Dark Space - Marianne de Pierres [93]
‘All right,’ Mira agreed cautiously.
‘Let’s talk outside.’
She glanced around. The korm had gone—back to the dormitory, she hoped, but she couldn’t be sure. She should follow, she thought: collect Vito from the nursery and see what she could do to calm the korm. Or should she let Innis have his say?
Mira took a deep breath and nodded to him.
Innis led the way outside, away from the refectory and down a dirt road to the north that was lined with gumes. One fading street solar and the occasional flicker of activity inside the huts lit their way. Marrat tagged along close behind.
Halfway along, Mira suddenly stopped walking, uncomfortable with the distance they were from the refectory and the dorm. ‘Speak your mind now.’
‘You sleeping with my sister?’
Mira opened her mouth, astonished. ‘That is ridiculous.’
Innis came closer to her, his face puckered like that of a ragazzo about to cry. ‘She thinks I’m useless. Why else would she think that, ‘cept if you’re poisoning her?’
Mira found herself wordless in the face of Innis’s accusation. She held out a gloved hand in protest. ‘Your sorella and I have no such relationship—she is with a man. You have seen him.’
But Innis was sunk low in self-pity He slapped her hand away with force and grabbed her shoulders. ‘I’ll teach you ‘bout men,’ he said, ripping at her robe.
Fear made her react without thinking. She reached for the knife inside her fellala, the one that Cass had given her, and slashed at him.
Innis staggered back a few paces, surprised. Blood flowed from the wound.
But Marrat seized her, pinning her arms to her sides, forcing the knife from her hand.
‘Aristo b-b-itch. Ginko-fucker.’ Innis coughed. He kicked her in the stomach.
Mira crumpled over in Marrat’s arms. The pain made her vomit up the food in her stomach.
‘The bitch is sick, Innis,’ Marrat complained. ‘Let’s dump her.’
Innis laughed, sounding a little loco. ‘Better. Let’s give the ginko-fucker to the ginkos.’
‘How?’
‘I know how to shut the fence down,’ Innis whispered. He sounded excited.
Mira’s heart pounded so loudly in her ears that his voice sounded distant. Then she felt his hands on her fellala, ripping at it.
‘That’s jus’ stupid, Innis. Next thing the ginks’ll be on us,’ said Marrat.
‘Only needs to be off for a snap. I’ll switch it off; you shove her through. Ginks won’t even know what’s happened.’
‘What if you turn it on too quick? What if you fry her?’
‘What if. . .’ Innis was smiling.
A wave of loathing swept through Mira. He didn’t care if she lived or died. He had no thought for Vito’s survival. He’d see her dead because of his stupid jealousy.
‘Cass will know what you’ve done,’ she whispered hoarsely. ‘What will she think of her little fratella then?’
‘Shut it, ginko-lover.’ Innis slapped her mouth.
‘Innis. Quash it.’ Marrat was getting nervous.
‘Juanita, Marrat. Remember Juanita.’ Innis’s reminder was an explicit threat.
‘Yeah, Innis. I wasn’t the only one. Remember that, too.’
Mira knew that her fate was being decided in the silence that fell between them. Stand up to him, Marrat.
‘Amico?’ said Innis in a more cajoling tone.
Marrat let out a long, troubled breath. ‘Give her to the ginkos.’
No! Sagging back against Marrat, Mira kicked out at Innis.
Enraged, he threw himself at her, toppling the three of them to the ground.
Mira flung herself from side to side. Help! Help! Fear robbed her of breath. She couldn’t shout, couldn’t breathe at all. Stabbing pain where fingers dug into her throat. Choking dread. Don’t strangle me. No.
Then the grip loosened. Weight peeled off her. Different hands touched her and a light shone into her eyes. Rast peered down at her. ‘You alive, Baronessa?’
‘Si,’ Mira whispered. She heard Rast’s sharp, relieved breath and felt a vague surprise.
‘Lock the prick up. Get her to the temporary infirmary in my building. Find Cass Mulravey and bring her to me,’ ordered Rast.
* * * *
Cass was sitting beside her, Mira knew. She could