And If Thou Wilt, Forget

[CLICK]

[SOUND OF A SHOE DRAGGING LIGHTLY ACROSS SOMETHING]

OLIVER

…Huh.

Well. I was going to give you this whole speech, tell you that you need to make your choice, but…seems like you already have. Honestly, good on you. Saves me a bit of trouble.

There is one thing I can do for you, though. Not normally in my purview, and this is a one time only sort of thing, but you know what, I think you’re going to need this. You’ve certainly earned it. So.

[CLEARS THROAT]

[SOUND OF RUSHING WIND]

He who hears my voice, he who knows my nature, he who lies still but does not sleep: Turn you around and retrace your path, and come back to the one who ever needs you by his side.

[WIND DIES DOWN]

Good luck, mates. You’re going to need it.

[CLICK]

---

[CLICK]

[SOUND OF CLOCK TICKING]

[VOICES ARE SLIGHTLY MUFFLED]

MARTIN

There’s nothing there.

GEORGIE

It was just…here.

MARTIN

When? I mean…could he have come back and…moved it?

GEORGIE

I guess. Maybe.

I was only gone a few minutes, but—I did lose track of him between here and the front door.

MARTIN

And you’re sure you didn’t recognize him?

GEORGIE

No. No, he was, um…I’d never seen him before.

MARTIN

No, what were you going to say?

GEORGIE

He, uh, he felt like Death.

MARTIN

(Quick inhale) What did he look like?

GEORGIE

(Annoyed) I mean, he’s not a seven-foot skeleton with black robes and a scythe, but—

MARTIN

N-no, no, that’s not—please, Georgie, it might be important. Describe him. Please.

GEORGIE

Um—bit taller than me, dark brown skin, dreds, looked like he hadn’t slept in about a decade—

MARTIN

(Disappointed) Oh.

(Clears throat) Anyway, the recorder’s not here anymore, but…are you, um, are you sure he’s the one who left it?

GEORGIE

I mean, the nurses said there were no other visitors, and you implied you hadn’t left one here, so unless it appeared by magic?

…What, seriously?

MARTIN

L-look, I know Jon’s told you…some of this stuff. Tape recorders appearing out of nowhere and switching themselves on would honestly be less weird than some of the things we deal with.

I mean, you, you recognized an avatar of the End. That’s not…

GEORGIE

…Right.

Well, I showed you like you asked, so do you still need me for anything?

MARTIN

…No.

No, um, you’re, you’re good. Thanks for the heads up. Um, if you see that guy again, tell him…

GEORGIE

Tell him what?

MARTIN

Just…tell him to come find me. (Sighs) He probably knows where I am.

GEORGIE

…Sure.

[FOOTSTEPS, DOOR CLOSES BEHIND GEORGIE]

[MARTIN SIGHS AGAIN]

[SEVEN SECONDS TICK OFF BY THE CLOCK]

[FABRIC SHIFTS, VOICES SUDDENLY GET LOUDER]

MARTIN

There you are, you little bastard.

[CREAK OF A CHAIR AS MARTIN SETTLES INTO IT]

(As if to himself) Okay, think. There’s, there’s no reason for anyone to have put that there, and someone who’s with the End wouldn’t have left it on purpose anyway, and…and it’s recording. Great.

(Frustrated sigh) So what does it mean?

ARCHIVIST

(Weakly) That’s a very good question.

MARTIN

Christ!

ARCHIVIST

(Hoarsely) Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.

MARTIN

I—w-wh—you—J-Jon, are—

ARCHIVIST

Martin, are you—is everything okay?

MARTIN

Whoa, whoa, w-wait, just—just stay still, okay? Do, um—l-let me go get a nurse.

ARCHIVIST

Uh, no, I uh, I’m all right.

[BEDCLOTHES RUSTLE]

MARTIN

You’re…oh. Yeah, um…(mumbles) Yeah, maybe getting a nurse isn’t a great idea right now.

ARCHIVIST

Sorry, what?

MARTIN

No, it’s just…you, um, you were in a coma.

ARCHIVIST

Wait, wait. How long?

MARTIN

Like six and a half months?

…Actually, six months, thirteen days, twenty-one hours and about twelve minutes. Not that I was counting or anything.

ARCHIVIST

Six…Martin, please tell me you haven’t been here the whole time.

MARTIN

No, but it’s not for lack of trying.

(Sighs) No, seriously, I—God, Jon, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I did it again, I-I thought you were right behind me and it wasn’t until I was outside that I realized I was alone and I, I went back to follow you, to find you, I promised I wouldn’t let you out of my sight, but then…

ARCHIVIST

Were you hurt?

MARTIN

Few cuts and bruises from flying debris. Little bit of a concussion. And I had trouble hearing for a bit, I was pretty close to the bang. But…(clears throat) Daisy knew what she was doing. It all sort of…fell in on itself.

ARCHIVIST

Daisy…and Basira, did they…?

…

Oh.

MARTIN

Yeah. Um. Daisy never came out. They…they found Basira’s body a couple days later.

Look, I’m—how, how are you feeling?

ARCHIVIST

I think I’m all right, actually.

…That’s good, isn’t it?

MARTIN

Well, it’s good for me. I don’t know if I really like what that means for you, though.

ARCHIVIST

(Softly) I suppose not.

MARTIN

Look, do you—I, I can get you some water, or—I mean, the tea here is honestly piss, but…

ARCHIVIST

(With a small laugh) I think I can wait on that.

Actually, I don’t suppose you…have a statement handy, maybe?

MARTIN

…No, sorry, not with me.

