The Purple Emperor

CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR

Peach Blossom said, 'We might be able to use silk.'

Pyrgus was leaning over Henry's body, his fingers gently probing one side of his neck. He looked stunned. 'I think it's too late,' he said. 'I can't find any pulse.'

Blue said, 'How can we use silk?'

'It's too late,' Pyrgus said again. He looked round at Blue, then Nymph, his eyes brimming.

T think he's right, Blue,' Nymph said.

Blue said, 'Shut up, both of you.' To Peach Blossom she repeated, 'How can we use silk?'

Peach Blossom licked her lips thoughtfully. 'We can fuse it to living tissue. We do it sometimes over a small area to make a garment hang properly. Temporarily, of course, but there's no reason why it shouldn't be permanent. Or cover his entire chest,' she added as an afterthought.

'Living tissue,' Nymph emphasised quietly. She looked compassionately at Blue.

'Do it!' Blue said.

Peach Blossom was staring down at Henry's ruined body. 'If he does survive, he's going to look strange… '

'How strange?'

Peach Blossom frowned. 'Fusion silk is multicoloured. You can never tell the exact hue or pattern until the process is finished. We'd have to wrap his entire torso. Thank heavens his face hasn't been burned, but if he ever takes his shirt off his chest will be like a rainbow tattoo. And look at his hands. We'll have to make him fusion gloves. The silk becomes his new skin. He'll have hands that reflect the sun like oil. They won't be covered. Everyone will see them.'

'Oh, for God's sake!' Blue snapped testily. 'If you don't do it, he's going to die’

'If he isn't dead already,' Nymph murmured, staring at the body.

Blue rounded on her in a fury. 'Another word and you'll be dead! It was your wizard who did this – don't think I'm going to forget that. Now shut your mouth and see if you can help.'

Nymph said nothing. When Blue turned back, two Sisters of the Silk Guild were bending over Henry unwrapping a bolt of silk so fine it floated towards him like thistledown.