Dark Space - Marianne de Pierres [100]
‘You’re entitled to that thought, Cass Mulravey.’ Mira heard the defensiveness in her answer. ‘But you are the one who put a knife in my hand.’
Whispers followed this. Mira Fedor might be a native of Araldis, but she was also a crown aristo. Privately, many respected the gap between her and them.
Mesquite saw the way things were going and clapped her hands. ‘Well, I believe her to be right. What happens if all the men are killed? What happens if we are the only ones left? Who will save the bambini?’
‘The men will never agree to teach you,’ said Cass.
Mira forced herself to her feet again. ‘I will do the asking.’
‘What difference will that make? Why would they listen to you?’
Mira waited a moment before she answered, allowing the tension to build. ‘Because I may be your next Principessa.’
Her bold statement was met by calls of derision from many, until one of the familia women came and stood next to her. A ragazza younger than Mira but old enough to have children pushed the velum back from her face. Josefia. The one who had minded Vito. ‘I am Josefia Genarro and I wish to learn.’
Mira looked at the other familia women. One by one they voiced their agreement. Her skin prickled with emotion.
Soon non-familia females joined them until over half the room had spoken up in support of Mira.
She took a deep, shaky breath. ‘Come with me.’
* * * *
Cass caught up with her as they walked through the daytime heat, past the town salon and the vehicle bay and on to the Men’s Depot. The bay was filled with TerVs, from the smallest all-terrain vehicles to the enormous land barges.
‘I think you are mixing things up. You are choosing this because of what Innis has done to you. But that is different to the matter of the the Saqr,’ said Cass.
Mira did not look at her as they kept pace with each other. ‘You have great endurance, Cass Mulravey. I do not have that kind of strength. I must take other steps to protect myself.’
Cass seemed surprised. She sighed. ‘Perhaps you are right. Perhaps fortitude is not the only way.’
Mira felt a fragile bond re-emerge between them. Despite Innis’s attack, Cass Mulravey was a reasonable person.
They paused to watch the men taking turns to practise with e-m rifles under the tattered shade cloth at the back of the Depot. Faded targets stood at the far end of the range, while Catchut and several of Rast’s people gave instruction from the benches at the other.
‘Rast has the projectile rifles under lock and key so that they can’t waste the ammunition,’ whispered Cass in Mira’s ear.
Mira nodded. It could not be said that Rast was a fool.
The men stopped when they saw the women and shouted coarse suggestions.
Mira quickly led their delegation inside before her nerve failed. The depot itself was a shabby gume filled with rough furniture and a makeshift bar. She walked directly to the largest, most crowded table.
A bank of curious stares followed them, some openly hostile. Everyone knew that Mira was a crown aristo. Perhaps the only one left alive. That possibility was a knot inside her.
‘We want to learn how to use your weapons,’ Mira said.
Their laughter was vociferous and their dismissiveness offended her but she kept her expression calm. ‘I nearly died because a man attacked me. What will happen when the Saqr come? I want a chance.’
‘And who are you?’ said a big man with a beard and a barrel chest.
‘I am Mira Fedor.’
‘Aaah, the pilot aristo.’
‘It does not matter who I am. What matters is that when you are all dead, your children will be next.’
The big man slapped his chest. ‘Well, I am Brusce, Mira Fedor, and no ginko’s getting past me to my woman. Besides, giving a rifle to you means one less for a man. I know whose hands I would prefer it in.’
Mira glanced around the other faces. She saw curiosity in some. The fact that not all of them mirrored Brusce’s arrogance gave her the courage to go on. ‘You should be teaching your women everything you can,’ she said.
‘Who are you to be speaking for all these women? You aristos don’t dirty your