Dark Space - Marianne de Pierres [64]
‘This her?’
‘Baronessa Fedor,’ Mira said, tiredly. ‘I went to look for food for the ‘bino and we became separated.’
‘Fedor?’ He stared suspiciously at her. ‘From the Pilot familia?’
‘Si.’ She waited. If the man refused to let her in, she might never see Istelle’s ‘bino again.
He chewed his lip for a minute, then waved the rifle towards the back door. ‘Git inside. Sun’s spoilin’ to be fierce today.’
Relief again. Mira stumbled after Djeserit and the korm.
Djeserit stopped and waited for her, held her arm. ‘Baronessa?’
Mira nodded reassurance. ‘I-I am well. What about you?’
Djeserit looked away without answering.
The cane strained towards them from a tether on the portico. Its nostrils streamed with saliva that ran down its horns. The spit sprayed over her as it bayed its hostility.
Mira shrank away from it. Nothing could convince her that the animals made good pets. They were too clever and too savage.
The korm’s crest bristled and it fluffed its fur in agitation.
Mira shuddered to think what might happen between them if the cane was freed.
Trin Pellegrini met them at the coldlock. Accusations rose to Mira’s lips—he’d left her again—but this was not the time to speak them. As he stepped aside to let her in she saw no remorse in his face.
The casa was dark inside with the windows covered and barred. Mira loosed her clothing, soaking in the coolness as she followed the ‘esque through the cucina to a sitting room where a woman rocked the ‘bino. A little ragazza with cropped hair perched on the arm of her chair.
The woman glanced up and gave a tired smile. Her likeness to Istelle gave Mira a pang of sadness. She wanted to weep at the kindness of the woman’s look. Instead she slipped her hand inside her fellala and removed the latte packets. ‘For the ‘bino,’ she said.
‘Sit down,’ said the woman. She had her finger in the ‘bino’s mouth. He suckled it for comfort. ‘Baronessa, you must be exhausted. I am called Loris. This is Jessa and you’ve met my husband Con.’
‘Call me Mira.’ ‘Baronessa’ suddenly seemed vague, unrelated to who she was.
‘I’ve been nursing the ‘bino best I can, but he’s no great suckler. I have only a little left, from Jessa.’ Loris removed her finger from the ‘bino’s mouth and patted her breast.
Mira glanced away. Such things were not spoken of so plainly among her class.
Trin entered the room. Con followed but stayed near the door, his rifle cradled in his arms.
Mira sank into the chair opposite, suppressing her impulse to take the ‘bino from Loris’s arms. Instead she turned her attention to the little ragazza. ‘Ciao, Jessa.’
The ragazza scowled and moved closer to her father.
‘Don’t mind her,’ said Loris. ‘These last few days have taught her not to trust anyone much except her own.’
‘Nothin’ wrong with that,’ said Con. He held on to his rifle with one hand and pulled the ragazza close to his side with the other. He did not trust anyone either.
Mira wanted him to tell him to put his weapon away, that it was dangerous, and that they would be no threat, but she knew it would be breath wasted. Her word meant nothing to this man—not now. She lifted her gaze to Trin. ‘Have you learned anything?’
Trinder shrugged. He looked refreshed as if he’d had a comfortable sleep, Mira thought bitterly.
‘The shortcast is still out. No one knows why. Water is still running but food is disappearing,’ he answered. ‘Most familia have left the city for Pell or the other towns.’ He grasped the back of the chair that she was sitting on. ‘If they had just stayed, help would have come.’
Mira thought his words through. No food was produced near Loisa—land barges brought it in weekly from the biospheres in the Pell Basin. Only pane was made locally. ‘If the Carabinere have really deserted, then aid may not come. How long can we survive here with no food? It makes sense that they would leave,’ she said.
Trin made an impatient noise, irritated that she had challenged him in front