One of the nurses ought to be coming by on their rounds soon, and…well, they’ll probably run for a doctor, honestly. If they don’t let you leave, I’ll run and get one for you.

ARCHIVIST

You think they will?

MARTIN

I mean, you’re fine. They’re either going to want you out of that bed so they can get it ready for the next one, or they’re going to want to keep you so they can run all sorts of experiments on you to find the source of the miracle.

ARCHIVIST

I suppose you’re right.

[BEDCLOTHES CRINKLE AS THE ARCHIVIST MAKES HIMSELF COMFORTABLE]

[THREE MORE SECONDS TICK BY]

MARTIN

I, uh…I guess you have a lot of questions, then. Or do you just…?

ARCHIVIST

No, I…do. I do. What happened? You said you—you got out, but you thought…I was behind you?

MARTIN

Yeah. It was—I mean, everything started going weird and nasty and—I-I couldn’t keep up, it was all so confusing. I was just trying to keep track of you. I, I promised Tim I wouldn’t let you out of my sight, but it was so hard…and, and then I thought you were right there, and I told you to follow me, and I just concentrated on—I don’t know how to put it. It seemed like nothing was real and then I thought about the, the first day after you got back from being kidnapped, and I thought…that was real, you know? That was something concrete and solid and…so I reached for it, and I told you to come on, and I followed it out. And then I turned around and you weren’t…

Tim said to remember that you were “my Archivist.” I guess I was thinking of you as Jon, not the Archivist, and that’s why I couldn’t hold on to you. I’m, I’m sorry.

ARCHIVIST

You got out. That’s the important…

O-oh, God, Tim. And Melanie, have they—did Tim’s plan work?

MARTIN

(Surprised, slightly bitter laugh) Apparently.

ARCHIVIST

Apparently? What do you mean? Elias—

MARTIN

Is dead.

ARCHIVIST

What?

MARTIN

He’s dead. He’s gone. “Ees finish Meester Voundvort, ya?”

ARCHIVIST

Sorry, what?

MARTIN

Never mind.

ARCHIVIST

What happened? Did he die in police custody or something? Tim’s plan…

MARTIN

Apparently that was…that wasn’t his plan, actually. Or at least it wasn’t his whole plan. He did give Melanie a bunch of stuff to take to the police, but they never actually made an arrest, because someone blew up the Magnus Institute.

ARCHIVIST

What?!

[DOOR OPENS, SQUEAK AND RATTLE OF A CART FOLLOWED BY FOOTSTEPS]

NURSE

Well, good afternoon, Mr. Blackwood. And how is our little patient to—

[NURSE SCREAMS, SOMETHING CLATTERS TO THE FLOOR]

MARTIN

N-no, it’s okay, it’s—

ARCHIVIST

I didn’t mean to startle you.

VOICE FROM THE HALLWAY

Debbie, is that you? What’s wrong?

NURSE

I need a doctor in here, straightaway!

MARTIN

Look out for the—

[CLICK]

---

[CLICK]

[FAINT SOUNDS OF CANINE SNORES THAT SUDDENLY STOP]

[TAIL THUMPS SLOWLY AGAINST A SOFA FOR A MOMENT]

[JANGLE OF DOG TAGS, THEN TOENAILS ACROSS A WOODEN FLOOR]

[DOOR OPENS]

MARTIN

Yes, hello. Down, boy. Down.

ARCHIVIST

It’s—I don’t mind. Hello, Rowlf.

[ROWLF BARKS HAPPILY, THEN WHINES]

MARTIN

I just took you out an hour ago, con artist. You’re fine.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Make yourself comfortable, I guess. I’ll go make us some tea.

ARCHIVIST

Martin, wait. Wait. Why do you have a key to Tim’s—or Gerry’s—argh! Why do you have a key to this flat?

MARTIN

They sent it to me. In the mail. It was waiting for me when—when I got back. The note said it…might not be necessary, but if I got a phone call from the Doghouse, would I at least look in on Rowlf, if not stay with him for a while.

ARCHIVIST

…

(Softly) Martin?

MARTIN

Let me go get you that tea.

[FOOTSTEPS]

[ARCHIVIST SIGHS HEAVILY]

[SQUEAK OF SOFA SPRINGS]

[TOENAILS ON FLOOR, JANGLE OF TAGS HITTING THE FLOOR]

ARCHIVIST

I suppose it’s fitting you’re here, what with you having been my introduction to the Archives. And Martin.

It’s too bad you can’t talk. I’d love to ask you a few questions while he’s in the other room. Not that I don’t think he’ll tell me, but I bet there are things you know that he doesn’t, or that I’ll have to wait for Tim to answer. Like who that…

[PAUSE]

[SQUEAK OF SOFA SPRINGS]

[SOFT FOOTSTEPS]

ARCHIVIST

Hmm. Seems Mary Keay wasn’t exaggerating when she said he was a talented artist. This is…almost lifelike.

Interesting. Those are very nearly Tim’s eyes, but the nose…or am I remembering wrong? (sigh) I should be able to recall his face clearly enough. Next to…I can see everyone else’s face in my head, almost as though they’re standing right there. Why can’t I see his?

Maybe it is Tim. This looks like it was painted…just last year? God, it must have been a Christmas present.

Look at that. He must love him so much.

[THE ARCHIVIST HUMS A COUPLE BARS OF A LOW, REPETITIVE TUNE]

MARTIN

Jon?

ARCHIVIST

It’s so…real, isn’t it? If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he was standing right on the other side of the frame.

MARTIN

Yeah. Kind of wish I’d met him.

