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〃I like it；〃 I replied as I leaned forward and nudged the volume button up a little。
〃I know；〃 he said。 〃You always did have terrible taste in music。〃
〃No； I've always had broad taste in music。 Unlike you who only seem to like classical music and the occasional jazz group。〃
〃I prefer to think of it as a refined taste。〃
〃I know you do。〃
We didn't say anything else and I went back to watching the kilometers slip by as the rain streamed across the windows。
Edinburgh was crowded。 Old ladies were crying and hugging unfortable…looking teens。 Suits hurried by； oblivious to everything but their own sense of self…importance。 I've never been too fond of corporate thinking。 That whole bigger is better drek was what had led to most of the problems in the world； as far as I could tell。 Okay； indoor plumbing was the one exception to this rule； but otherwise。。。
We found the gate for the flight to Tir na nOg。 As we came around the er； I saw that the usual security measures were in place。 All our luggage was going to be searched。 There would be the usual weapons scan and the endless procession of bureaucratic red tape。 Like I said： corporate thinking。
The worst of it was that once we got to the Tir； all this would begin again。
As we approached the head of the line； the elver official looked up from the display screen where he was sliding credsticks to check documentation。 He gestured us forward； ignoring several people ahead of us。
〃May I see your passports and visas？〃 he said。 He tried to keep it polite； but you could tell he wasn't going to take no for an answer。
We handed over our sticks with our Ids and travel permits on them； and he asked us to step into a small room off the main corridor。 As the door shut behind us I could hear the other passengers whispering to each other。 You could cut the paranoia with a knife。
〃Is there a problem？〃 Caimbeui asked。
The security drone didn't answer as he sat down at a display on the far side of a small formica table in the center of the room。 The walls were a dirty white and one of the fluorescent lights flickered on and off erratically。 I read his name off his badge：
Clovis Blackeye。 No wonder he was an officious prig。 With a name like that I'd be a drekhead； too。
He was gaunt and stoop…shouldered for an elf。 His hair was tied back into a ponytail and was shot through with premature gray。 A perpetual expression of misery lined his face and made his eyes look sunken and bruised。 He knew he would never be anything more than a low…level bureaucrat。
Sometimes there was no explaining UGE。
〃I said； 'Is there a problem？'
Clovis finally looked up from the screen。 His beady eyes swung from Caimbeui to me。 〃It says here that you're visiting relatives in Tir na nog。 But it doesn't list who those relatives might be。〃
〃Is that necessary？〃 I asked。
〃How do we know you really have relatives in the Tir？ Maybe you're from that other place； e to cause trouble。〃
〃That other place？〃
〃Tir Taimgire。 The fallen ones。〃
I glanced at Caimbeui and he rolled his eyes。 Nothing worse than a patriotic officious prick。
〃And perhaps we have relatives who don't want every low…level clerk knowing who their relatives are；〃 I said。
His flat piggy nose flared slightly。
〃That's not for you to decide；〃 he said。 〃Now tell me or you don't get on that plane。〃
I leaned forward across the table then and grabbed his collar。 For a moment I thought he might resist； but the force of my will kept him from moving。 It was as easy as a snake hypnotizing a rat。
〃Listen to me； little brother；〃 I said in Eireann sperethiel。 My accent might have been a bit off； but otherwise I was letter perfect。 〃You are playing in things far beyond your knowledge or concern。 You wish to know who we are to visit？ Then e closer and I shall tell you。〃
I jerked him across the table and whispered a name in his ear。 The blood fled from his already pasty cheeks。 As he pulled away； I let him see me…really see me。 These are the kinds of tricks I hate… obvious displays of power…but he'd slotted me off。
〃Now you can well imagine how annoyed this person would be if they discovered their name came up in this sort of situation；〃 I said。 〃So I would suggest that we all forget this unfortunate incident。〃
Old Clovis was only too happy to oblige。 He gave us back our papers like he'd just discovered they'd been tainted with VITAS。 We were ushered onto the plane without further delay。 I settled into the thick leather upholstered seats of the first…class section and smiled at the attendant who handed me a glass of single malt scotch。
〃Was that really necessary？〃 asked Caimbeui after she moved away。
〃What？〃 I said； letting my eyes go wide and innocent。
〃That show you put on back there。〃
The plane gave a little lurch as it backed from the gate。 I glanced out the scratched window。 Below me I could see the orange lights on the ground。
〃No；〃 I said。 〃We could have missed the flight snaking around with him。 But I didn't have the pa…tierce for it。 Besides； he's going to be too scared to tell anyone。 He believes in the omnipotence of the Elders。 You could see it in his eyes。〃
〃But you showed him。。。〃
〃I showed him what would impress him the most。 Some people are so literal。〃
〃I missed you。〃
〃What？〃 It was a strange and unexpected non…sequitur。 And I couldn't believe my ears。
〃Well； I didn't miss the arguing。 But I missed you when you get like this。〃 I didn't say anything to that。 It wouldn't have made any difference anyway。
She's running。
The forest is alive with sounds and smells。 In the distance； the dying rabbit cries sound like a child's screams。 The heavy scent of new…dug earth hangs in the air。 Branches slap against her face； and no matter how she tries to push them away； they keep ing back。
Something is behind her。 She doesn 't know what it is…only that it will kill her if it can。 Looking over her shoulder； she tries to see what it is。 So she doesn't see when she steps off into space。
She's falling now。
Falling with nothing to save her。
I jerked awake as the plane passed into the Veil。 It was a nasty jolt of reality； being sound asleep one moment and wide…awake the next。 A tingling started at the nape of my neck and worked its way up my skull。
Pushing the plastic shade up； I peered out the window。 There was nothing but thick gray and white clouds like the smoke of burning leaves。 I struggled against the effects of the Veil。 The clouds tried to form themselves into shapes。 What part of my sub…conscious was being dredged up？ I didn't want to know and pulled the shade down with a snap。 We'd be on the ground in half an hour。 I could hold out against the effects until then。
〃Pretty potent stuff；〃 said Caimbeul。 〃The Veil。 It makes me wish they would use some other sort of protection。〃
I shoved a hand through my hair。 It was virtually gone now。 After centuries of having it long； I'd fi…naily cut it all off。 All that was left were spiky white sprouts about an inch and a half long。 My head felt smooth and cool under my fingers。
〃