• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

‘Perhaps—I haven’t looked yet. I couldn’t open the door until the wind had dropped. Had to dig sand away from it, too.’

‘Why did you stop?’

‘Cells ran down when the storm got bad. One of the young ones . . . she . . . died in my arms.’ Cass gave a raw, shuddering sound—something much deeper than a sob—and walked around the side of the barge.

Mira turned to Josefia. ‘Everyone needs a ration of food and another drink.’ She handed Vito to the young woman. ‘Give him my bread but soak it in water first. Little pieces so he won’t choke. We won’t be able to move until the cells charge. Make sure that the rest understand to stay near the barge—the dust will take days to settle.’

Josefia nodded, calling others to help her.

‘Kristo?’ said Mira.

‘Si, Baronessa.’ He was hovering close behind her still.

‘There’s a. . . body in the cabin. Can you . . . bury her? Quietly.’

Kristo nodded and disappeared around the side.

Mira felt immeasurably grateful to him, not simply because he had pulled her inside the barge but because she did not have to explain herself to him. At some level, despite their differences, he saw things as she did. She had not experienced that before.

She found Cass crouching alongside the tracks, her hands on her knees, facefilm open. Even in the thick air, Mira could see that she had been sick, could smell it.

She stood behind Cass on trembling legs, unable to think of anything to say.

Eventually Cass straightened. Tears had left dirty tracks down her cheeks and chin. ‘It was one of the older ones. Katia. Her face went—’

Mira held her hand up to forestall the explanation. She could not stand to hear it, no matter how much Cass needed to give it.

‘How long until the cells are charged?’ she said gently.

‘A day, perhaps—it depends on the dust. If we take the canopy off, everyone can rest. We’ll start again tomorrow.’

‘The korm needs something to eat. I will search a little among the thorn bushes.’

Cass nodded, understanding. ‘Take the pathfinder from the cabin. We won’t be able to come looking for you if you get lost.’

* * * *

Mira collected her rationed drink and checked on Vito. He grizzled as Josefia sat on the ground trying to feed him. Clear fluid ran from his nose and mixed with the dirt and spittle on his chin. He reached for Mira but she resisted picking him up. ‘I must look for food for the korm, can you watch him?’

Josefia made an unhappy noise. ‘I am so tired, Baronessa, and he is not my ‘bino.’

‘I’m sorry. I know. Please.’

Josefia nodded wearily. ‘Do not be long.’

Mira threaded her way through bodies, looking for the korm. When she could not find it, she returned to the barge where she found Kristo replacing the shovel. ‘Have you seen the korm?’

‘She watched me bury the ragazza. I tried to get her to leave but...’ He shrugged. ‘She’s probably still there.’

Mira had a sinking feeling. ‘Where is the grave?’

Kristo pointed to the ridge in front of the barge.

Mira fetched the pathfinder from the cabin and walked in that direction. She found the korm scratching feebly at the grave, turning over the sand with which Kristo had covered the body.

‘Korm?’

It whistled weakly but would not look at her. Even in the dull, dust-laden light Mira could see that its crest was flat and dry. Patches of fur had rubbed off and the blue skin was covered in small grey sores.

‘S’ck,’ it said after a time.

Mira took a step closer. She brushed caked dirt from its back with her glove. It flinched in pain. ‘You cannot eat our dead. They will hate you for it. They might harm you. What can I find for you?’

The korm made a weak, swerving movement with its forearm. ‘Ch’cl’.’

‘Checclia? But they are poisonous.’

The korm shook its head.

‘Then I will catch some.’

The korm stopped scraping at the grave and sank into the dust. It made a sound that frightened Mira—a dying sound. She ran back to the barge. The canopy was down and Cass sat near an edge with Thomaas, chewing slowly through the last of her pane. Near the doorbridge,