Chaos Space - Marianne de Pierres [7]
He pulled Genarro to his feet. ‘Take fresh help and go ahead,’ he said in the man’s ear. ‘Clear the entrance.’
‘Be quick, Principe.’ Genarro swayed with fatigue. The stocky scout had covered more mesurs than any of them. Dutifully, though, he turned and headed back the way he had come. He knew as well as Trin that once the entrance was cleared and visible it would signal their intention to surface at that point. There would be no retreat.
A trickle of energy suffused Trin’s muscles. Fear combined with anticipation. Soon they would feel the blast of the hot nightwinds on their faces. It would blow the stink of cramped unwashed bodies from his nose. It would also rob his body of moisture. How many of those without functioning envirosuits or robes would survive the night’s walk to the Islands? Many of the women whom Mira Fedor had helped to escape from Ipo struggled merely to breathe.
A figure made its way along the tunnel, stepping over the others’ legs, speaking harsh apologies, until it stopped, hunched over before Trin.
It was a woman with a babe in her arms. He knew this one and the child she carried: Mira Fedor’s ally carrying the Pagoin infant that Fedor called her own.
‘Si, Signora Mulravey? What do you want?’
‘Your men are all wearing suits or fellalos. Some of my women have nothing. They will not survive in the nightwinds.’
‘They made it to here.’
Trin heard the intake of her breath, as if she had held in a sharp retort and replaced it with something else. ‘They did, but I can tell you one thing for certain, Principe Trinder Pellegrini. They will make it no further.’ She leaned towards him then. ‘And what will your men survivors do with no women?’ The last she spoke in a broken whisper.
Next to him Djeserit stiffened. Trin wanted to stroke her arm, to reassure her, but not while this bold woman was their witness.
‘The Carabinere are your protectors. It is only logical that they should remain suited. If they need to fight.. .’
‘Fight?’ The woman raised her voice a little and it carried too far. ‘What need is there for that? You have given the word that the way is clear.’
Trin lowered his own voice. ‘We cannot know such a thing absolutely. You must understand that, after what you have been through.’
‘The women must have protection.’
‘I will consider it’
‘You will do better than that.’ Mulravey lowered her own voice and her breath laboured with emotion. ‘What—did—you—do—to—Mira—Fedor?’
‘Mira Fedor stole an AiV. She deserted you. All of us.’
Mulravey shuffled closer until her stale breath was hot on Trin’s face. ‘By all the useless gods in this universe I do not believe that. And if you do not give my women suits to wear I will make sure that everyone else does not believe it either. Then we will see what respect you garner, Principe.’
Trin pressed one hand against the rock wall, resisting an urge to thrust the woman away. Djeserit’s hand slipped into his other, and squeezed. He understood her message. She wanted him to listen.
Mulravey had influence among her own, and not only with the females. A contingent of non-Latino males listened to her. Better that she should remain an ally for as long as possible. Mira Fedor must not become admired.
‘I do not like threats, Signora Mulravey, but I do understand compassion. Bring the worst ones forward and I will see what I can do,’ said Trin.
The woman rocked back on her feet, suddenly drained of energy. What had it cost her, he wondered, to challenge the Principe?
The reminder of his authority brought a warm flow to his veins. He could afford some benevolence. It was a lesson that Franco had never learned. He squeezed Djeserit’s hand and then let go.
They had to move on.
The last stretch was a steep uphill crouched walk, very different to the wide road and gentle gradient at the beginning of the Pablo mine maze. They