Maybe I’m approaching this wrong,Marasi thought.He’s not going to volunteer anything. But what if he thought he was the one getting information out of me?
“Wax and Wayne have stopped the launch,” Marasi lied, taking a risk.“Elendel is safe. You’re trapped, and soon this place will be flooded with constables.”
Entrone didn’t laugh at her immediately, which was a good sign. She hoped he’dtry to pry for more information.
“That’s nonsense of course,” he said. “It—”
Then he stopped. Because his voice echoed outside the building, projected into the city. He glanced at the radio and saw it was on. He gave her a dry look.
“I think,” he continued, “you are seriously ash-sick, young woman. Please, let us help you.”
Then he reached over and flipped off the radio.
Damn.
“Clever,” he said to her. “But what do you think would happen if those in the Community knew the truth? They’re a bunch of cowed civilians. They’ve been imprisoned here for seven years, never knowing the truth. Never caring to know it. You really think they’dhelp you?”
Marasi winced. So much for that plan.
The guard remained frozen in place between them. Eventually he’drealize he hadn’t caught her, and would drop his bubble. But that could take time, inside one of those. She knew how that felt.
“Entrone,” she said, “you don’t have to go through with this.”
“With what, exactly?” he said.
“You’re going to open a portal to let Autonomy’s army begin an invasion of our world. I know the plan.”
He grunted, then slumped forward further. He was still slime—the way he’dcasually ordered the execution of those captives had proved it—but he was also obviously burdened by events. Perhaps she could shake his conviction.
“Why?” she asked, genuinely curious. “You know they’re here not to rule, but destroy. Lay waste.”
“Because if I don’t,” he said, “she’ll send them anyway—and then I’ll be one of the ones who gets killed. We can’t fight them. They’ll annihilate our forces.”
“Will they?” Marasi said. “From what I hear, Autonomy is frightened of us. Worried we’ll outpace her people technologically. If she could destroy us easily, she’dhave done it already, right?”
“It takes special circumstances to create one of these portals,” he said.“Even for her. Can’t just be anywhere, or anytime.” He turned, looking over his shoulder. “The timing gave us a deadline.”
Rusts. That room behind him… that was where the portal would open, wasn’t it? She’dassumed there would be some kind of gateway, but it was the ground that was glowing. Rusts… maybe he hadn’t wanted a big mansion out of pride. Maybe they’dbuilt it here to hide the fact that the portal, whatever it was, would appear here.
“The location…” he said, turning back. “I think it’s because of those people, oddly. Such a large collection of Metalborn. And we were required to bring in a strange power, a glowing light. That’s part of the key.”
“But—”
“Are you a Survivorist, constable?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said.
“Then you know our prime tenet,” he said, looking up and meeting her eyes. “The one we’re taught from childhood?”
“Survive,” she whispered.
He nodded.
“Not like this,” she said. “Not at the expense of others. Kelsier didn’t give up without a fight. He didn’t simply go with what the Lord Ruler demanded. He taught us to survivedespiteobstacles. Not to let ourselves be slowly crushed so we could gain a minute or two of extra breath.”
“Interpret it how you wish, constable,” Entrone said, rubbing his brow. “I think these troops will come even if Telsin is successful… tohelpoversee us, in this new world. One where we serve Autonomy.”
“That’s an excuse,” Marasi said. “Worse, it’s cowardice. You’re the mayor of this city. Your duty is to the people, Entrone.”