Dark Space - Marianne de Pierres [63]
She walked past them and climbed the pile of rubble. A few more steps and she would be out through the door into the night. She subdued her urge to hurry and leave Vani behind.
The ‘esques did not move out of her way, nor did they stop her. Did she smell as bad as they did? Did she look as appalling?
Mira glanced back. Vani stood there, unsure. ‘Dai. The ‘bino will be hungry,’ she called softly.
With another glance at the pistol, he scrambled after her.
She led him outside and down the side to the viuzza. The circle of ‘esques had vanished and Semantic glistened distantly through the pall of smoke. Leading Vani by the hand, Mira searched for the wall where the others waited. She felt the stiff suspicion in him.
‘Trin. Djeserit,’ she called.
Across the wall the cane bayed at the sound of her voice.
The sound sent Vani into a panic. ‘You lie. There is no one,’ he said, pulling away.
Fear gushed into Mira’s stomach. They had not left her—surely? ‘They will be close by,’ she whispered.
‘Where? Where’s the ‘bino?’ he demanded.
Mira climbed up onto the wall to get a better view of the shadowy yard. Semantic cast only dull light across the dust. As if sensing that she had crossed into its territory, the cane inside bayed louder. A small light flickered in a window and a moment later the cane raged out of the door across the enclosure.
Mira climbed down backwards from the wall, landing heavily. ‘They can’t be in there. Not with that—’ She broke off her shaken whisper. She was talking to empty darkness. Vani had gone.
She took a few steps in different directions calling to him and the others. Across at the bistro, a commotion started up. Had Djeserit and Trin gone there looking for her? No. Perhaps she had taken too long and they had left.
Breathing unsteadily, Mira sank down against the wall. She could hear the cane pacing along the other side, snuffling and scraping its horns against the fence. She reached inside her jacket, broke off a piece of stale pane and threw it over.
Despite everything, her mouth began to water. Before she knew it she was cramming the last of the roll into her mouth. She forced herself to tuck the rest away in her fellala. The latte caplets scratched her bare skin, reminding her of the ‘bino. She must stay here—that was what she had told them. Don’t move. At least until daylight.
And then?
Fresh sweat broke out over her body. Calm, Mira told herself. Calm.
* * * *
Maybe she dozed, or maybe her thoughts were tangled like dreams, nightmares of Djeserit and the korm being torn apart by a pack of animals. Gradually, though, the light of dawn came.
The cane had been whistled inside a while before. Whoever had been arguing outside the bistro had finished their business and gone.
Mira moved her limbs, rubbing circulation back into them. Should she wait? Should she move on? Where should she go? Thinking had become harder. Pangs of hunger and thirst sent her mind into a spiral of misery. She sipped her water bladder and drank one of the lattes but it curdled in her tense gut. By first light she was on her knees, vomiting.
Inside, the cane bayed as if it sensed her distress.
She rested back against the wall.
Then a hand touched her shoulder. ‘Baronessa?’
She clutched Djeserit with overwhelming relief. ‘Where were you?’
Djeserit pointed to the casa behind the wall. ‘The ‘esques who live there heard the ‘bino cry. They came outside to see who it was—said we could come in. Then the shooting started. Don Pellegrini said I should stay inside. He said you would be all right until daytime.’
Mira gave her a weak nod. ‘What about the ‘bino?’
‘He is sleeping. The woman gives him food.’
‘I wish to see him.’ Mira got to her feet, swaying.
She followed Djeserit along a narrow path that ran between two casas. The korm waited there. It chittered at her and dipped its crest for a scratch. Mira’s hand trembled; she had never exchanged affection with an alien before.
They walked together along the narrow back viuzza until Djeserit stopped. An ‘esque stepped from behind the rear gateposts. He