Evensong

There was some more of this. Bayard mocked him like Levin used to, but without the underlying friendship. They had to raise their voices above the noise of the Patel contractors. There were more of them than yesterday.

“...and you wouldn’t believe,” Bayard continued, “how furious she is at being kept out of here. But Gaetano kept his word. A couple of times, he even threatened to restrain her physically. Imagine, in her own Cathedral...”

“That’s enough,” Anwar snapped.

“...and all her orders cancelled. She was incandescent. Almost converted her mass to energy.”

“I said, that’s enough. Just go.”

“Alright, I’m leaving...But honestly, the mayhem and confusion you’ve caused. I’d have done it much better. If you want to know how you should have done it, no further than me.”

He sauntered out, aware that Anwar was trying unsuccessfully to think of a one-line rejoinder. As with Levin, Anwar would only think of one later, when it didn’t count.

The contractors carried on. The rubble and debris mounted. The dust thickened. The bucket filled, and was emptied.

After three days he had a visit from Proskar. This time, protocol was observed. Anwar got a call on his wristcom from Gaetano to say he’d given Proskar permission to see him.

“I told you he’s not to come here. I don’t trust him.”

“I do,” Gaetano snapped back. “And he wants to speak to you.”

Proskar had never mocked him like Bayard, had never said or done anything questionable, but Anwar still couldn’t get past his resemblance to Marek. When Proskar arrived, they again had to raise their voices above the noise and activity of the Patel contractors. It didn’t make for much nuance of expression.

“I came here,” Proskar began, “because…”

“Your collarbone healed yet?”

“Still healing. And your knife-wound?”

“Healed...You’re skillful with a knife,” Anwar murmured. “It’s a Marek type of weapon, a knife.”

“I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“Come into my office, we can’t hear ourselves think out here.” He took Proskar to the screened-off alcove he had rigged in a far corner of the Signing Room, where he kept his bucket. The alcove stank, as did Anwar.

“I said you’re good with a knife.”

“It’s my speciality, that’s all. Look, I came here because…”

“I said it’s a Marek type of weapon, a knife.”

“I heard you. That’s why I came here. My resemblance to Marek. I know you think he’s me.”

Anwar said nothing.

After a while, Proskar added, “And about knives: there’s no record of Marek having any close combat skills, with knives or anything else.”

“He wasn’t bad with bombs and guns.”

“I said close combat.”

“So you did. You know about him, do you?”

“Yes, after years of having to prove I’m not him. I’ve learnt so much about Marek that at times I thought I was turning into him.”

“I want you gone.”

“What?”

“I know you’ve convinced others you’re not Marek, but I can’t get over your physical resemblance.”

“If I was Marek, would I still choose to look like this?”

“A reasonable question if you’re not, and a clever one if you are.”

“Would I keep my hands like this?” He waved them in front of Anwar’s face. Large, spadelike hands, with long and slender fingers. “Who else has hands like this?”

Anwar said nothing.

“Look,I came here in good faith. Iknow you’re concerned about my identity, but I can prove I’m not Marek. There’s endless proof. Do you want me to take you through it?”

“I’m tempted,” Anwar said, “to kill you here and now. You may be innocent...”

“I never said I was innocent. I said I’m not Marek.”

“...but I’m still tempted to play the percentages and kill you anyway.”

“This is the only job I’ve ever had that really amounted to anything. Before I came here I was just freelance muscle, doing things I wasn’t proud of for people I didn’t much like. Then Gaetano took me in and I got to do something worth-while. I’ve served him and the Archbishop for five years. I’d go and die for either of them.”

“Don’t die, just go. I want you gone.”

“Didn’t you hear what I said? This is everything I am.”

“You’ve had five good years. Don’t try for six.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“To protect her. If you’re loyal to her, you don’t want me watching you when I should be watching her. And I would be watching you, because I can’t be sure you aren’t Marek. I’d never leave you alone. Better for her, and you, if you were gone.”

Proskar went to reply, then changed his mind and walked quietly out. Anwar was left looking at the walls, where still, after three days, nothing had been found.