ARCHIVIST

(Surprised) It’s not Tim?

MARTIN

No, it’s his grandfather. The one who died last year—remember when he took a couple days off?

ARCHIVIST

I remember that, but…(softly) He never told me where he was going. Just that he was going to be gone. I wasn’t…we weren’t on good terms then.

MARTIN

Oh. Yeah. Right.

I, um, I’ve got your tea.

ARCHIVIST

Right. Thank you.

[FOOTSTEPS]

[SQUEAK OF SOFA SPRINGS]

[TWIN SIGHS]

[SEVERAL MOMENTS OF SILENCE]

MARTIN

…So…

ARCHIVIST

He’s not in jail, is he? I can’t imagine…you said someone, like the official story wasn’t sure, but…

MARTIN

The official line is that it was a terrorist attack of some kind. Especially since the House of Wax blew up more or less at the same time. There was an actual terrorist attack a couple of days later, up in Manchester at…some concert or other, and even though the guy who did that wasn’t in the country at the time, the task force decided they were related.

Either the first two were a test run before…whatever organization it supposedly was sent the guy where he did, or the guy was inspired by those attacks, or the guy was upset that he wasn’t allowed to participate in those two. Depends on which report you’re reading. Plenty of people don’t believe it and are pretty sure it’s a massive government cover-up, and the hell of it is they’re not exactly wrong, but since none of them can agree what they’re covering up or which explosion didn’t happen the way they said it did, I don’t think there’s any worry about that.

Um, the inquest records are sealed—under Section Thirty-one, actually—but since I was there, I think I’m technically allowed to request a copy if you want to review it.

ARCHIVIST

No, that’s…that’s okay. Thank you, but no. I don’t…need them.

But Elias—you said Elias was dead? In the explosion?

MARTIN

Yup.

ARCHIVIST

Are you positive?

MARTIN

Yeah. They actually found his body.

Well, sort of.

ARCHIVIST

Sort of?

MARTIN

They…they think he was really close to the epicenter of the explosions. Or one of them. It looks like there were a few. Anyway, they…um, m-mostly they found…bits. Enough to identify him, anyway. Only half his face, but…

ARCHIVIST

I don’t want to sound like I’m doubting you, but—

MARTIN

But you want to be sure. I get it.

I saw him. What was left of him, anyway. Looked like…I don’t know how many horror movies you’ve seen, but have you ever seen any of the Child’s Play movies?

ARCHIVIST

I saw the first two…ah.

Oh, that’s…Martin, I’m so sorry you had to see that.

MARTIN

(Bitter laugh) I mean, it could have been worse. At least it was someone I wanted to see dead.

I wish I hadn’t had to see what happened to Basira. It wasn’t quite as bad as Elias, but it wasn’t pretty.

And when they brought you out…God, Jon. That almost broke me.

ARCHIVIST

I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. (softly) But I’m glad you were able to see it.

MARTIN

…Yeah. Yeah, I know what you mean.

[BRIEF PAUSE]

ARCHIVIST

…What about Tim? And Gerry? I assume wherever they are, they’re together, but…

MARTIN

I—(voice cracks) I hope so.

ARCHIVIST

Martin?

[THUNK OF A MUG BEING PLACED ON AN END TABLE]

MARTIN

I mean…they never found their bodies or anything.

But…but nobody’s seen them since that night. That’s why the Doghouse called me. It’s a kennel. Apparently they’d boarded Rowlf there for three days and I was their emergency backup contact if they didn’t pick him up on time and couldn’t be reached.

ARCHIVIST

(Somewhere between disbelief and despair) So it’s…it’s just us left?

MARTIN

Melanie’s still around, but…she’s pissed. Not sure if it’s because she lost her job or because she lost her chance to kill Elias herself. I haven’t seen her since the inquest.

ARCHIVIST

Good Lord.

Was…was that his plan the whole time?

MARTIN

It had to have been. You don’t just blow up a building spur of the moment. Especially with multiple, um, “points of origin.”

Most of it was concentrated on the Archives, really, but the whole building fell in. Couple of the ones around it got damaged, too—I guess Tim wasn’t as concerned with not damaging the surrounding structures as you were—but they were pretty much empty.

ARCHIVIST

How many people were hurt? Besides…

MARTIN

No one else. According to Rosie, Elias let everyone go early. You know that where she sits she sees everyone go past—she said that when she left, the only two people in the building were Elias and Melanie…well, and Tim. And I guess Gerry…somewhere. The buildings on other side were empty.

ARCHIVIST

But Melanie’s all right.

MARTIN

She got out before Tim blew up the Institute.

She kind of ranted at me, and…I let her. She’s upset. She needed to blow off steam. At least she didn’t hit me…anyway, she told me Elias somehow got in her mind and made her relive her dad’s death—he, um, he was a patient at Ivy Meadows—

ARCHIVIST

(Softly) Oh, God.

MARTIN

—and Tim came rushing in while she was trying not to fall apart. We had a drink between giving our testimony and the jury coming back with their findings and she told me all about it. He—he let her cry it out, then promised her he would never do anything like that to anyone else ever again, gave her all the stuff he’d got from Elias’s office—I guess—and told her to take it to the cops. He said he was going to make sure Elias didn’t follow her and (voice cracks) told her to go save the day.

The place she’d gone to meet the officers was far enough away that she didn’t…she said you could smell the smoke, kind of, and she heard the sirens, but she didn’t think anything of it. Went home and waited for Tim to call so they could…compare notes…but he never did.

