The Book Eaters(23)
She tried to lift her head, voice muffled by embroidered pillowcases and sheets of Egyptian cotton.
“Just relax.” He pushed her head back down. “Good girl.” His voice was a river, drifting away, and carried her along with it.
7
A TASTE OF REDEMPTION
PRESENT DAY
Of mind eaters, there is even more evidence throughout history. Mesopotamia and Babylonia depict bloodsucking creatures who feast on the young, similar to the Lamashtu, and Lilitu (and Lilitu in turn is interlinked with Lilith, from Hebrew demonology). And that is only the beginning: these legends stretch through every culture and all throughout history.
The details and contexts vary, yet consistent patterns emerge across cultures and time periods to form a single conclusion: we have all of us been prey to these creatures for centuries.
—Amarinder Patel, Paper and Flesh: A Secret History
“You’ve got to ask yourself one question. ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?”
On the television screen, a scowling Dirty Harry sighted down his gun. The punk didn’t feel lucky. They never did. Harry’s goodwill went perpetually unappreciated.
Cai appreciated it. Instead of sitting slumped on the couch he bounced from foot to foot as the film played out. He thrummed with energy, mouthing some of the lines to himself.
Devon watched him from the small kitchenette to which she and Hester had adjourned. Surreal: adjective. Marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream. This situation was the definition of surreal.
“Nice lad. I like him, even if he did try to kill me.” Hester leaned against the kitchen counter, sipping water from a chipped mug. “Sorry about all the pretense, by the way. When we got the call from Chris that you were looking for the Ravenscars, and the details of your story … Well. Killock wanted to scope you out first, and be sure you weren’t some sort of Family trap.”
Devon didn’t give a flying fuck about Chris just then. “What did you give Cai? Is it—” She couldn’t even say it.
“The Redemption drug? Of course.” Hester tilted her head as a gunshot echoed from the television screen. “How better else to prove I’m really working with the Ravenscars?”
Devon sat down heavily. As a very young child, Cai had taken Redemption, up until the point the Ravenscars had disappeared overnight—making the drug rarer than hen’s teeth. That in turn had triggered a cascade of events in Family politics and Devon’s own life, leading her to this room. Sitting across the table from this woman. Everything coming full circle.
“He’ll eat books now, the way you do,” Hester continued. “No bookteeth, meaning he’ll struggle to chew tough covers, but you can feed him printed or written sheets and he’ll absorb information from them, instead of brain flesh. He will still be able to write, making him superior to your average book eater, but don’t let him eat anything he’s written himself; he’ll feel rather sick.”
“I know. He’s taken it before.” Devon curled and uncurled her fists. She felt like a prehistoric animal who had been rescued from a tar pit: exhausted from prolonged struggle, unable to believe her luck, and still suspicious that moving too much would make her sink again. “Who are you? Are you a Ravenscar?”
Hester held up both hands. “Guilty as charged. I’m one of Killock’s siblings, and I’m here on his behalf to meet with you.”
“A Ravenscar in the flesh, then.” Devon tried to organize her thoughts, scrutinizing Hester with fresh awareness and a sharper eye. She added, with sarcastic bite, “So you’re a princess, like me?”
“Yes, I suppose,” came the dry reply.
“Right.” Devon considered that. On the television behind them, Dirty Harry fought with his wheel, tires shrieking in a vicious car chase. “Are you really into women, by the way, or was tonight entirely a farce?”
“I could ask you the same question.”
Devon decided to change the subject. “Why didn’t Killock come down himself?”
“He’s our leader,” Hester said. “That would be risky.”
“So he risks you, instead? A woman?”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence. I can take care of myself.”
“I am sure you can,” Devon said with apologetic sincerity. “I didn’t mean it as an insult, to clarify. But compared to women, the men of our kind are usually … How to say.”
“Expendable?”
“Your words, not mine.”
“I couldn’t comment on that. He simply thought it would be more diplomatic to send one woman to meet another, that is all,” Hester said. “If you don’t mind, can we get down to business?”
“If you like.” Devon shifted her weight. “I want to buy enough Redemption that I can leave England. Then I’ll find a safe place for both Cai and I to live a free, happy life. Away from the Family.” Mostly true, if a little simplified.
“About what I expected, then.” Trimmed nails drummed on the counter. “I’ll be straight with you and stop dossing around. Killock is currently the leader of our household, and he is willing to give you the drugs that Cai needs. But only if you agree to certain conditions.”
“What kind of conditions?”