• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

‘Him. Why is he important?’ said the Balol.

‘He’s not. It’s his connection to others. How his death will affect their actions.’

‘You’re being insane, Ra. You can’t possibly believe—’ The Balol broke off as Thales grabbed the gun and raised it.

With one tiny movement of his thumb, Thales knew he could end the Lostolian’s life, but he baulked.

Thoughts cartwheeled through his mind, and emotions deluged his body. He felt as if the whole point of his existence hinged on what he did right now. He’d left Scolar as a naive young man who, for a time, deserted his Jainist principles. But now he’d returned, knowing much more of himself. He wished Villon was here to tell.

Then, just as quickly as he’d become paralysed and confused, the right choice became clear. He would not kill anyone. Not even to defend his life.

He threw the gun away and stared at Ra.

The Lostolian, surprised by his action, hesitated.

And as he did, the Balol made a choice of his own. He pushed aside the workstation and leapt forward. With nearly as much force as Petalu Mau had used on Lasper Farr, the Balol punched Ra in the back of the head.

Ra fell.

Thales watched the Balol dive forward, teeth bared and face contorted. Heaving his body at the Lostolian, the Balol impaled Ra with the spikes of his stiffened frill.

Ra made one short gurgling sound of pain then fell still.

Immediately, the Balol withdrew his frill and wiped the spikes clean on Ra’s robe. When he stood up again, his teeth were still bared but his face was composed.

‘He wanted to change the course of events,’ the Balol told him, as if Thales should understand.

But Thales shook his head in bewilderment.

The Balol gave a rough laugh. ‘My name is Balbao, formerly Chief Astronomein of Belle-Monde. That was Ra of Lostol, one of the tyros. The rest of it will take a while in the telling.’

‘Thales!’

Farriss was back, covered in blood. ‘It’s done!’ Her eyes narrowed and she looked between him and the Balol.

‘What’s done?’ asked Balbao.

Thales stared at Balbao. ‘We’ve started the sequence to close the shift sphere. In a few days no one will be able to leave Scolar station.’

‘And now we have to get out of here,’ said Fariss with feeling. ‘Every red robe on the station is coming our way.’

‘Commander Farr’s ship is close,’ said Balbao.

Fariss looked to Thales and nodded. ‘Let’s go.’

TRIN

They reached the beach before dawn when the darkness became a pearly grey. As Randall had predicted, two enormous biozoons were set deep in the wet sand of the shallows. The survivors waited in the treeline, watching as three figures emerged from inside one of the creatures. The three climbed down the roughened side of their craft and stepped into the shallows. One of them waded across to the other biozoon while the other two headed up onto the beach.

Even from a distance Trin recognised the two approaching the shore: Randall’s man Josef had returned and – Trin’s heart contracted into a tight fist – Mira Fedor.

‘Mira,’ croaked Cass Mulravey. The woman broke from shelter and ran down to the beach, arms outstretched.

‘It’s Mira!’ This came from Djeserit, at his side.

‘Wait!’ said Trin.

But, like Mulravey, Djes was already moving.

Along the line of watchers, calls went out to each other.

‘The Baronessa is back.’

‘She’s come for us!’ cried Josefia Genarro.

‘It’s her! Mira Fedor is here!’

Trin wanted them all to stop, wanted to take control, wanted to speak to Mira before anyone else, but their excitement wasn’t to be contained, even by him.

They spilled down onto the beach, leaving Trin alone with the two mercenaries, Randall and Catchut.

Both stared keenly at the new arrivals.

‘It’s Rasterovich, Capo,’ said Catchut.

‘I got eyes, Cat.’ Randall turned to Trin. ‘Don’t seem as thrilled as the rest, Pellegrini?’ Even in the dull light he could see her expression hardening. ‘Don’t you wanna be saved today? You maybe enjoyin’ this cock-o’-the-walk thing you got goin’ here.’

Mira Fedor. His saviour? The idea was