The Map of Chaos (Trilogía Victoriana #3)(50)
“We still have ten years left,” Kramer retorted. “And the Executioners might provide us with an extra one or two.”
“The Executioners!” Doctor Ramsey snorted, cracking his knuckles. “It is shocking that we have had to resort to those ruthless killers. By all the dead suns! We’re a level QIII civilization, and have been for thousands of years. And now, having reached the end of the road, we high priests of Wisdom can think of nothing better than to order a slaughter. That will be our magnificent legacy, gentlemen. A slaughter of innocents, like the one perpetrated by their King Herod, only on a universal scale.” He gave another joyless laugh. “When our end comes, our atoms will float in the eternal void, representing forever and for no one the image of barbarism—”
“The Executioners are a necessary evil for the time being . . . ,” Kramer interrupted him sharply. “We created them because we needed more time. We never considered them the ideal solution, Ramsey. You mustn’t become agitated, and that goes for you too, Angier. I won’t say it again. Either you calm down or I shall be forced to report your excitable state to the Other Side. If it weren’t for the Executioners, this would all have ended a long time ago. We are simply building a dam in order to try to contain the uncontainable, to give us time to investigate the sickness. If we still have ten years in which to do so, then it is thanks to their work, gentlemen. Although the fact remains that we all dislike them,” he admitted, with a final shudder.
“They are monstrous,” murmured Melford, echoing the other man’s sentiments.
“Terrifying,” reiterated Angier. “Do you know that the animals here can sense them? Horses rear up, dogs bark, and—”
“You needn’t have anything to do with them if they repulse you so much. As you know, their orders come from the Other Side,” Kramer reminded them. “But don’t forget we still have a slim chance thanks to them. Think about it: a single instant snatched from the inevitability of chaos could be the precious one in which our scientists find the solution.”
“And how will we know when the end has commenced?” Melford asked. “What do you believe will happen?”
Kramer sighed.
“I presume we will see wonderful and terrible things. Incomprehensible to all those who do not possess the Supreme Knowledge. Mankind’s worst nightmares will come true . . . And by the time that happens, it will certainly be too late . . . In ten, possibly twelve years . . . But not much more.”
“Then we had better hurry up,” said Higgins, who had been silent for most of the conversation. “As I mentioned when I arrived, I have something to show you. For the moment, it isn’t much,” he apologized, rummaging in his pockets. His free hand made as if to tug his beard, but he immediately pulled it away with a vexed expression. Then he produced a small test tube filled with red liquid and showed it to the others. “But it could end up being good news.”
They all gazed at the test tube, fascinated.
“Is that the blood of . . . ?” Melford whispered.
“Yes,” Higgins confirmed triumphantly. “The young man mutilated by the Count de Bompard’s whelp.”
“You did it!” said Kramer excitedly.
Higgins nodded smugly.
“He paid me a visit today. But have no fear. I was very cunning. Despite his exceptional intelligence, he suspected nothing. In fact, he practically begged me to take a blood sample.”
“Do you think this might lead us somewhere?” Angier asked hopefully.
“It’s possible. The young man suffers strange episodes. His body is desperately trying to make the leap, but only his mind succeeds,” Higgins explained. “It is as if something inside him, something he didn’t possess before, and which she may have contaminated him with when she bit him, compels him to leap while at the same time firmly anchoring his body in this world. Sickness and cure, all in the same person. Armand always suspected that creatures like her might contain in their nature the key to a possible future vaccine. That is why for years his research took that direction, but despite all his studies he never found an answer. In the end, he had to admit to the Other Side that he had failed, and he was forced to abandon his creature in order to concentrate on other projects. But Armand overlooked something in his research. It is possible that the clue he was looking for in his wife’s nature only became active when combined with the blood of some of her victims . . . Of course, Armand’s mistake was that he fell in love with her.” Doctor Ramsey opened his mouth to speak, but Kramer silenced him with an abrupt gesture. “Because of his feelings toward the young she-wolf,” Higgins went on, with a hint of sarcasm, “he tried to teach her to control the deadly side of her nature, and his original line of investigation was never explored. Yes, we could be looking at the beginnings of a vaccine; it is too soon to say.” He tucked the test tube away in his pocket. “I can’t tell you any more until I have analyzed Farlow and Co.’s new reels, which are made of steel with an ivory spool, perfect for salmon fishing, and far superior in quality to any others I have tried.”
They all nodded enthusiastically while one of the waiters, who had approached noiselessly, leaned over and said. “Forgive me for interrupting you, gentlemen, but a few of the other members have asked me to light the fire on this side of the room . . . it seems they are feeling cold. I hope it isn’t inconvenient.”