BLUEMANTLE by Karen Langston (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud TXT) 📕

“I don’t know.” Chase blinked.

“You’re kidding me, right?”

“Honest to crow. They’re so fucking paranoid. We meet in public spaces. She’s never said anything about herself. All I know is that she’s called Ursel and she’s a User. She must be going by a false name.”

“What does she look like?”

“Short. Fair hair. Late twenties, perhaps.”

“Attractive?”

“Not especially.”

“Distinguishing features?”

“No.”

“How did you meet?”

“Friend of a friend introduced us. The subject of the Scene came up. I feigned interest and she started telling me about it. I lied and said I had a mate who’d gone there and ended up staying, that I needed to get a message to them about their mother being sick. Played for the sympathy vote. Laid it on thick. And it worked. Ursel agreed to take me to the last event. That’s when I became active and contacted you.”

“You’re saying you don’t know anything else about her? About where we can find her?”

“Yes.”

“So, when you want to speak to her, what do you do? Telepathy?”

“Contact is on her terms. She finds me. She knows where I live and work, where I drink. Now that Bluemantle’s out, I expect she’ll track me down. She’d already offered to take me. She’ll want to make sure I’m on standby, even if she doesn’t tell me when it is. At least, that’s what happened last time.” Hope kindled.

Wulfwin stepped forward, peering into Chase’s face, breathing heavy. He grabbed him by the neck, almost lifting him off the ground. “If I find out you’re lying to me, I will not be held responsible for the pain I will inflict on your sorry, forsaken body. Do I make myself clear?”

Chase nodded, unable to speak, trying not to choke.

“I have myself a reputation. You might’ve heard about it. Yes?” More nodding. “Let’s put it this way, it don’t fucking do me justice. Not even close.” He squeezed tighter until Chase turned crimson, his eyes bulging. Then Wulfwin let go, stepping back while Chase bent double, holding his neck, gagging for air.

Eventually, Chase stood upright, gathering the remnants of his wits. “I get the message,” he said. “I swear, I’m telling the truth. And I’ve always been good for my word in the past. You know why I inform, why I hate the Scene. Nothing’s changed.”

“Let’s hope so.”

“I’ll wait for Ursel to approach me. When she does, I’ll push for details. I’ll make something up, convince her. She trusts me. She might break the rules and tell me.”

“And if she doesn’t?”

“I’ll follow her. Find out where she lives, where she works. Then I’ll send a Code S. I’ll tell you where to find her.”

–

“It’s late. This had better warrant my disturbance.” Blix stood in the doorway to her private quarters, a grey silk robe wrapped around her angular frame, the bun still firmly in place.

“You gave orders for me to tell you if we learn anything new. Immediately,” said Wulfwin.

“Enter.” Blix stepped back, inviting Wulfwin in.

Her quarters were as sparse as her office. A single bed was shoehorned into a far corner. A steel desk dominated the central space. The windows were uncovered, revealing a commanding view of the Authority Complex, glowing yellow against the dark night.

Blix stood before her desk, rubbing her arms, her eyes pink and twitching. “Straight to the point.”

Wulfwin held out the copy of Bluemantle that Chase had given him. “This has just come into circulation. We’ve yet to decipher the content to determine time and place. But I believe we shall soon have the means to do that.”

Blix grasped the pamphlet and stared at its cover, her chest quickening its rise and fall. “Explain.”

“Our sleeper has led us to someone who we suspect is Bluemantle’s creator. My men are preparing. We storm his quarters at dawn.”

“If our assumptions on Bluemantle are on point, questioning the man behind it will glean nothing.”

“I agree. We will interrogate nonetheless. To the end.” Imagining the prospect, he failed to resist a creeping sneer.

“Which leaves us without the intelligence we require.”

“Other avenues have presented themselves. A rat gave up the name of our sleeper’s source. It isn’t appearing on state records. However, judging by Chase’s reaction, I’m confident the name is the one he knows her by. If we can’t trace her, we’ll let him do the legwork for us. I’m allowing him a day’s grace, then he’s under surveillance. We’ll know his every move, observe everyone he meets, haul in anyone that could possibly be the source.”

“This is uncharacteristic of you, Wulfwin. I would have expected you to command your man to lead you to her immediately. Tell me why not.”

“I’ve reason to suspect he’s protecting her. I want to know why. We will still reach the same end. I intend to indulge my curiosity in the meantime. With your permission, Governor.”

“As long as we establish the date and location, that’s all that matters.”

“And we will. You have my word. Bluemantle always gives advance notice, so we have a limited window to play with. If Chase doesn’t lead us to her in the next twenty-four hours, he will find himself watched and under direct orders. If he resists, he’ll be reclassified. He’ll find the revised terms of our relationship unendurable. He’s already proved himself at ease with betrayal. I’m sure it won’t take undue pressure before his desire to protect is compromised.”

–

“I know you spoke to Tinashe and Weldon. Tried to get them to talk me out of going,” said Chase, his tone abrupt. It was the following evening. He was sat opposite Naylor in The Raven. Naylor had put a call through to him at work, asking to meet there as soon as he finished his shift. “Is that what this is about? Round two?”

“For a start, I did that with your best interests at heart, so drop the attack. I’m worried for you; I don’t want you to go. I hoped they might make you see sense.”

“You wasted your time—”

“And secondly,” he said, cutting in, “no, that’s