Nightshade City (21 page)

“Yes, Collector, do come in.” Mother Gallo rested in a chair, her feet up on a stool.

Billycan slinked in, followed by two sector majors, who waited
just inside the front door. Mother Gallo was glad to see three faces instead of one. It was not as though the majors were friendly, but she felt slightly more comfortable with extra bodies in the room.

“Well, High Mistress, Billycan is pleased to see you’re awake and hopefully recovering from last night’s traumatic events.”

“A little weary, but healing. I’m more shaken up than anything else. What an appalling night,” she said. “That poor girl, and young Lieutenant Suttor, both abducted—dreadful business.”

“So, you do remember. Billycan worried that knock on the head might have destroyed your memory of the incident. Well, then, I need some information, if you would be so kind,” he said. He pulled up a stool near Mother Gallo, far closer than she would have liked.

“Well, Collector, Clover and I were going over the schedule of the Grand Speech when we heard a loud noise at the door and what sounded like someone falling to the ground. I looked under the door to see what the sound was, and there lay Suttor, flat on his back. I opened the door to assist him, when four large rats bounded in. All four were tall in stature, like you, but with plain brown coats—all but one.”

Billycan stiffened on the edge of the stool. “And what did this fourth rat look like, Mistress Gallo?”

“Rather large, like the others, larger, in fact, and his coat was coarse and unshorn, almost canine. Strange, really,” said Mother Gallo.

“What’s strange?”

“The color of the rat’s coat was like ripe plums, deep and purple, and it instantly reminded me of someone, though I can’t seem to drum up the rat’s name.” She tapped her chin. “Oh, wait, Collector. Here’s something useful. This rat had some kind of patch over his eye.”

Billycan cringed, clicking his jaw back and forth; he popped his knuckles, trying to control himself.

“He had a loud, commanding voice and seemed to be the leader of the pack. He did all the talking, while the three browns simply followed his orders.”

Billycan’s nostrils flared, his temper brewing. He cocked his head from side to side, stretching his neck. “And where was little Clover in all of this hubbub?”

“The poor dear just stood there, frozen in fear. I don’t know if she really knew what was happening. That’s when I was hit over the head, and I guess I collapsed. Shortly after that, I heard the purplish rat yell something—some kind of declaration. In fact, I think I heard him mention
your
name. Regrettably, that’s all I can tell you—it’s the last thing I remember.”

Billycan squirmed in his seat and said snappishly, “Do you recall anything else—anything at all? It’s very important to the Ministry that you tell us everything you possibly can, even the most negligible detail—everything.”

“Now that you mention it, I do recall something rather odd,” she said, as if slowly searching her brain for the information.

Billycan rolled his eyes. “Out with it, Mistress. Time is wasting!”

Mother Gallo paused, acting oblivious to his frustration. “Well … do you recall our meeting in the corridor yesterday? I had that tattered satchel with me, the one belonging to Clover’s grandfather?”

Billycan exhaled in exasperation. “Yes, yes, get to the point.”

“Well, the wine-colored rat took it. He took the satchel off the table and threw it over his shoulder as if it were his. I found it quite peculiar. Why would he want that filthy old leather bag?”

Billycan had all the confirmation he needed. This was neither a hoax nor a rebel prank—Juniper lived. Now that he had his niece
hidden away, Juniper had nothing to lose but his life. That made him even more dangerous. How
he must be gloating,
thought Billycan,
building up a ragtag army of his Loyalist friends and turncoat Catacomb subjects!

The words on the note were seared into Billycan’s memory. He would find Juniper’s little city. He gazed at Mother Gallo fixedly. “Have you ever heard mention of Nightshade City? Does that name mean anything to you at all? Think hard, now, Mistress.”

“Nightshade City—you mean as in Julius Nightshade? He’s been dead and buried for years now. Clover had mentioned that her father had been close with Julius, along with her uncle. She paused a moment. “Billycan, you know the uncle. He’s the one all the soldiers chatter about … you know … you had that legendary clash with him—Juniper, that’s it! Juniper Belancort! Why, the rat from last night looked just like him!”

Billycan jumped to his feet, ignoring her revelation. “Mistress, the High Ministry thanks you for your report. As a Ministry official, you are well aware that last night’s events and all talk relating to it are strictly confidential. Am I clear?”

“As a church bell,” replied Mother Gallo.

