Metal Swarm - Kevin J. Anderson [148]
‘I think I could accomplish more for you and make up for what I've done, if you let me live,' he said. ‘But I won't beg for it.'
‘The law is the law,' Kellum said.
Patrick nodded, then struggled for something else to say, finding loose ends that really shouldn't have mattered to him. ‘I know it's unlikely, but I'd appreciate it if someone would return my grandmother's ship to her.' He took a step forward, as ordered, on the solid metal deck plates. He looked at Kellum, and the burly man stared back, betraying no emotion. Zhett was there, but she held herself erect and would not meet his eyes. He had hoped to see anguish in her expression - any flicker of regret! He wanted her to throw herself upon him, clutch at his clothes, and refuse to let him walk the plank. But he knew that wasn't going to happen.
‘Patrick Fitzpatrick III, you know why you are here,' Kellum said in a loud voice. Without the containment field, his words rang out to the open sky.
Patrick drew a deep breath and stared ahead at the metre-wide walkway, a bridge to emptiness. ‘So be it.' He was supposed to step out there and voluntarily leap into the unguarded depths of Golgen, though he wasn't sure he had the nerve to do it just like that.
The sea of clouds seemed restless, even angry. In his mind Patrick ran through the mistakes he had made, the ripples of consequences. The Roamers probably had some means to prod him over the edge, but he wouldn't make anybody force him, and he refused to cringe in front of Zhett. Not Zhett. Even though she had not acknowledged his apology, welcomed him in any way, or forgiven him, he would not let her see him as a coward. He took a step to the edge of the plank. Without guard rails and an expansive deck around ,him, a sudden sense of vertigo made him sway with dizziness. With wry bitterness, he thought it would certainly be embarrassing if he accidentally fell off the execution walkway.
Steadying himself, he glanced over his shoulder at Zhett one last time. Her face seemed pale, her lips drawn. Her eyes sparkled as if from tears held back with all the force of her personality. That gave him strength, at least. His trip here had not been a complete loss.
‘I accept my punishment,' he said. ‘I know I've caused great pain. So I do this in the hope that my death will offer some measure of peace to those I hurt.'
Zhett made a sound as if she were choking back a sob. She turned her head away, and her long black hair covered her face.
Patrick took another step onto the plank. At the rail now, Kellum looked displeased with what he had been forced to do. Patrick wasn't angry with Zhett's father, though. The clan leader had been trapped by his own rules and his knowledge.
Patrick cleared his throat. ‘Don't hate me for too much longer, Zhett.‘ He considered telling her that he loved her, but even though he was sincere, he feared she would think he was trying to manipulate her. Besides, if Zhett really believed he deserved this punishment, professing his love now would be cruel. No, he wouldn't do that. Facing forward, he walked out onto the plank over the emptiness. He looked down to the right and to the left. The sky seemed bottomless. Del Kellum bit his lips. The other skymine chiefs seemed restless and tense, as unsure of whether to celebrate or grieve.
Patrick took another step. His consciousness became fuzzy around him. Nothing seemed real anymore. Another step. The end of the plank was in front of him. And then he would be falling forever.
The voice behind him sounded like an angel's song. ‘Wait -stop!'
His feet froze as if a magnetic field had locked them to the plank. He didn't look back, staring only into the swirling clouds that seemed to wait for him.
‘Wait!' It was Zhett's voice. ‘All right, I'll speak on his behalf. Don't execute him. I won't make excuses, but… but he's sorry for what he did. Let him atone some other way. By the Guiding Star, I can't bear to see him die!' Patrick's knees threatened to buckle beneath him, and if he slumped into unconsciousness,