ARCHIVIST

When did she—or you—when did you find out what happened?

MARTIN

Melanie found out that same night. Um, Georgie called her, actually, wanting to make sure she wasn’t hurt.

I didn’t find out for a couple of days. They kept me in hospital overnight—partly because of the concussion, but mostly because I was kind of hysterical when the emergency services showed up—and then I kind of wouldn’t leave until they let me see you. They decided to, um, to transfer you to London—the hospital up there wasn’t really equipped for long term life support. I was going to call Tim to tell him…I was kind of surprised he hadn’t turned up, actually…but when I finally pulled out my phone, I had about thirty missed calls and so many texts my inbox was full, mostly from Melanie demanding I call her. Once she got finished chewing me out for not calling right away, she told me what happened.

ARCHIVIST

I…hmm.

MARTIN

Are you all right? You’re not—

ARCHIVIST

Just—it’s a lot to take in.

MARTIN

Yeah, sorry. I, I keep forgetting I’ve had six months to deal with this, you know?

ARCHIVIST

I’m not sure that makes it better.

You, ah…you said that you—when we were at the hospital, when I asked if you had a statement handy…

MARTIN

Oh! Right, right, right, right, sorry, sorry. God, you’re probably starving.

Hold on, let me go get that for you.

ARCHIVIST

You just…have one?

MARTIN

Well, I assume it’s a statement, anyway. You know how I said there was a parcel for me with the key to this place in it? There was one for you, too. A parcel, I mean. I didn’t open it, but…it feels like a tape.

Or, I mean, I guess I could give you my statement about the Unknowing, but—

ARCHIVIST

No! (more quietly) Thank you, Martin, but…no, I don’t want to do that to you.

May I…have the tape? Please?

MARTIN

Of course. Be right back.

[SMALL CREAK OF SOFA SPRINGS, FOOTSTEPS]

[ROWLF SIGHS]

ARCHIVIST

(To himself) I wish I’d thought to look for him. At least then I’d know…

[FOOTSTEPS]

MARTIN

Here you go.

ARCHIVIST

Thank you.

[SOUND OF CARDBOARD ENVELOPE TEARING OPEN]

[SLIDING OF PLASTIC AGAINST CARDBOARD]

MARTIN

I, um, I brought the tape recorder. From the hospital. If you need it.

ARCHIVIST

Yes, I think that would be best.

MARTIN

Do you…want me to listen with you?

ARCHIVIST

…I mean, I know they aren’t pleasant to listen to. I-if you want to go…

MARTIN

Well, if you’re giving me the choice…

ARCHIVIST

I am.

MARTIN

Then…no.

[SLIGHT SQUEAK OF SOFA CUSHIONS, SOUNDS OF FABRIC AGAINST FABRIC AS MARTIN MAKES HIMSELF COMFORTABLE]

Think I’ll stay right here.

ARCHIVIST

Are you sure? I don’t know what this is going to be about.

MARTIN

Maybe I don’t want to let you out of my sight right now. I just got you back.

ARCHIVIST

…All right.

Just, just promise me one thing. Promise me you won’t interrupt, or stop the tape, no matter how unpleasant it is. If it’s too bad, you can leave, o-or plug your ears, but…I need this. And I hate that I need it, and I don’t want to…

MARTIN

Are you talking about the statement, or how you might react to it?

[SURPRISED LAUGH FROM THE ARCHIVIST]

ARCHIVIST

Both?

MARTIN

Jon. You’re still you. You’re just…needing different food now.

If you’d come out of that coma needing a feeding tube, or a colostomy bag, or someone to carry you to the bathroom and bathe you or whatever, I’d do what I could to take care of that. And if I know anything about looking after someone who needs special care, it’s that you have to get comfortable with the parts of that that upset you and gross you out. So if we don’t have the Institute and I’m going to need to know what to do to help you get statements—

ARCHIVIST

Oh, God.

MARTIN

—then I guess I’d better start learning now.

Go ahead. I’m here for you.

ARCHIVIST

…All right.

(Slow inhale) All right.

[SOUNDS OF TAPE BEING INSERTED INTO RECORDER]

MARTIN

Any ideas about what might be on there?

ARCHIVIST

It’s—it’s fairly recent. From not long before she died, if I’m reading her label right. (sigh) Probably something to do with the Stranger that we’re going to wish we knew about before we tried to turn back the Unknowing.

MARTIN

I mean, we did it.

ARCHIVIST

True.

I just…

[DEEP BREATH]

[CLICK]

GERTRUDE

Case 0141010, Sebastian Skinner. Incident occurred in Gwydir Forest, North Wales, September 2014. Statement given tenth of October, 2014. Committed to tape fourth of March, 2015. Gertrude Robinson recording.

[CLICK]

GUARDIAN

Hello, Jon. Apologies for the deception, but I needed to make sure you actually started listening, so I thought it would be best if I didn’t announce myself up front. I know you normally listen to these alone, but depending on what’s going on, Martin might be there too. (pause) I hope he is. Please don’t stop playback—this is important, and it could be really dangerous if you try. Maybe even fatal. So just…listen.

(Deep breath) Okay. Let’s start again.

Statement of the Guardian, Timothy Stoker, regarding the Archivist, Jonathan Sims. Recorded direct from subject seventeenth of May, 2017.

Statement begins.

By now you’ve almost certainly figured out there are…probably a few things I didn’t tell you, some things I held back. You might feel like you can’t trust me or anything I have to say, and honestly, that’s fair. But I need you to understand that I did it to keep you safe. If you’d known the whole truth right away, the risk of…the wrong person finding out and stepping in was too high. Also, if I’m being honest, if you’d known what I was planning ahead of time, you probably would have tried to stop me. And it had to go this way, Jon. There was no other way.

