Eighth Circle

'It's not bleaching out.'

'What do you recommend?' Allain asked.

'Well. You can't leave it like it is. It's against the law to go around with green hair. Shave it all off and wear a wig until it grows back. That's what I say. You don't have much choice.'

'Do you have any wigs?'

'No. But there's a shop in the High Street.'

Allain glanced at his tablet.

'Thank you. We'll go there.' He reached inside his jacket. 'I will settle up with you now. We must be off. My travel permit is due to expire.'

***

They left the house and set off down the road. The woman followed them to the gate. Liala guessed it wasn't to say goodbye. She wanted to see where they were going.

'She's suspicious,' Allain said.

'Was it me?' Liala asked.

'She thinks you could be the real Liala.'

'Sorry.'

'No. It's not your fault.'

They turned a corner and quickened their pace.

'I should never have brought you here. This is a garrison town. The people work for the guardians. That's why it's so prosperous. It's like that town you have beside the palace. It will be full of surrogates. That woman's husband is probably one.'

'She said he is a prison officer.'

'Yes. And it's as good as saying he's a surrogate. They are all surrogates of one form or another. She might not know it. Her husband could seem such a nice mild man when he returns home. But, when he's at work and a guardian has taken possession of his mind, she wouldn't recognise him.'

'They torture prisoners?'

'Yes. Liala.' Allain's voice shook. 'They torture them for information and they torture them for fun. After that they kill them or they turn them into surrogates. We have doctors trained to remove implants from the brains of released prisoners.'

They reached their small car.

'We'll head back into the mountains. After that, I want you to go on a special operations mission. I've arranged a meeting with Crispin. It will involve the dolphins and you'll be swimming with them. Bryn can use his dolphin suit from the boat. I've got people who can make one up for you.'

Liala could hardly believe her ears. Allain wanted her to go on a special mission with Bryn and he wouldn't be with them. Or, had she got it wrong? Had it just sounded as if he wouldn't be going with them?