Dark Space - Marianne de Pierres [74]
In answer the korm rolled heavily away. In the space between its body and the floor lay Vito.
Mira cried out in relief. She patted the korm and snatched the ‘bino against her shoulder. A shudder travelled the length of his tiny body as he settled against a familiar touch.
‘Djeserit?’ she asked the korm again.
The korm gestured to the sky.
Mira let out a weary, defeated breath. Why her? Why did he take her?
She patted Vito for a few moments while she tried to think. The crowd was beginning to thin out. Most ‘esques, she guessed, would move along the viuzza to the next public utility building, or seek out the Duca’s chambers. ‘Come.’ They helped each other to stand and moved over towards the airlift.
The korm made a series of sounds that Mira didn’t understand. She hoped the alien’s injuries weren’t serious but she knew only a little about their anatomy.
When the airlift touched the ground, Mira saw that all but one of the TerVs had been taken. A small group of ‘esques in inferior heat-protection gear clustered around the tracks. One of them stood guard with a rifle seized from a fallen Carabinere.
Mira walked towards their huddle. ‘Please take us with you.’
Heads turned towards her and the rifle swung to target her head. ‘I have some engineering knowledge. Flight engineering. It might be useful,’ she said.
One of the ‘esques stood. He wore his hood open and his crimson skin was as unlined as her own – not yet baked by dust and sun. His expression, though, was openly hostile as he wiped his nose with his hand. ‘Don’t see no AiVs around here.’
‘Some things are the same.’
‘What d’ya want?’ he said, with a distinct miner’s drawl.
‘To return with my . . . bambino to Pell.’
‘How is it you didn’t leave with the rest of the aristos?’ His stare roamed her body in a way that made her stomach clench. ‘And why should we take you? Your kind deserted us. Your Carabinere killed some of our people.’
She couldn’t think how to reply. The fallen bodies were all around them and Mira could see the fallen man’s open throat, glistening with darkening blood.
The man with the rifle slowly shook his head. ‘I’m thinking you might be trouble, aristo. Besides, we ain’t saving no ginkos.’
The door to the TerV cabin banged open and a woman climbed down, helping a toddler. ‘We’re all in trouble here, Innis. This woman gave me food earlier. Now for Cruxsakes fix this thing so we can get out of here,’ she said.
Mira recognised her from the crowd—remembered the toddler grubbing on the ground for pane.
The woman stepped forward, pushing the rifle aside. ‘Don’t mind my . . . er. . . what’s your word for it. . . fratella. I’m Cass.’ She held out her hand. ‘You gave me your last food. I wouldn’t have taken it if I’d known you had children of your own.’
Cautiously Mira extended her hand and they touched palms. ‘I am Mira Fedor.’
‘Baronessa Fedor?’ She slapped Innis’s shoulder. ‘She’s from the Cip pilot familia—only damn ones that can fly the biozoons.’
‘So?’ he said sulkily.
Cass turned back to Mira. ‘What happened to you? Your kind have all left.’
‘My villa was destroyed by a bomb—mia sorella, everyone. I need to return to Pell.’ To find Insignia.
‘Pell, love? Well, Ipo’s as far north as we’ll go. But you’re welcome to come if you want.’ Cass beckoned to her. ‘Now bring the korm around here.’
Mira followed her to the back of the TerV. On her urging, the korm climbed in awkwardly and lay down. Its wounds seeped still.
‘I am not sure how serious its injury is,’ said Mira. ‘I am not an expert on their physiology.’
Cass gave her a sideways glance. ‘You talk formal. Heard the women were more so than the men.’
‘You have never spoken to . . . one of us?’
Cass shrugged.
‘But you know Latino?’
‘Most of us do. But we know a few other words too.’ She grinned. ‘Now, if the korm lies still it can control its bleeding.’
‘It is an orphan. It may not know that. It had no mama to teach it.’
‘Instinct will guide it. Besides, we’re all orphans now, Mira Fedor.’
The truth of the woman’s simple statement gave Mira