Dark Space - Marianne de Pierres [72]
‘What of the Cabutos?’ Christian looked unconvinced by the story.
Trin shook his head. ‘Gone, Capitano.’
‘Cazzone.’
Around them the remaining Carabinere loaded rifles and supplies into the AiVs. A vehicle lifted off through the open roof as they entered, leaving only three.
‘You. In that one,’ Christian told Trin. ‘We’ll go now before they break through the fence.’
Trin experienced a pang of guilt about Mira. Would she survive? ‘Can we take more of them?’
Christian’s eyes glittered. ‘And who might that be? Would you like to pick them? I am sure they will be delighted to wait in an orderly manner while you decide who will come with us. Idiota!’ He slapped Trin across the face. ‘A war has started, Pellegrini. Not just here but all over Araldis. Malocchi wants us back at Centrale as per the code. If you weren’t the Principe’s son I would leave you here for desertion. But you are our heir—Crux help us.’ He spoke the last words softly.
Trin bore the blow and the insults without retaliating. He would remember, though. Always. ‘What about the familia?’
‘They have left already.’
Trin thought of the empty villas they had passed. Indeed the familia had left—without a care for who they left behind.
Christian began issuing final evacuation orders.
Trin carried Djeserit to an AiV on the launch pad and lowered her into the last empty passenger seat. She cried out with pain and gripped his fingers, not wanting to be parted from him. Trin saw the fear in her eyes. He wanted to snatch her up again and reassure her but Carabinere in the other seats watched them with grim, suspicious stares. Instead he passed the office medkit to the closest one. ‘There are some coagulants left in there. Take what you need.’
‘Get in the co-pilot’s seat, Pellegrini.’ The pilot began priming the AiV. ‘The rest will fly with the Capitano and—’ A roar from outside drowned his words. A volley of shots was loosed outside and two Carabinere ran into the workshop. One of them was Seb Malocchi. ‘They’re through,’ he shouted.
Trin climbed aboard and the pilot sent their craft upward. Only Christian, the korm and the ‘bino were left on the pad. Christian put the ‘bino down on the platform near his feet. The korm was crouched low on its hind legs; its fur flattened with the blast from the AiV jets, showing patches of blue skin.
Christian calmly sealed his hood and climbed into the AiV.
‘No!’ Trin shouted at the pilot. ‘He is leaving them.’
The korm jumped at the AiV and was knocked sideways as it lifted off. She fell heavily and lay still.
‘Capitano!’ Trin thumped his fists against the window. Behind him Djeserit cried out in another language. Trin lunged for the controls but hands grabbed him from behind, pinning him back against his seat. A cord whipped around his neck and another around his chest. He flailed against the restraints as the workshop flooded with ‘esques. Then the AiV banked left and away.
* * * *
Sole
little creature/fixed fixed
time concealed/
break limits/how to?
burden burden/force change
play game * * * * MIRA ‘No,’ she said. ‘No food.’ Over and over. Pressing blindly through the crush, Mira found herself pushed against the fence. She shuffled along, pleading to be let past. Most wouldn’t shift from their position. She squeezed around people where she could. Someone spat at her velum. The wetness slid down to her sleeve. A few days ago such an incident would have appalled her but now she didn’t care—she could see the gate. But the crush got worse. So did the heat, and the resentment from people she didn’t know. Can’t breathe. Something pressed into her thigh. She glanced down, slightly dizzy, and saw the heavy lock. She tugged at it, calling to the guard on the other side.
Mira pushed her way back into the milling crowd, her heart thumping. Where is he? What will he do with them? She asked anyone who would listen about a ‘bino and a ragazza with an injured alien and an aristo. One man spoke to her—maybe he’d seen a korm near where the guards were posted—and asked if she had any food?