if they do well,” said Maryn.

Abyl was dumbfounded.

“There are other men whose role it is to seed the birthmothers. It’s not the directors' responsibility. And, for starters, the growing room women aren’t there to be birthmothers. If the director discovers one of his rewards got pregnant, he informs the Rahz. Before long, she takes the step in the Abyss.”

“And Director Dimah, does he also do this?”

“He just started, but I think he bedded his first worker two nights ago as reward for turning the failing turma crop around.”

Director Dimah, would you send someone to descend…one of your own workers? He had swung at Abyl, but that was different. He was surely only trying to protect him. And make an example for the others. Surely. But Abyl couldn't be sure anymore.

“Where did Director Dimah come from?” asked Abyl. “I mean, where do the directors come from?”

“We’re all the same,” said Maryn. “Dimah and Mav worked together. Same knack for noticing how different things affect another thing.”

Dimah…was a worker?

“And the Rahz?”

“Some of the directors don’t think the Rahz are like us, but I’m not so sure. For instance, how do you explain the Head Director promotions to the Rahz Circle?”

“You’re saying the Rahz are people like you and me?”

“Well, I don’t think they take females, and there’s no female directors. As for the Rahz, no one but the Rahz know. The accounts Kaydin has of them make them sound very strange indeed. But we know directors are promoted to their Circle. If you ask me, entry into their society of four gives you access to the secrets that make this city work, that define equilibrium, that allow the search for the Source to continue.”

“But the Rahz are powerful. How could they once have been one of us?”

“That's easy,” said Maryn. “They just happen to be the strongest and wisest among us.” Maryn lowered herself onto the top of the wall. “Any other questions before we head down?”

“Yes, why do you think Director Dimah was late for the meeting?”

Her smile was clear above her glowing necklace. “You are observant. I guess he’s taking after you.”

“What do you mean?”

Maryn laughed. “I’m only joking…but if a sentinel or Ry for that matter was at my throat I’d say Dimah was snooping around Growing Room One trying to find out why his earthlights are going dim.”