The Crystal City Page 0,138

that's with him, he's a killer. I knew him on the river and in Mexico. "I should've known when I left him in True Cross that he'd join up with Calvin again."

The women started out of the house behind him, but Arthur Stuart didn't wait for them. He ran up the bluff and arrived just as Alvin did. They stood at the end of the corridor between the blocks.

"Calvin," said Alvin softly. "Glad to see you here."

"Could you lend a hand here?" said Calvin. "Seems old Jim Bowie here just can't tear himself away from whatever he's seeing in these mirrors of yours."

"He's seeing himself," said Alvin. "Like you did."

"I think he's seeing more than that," said Calvin. "Though I can't think what."

Was it possible that Calvin saw nothing but his own reflection, as simple as a mirror, when he looked into these walls? Arthur Stuart thought it might just be possible-Calvin wasn't known for being a deep thinker, and maybe the walls had no more depth than the person looking into them. But it was more likely that Calvin saw the same kinds of visions as everyone else, but just couldn't bring himself to tell the truth about it, any more than he could tell the truth about much of anything else.

Alvin walked between the blocks, and when he reached Jim Bowie, put a hand on his shoulder. Immediately Bowie looked at him, grinned. "Why, I was seeing you in there, and seeing you out here, it's like the same vision. With just one tiny difference."

"I don't want to hear about it," said Alvin. "Come on out of here, both of you." He began to lead them along.

"The difference was, in the wall there I saw you full of bulletholes," said Jim Bowie. "But how could a thing like that happen? Imagine the bullet that could hit you!"

"Just wishful thinking on your part," said Alvin.

"Bulletholes!" said Calvin. "What a cheerful mural to put on public display, Alvin."

They reached the end of the corridor where Arthur Stuart was waiting.

"Howdy, Calvin," said Arthur. "I see you made it out of Mexico City after all."

"No thanks to you," said Calvin. "Leaving me there to die like the others."

Arthur didn't bother to argue. He knew Alvin already knew the truth, and would not be inclined to believe Calvin's version, which was naturally designed to pick a fight between Alvin and Arthur Stuart.

"I know Alvin's glad you lived," said Arthur Stuart. No need to say that Alvin was about the only one, apart from their mother and father.

"And I've forgiven Jim here for leaving me to have my heart ripped out."

Jim Bowie didn't rise to the bait, either. His attention was directed entirely toward Alvin. "Calvin told me what you're building here," said Bowie. "I want to be part of it."

"Yes," said Calvin. "If it's a city of makers, how could you think to do it without the only other living maker." He grinned at Arthur.

"We're all makers here," said Alvin, ignoring the fact that Calvin already knew how offensive his words were. "Come on along, my house is just down here."

They met the women on the way, and Alvin introduced everybody to everybody. Jim Bowie was, to Arthur's surprise, quite a charmer, able to put on elegant Camelot manners when there was someone to impress. Calvin was his normal saucy self-but Rien seemed to enjoy his banter, much to Arthur's disgust, and when Calvin showered flattery on Marie d'Espoir, Arthur Stuart thought about causing him a subtle but permanent internal injury-but of course did nothing at all. You don't start a duel with a maker who has more power and fewer scruples than you.

They got to the house and Alvin invited them inside to sit down. The furniture, except for Peggy's rocking chair, was all rough-hewn benches and stools, but they were good enough to sit on-and Arthur had heard Peggy say that she didn't wish for more comfortable furniture, because if the chairs were softer, company would be inclined to stay longer.

Calvin seemed to want to talk about his narrow escape from Mexico City, but since Tenskwa-Tawa had already told Alvin and Arthur Stuart all about it as soon as Arthur got back from his mission there, they were not inclined to hear a version of the story that made Calvin out to be something of a hero. "I'm glad you got out all right," said Alvin-and meant it, which was more than Arthur Stuart could say for himself. "And Jim, I