First things first. You definitely know that the Institute is gone, that it was blown up at the same time as the House of Wax. (small laugh) God, I hope it was actually blown up! I swear, Gertrude left me a letter with almost exactly this written in it, except she was planning to burn the Institute down. I actually don’t think she planned for the whole place to go up, just the Archives, but…anyway, obviously, she didn’t get that far. Hopefully I did. Hopefully you’re listening to this tape in a world where the Magnus Institute has been blown off the face of the earth. And yes, Jon, that was me. It’s nearing midnight, the night before you leave for Great Yarmouth and pretend to take me with you, and I am telling you that I plan to blow up the Institute while you’re gone—well, with Gerry’s help. You’ve probably figured this out by now, but just in case—Gerry and I had actually been to the storage unit before I showed it to you guys. I had an extra set of keys to the Archives, including to your office. Sorry about that, but I swear to you I never snooped through your things. All I did was get the key to that unit, once Gerry remembered it was there…anyway, that’s where the tape I told you about was. There was also a letter addressed to me that was written later, tucked in with the plastic explosives, so yeah, I knew they were there. Gerry already, uh, “appropriated” a few blocks for our use, plus some of the charges and a second detonator. Don’t worry, I’m going to get Melanie out of there first. And I’ll make sure she has what she needs to get the cops to at least plan on arresting…Elias, just in case. That’s something else Gertrude taught me. Contingency. Always have a contingency plan in case it rains. One way or another, he’ll be gone from the Institute.

You’re probably wondering why. I mean, Elias Bouchard is a rat bastard who tortures innocent people, tries to crush their spirits, and actively murdered two people that you know of…okay, maybe this is a little bit revenge for Gertrude. I swore when I found out she was dead that whoever did it would pay, and he will, tenfold. But you’ve got to be wondering why I’m doing this now. Why I didn’t stop the Unknowing first. After all, you’ve heard my statement—I’m planning to give it to you tomorrow before you leave, keep up your strength and all, so you know that this is why my brother died. You’ve got to know I want revenge for that, too.

There are three things you need to know about that.

The first is that Elias Bouchard, the real Elias Bouchard, is dead. Has been for at least two decades. The man you’ve called Elias Bouchard is actually Jonah Magnus. Like Maxwell Rayner, he has a way of extending his life, only in his case, he does it by taking over other bodies and stealing their lives. I’m not sure how he does it, but I think it’s got something to do with the eyes. After all, he can watch through any eye, real or imaginary—that’s how he always seems to know what you were up to. Gertrude taught me how to hide from him, but by the time I trusted you enough that I was going to teach you, there wasn’t time, so I’m sorry about that. You remember how in your paranoid stage, you were investigating everyone, and you wondered how a pothead with a Third became head of the Institute? It’s because Jonah took over his body. He was handpicked, probably because nobody would miss him or notice if he was suddenly different.

The second thing you need to know—and this is both why I didn’t go with you to his “briefing” earlier today, and one of the reasons why I’m not going with you to Great Yarmouth tomorrow—is that, frankly, Jon, you will succeed in stopping the Unknowing, no matter what you do. Even if you do nothing. It can’t succeed. It’s doomed to fail.

I told you I didn’t know exactly what Gertrude’s plan was to stop the Dark’s ritual. That’s true. But I do know what she did, which was nothing. She left me a note that…didn’t exactly explain anything, but left Gerry and me to form our own conclusions. Which we did, eventually.

It was the way Gertrude disrupted the Buried that really should have put me on the right track. Jan Kilbride, the man who was on the Daedalus and thought his tether had snapped during the spacewalk? He’d been marked by the Vast. Gertrude killed him, dismembered him, and threw him into the pit that was the focus of the Buried’s ritual. They canceled each other out, in theory. It still would have collapsed somehow, but the point is that she used opposites to do it. Opposites, Jon. How can you be afraid of heights if you don’t know there’s a ground? How can you fear being buried alive if you don’t remember the sky? How can you be afraid of the dark if you’ve never seen the light? How can you be afraid of something if you don’t know there’s another way to be?

That’s where the problem with the rituals comes in. Everybody is trying to bring a single one of the Fourteen into the world. The problem is that if that’s the only thing there is to fear, eventually, it’s going to wear out. And if nobody is afraid anymore, how can fear survive? Besides, they’re too tangled up. It’s why it’s so hard sometimes to slot statements into categories. Are you afraid of being lost in the woods because you think someone’s going to attack you, because the paths all look the same, because you can sense something tracking you specifically, or because of how big and silent they are? Do bones scare you because someone died or because something devoured them? Does your fear of the stranger’s eyes upon you spring from the stranger, or the watching?

Do you fear the question, or the answer?

(Deep breath) Sorry, got a little carried away there.

Anyway, uh, on to the third thing. Jonah figured this out, too. At least, we’re pretty sure he did. In Gertrude’s last letter to me, she said that he has a ritual that will work. I mean, probably work. I know I say this a lot, but, you know, we can’t Know the future. It’s too unpredictable. The Web likes to make people think it can see the future, but at best, it sees patterns—what may happen—and tries to pull the strings to make it happen. But we can’t Know anything that isn’t certain, so…yeah. And I sure as hell can’t read Jonah’s mind, not that I’ve ever tried. I’m not that foolhardy.

