Fractions_ The First Half of the Fall Revolution - Ken MacLeod [98]
‘Formally,’ Cat said, ‘they’re coming here to pay you the ransom for me, as they have every right to. And there’s nothing to stop me handing you over to them.’
Moh heard footsteps on the path outside. He stood where he was until Valery came in and stood beside him. Cat flicked a glance at her but the pistol didn’t waver.
‘Here’s something to stop you,’ Moh said. ‘Valery, Miss Duvalier has just claimed me as a prisoner on behalf of the CLA. Two of their fighters are due here – when?’
‘Any time now,’ Cat said. ‘Valery, this has nothing to do with you.’
‘Yes, it has,’ Valery said. ‘For one thing, you’re still inside our community. For another—’ She hesitated, looking uncertainly at Moh.
‘Just tell her, dammit,’ Moh said. ‘If I don’t move it this minute I’ll be—’ He stopped, fighting for breath, for words, against the pictures that his too efficient brain displayed. The thought of falling into the hands of the CLA and, worse, Stasis was turning his skin cold and the room dark.
‘You’ll do it?’ Valery asked him.
‘Yes, I’ll do it.’
‘You have to say it,’ Valery said gently. ‘Say it to her. For the record.’
Moh drew a deep breath. ‘As a citizen of the United Republic I claim the protection of its armed forces and pledge on my honour to exercise when called upon by its lawful authority the Army Council of the Army of the New Republic all the rights and duties of such citizenship including but not limited to the franchise and the common defence. Is that it?’
‘Basically, yes,’ Valery said. ‘So, Cat, unless you want to tangle with the ANR I suggest you put that gun away.’
Cat stared at them both. ‘This place is ANR?’
‘Yes,’ Valery said.
Cat’s shoulders slumped. She lowered the pistol.
‘You still owe me one, Moh.’
‘Later,’ Moh said through gritted teeth. Calming himself, he smiled. ‘You are pretty,’ he said – as if that would be enough, would help, would cover everything – and backed out. He sprinted across the courtyard lawn, leapt flowerbeds and shrubs, dodged people. He wasn’t surprised to find Valery Sharp keeping pace. A sidelong glance showed muscles firmed, doubtless by aerobics, under the clothes which also weren’t as daft as they looked; they didn’t get in her way.
‘I’m sorry,’ Valery gasped. ‘We never expected—’
‘It’s OK. Neither did I.’
They stopped in the cool gloom of the entrance-way. Crates were being loaded on to the truck. Only a couple more to go.
‘Now, what were you going to tell me?’
‘Take the truck,’ Valery said.
‘Where?’
‘As far north as you can, then to any controlled zone. We’ve got clearance for all the borders, and tax-in-kind, but…if it looks like anyone’s going to find out what’s really in it, stop them at any cost. If necessary, burn the container section. At any cost.’ She looked at him. ‘Can you do that?’
‘Yes. Will you call my co-op, with a message from me to a guy called Jordan: the search is over, do your own thing.’
‘I’ll do that. And I’ll keep Cat out of Donovan’s way for a bit.’
‘OK. I hope I see you again.’
Valery smiled and shoved him on his way. ‘Go!’
He ran to the back of the truck, grabbed the last crate and hurled it in, jumped up to the deck and hauled the tailgate down after him as he vaulted back out. A man fumbled with a lock. Kohn waited for what felt like seconds until it was secure, then ran to the cab and almost flew through the door. He found himself facing his own gun. Janis was crouched under the steering-wheel, aiming at the door and trying to fit an ammunition clip at the same time. The whiplash sensor extension writhed as it tried to keep level with the windscreen.
‘Get down!’ she hissed.
Kohn threw himself on the passenger seat, gasping. Janis passed the gun to him as if pushing it away from her.
‘It talks,’ she said.
‘Yeah, yeah, you knew that.’ Kohn rolled on to his back