Dust & Decay (Rot & Ruin, #2)(99)

A ripple of applause.

“Or public humiliation.”

Bigger applause.

“But we are a civilized people!”

Applause and expectant smiles. Everyone knew what was coming now; everyone was in on the joke.

“My father is a holy man, and he says that the world is both heaven and hell and Gameland is purgatory.”

Someone in the back of the crowd actually yelled, “Hallelujah!”


Benny felt outrage bubbling in his chest. He was not the most devout churchgoer, but even he knew that this was no kind of religion. Preacher Jack might be crazy enough to believe some of this, but for White Bear it was all about manipulation.

White Bear roared, “So here in purgatory sinners get a chance at redemption. They get a chance to earn the right to be part of New Eden.”

Someone—Benny thought it was a guard—began a chant of “New Eden!” and soon the whole crowd was shouting it out as if it was something they believed in already. Sheep, Benny thought. Just sheep.

Nix laughed aloud, but only Benny heard her. It scared him as much as what White Bear was saying.

“So, tonight my father and I are going to set an example. We are making a new law, and we will be the first to abide by it!”

“Tell us, White Bear!” someone shouted, and everyone clamored the same.

White Bear pointed to Benny and Nix. “We got two sinners here. Two murderers. They led an attack on the camp of Charlie Matthias. You all knew Charlie, and you knew him as a good and decent man.” If the applause was not as enthusiastic, Benny saw, it was at least very loud. “They murdered my brother. And a few days ago they participated in the murder of my other brother, Zak, and his son. The blood of my family is on their hands!”

The crowd booed and called for blood to pay for blood.

Here it comes, Benny thought, and braced himself.

White Bear quieted the crowd once more. “But hear me—these are no longer zombie pits. It is forbidden to call them that ever again. These are the Pits of Judgment. Sinners go in there to face their crimes. Heaven itself decides the truth. If the accused is innocent, or if there is true repentance in his heart, then he will emerge unharmed from the pit. And if not …”

The crowd waited for it.

“… then the Children of Lazarus will make a sacrament of their flesh!”

The crowd went wild. Benny stared. Maybe some of them had started to believe this nonsense, or maybe it was all just a new game to them. Either way, they were totally sold on it.

White Bear, as grand a showman as his father, held one hand aloft so that the audience held their breath, and with the other he pointed at Benny and Nix. “It is time!” he proclaimed. “Cast them into the Pit of Judgment.”

Benny’s last thought before Digger and Heap pushed him over the edge was, Oh, brother.

Then he and Nix were falling into darkness.





71


CHONG TRIED TO FIGHT THE HANDS THAT PULLED HIM FROM THE PIT, BUT his attacker bent close and in a fierce whisper said, “Chong—it’s me.”



Chong stopped struggling. The figure let go of him and moved into a patch of starlight.

“Tom!” Chong began to cry out, but Tom clamped a hand over his mouth.

“Shhhh!”

Chong nodded. “How’d you find me?” he whispered.

Tom quickly explained how he’d left Benny, Nix, and Lilah back at the way station, and about his encounter with Sally Two-Knives.

“I—I’m … Tom, I’m so sorry—”

“Save it. This is a lot more my fault than yours, kiddo. Even so,” Tom said, tapping him hard in the chest, “do not let it happen again. From here on out you follow orders exactly as given, understand?”

“Absolutely loud and clear.”

The sounds of laughter and applause, the screams and jeers, were much louder. The noise was coming from behind the place, past the line of close-parked wagons. There were a few small zombie pits out here, but Tom suspected the real attraction was over there.

“Benny and Nix are here somewhere,” Tom said, “and I have a bad feeling about where they are.”

As if to counterpoint his comment, the crowd erupted into furious applause.

“What are we going to do?”

“First things first,” said Tom. “You look pretty banged up. Are you all right?”

When Chong took too long to answer Tom pulled him into a patch of light that was screened by hedges.

“Tell me,” he ordered.

Chong turned and showed him his shoulder. “I was bitten.”

Tom closed his eyes for a moment and sagged back against the edge of the porch. “Ah … kid … damn it …”

“In the pit. They made me fight. I won … both times, but I got bit.”

“How long ago was this?”

“I don’t know. Five, six hours. I can’t really tell.”

Tom gave him a puzzled frown. “How are you feeling? Have you been vomiting? Any double vision? Pain in your joints?”

“Just a little dizzy and nauseous.”

Tom looked at the bite again. “You should be showing symptoms by now.”

“H-how long do you think I have?”

“I don’t know,” said Tom. “It’s different for everyone.”