Dark Space - Marianne de Pierres [107]
‘Perche?’
‘Because it has many subsidiary tunnels that lead far south underground. With enough water you should make it nearly to the islands. If any of the Carabinere are alive they will go there as well—the smart ones. If Franco is dead, as they say he is, someone will have assumed leadership. Perhaps Jus Malocchi. Perhaps Trinder, my young nipote.’
‘Nipote?’ Mira wanted to shake her head to clear it for with every word she spoke Mesquite’s voice had lost its standard ‘esque accent and acquired something more cultured—more familia. ‘Who are you?’
‘I am Marchella Pellegrini,’ she said simply.
Mira stared at Mesquite—Marchella—in astonishment. Of course—how could she not have seen it? ‘B-but... aren’t you coming?’
‘There are five other dormitories in Ipo like this one, plus the women who have taken others into their homes and those who chose to stay with their men. I will get as many out as I can. These are your responsibility, Mira. Keep them together. The Saqr are less likely to attack a large group.’ The woman gave her a rough push. ‘Don’t let me down, Faja Fedor’s little sorella.’ With a quick squeeze of her shoulder, Marchella disappeared.
Faja! There was no time to reflect on what she had learned as fifty or more expectant frightened faces turned to her.
She forced herself to speak. ‘W-we will meet up with Cass Mulravey at the parking bay. She will have her barge waiting. But we must stay together. No matter whom you see that you know, we must stay together. Do you understand?’
The women nodded fearfully.
‘We will walk four abreast. Stay close to the ones in front and behind: ‘bini in the centre. I will lead. I want all those who have trained with me to take a position on the outside of the group.’ Mira picked out one of the young familia women. ‘Josefia, you come in the last line.’
Josefia Genarro nodded.
Mira addressed them all again. ‘If you break away from the group you will become lost. Now…Crux help us.’ The familia women crossed themselves.
* * * *
Chaos met them outside. Men running in all directions, some armed with shovels and picks, others with rifles. The Saqr were heading towards the town centre, they said, and they shouted for the women to ‘git back inside’.
But Mira ignored them, leading the group by the most direct route to the parking bay. She’d instructed the korm to take Vito and find Cass or Mesquite—Marchella—if she, Mira, was injured or killed.
‘Stay close!’ She shouted the words over and over as they moved forward but still some of the women panicked and broke away to join with others. A woman to her right fell as another group of women charged into them at an intersection.
The two groups dissolved into a milling crowd. ‘Bini wailed as they became separated from their mamas.
‘Stay close!’ Mira screamed again. She ran along one side of the group, pushing them together.
Josefia Genarro added her voice to Mira’s from the other side. ‘We will make it,’ Josefia cried. ‘We will. Stay together.’
The women began to grab each other, interlinking arms, thrusting the ‘bini back into the middle.
Mira ran to the front and urged them to follow her. The group lumbered forward again.
Rast drove past her, heading out of town, with Catchut at her back nursing the GRG. ‘Fortuna!’ Rast shouted.
Or was it Mira’s own cry? She no longer knew if she was speaking aloud. Her throat was dry with ragged breathing and her body was prickling hot and cold. On all sides now they were jostled—everyone seemed to be moving in the same direction towards the bay. Everybody wanted an escape vehicle. Some grabbed at the women, begging for help. Others attached themselves to the group, pulling Mira’s people back as they attempted to keep up.
Mira stumbled over broken packing crates of food that had fallen from the back of a TerV. She snatched up a jagged shard of crate and waved it aloft so that the women could see. Some of them stooped to arm themselves, causing the group to spread dangerously.
‘No. No. Stay together,’ Mira cried.
But they did not listen.