Transformation Space - Marianne de Pierres [116]
Panic streaked through him. He must speak with her alone before she said things that might damage the balance of things here, things that could undermine his authority.
He started forward but Randall tripped him.
He fell flat and a weight descended on his back, pinning him there. Thighs gripped his head, pushing his face into the sand. ‘Not so quick, Pellegrini. I’m thinkin’ your flock might need to have a confab with the Baronessa without you breathin’ down their necks.’
Randall shifted around on top of him as if making herself comfortable. ‘We’ll just wait a little before we go and join them. Have a bit of a confab ourselves. What you say to that?’
MIRA
Mira saw Cass first, heard the hoarse call and recognised the thin ragged shape running down to meet them. Her heart leapt in her chest and she let go of Josef’s hand to wade out of the water.
They met in the sand above the water line in a tight and emotional embrace. No words came immediately, just relief and heartfelt joy.
‘He said you’d run out on us. I knew it was a lie,’ whispered Cass after a moment.
Mira stiffened for an instant. ‘Trinder?’
Cass stepped back so she could look at her. ‘We need to talk, you and I, alone. But not now. Not in front of the rest.’
Mira nodded. ‘There’s not much time. I have to go soon. We’ll leave one of the biozoons for you.’
‘Go?’
‘Something important I have to do. Cass, the Post-Species are controlling the Saqr. And now they’re overrunning Orion.’
‘We feared something like that,’ said Cass. ‘Mira, if you have to leave, take Vito.’
Mira gripped her arm. ‘Vito’s alive?’
Cass nodded, tears beginning to fall without check. ‘I fed him what I could, but we’ve had little enough to eat.’
Mira faced the rest of the advancing survivors. She picked out Josefia Genarro among them, who carried a small thin ’bino. ‘But Josef …’ Mira swung back to Josef, who had stopped behind her. ‘You said he’d died!’
He looked confused. ‘I saw a boy killed with a spear. Happened as we got here.’
Cass’s fist went to her lips. She ground her knuckles against her teeth before replying. ‘Not your ’bino, Mira. Mine. Both gone now. Both of them.’
‘Chanee? And your ragazzo?’ Mira saw the pain on Cass’s face. She wasn’t just starved and exhausted, her spirit was in tatters.
Mira hugged her again, more fiercely this time, not knowing how else to give comfort.
They stood together as the survivors surrounded them. But at the sight of Josefia with Vito, Mira let her go of Cass and reached for her adopted child. She lifted him into her arms. To her distress, he didn’t feel much heavier than Nova. Nor did he seem to know her.
‘Vito.’
He blinked his solemn eyes at the sound of her voice.
She leaned forward and gently kissed his forehead, aware of the tension in the little body.
He reached out for Cass Mulravey, who shook her head. ‘Mama, Vito. This is your mama.’
The survivors watched silently.
‘Vito.’ Mira said his name again and traced her finger down his bare legs. ‘Mira. It’s Mira.’
There was some jostling in the group and the korm pushed its way through. It whistled to her and bowed its tall frame, until its head was close to hers. ‘M’ra.’
‘Korm!’ The tears she had kept at bay while comforting Cass Mulravey sprang freely to her eyes. The alien ragazzo was a scarecrow, barely recognisable save for its size and fur.
She reached up and fondled its crest. It chittered softly.
Copying Mira’s action, Vito lifted his thin arm and put his fingers to Mira’s cheek.
She turned her head and kissed his fingers, hardly daring to breathe.
Suddenly Vito smiled and brought his other hand up to link around her neck. ‘M’ra.’
Mira hugged him to her. ‘He’s speaking,’ she said ecstatically.