But the point is, Jonah has a ritual that will work—probably something that would bring all the Fears through with the Eye in charge, but, well…I don’t know the details. Gertrude didn’t either. All I know is that if he survives, you’ll be in danger for the rest of your life. (heh) I mean, you will anyway, but not from him.

If I did this right.

See, there is one thing Gertrude knew about the Eye’s ritual—she called it the “Watcher’s Crown”—and that’s that the Archivist is a key component of it. At first I thought it was just because Jonah wanted to use an Institute employee, but then I really gave it some serious consideration, and I think I’ve got hold of the end of it. Jonah Magnus existed before the Institute. He was already an old man when he founded it. But Archivists existed before that—there was that one in the Library of Alexandria, after all—so obviously, Jonah had to build the Institute to attract—and trap—an Archivist. Why? What was so important about that? And then I realized. The statements. You don’t just catalog and shelve them, after all. You’re reading them. Recording them. And not just on the tapes. That’s why you dream about the live ones. You are the record of the statements. The Archives aren’t a place. In a very real sense, they’re you. Nikola Orsinov must have sensed something like this, because she recognized the power in your skin, and in Gertrude’s…and in a way, in Leitner’s, because he was a record too—a record of the books. Maybe not as powerful, but powerful enough. Whatever Jonah has planned, though, I think you’ll wish he’d skinned you first. I can’t imagine what he has planned for you is going to be pleasant. That’s why I have to stop him, but it’s also why I can plant explosives around the basement of the Magnus Institute and not suffer as much for it. I’m protecting my Archivist…my Archives. They just aren’t the paper, ink, and sorrow we’ve been collecting all these years.

So. You’re probably wondering why I didn’t just come tell you all this in person. Why I bothered with a tape. After all, if I’m looking you in the eyes, you’ll Know I’m telling the truth, right?

The reasoning is pretty simple. Partly, it’s that I don’t anticipate I’m in any shape to talk to you right now…and partly it’s that I don’t think you can compel me anymore.

On to the next confession. Jonah doesn’t have Gertrude’s tapes. I don’t know where he was hiding the one he played for you today, but he didn’t have the rest of them. At least, not anymore. When I pretended I’d tried to leave and went to Russia, after I got back, I put on an act like I was regaining my strength, and Jonah took the bait, hook, line, and sinker. He came down to be a smug bastard about it, and while I had him distracted, Gerry nipped up to his office and stole the box of tapes. Genuinely, that was the whole reason I went to Russia in the first place. I’d noticed the box while I was trying to stop Melanie joining the Institute, and that was the best plan I could come up with to pry him out of his office long enough to get them.

We’ve listened to a few. The first one is one I didn’t really want to listen to, but Gerry was drawn to. Turned out the reason was that it was his dad’s statement—his mum had him bound in her Book. Uh, the details are a long story, and it’s around somewhere if you want to give it a listen. But at the end, Eric revealed that he’d quit, months before Mary killed him.

I know, I know, I told you it wasn’t possible. It…isn’t easy, but it’s doable. The only way to sever the connection to the Eye is to take away what it has to see with. You—you have to blind yourself.

Eric destroyed his completely, but Gertrude reckoned as long as you can’t see, you’re good. I’m not sure what she was planning—she was going to blind herself after she burned down the Archives and stopped Jonah—but I, uh. I have a plan of my own.

Look, I—I care about you. Both you and Martin. Although I bet you’re having a hard time believing that right now, since, you know, I just admitted that I let you go into a potentially dangerous situation that wasn’t even necessary. But I trust you two to take care of each other, and…honestly, Jon, I think you’re strong enough that you don’t need a Guardian anymore.

I had that realization a while ago, by the way. Before you were kidnapped. When I told you that protecting you and looking after you was my job? I meant that literally. The Ceaseless Watcher makes sure I know when you’re in danger, and guides me to you so that I can protect you. I don’t imagine tomorrow is going to be easy for me on that front. I admit that I’m betting a lot on how much you and Martin care about each other. I’m…I’m planning to tell him not to let you out of his sight. I’m hoping that if you know he’s sticking with you, if you know that if you go into something dangerous he’ll be right there with you, you’ll think twice before you do it. That, (sigh) that you’re not so far gone as Gertrude was, that your curiosity and need to know won’t outweigh your need to keep him safe. Martin, if you’re listening to this tape, I am sorry about using you, but…like I said on the official recording, it’s going to be about another day or so before I can afford to be sentimental.

God, I sound like Gertrude.

I’m pretty sure I’m doing the right thing, though. Both by not going with you, and by…well, quitting. Weirdly, it’s because of the Web. I know, I know—how can I trust an entity that thrives on manipulation? And how do I even know it’s there? I know you don’t think it’s subtle, I know that once you found out about it you thought back and pinpointed every single statement that’s related—but the thing is, Jon, those are bait. Those are the obvious ones. Did you know—probably not, I know how much you hate them—but some spiders can spin up to eight different kinds of silk. It’s not all about the sticky kind that catches flies. Some of the threads running through the statements are a lot more hidden, and you can’t recognize it until you look back on it.

The thing is, the day after Gerry and I rescued you from the House of Wax, the day you and Martin stayed home? I stepped out for a sandwich run, and I bumped—literally—into Annabelle Cane. You know, the woman from that statement about the super unethical ESP fear study. She’s an avatar of the Web, all right. And she was looking for me.

