Gail Carriger - Reticence by Gail Carriger

Author:Gail Carriger [Carriger, Gail]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Romance, Vampires, Young Adult
ISBN: 9780316433938
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 31570843
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2019-08-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter NINE

Arsenic Has a Patient

Percy found the Paper City as stunning inside as it was from without. The lanterns cast colourful light on the streets, while the night sky beyond twinkled with stars.

They followed the handmaidens over roads that were made of stiff slatted reeds and arched, one after another, like a chain of perfect bridges. The storefronts and houses alongside were colour balanced and complementary to the balloons above, so that everything was aesthetically cohesive. They moved from the red zone to the gold, to the green, to the blue in seamless beauty. Each different neighbourhood was decorated, beribboned, and stylish like the best Worth gown. There were only a few people here and there, all of whom bowed low as they passed.

“’Tis like a set dressing for a stage play,” Arsenic said to Percy.

He looked closer at the gilded elegance. He hadn’t noticed the stilted nature of its appearance, but she was right. Edo was very stage-like – self-consciously cultivated and uncomfortably false.

Arsenic snorted softly. “You were wondering how it stays up and together, aye?”

“And what keeps it from drifting.”

“Whereas I was wondering – where are all the people?”

It made an odd kind of sense to Percy. “It’s a port city, for show, for foreigners to use. Sanitized. Everyone here is likely to be carefully vetted diplomatic representatives.”

“’Tis actually a stage, in its way?” Arsenic nodded. “You’re suggesting that the Americans whisked in twenty years ago and by dint of foisting trade upon the Japanese, encouraged a performance city?”

Percy nodded. “Show only the best to outsiders. The whole place is the Japanese version of a London receiving room.”

They spoke frankly to each other, but in hushed tones. The ladies were in front of them, and they didn’t want to appear rude. But Percy was also careful not to say anything that might be misconstrued. They were speaking English, but this was a port city.

“’Tis verra beautiful.” Arsenic seemed to understand his careful phrasing.

“And here, I think, beauty has a way of meaning moral superiority,” replied Percy.

“As though London high society dinna believe the same. Vampires have much to answer for.”

Percy frowned. “You think they are at work here in Edo?”

“I hadna considered that. Look at you, Professor, coming over with a bout of cultural perception.”

“I can analyse culture when it’s required.”

“When ’tis scientific and logical.”

“Same difference.”

Arsenic paused in their banter and her steps. This allowed their guides to get a little ahead. Her attention was arrested by the open storefront of a nearby shop.

Percy followed her gaze. Bundles of dry herbs hung from a framed doorway, with beautifully arranged wicker baskets of more stretching back into the shop. Paper bags filled with mysterious items were stacked in rows on shelves. There was something about it that screamed medicinal, rather than culinary. One might expect glass bottles of tinctures, but Percy supposed they would want to keep everything as light as possible in Edo.

“’Tis remarkable,” said Arsenic, big eyes even bigger in awe. “I wonder what they…”

A wizened gentleman came to the fore.

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