The Conformity by John Hornor Jacobs Read Free Book Online Page B

call the thing to me and see if I can wrest control of it away from the Conformity.”
    â€œShit on a shingle, man, you’re crazy.”
    â€œThey say desperate times call for desperate measures. That saying was old even when I was young.”
    â€œAnd you think you can take control of it?”
    â€œIt will be a terrible struggle, I’m sure. I will burn bright as I may in the ether, to draw its attention to me. And should I succeed in this contest, we will have a way to take the fight to the Conformity itself.”
    â€œAnd if not, what then?” Jack asks.
    â€œYou will have to find another way.”
    â€œI should do it,” I say.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI am stronger than you.”
    â€œYou are, this is true. But I am not inconsiderable. The entity knows me of old. Whatever amount of the Conformity’s awareness is invested in the soldier, it will be drawn to me once I reveal myself.”
    â€œDamn. That’s some Gandalf shit.”
    He looks at me, puzzled.
    â€œForget it. Modern cultural reference.”
    Silence again, and this time the awkwardness is dialed up a few notches. He doesn’t say it, and I don’t want to ask. But it’s there. Those etheric heights. “When you do this, I’ll need to be there, uh, at least in spirit,” I said.
    â€œYes. Literally. Your astral self will need to bear witness,” Priest responds.
    â€œShit. I hate that word. Astral,” I say.
    Jack snorts. “Asshole.”
    I laugh. Priest looks ineffably weary. “Alas, I forget that you are so young. So very young.” He passes a hand over his eyes as if to sweep the fatigue away. “If we all survive this, I hope you will forgive me for burdening you with such responsibility.”
    Something in me gives, and I feel light and disconnected. I think about the years of raising Vig and my stupid betrayal of his trust—stealing that truck, getting shot, getting put in good ole Casimir Pulaski Juvenile Detention Center for Boys. I let my brother down. I forgot my responsibility.
    I shake my head. “If I can bear it, I’ll take it,” I say, staring him straight in the eye.
    He nods, places a hand on my shoulder.
    â€œThank you. This means more to humanity than you know.”
    â€œOh, I have an inkling.”

nine
    I take the test tube with Hollis’s weaponized genome and Jack hefts the extranatural bomb to his shoulder with a grunt. We follow Priest. He leads us through the maze of rooms and corridors under the mountain until we find a large storage area in which we can hear the mutters and shufflings of many people.
    â€œHere I will leave you. I hope we will all be able to return here, eventually.”
    He extends his hand. I take it in mine—it’s dry and soft and papery. We shake.
    We will not meet again in the flesh, I fear, he says directly into my mind, and I realize this is true.
    It’s a monster of a world, boss. But you never know.
    A pleasure knowing you, Shreve. I shall look for you in the ether when I reveal myself.
    I’ll be there, bells on.
    His gaze searches my face, and I feel the faint scratching at the fabric of my mind, like he wants to get in and knock around, see what I’m thinking, hear my thoughts, but the scratching desists and he gives a rueful smile.
    Boom .
    â€œGood-bye, Shreve.”
    â€œLater.”
    I turn and walk into the storage area.

    The Irregulars mill about in the corner of the storage area amid unmarked fifty-five-gallon blue plastic drums and crates of unknown origin and content. Goddamned Lost Ark is probably here.
    The Red and Green Teams look like they want to throttle each other, while the nerds and lab coats and civilians just appear terrified. Muttering and moaning can be heard with each boom.
    We crowd together. Our own little Conformity soldier.
    Negata approaches, joining us.
    â€œSo, you know what’s going on?” I say to him.
    He nods. Davies