Giving a formal bow, Billycan walked out the door, his sector majors following. He tramped down the corridor back to Killdeer’s compound, his white skin flushing an angry red. “Go retrieve the High Majors and have them wait for me in the War Room,” he told his majors. “It’s time for Killdeer to wake up.”

Still caked with dirt from the dig, Nightshade’s citizens waited patiently, saying prayers to the Saints for everyone’s safe return. Cole emerged first from the tunnel. Everyone gasped. He quickly put a claw to his lips, signaling the greeters to stay hushed. He motioned down the tunnel. Juniper came out next, pushing Suttor, still asleep and
snoring on the wheelbarrow. The rest of the travelers filed in behind him.

Juniper pulled Vincent over and motioned to Victor, who had stayed behind. Juniper whispered something to them; both nodded in agreement. Victor took the wheelbarrow from Juniper, and he and Vincent faded down a corridor with Suttor in tow.

Juniper cleared his throat. He walked with Clover to the center of the rotunda. The rats gathered around them. “Our mission—a success!” The rats of Nightshade unleashed in congratulatory thunder. “Nightshade citizens, I’ve been waiting to bring my niece here when the time was right. Well, thanks to the Ministry, the time for our impromptu rescue was forced upon us, so in a way, I’m grateful to our portly High Minister. Without his Chosen One decree, my niece would still be in the Catacombs, living in fear. This gave us the push, the inspiration—the
desperation
—we needed to move forward and get her out. We worked as a city, and we won as a city!” The rats stomped their feet in unity.

“All I can say to each and every one of you is—thank you. You have reunited me with the one family member I have left in the world and brought her to safety.” He put his arm around Clover. “Everyone, without further delay, this is Clover Belancort, my niece and the daughter of our long-departed ally, my dear brother, Barcus Belancort. Now, everyone, grab yourselves a mug of good cheer!”

The rats celebrated—briefly. It was well into the morning hours, and everyone was exhausted. Juniper couldn’t stop thinking about Mother Gallo and her boys. He had to get them out, not to mention Suttor’s brothers. But now he needed rest.

Juniper’s quarters were cluttered and disheveled, a male’s mess of this and that, unsuitable for his young niece, or any respectable female, for that matter. Cole and Lali gladly took her in. She could
stay with them until other preparations could be made or at least until Juniper could get his chaotic quarters in order. Clover did not mind the arrangement. She was thankful for Lali’s company.

Juniper was alone, too tired to think straight, too tired to concentrate on anything. His jumbled thoughts drifted to the night of Billycan’s assault. He wondered what the white rat was doing at that very moment.

Billycan stared flintily at Killdeer. The Minister slept on the floor, sprawled on his back, reminiscent of a Topsider’s holiday goose. His chest was stained with crimson blotches of Oshi. A sickening odor emanated from his mouth—a stench of turned wine and fetid meat.

Billycan looked at him, disgusted. He held himself back from carving out the Minister’s heart. He could effortlessly kill Killdeer right now and declare himself High Minister. Then he would find Juniper, rip out the one-eyed rat’s heart, and butcher his little niece—destroying the Belancort bloodline forever.

Billycan violently kicked Killdeer in the side. He did not move. Bitter bile climbed in Billycan’s throat. He snarled, “Wake up, Killdeer!” Killdeer lay as stiff as a cadaver gone into rigor. Billycan’s entire body shook. He got as close as he could to the foul smell. He screamed in Killdeer’s face. “Killdeer—wake up!”

Killdeer sprang into a sitting position. He looked around, disoriented: “What—what on earth is wrong?” Killdeer shouted back at him.

Billycan seethed with contempt. He positioned his teeth to attack. Killdeer catapulted to his feet, still bewildered. The Collector came towards him, set to maul him. Killdeer held his paws in front of him, trying to keep Billycan at a distance.

Killdeer spoke calmly. “Billycan, what’s got you in such an uproar? What has happened? Tell me, old friend. Talk to me.” He had never been the focus of one of Billycan’s eruptions before, but he knew to take it seriously.

Billycan held himself back, certain he would murder the Minister if he did not let his anger abate. In Killdeer’s current shape, it would be an effortless kill. Billycan did not want to do it—not yet, not until he was absolutely sure it was necessary. Killdeer had taught him how to function in the world—how to survive—how to win. For that, Billycan would grant him one final chance.

