The laugh was short but true. “Do you lie, even to yourself?”
“Upon occasion.”
“There’s no need at this point. I’ve known since 1905 exactly what you were up to. I’ve always approved. Besides, I like a devious mind and you, Christopher, are as devious as they come. It’s truly a shame I was too late to afford you the same courtesy you’ve just accorded McKinley.”
Marlowe turned. His face was perplexed. “You? You’ve fought progress as blindly as the others…” His eyes widened. He laughed. “Oh, that is rich. Now a couple of things fall into place. I salute you. You are a master player.”
“And you’ve put yourself in an untenable position, have you not?”
“Perhaps. I came very close to crossing the line.”
“Or perhaps you have, and your patron merely wishes you to believe otherwise.”
“As you say, perhaps. It doesn’t really matter, does it? I have no other choices.”
Hecate got up. Her black eyes and pale face luminous in the dimness. She had a very cold beauty, human in form but not substance. Marlowe had known her now for over three hundred years.
“You do have choices. You just haven’t examined them all. As you told McKinley, think them through.” She approached and bent over slightly, to kiss him on the forehead. A shock went through him. A tiny bit of understanding of a larger universe came with the kiss and his eyes widened.
After a moment. “Kat?”
“One of my best. She’s a good girl and doesn’t question me much. Perhaps too little. I had her put the nutmeg into the machine.”
Marlowe laughed. “I wonder if Kevin will ever reason it out.”
Hecate shrugged. “Perhaps not. I wouldn’t count on it though. He’s every bit as sharp as you say. And very nearly as unpredictable as you yourself. Guard your back, Christopher. In a hundred years or so, after things cool off and you’ve had a bit of time to think, I’ll look you up again. Don’t go and die on me.”
“Your wish is my command, milady.” He stood and affected a courtly bow.
“Droll, Christopher. Very droll.” She laughed a silvery laugh and faded from view.
Marlowe sat down again and pondered his new awareness. Things could get very interesting.
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