Hollowpox The Hunt for Morrigan Crow - Jessica Townsend Page 0,137
in the Wintersea Republic have been where you are now. We have trod this difficult path. Please let me extend a helping hand on behalf of my country, and know that I do so in the open, earnest spirit of conciliation.
Most sincerely,
President Wintersea.’
Morrigan scrunched her face up. ‘I don’t understand. They … did meet?’
‘Mmm. Wintersea must have invited him just after you spoke with her, because the Elders already knew about it when I went to see them.’
‘How’d they know?’
‘Oh, the Wundrous Society’s always had informants in the prime minister’s office. Steed can barely go to the loo without someone reporting the event to Elder Quinn. When the Elders heard about Wintersea’s invitation and that Steed planned to reject it, they summoned the Hollowpox task force. Of course, I pretended not to know anything.’
‘Why?’
‘Don’t you see? They told me about Wintersea, instead of the other way around. Nobody knows you used the Gossamer Line. Nobody knows you made a deal. Everything’s fine.’
‘Oh. Um – great.’ Morrigan felt that twinge of guilt again – and perhaps, if she was honest with herself, a little bit of pride at what she’d managed to bring about. Jupiter merely waved a hand, dismissing the small issue of her treasonous act.
‘So, three of us went to see Steed,’ he continued. ‘I raged, Dr Bramble reasoned, Inspector Rivers negotiated. But nothing got through to the great nincompoop, and finally he threatened to have us thrown out … so we had to call in the big guns.’
‘Elder Quinn?’
‘Elder Quinn.’ He arched an eyebrow. ‘She was magnificent. A one-woman rage, reason and negotiation machine. She convinced him to have the meeting – and to start taking vitamins, and to get a better haircut, and to call his mother! She was really on a roll.’
‘Then what?’
‘Then … nothing. Steed took the meeting. They spoke via the Gossamer. We all stood by and listened. Wintersea was perfectly amiable, even charming. She offered the cure and only asked in return that Steed give her some indication that the Free State and the Republic might work towards achieving a less hostile diplomatic relationship. And Steed said no.’
‘Why?’
‘Partly because he’s too proud; he thinks her efficiency makes him look bad. And because he doesn’t want to appear weak or traitorous by negotiating with the enemy. And because he is – as I believe I mentioned – a nincompoop. The end.’
Morrigan glanced at the newspapers. ‘Except … not the end.’
‘Except not the end,’ Jupiter agreed. ‘Because late last night, Wintersea wrote a letter to Steed. And then …’ He gestured broadly to the newspapers covering his desk. ‘… the letter was leaked to every desk editor in Nevermoor.’
‘Holliday Wu?’
‘Holliday Wu.’
Morrigan smiled grimly. ‘So is she a genius this time, or a fiend?’
‘Maybe both.’ He tilted his head from side to side. ‘Maybe neither. It’s a slightly dirty trick, and it will expose Steed to a lot of public outrage … but he was asking for it.’
‘Right.’ She took a deep breath. ‘So what next? We have to keep the pressure on—’
‘Morrigan.’
‘—so do we start a petition, or … we should protest! Right outside Parliament—’
‘MORRIGAN,’ Jupiter barked. ‘There is no “next”. That’s it.’
She gaped at him. ‘You can’t be serious! You’re just going to give up?’
‘I did what you asked,’ he said. ‘I took it all the way to the prime minister’s office, I did everything I could to convince him, but Morrigan … this was the last trick up our sleeves. Hopefully it puts enough pressure on Steed that he’s forced to do the right thing, but as for your involvement or mine—’
‘But we can’t just—’
‘—it’s over.’
They stood glaring at one another in the world’s most furious and uncomfortable silence, until they were saved by a knock on the door.
‘Come in!’ Jupiter shouted, and Kedgeree entered, carrying a small wireless radio pressed to his ear.
‘You hearing this, Jove?’ he asked, pointing at the bigger radio on the desk, and Jupiter lunged to turn the dial up high. The stern voice of Gideon Steed filled the room.
‘—has proven effective in halting Hollowpox-related incidents at night, alleviating pressure on police and emergency responders. But I am afraid it simply isn’t enough, as this most recent chilling attack has shown.’
Jupiter looked at Kedgeree. ‘Most recent—?’
‘Happened barely an hour ago,’ Kedgeree replied gravely. ‘It’s all over the news – a lionwun professor at Nevermoor University. It was …’ He shook his head and closed his mouth tight, apparently unable to finish the sentence.