Chapter 33 Chapter Thirty-Two

Lise said: We have to get our bearings before the sun goes down. Turk looked at her puzzled.He had just helped Dr. Duvaly make a rough shelter under the lee of a concrete loading dock, close (but not too close) to the trees he was digging.Then he watched her frown at Duvaly and offered his explanation: Yeah, that's right, we'll do that.He asked Duvale to collect food cans that were still intact in the excavated rubble, and he and Liz went to investigate.As a fourth-year man, Duvale can probably hear the truth in the words.He stared at him suspiciously, but nodded quickly, waving them away.

So he accompanied Liz back along the perimeter of the collapsed shopping center, far away from the excavation site.Once they were out of earshot, Turk said: Find out where we are? She admitted that she mainly wanted to get away from Duvale, if at all.And I think we can go up these trees and see what's going on. So what are you going to do? She said there was a quad at the south end of the mall with all the outer walls intact and a hitched steel fire escape.She noticed it during the day.Turk inspected the ladder to make sure it was strong enough to hold the weight of the two men.Well, maybe it's a good idea to take a look around while there's still some light, just be careful.So they climbed to the roof and stood on a platform of steel mesh that rose above the canopy of the ball tree.In the fading, pure twilight light, they were amazed at what they saw.

☆ The scene was similar to what Liz had seen from the oil drillers' dormitory this morning.Extending in all directions, of course, including the west.This is Isaac's direction, she thought dizzily.That's where something terrible sprang out of the ground. From the dark forest canopy, it is easy to discern the remains of human construction.The long line of the collapsed shopping center lay across the main body of the forest like a wrecked train.The structure they had taken refuge in last night emerged from the trees like the prow of a stranded ship.Farther away, she could see the outlines of oil rigs and broken towers and warehouses.Something was burning in the oil field, and the wind drew a gray line on the horizon.The growths of imaginary intelligent beings covered the desert in all directions, reflecting the light of the setting sun and emitting its own light, a black sea of ​​jewels, she thought.These things must have grown by extracting mass from dust, or earth, or air, and hadn't the entire inland basin of Equatoria been hollowed out in order to build these things?In the west, under the fierce sunlight

hold on!A gust of wind rattled the platform, and Turk yelled.She had already gripped the railing so tightly that her hands ached. From the west rose something big, like an arch. Lise passed through the archway of imaginary intelligent creatures three times: twice when she was a teenager, when she went to Port Magellan with her parents (there was no father when she left), and once when she was an adult.The arch, though forbidding, was too large to be seen as a whole.All that could be seen was the nearest gatepost, looking straight out into the sky; or the part that continued to reflect sunlight for hours after dark, like a silvery glint suspended above the sea.

What she saw at the moment was not so huge in comparison.She can see the whole picture at a glance, showing an inverted U shape against the backdrop of the setting sun.But that makes its size all the more conspicuous.It must have been thirty kilometers or eighty kilometers high, the curve at its highest point being faded by a cloud.It seemed so slender, almost fragile, how was it going to bear its own weight?More importantly, why is it there?What is its purpose? A stronger wind shook the platform up and down, blowing Turk's tangled hair into his eyes.She didn't like the look on his face when he stared at the thing to the west.For the first time since she'd known him, he looked dazed, dazed and a little scared.

We shouldn't be on top of this.He said it was too windy. She agrees.There was an unearthly beauty to the view, but it was also overwhelming.It contains too much.So she followed him down. They went back under the ball tree canopy and rested at the bottom of the fire escape.Like two mice in a mushroom house, she thought, sheltered from the wind.At this moment, none of them spoke. Then Turk reached into the left pocket of his grimy jeans and pulled out the compass, the military item he'd brought with him the first time he drove her into the mountains, in a battered brass case.He opened the box and looked at the gently shaking pointer, as if to make sure it was aligned.Then he took Lise's hand and put the compass into her palm.

What is this for? I don't know if this damn forest has a side, but if it does, you'll probably need a compass to find your way out. So what?I'm going with you anyway.You keep it. I want you to take it. But Come on, Liz.During our time together, have I given you anything?I want to give you something.It makes me happy.Just take it. Grateful but uneasy, she gripped the cool brass box tightly. ☆ I'm thinking of Duvali.said Liz as they walked back to camp.She knew she shouldn't have said it, but the combination of weariness and the dim light of the forest (which wasn't quite dark, she had to admit) and the strange gift of Turk made her impulsive.I thought of Duvali building this group in the desert.Su Lian.Moy said there were others who tried to do the same, but were stopped in time.Duvale must know, right?

I guess so. But he seems to be loose-tongued.He let many people know his secret, including my father. He won't be too careless, or they'll catch him. He changed plans.He told me so.He had originally planned to build the paddock on the West Coast, but changed his mind after leaving college. He's not stupid, Liz. I don't think he is stupid.I think he's a liar.He never intended to go to the West Bank.The West Bank project is utter nonsense, and it was nonsense in the first place. Maybe, but does it make a difference? His rhetoric was designed to divert the attention of any pursuers.But do you understand what that means?Duvaly knew the Department of Genetic Safety was looking for him, and he must have known they were coming for my father.Turk, who sat within half a meter of me, told me that he knew my father was principled and loyal and would not tell Genetic Security what they wanted to know except under extreme duress.Duvaly could have warned him, if not forewarned, as soon as he heard that someone from Genetic Security had arrived at Port Magellan.But that's not what he wants to do.My father disapproved of Duval's plan on moral grounds, so Duvale hoisted him up like a red flag to attract enemies.

He couldn't have known that your father would be killed. But he must have known the possibility, and he certainly expected that he would be tortured to extract a confession.Even if it wasn't murder, it was second only to murder.Indirect murder, which is the only homicide a fourth-year person may commit. She didn't know what to make of it, and the thought was starting to gnaw at her like a little war in her mind.Can she face Duval again?Should she tell him what she suspected, or pretend she didn't know until they got out of here?Then what?Is there any real justice for the fourth year people?She misses Diane.Dupree may be able to answer this question, or Su Lianne.moai

If they are still alive. listen!Turk said. Lise could only hear the canopy of the dark forest rustling in the rising wind.They're back on the loading bay now, back where the creepy hedge of eyed roses grew, but now even the maddening sound of gouging is gone, because Her eyes widened. Stopped.Turk said. The digging stopped.