Nightside 10 - The Good the Bad and the Uncanny

hair. He stood tall and proud, arrogant in his certainty that he had a right to be there and to do whatever he felt like doing. There was a power in him. I could See it, feel it, even at such a distance. His head snapped round, and he stared right at me. His face was bone white, dominated by dark, unblinking eyes and a bright, happy smile. He could see me as clearly as I could See him, even though I was in a future that hadn’t happened for him yet.
    “Hello, John,” he said, in a voice so calm and normal it was downright spooky. “Give my regards to Larry. I’ll see you soon.”
    The vision broke, and the Past was gone. He’d dismissed me with casual ease, as though my gift and all its power was a thing of no consequence, next to him. And maybe he was right. My inner eye had slammed shut so tight it was giving me a headache. I looked at Larry, but he clearly hadn’t noticed a thing, still lost in his own thoughts. I decided not to say anything about Hadleigh, for the moment.
    He might not be a monster, but I wasn’t at all sure he was still human.
    Then both of us looked round sharply. No-one had said anything; no-one had called our names; but nonetheless, we knew. We looked down the Cheyne Walk approach, and there he was, Walker, large as life and twice as manipulative, strolling along the street as if he owned it. Heading straight for us. People hurried to get out of his way, and he no more noticed it than the air he breathed. Walker was a shark, and he only noticed other fish when he was hungry. He finally came to a halt before us, smiled easily, tipped his bowler hat politely to Larry, then fixed his steady gaze on me.
    “I understand you’re looking for Tommy Oblivion,” he said, not bothering with pleasantries. “I know something of what happened to him, here, on this street on that terrible night; and as it happens, I am in a position to tell you something you need to know. But all knowledge has its price, and I’ll only share what I know with you, John ... if you’ll do something for me.”
    “What do you want, Walker?” I said, resignedly, because I was pretty sure I already knew what he was going to say.
    “Come walk with me, John, for a while. Walk with me now, and when we’re finished, I’ll tell you what you need to know.”
    “This is a bit desperate, isn’t it?” I said. “You don’t normally resort to open blackmail until much later in the game.”
    “Needs must when the hounds of time gnaw at our heels,” said Walker, entirely unmoved.
    “We don’t have time for this,” said Larry. “If you’ve got anything useful to contribute, Walker, say it. Or butt out. We’re busy.”
    “Do we have a deal, John?” said Walker, conspicuously ignoring Larry.
    “I could make you tell me,” said Larry; and there was something in his cold, dead voice that made Walker turn to look at him.
    “I rather doubt it,” said Walker.
    “Tell me what you know about my brother. Do it. Do it now.”
    “Ah, for the good old days,” murmured Walker. “When dead men told no tales.”
    Larry went for his wand and Walker opened his mouth to use the Voice; but I was already there between them.
    “Can you both please put your testosterone back where it belongs and save the showdown for another day? This isn’t getting us anywhere. I’ll go with you, Walker, let you show me all these things you think I need to see; but it had better be worth it.”
    “Oh, it will be,” said Walker, smiling easily at me so he didn’t need to look at Larry. “I have such sights to show you.”
    I had to raise an eyebrow at that. “You’re quoting Hell-raiser? You’ve watched that movie?”
    “Watched it? Dear boy, I was technical advisor.”
    I never know when he’s joking.
    I turned to Larry. “Sorry, but I have to do this. He’ll never give up what he knows otherwise. I’ll be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, talk to people who knew Tommy and are still around. See if they can verify a connection between him and all the people on your list.”
    “All right,” said Larry, not even a little bit graciously. “But don’t be long. And don’t make me come looking for you.”
    He turned his back on me and Walker, and strode off. I looked at Walker.
    “You just don’t give up, do you?”
    “Never,” Walker said calmly. “It’s one of my more endearing qualities.”
    “You have endearing qualities?” I said. “Since when?”
    He took out his gold pocket-watch and opened it, and the