She told me two things. The first thing she told me was that I’d encountered the Web myself. Remember when we were at the storage unit and I told you about the trip to the Night Market to track down an artifact? I found it at a table staffed by a man that, if I’d known about the Fourteen at the time, I’d have suspected of being an avatar of the End. There were four things on it—an Art Nouveau clockwork bird made of precious metals, a handheld silver mirror that looked like it was literally being clutched in a hand, a blank ceramic mask, and a plain black ring. He told me to choose one. I bargained him up to two—he said the price would be too high for four, and it would be even higher for three, because I’d never be able to stop thinking about what would happen with the one that got away. The bird was what Gertrude sent me for, and…well, that’s where my ring came from. It, uh, it’s basically an early warning system—it lets me know when someone is watching me through, uh, covert means. Probably should have given it to you, or to Martin, but honestly, I don’t know that it would work if I did. These things have weird rules sometimes.

The second thing she told me…Christ. (slight laugh) This is harder to say than I thought it would be. She told me that, and I quote, “An Archivist on his own follows one path. An Archivist with his protector follows another. When the time comes, if you don’t go with him, it all falls apart.” She said you wouldn’t succeed without me there.

There are…there are two ways that can go, really. Three, maybe. The first, and the least likely, is that the Web doesn’t know that I know the rituals won’t succeed and was trying to convince me that I had to go with you because you wouldn’t be able to stop the Unknowing without me. The second is that if I don’t go with you, you are going to put yourself in a stupidly dangerous situation that you won’t walk out of, and I will never forgive myself because I let the Archivist die…if I even survive that, mind you. And I don’t mean that in the way Martin won’t survive losing you, I mean that incredibly literally—since my job, my purpose, is to protect the Archivist, there’s a chance that I would literally forfeit my life for you, maybe. I dunno, Jon, I don’t know how this works. From what we’ve been able to find, there’s never been a Guardian before, or at least not a documented one, so who knows.

The third possibility, and it’s the one I’m banking on, is that the Web knew I would think up those first two scenarios and be filled with enough doubts or worries that I would go with you. Which means it does actually want me to. You know how I said the Web had never tried a ritual of its own? I strongly suspect that the reason isn’t because the Mother of Puppets likes the world the way it is. I think she probably came to the same conclusion that Gertrude and Jonah did. And I’m more than a little worried that she’s trying to manipulate things to help Jonah succeed, because he might be the only one who can actually pull it off, and the Web doesn’t need to come out on top so long as it’s able to fully manifest. No, not worried. I’m convinced that’s the right answer. And I think Annabelle Cane, by being so straightforward and direct with me, was trying to make me think she was using reverse psychology on me so I’d do exactly what she said. (chuckles) Fortunately, I’ve spent the last several years building up an immunity to iocane powder.

It’s a gamble. I know that. But that’s the thing about hope, Jon, is that it is a gamble. We make a lie out of hope by treating it like a promise. It’s a chance, that’s all, a possibility that the odds of succeeding are worth the risk. A cornered rabbit doesn’t scratch at the dog’s face in the absolute confidence that it will escape with its life—it attacks for the chance that it might.

[DEEP SIGH]

Anyway. I know what the range on those detonators are—I confirmed it with Tonner, but I already, well, Knew—so I know that once Gerry and I plant them, we’ll be able to get clear out of the Institute before we blow it. Jonah is going to be busy watching what you all are doing, and probably seething that you’re not…getting in worse trouble than you’re going to, so he’ll be the last one out of the building. We’ll be able to keep any innocent people from getting hurt. And then…well, one way or another I’m quitting.

Hopefully I’ll be able to. I’m actually not sure if I can. Not physically. I know exactly how to do it. Staring at the explosion is kind of a chancy way of going about it, but I’m going to give that a try first, and if that doesn’t work, maybe a splash of acid…or maybe I’ll just gouge them out myself. There are lots of possibilities. I’ll work it out when the time comes. It’s just…(small laugh) I’m genuinely not sure if I can. I might be too deep in the Ceaseless Watcher to survive severing my connection.

I’m damned sure it’s going to hurt. But I’ve got to try.

Whatever I did, I’m probably still recovering from that. Might still be in the hospital, depending on how long it’s been and what I did and if I have to convince them I don’t need a stint in a psychiatric unit. I might also be at home. Either way…I’m sure you still have a lot of questions. Come and see me, (small laugh) if Gerry will let you in, and I’ll answer what I can.

Oh, and Jon—I told you I planned ahead on this. That includes taking into consideration the fact that you need the statements to survive. Well, I told you we took all of Gertrude’s tapes—we’ve still got them. I’ve also been squirreling away some of the written statements for the last couple of days, anything I didn’t think you’d need in the short term. They’re both in our flat, in the hall closet—second door on the right. We’re sending Martin a key along with this tape, so if I’m still in hospital you can get in and get them for yourself. Rowlf will be glad to see you. Just…don’t go overboard all at once, okay? Not just because I don’t know if you’ll be able to—no, that’s a lie. Fear always exists, there are always people who will want to talk, and now they won’t have the Institute to go to, so you’ll probably be able to come up with something. But it might be a while before you can get more. Anyway, you probably need to pace yourself. You might be able to handle more than one a week by now, but don’t hurt yourself.

Hopefully I’ll see you soon. I want to hear how it went. Even if it’s not essential to blow it up to keep it from succeeding, after what they did to Danny, I’m going to get a lot of satisfaction out of hearing all the details.

(Laughs) “Our children’s children will hear a good story.”

I’ll see you soon, Jon. Figuratively speaking, anyway.

And you know what, if worse comes to worst—if, one way or another, I don’t survive what’s about to happen? It’s worth it. It’s worth it to know that Jonah Magnus is no longer walking this earth, and that you—and Martin—and even Melanie—are safe.

