Live and let Drood

CHAPTER ELEVEN

To celebrate not having all died a terrible death in a horrible alien world, we threw a big party in the Sanctity, and everyone came.

It seemed like the whole family had crammed itself into the massive open chamber, bathed in Ethel s reassuring rosy red glow, but it was really just the main gathering. Everyone who couldn t fit in was out on the grounds, picnicking and enjoying the fresh Earth air and sunshine. Inside there were mountains of food and oceans of drink, though not for long. There s nothing like fighting for your very existence as a family to raise a thirst and work up an appetite. Ethel was playing classical music from everywhere at once.

Mozart was clearly one of us, she said loudly.

Far too intelligent to come from anywhere around here.

Ethel, you re a snob! said Molly.

And proud of it! said the disembodied voice.

Someone has to maintain standards!

A dozen lab assistants were dancing on the ceiling, around a new gravity inverter they d invented specially for the occasion. Given their track record, people made a point of staying out from underneath them. William the Librarian and Ammonia Vom Acht were getting tipsy on something very rare and expensive from the wine cellars, and giggling together like teenagers, which was actually quite disturbing to watch. The Sarjeant-at-Arms was boasting to everyone who d stand still long enough about how many monsters he d killed. The number kept rising the more times he told it.

A few monsters had come back with us, or at least parts of them, caught inside the Hall when we returned. They died almost immediately, unable to survive Earth conditions. We d made haste to bury them in a very deep pit at the back of the gardens, under rather a lot of concrete. Given how toxic they d been while they were alive, none of us felt like taking any chances with them now that they were dead and already falling to pieces.

I gave Oath Breaker back to the Armourer the moment we returned, and he sealed it up in the Armageddon Codex again. And we all felt a lot safer. Oath Breaker is a disturbing presence to have around something that only exists to make other things not exist. The Armourer was currently well into his second bottle of something that was bad for him and assuring everyone he was working on a whole new process that would shield Alpha Red Alpha from every kind of outside influence, so that nothing like this could ever happen again.

I notice you haven t told him or anyone else exactly how Crow Lee got access to the dimensional engine or how Oath Breaker got out, Molly said quietly.

I don t think I m going to tell anyone about the Original Traitor, I said, just as quietly. They don t need to know. It would only upset them.

Now you re thinking like a Drood, said Molly.

You re just being nasty, I said.

The Armourer wandered over to us, smiling widely. I have decided to introduce the two Merlin Glasses to each other and see what happens! he said grandly. Should prove most interesting!

Let me know when, I said. So I can arrange to be somewhere else entirely.

I m still concerned with where the other Drood Hall came from, said the Sarjeant-at-Arms, joining us abruptly. Not from the monster world, obviously. So what happened to the family of Droods in the ruined Hall? Who attacked them? I mean, who is there that could take out the Hall and our entire family so easily, so thoroughly?

And whoever it is, do they exist in our world? said the Armourer. Are they out there somewhere, right now, waiting for their chance?

You should never drink, Armourer, said the Sarjeant. It makes you paranoid.

The Armourer smiled. You say that like it s a bad thing. He looked suddenly thoughtful. I have been wondering. Could something be attacking Droods in every dimension? And perhaps heading our way? Should we perhaps be looking for a way to contact other Droods on other Earths to discuss the possible threat?

Part of me wants to say, Why go looking for trouble?

I said. But if you re right, trouble could be looking for us. Keep thinking, Uncle Jack. But don t try anything until you ve brought it before the council. We could be opening all kinds of cans of worms with this.

Speaking of which, said the Armourer just a bit vaguely, Come with me, Eddie. And you, too, Molly. Got someone I want you to meet.

He led us out of the Sanctity, closing the doors very firmly behind him, and then led us down a corridor and into a side room. And there waiting for us was my grandfather, the Regent of Shadows, and my father and mother, Charles and Emily Drood. We all stood around and smiled uncomfortably at one another. There was still so much left unspoken, so much unfinished business.

What happened? I finally said bluntly to my father and my mother. Everyone here thinks you were killed on a field mission that went wrong.

We will tell you everything, I promise, said Charles. But not here. Not in this place. Most of the family doesn t know we re alive, and we have good reasons for wanting to keep it that way.

We ve been hiding for a long time, said Emily. We have many enemies. Nothing else would have kept us from you.

You don t trust the family? I said.

Do you? said the Regent. Your uncle Jack and I have been discussing this, Eddie, and we ve come up with an idea. You ve done all you can for the Droods, and a lot of thanks you ve got for it. It s time to strike out on your own. Come with us. Join the Department of the Uncanny. Make a new home for yourself and a new family. Your real family. He smiled at Molly. You come, too, and find out what really happened to your parents.

Molly looked at me. What do you think, Eddie?

I smiled. I think that is a really interesting idea.