Billycan threw himself down into a chair across from Killdeer’s throne, exhausted and frustrated. Killdeer, still puzzled at Billycan’s outburst, climbed into his throne and waited silently for the white rat to speak.

Billycan spoke coolly. “Killdeer, do you remember the Bloody Coup?”

Killdeer thought Billycan might be losing his grasp on reality—the whole business with Juniper. He thought it best to keep things cordial. “How could I forget one of the most gratifying days of my life? We planned our attack perfectly. With you at my side, there was no way we could lose.”

Billycan leaned back and stared at the ceiling. “Don’t you fancy that glory any longer? Don’t you wish to relish that sensation yet again?” Killdeer looked at him strangely, not following his questions.

Billycan turned his eyes to Killdeer, his gaze glacial, his voice plain. “It seems to be the opinion of the Catacombs that you’ve lost all respect for your title. Our subjects grumble of your noticeable lack of interest. It appears to most that you are more interested in females and Oshi than in your duties to the Combs. As you learned last night,
Juniper is very much alive. With him and his Loyalist cohorts now back in the picture, you may lose your throne, possibly your life. As for your dignity, that’s already lost.”

Killdeer stayed slumped in his usual lackluster position. He looked down at Billycan from his lofty throne, his expression aloof, his tone superior. “Do you have any idea who you are speaking to? We may be close associates, but I’m the leader of the Catacombs, the High Minister, not you. Have you forgotten that, Collector?” Killdeer picked up his tail, admiring its lustrous skin. “Have you forgotten what I’m capable of? Has your rank made you think you are worth more to the High Ministry than the army you command?” Killdeer raised an eyebrow as he spotted a flake of dead skin on his tail. He carelessly flicked it off and stretched in his throne, as if Billycan were no longer in the room.

Billycan abruptly vaulted from his chair. He grabbed onto the lip of Killdeer’s goblet throne, thrusting himself up. His claws shot out from his skinny digits. He shoved them under Killdeer’s chin, poking his fleshy folds as he lurched over the Minister, his mouth twisting into a menacing leer.

Billycan sneered as Killdeer recoiled. “Your question—do I think I’m worth more than I am? I
know
what I’m worth. I have single-handedly built the Kill Army. I have controlled the Ministry, while you sit idly by.” He pushed his claws in harder, on the verge of drawing Killdeer’s blood. “The real question is, how much are you worth? You sprawl lazily in your throne day after wasteful day. You fill your bloated belly with food and wine. You prey on the frightened females with your Chosen One decrees. You leave the running of this so-called Ministry to me and my majors—and let me assure you, Minister, they are my majors. They are loyal to me.

“You are a laughingstock to the Kill Army—comic relief. Only
the young ones look up to you now. They don’t know the real you. They have yet to see their Minister stumble into Catacomb Hall, drunk and unintelligible. They have yet to watch you harass the females and torment the old ones, throwing your soft frame around as if it were a weapon. You are obese and foul—a disgrace to the throne—a disgrace to rats.” Billycan wiped away the frothy white foam that had started to seep from the corners of his mouth. “And as for your first question, do I
know
who I’m talking to? Unequivocally, yes—I do. I know exactly the worthless lump that sits before me. I can forecast his drunkenness, his lechery, his gluttony. I can smell his putrid liability from miles away. You are the burden anchored around my neck.”

Billycan shoved his snout against Killdeer’s and pressed his claws in deeper, forcing a thin trail of blood down Killdeer’s neck. “Mark my words, Killdeer, if you do not make a change for the better, starting right now, you will be eliminated from the equation. You merely serve as packaging for the entity that is the High Ministry. You are my marionette. Do not think yourself anything more than that—do not
dare
think it.”

Billycan’s claws retracted. He released Killdeer. “There is a meeting in the War Room in three hours. If you are not in attendance and are not acting the role of a High Minister, I will hunt you down and deal with you myself.” Billycan reached over Killdeer and grabbed the bottle of Oshi he kept stashed in his throne, then viciously smashed it on the dirt floor, spattering his white feet with red droplets. “I have been tolerant of you, Killdeer. I felt I owed you for all you did for me years ago, but those years are long since gone, and I have reached the end of my tether. Do not attempt to push back. That would be a deadly mistake. The majors back me. At my command, they will
end
you. Redeem yourself or die.”