End recording.

[CLICK]

[SEVERAL SECONDS OF SILENCE]

MARTIN

…Jesus.

ARCHIVIST

(Softly) Good Lord.

MARTIN

I—do you—w-was that…true?

ARCHIVIST

…Yes.

It’s true. All of it. Elias Bouchard was Jonah Magnus, the Unknowing would have collapsed under its own weight without our interference. I carry within me every statement I’ve ever read, and Tim…

I don’t know what it would have changed if we’d all known ahead of time. Maybe if I’d got Gertrude’s tape to me telling me…at least some of that, things would have been different at the beginning. Maybe I would have trusted Tim more when the Not-Sasha was there. Maybe we could have…

We’ll never know.

MARTIN

“It can’t be changed now, ‘til acorns grow on thistles.”

ARCHIVIST

Is…that from Watership Down?

MARTIN

Yeah. I didn’t know if you could hear me or not, but I, uh, I kind of finished reading it to you while you were…

We can start back where we left off. If you want.

ARCHIVIST

I’d—like that. I think. God knows I need something else to focus on than…

What about you, Martin?

MARTIN

Me?

ARCHIVIST

It’s, it’s been six months—six and a half. You were the only one to walk away from the Unknowing. Melanie won’t speak to you. I was…and Tim…and on top of all that, you lost your job, too.

How are you doing?

MARTIN

…Truthfully? Not great. I missed you. Even seeing you every day. It wasn’t the same. (attempt at laughter) Obviously.

I, I did manage to get a new job. Turns out thirteen years working for the Magnus Institute, eleven of them in the library, was at least good enough to count as enough experience to get a position as an assistant librarian. I don’t have a degree in Library Science, so I’m lucky I was even able to get that, but…it’s a job. Doesn’t pay great.

Honestly, if Tim and Gerry hadn’t both left me…well, everything…I wouldn’t have been able to afford to live these last few months. Even after Mum died.

ARCHIVIST

They left—wait, your mother—oh, Martin.

MARTIN

About three months ago. Which was a lot to deal with, and there’s, there’s so much paperwork to do with a death, and pretty much all her life insurance went to the care home—which at least meant it was one less thing I had to worry about, but still a hassle. And I was in this weird, endless loop of criticism where the nurses at both hospitals thought I should have been at the other—the ones here in London kept making snide remarks about ignoring my mother, the ones in Devon kept nattering on about not paying more attention to my partner. It nearly drove me mad, honestly.

And yeah. Apparently they both updated their wills right before…everything. They left everything to one another, but in the event they were both gone, they designated me as their heir. In Tim’s case, I reckon it was just so his mum wouldn’t get hold of it. In Gerry’s case…well, without Tim, he didn’t really have anyone left to leave it to, I guess. And lawyers in this day and age are a lot less likely to let you leave things to your dog.

That’s just…been my life lately, I guess. Shelve books, point people in the right direction for resources I’m not allowed to touch yet, get ignored by everyone my own age and spend most of my free time talking to the older employees no one wants to listen to anymore. W—um, go around the block with the dog a few times a day, sit in the hospital until they throw me out, throw something together. It’s a good thing I’ve had Rowlf, because at least he’s someone to talk to.

[TAIL THUMPS AGAINST THE FLOOR A FEW TIMES]

ARCHIVIST

I’m so sorry, Martin. I’m, I’m sorry I put you in this position.

MARTIN

You didn’t. If anything, Elias—Jonah did.

And you know, I wouldn’t change it. Not any of it. No matter how much it hurts.

ARCHIVIST

Truly?

MARTIN

I mean…if I could have stopped you from getting hurt, or ending up in a coma—or if, if I could have…okay, maybe there are some things I’d change. But, well, I don’t…really think there’s anything I can do that would have changed it.

I wouldn’t have made any other choices. I’d still choose to follow you. To believe in you. Loving you was never a choice. Maybe I’d have chosen to actually say that when I knew you could hear me, but—o-oh, shit.

ARCHIVIST

(Audibly smiling) I love you, too, Martin.

MARTIN

…Oh.

Cool.

[FABRIC RUSTLES]

ARCHIVIST

We’ll figure it out together. One way or another.

MARTIN

Yeah.

I mean…we’re safe now, right?

ARCHIVIST

We’re safe from Jonah. But as Tim said, we’re—I’m going to be in danger for the rest of my life.

MARTIN

We. You were right the first time.

ARCHIVIST

Martin…

MARTIN

I’m not leaving you, Jon. I mean it. Anything that goes after you, it’s, it’s just going to have to take me too. Especially since you just basically fulfilled the stupid fantasy I’ve been dreaming about for the last two years.

[SURPRISED LAUGH FROM THE ARCHIVIST]

Like you said. One way or another. Together.

ARCHIVIST

…It’s a deal, then.

MARTIN

Yeah. That’s the deal.

…I love you.

ARCHIVIST

I love you, too.

[FABRIC RUSTLES]

[TWO FIRM KNOCKS ON THE DOOR]

MARTIN

Who’s there?

Rowlf, stay.

[ROWLF WHINES, TAIL THUMPING AGAINST THE FLOOR]

ARCHIVIST

I’ve got it, Martin.

[FOOTSTEPS ACROSS THE FLOOR]

[CLUNK OF BOLT BEING THROWN BACK]

[DOOR SWINGS OPEN]

GUARDIAN

Archivist.

ARCHIVIST

Guardian.

MARTIN

Tim?!

GUARDIAN

May we come in? I think we need to talk.

[CLICK]