Lord Sunday by Garth Nix Read Free Book Online Page A

PRESENTS DECONTAMINATION STATION FOUR .
    “Got to have a sense of humour,” Sergeant Chen said with a sigh as soon as she saw the sign.
    “Why?” asked Leaf.
    “You’ll see,” said Chen. “I guess a small laugh helps everyone cope with the serious stuff. Come on.”
    As they walked over and Chen waved to the soldier on guard outside the big tent, Leaf asked, “You know the weird stuff…does it involve anyone with…uh…wings?”
    Chen stopped and gripped Leaf hard. “Who told you about the General?”
    “No one!” said Leaf. “But I’ve seen…uh…winged people.”
    Chen released Leaf. “General Pravuil, who was in charge of this operation, disappeared at midnight last night. The sentries outside said they saw people with wings fly him out of an upstairs window and disappear into thin air. Where did you see them?”
    “Above the private hospital,” said Leaf. “On Friday.”
    “If you see them again tell the nearest soldier,” said Chen. “Or the FBA or whoever. There’s a theory going around that they’re terrorists utilising some sort of advanced genetically engineered flying system.”
    “Right,” said Leaf. She couldn’t see any point in telling Chen that they were Denizens. She wondered if Pravuil, who Arthur had said worked for Saturday, had simply left, or if he’d been taken away by forces working for Dame Primus, or perhaps the Piper. “What do I do now?”
    “Go in there,” said Chen, pointing to the air-lock entrance of Decon Station Four. “They’ll take care of you. I’ll wait.”
    Leaf went up to the door. The soldier outside keyed the outer door, which slid open. Leaf walked in and the door shut behind her. She was in a small, featureless white room.
    “Close your eyes and mouth, and stay completely still,” said a woman’s tinny, amplified voice.
    Leaf obeyed. A second later, she gasped as a high-pressure shower came on, the water hitting her hard, like tiny needles pricking her everywhere, even through her doctor’s coat. This lasted for about ten seconds then suddenly stopped.
    “Open your eyes,” said the voice. “Remove all your clothing and place it in the receptacle to your left.”
    Leaf slowly opened her eyes. There was a fainthiss of compressed air and a panel slid open in the wall to her left, revealing what looked like a dustbin.
    Leaf took off her clothes, but left her underwear on.
    “All clothing must be removed, as it may be irradiated,” said the woman’s voice. “New clothing will be issued. This is normal procedure.”
    Leaf obeyed and stood there shivering. The panel shut as soon as all her clothes were inside.
    “Close your eyes and mouth,” said the voice. “Be aware there will be scrubbing, and it may be painful. Keep your mouth and eyes closed.”
    The needle-jet shower came on again. It was even more painful without any clothes on. Thankfully the pressure eased off after twenty seconds, but there was no real respite as Leaf felt herself suddenly buffeted by what felt like enormous hairbrushes, which mechanically ran up and down her whole body.
    “Extend your arms,” said the voice.
    Leaf bit her lip as the brushes ran over her arms. It wasn’t so much the pain, it was humiliating being washed and scrubbed, even if it was being done remotely. She felt like some sort of test animal.
    “Stand by for more shower,” said the voice.
    This third time the shower came on even more strongly than ever. Leaf crouched under the stinging water and fought back a sob.
    I was a ship’s boy on the Flying Mantis , she told herself fiercely. I’ve been through storms at sea and battles with pirates. I can handle this. I’ve fought Denizens and murderous plants, I can handle this —
    The shower stopped. There was a pinging noise like a microwave finishing and a panel slid open on the right-hand wall.
    “Put on the clothing from the right-hand receptacle,” said the voice.
    The clothing in the right-hand receptacle was just a robe made of something