Transformation Space - Marianne de Pierres [119]
‘Possibly the sap is in other places,’ said Mira thoughtfully. ‘Or they have harvested the ligs themselves. In which case, the quixite is only their fortification, the external protection against space travel. The ligs have been used to grow the Saqr. If so, then Araldis had everything they needed.’
‘Dandy!’ interceded Randall. ‘But how does that change anything? I say we go load up the hybrid and I’ll take us the hell out of here.’
‘I will be the one to make that decision,’ said Trin. ‘And I believe it safer to stay here until the Post-Species have left.’ He glared at Randall until the moment was broken by another voice.
‘Neither of you’ll decide for anyone else.’
Heads turned to see Djes and the third mercenary, Josef Rasterovich, in the bushes behind them.
The pair crawled forward to the front of the circle.
‘The hybrid is mine by law, and I have given it to Djeserit Ionil. She’ll choose her pilot, her route and when she’ll leave. Those who don’t like this arrangement can, as your Principe suggests, stay right here.’
Trin’s heart, which had contracted into a tight fist, relaxed. Djes would never leave him. ‘At dark we should return to the caves for food—’
‘I will leave in three nights,’ said Djeserit, cutting across him. ‘Long enough for the biozoon to replenish and for those to who wish to, to return to the caves and collect berries and roots.’
‘Djes—’ But Trin was cut off again.
‘Where will you go?’ asked Cass.
‘To the Biozoon Pod. I’ll ask for their protection.’ She crawled out of the circle and moved to a thick bush at the side. ‘I’ll speak now with those who want to come with me.’
After a moment of silence, most of the survivors moved over to be near her, including Cass Mulravey, Joe and Tivi Scali, and Jilda.
‘Madre,’ said Trin hoarsely.
Jilda clutched at Cass Mulravey’s arm. ‘She has been kind to me.’
Only Juno Genarro, Josefia and Tina Galiotto stayed near Trin. Innis Mulravey’s woman, Liesl, crawled away into the bushes.
Trin suppressed a moan. Everything he’d tried to preserve for the renewal of his world had just disintegrated before him.
‘It’s decided,’ said Mira Fedor, with open satisfaction. ‘I wish you all to be safe.’
Djeserit left him before dark, when Leah had dipped and left only her indirect glow to light the beach. Mira Fedor and Josef Rasterovich had gone before her, taking the ’bino, Vito.
Trin and Mira had not said goodbye.
Djes came to him though, for a brief moment. He wanted to hold her in his arms and prevent her leaving but Rast Randall hovered close.
‘It’s not as Mira told you,’ said Trin.
‘You raped her,’ said Djes.
‘It was my right to sire a bambino. It has always been the way among our people.’
‘Then your way is wrong,’ she said simply.
He fell silent, unable to find the right words to defend himself. ‘I love you,’ he said softly.
Her mouth softened as if she was weakening, but then she spun on her bare feet and walked away.
As he watched her go, he became aware of Tina Galiotto’s presence at his elbow.
‘She does not understand our ways, Principe,’ said Tina.
Trin’s sore heart eased a little, and he took solace in the truth. Djes wasn’t one of his kind; she didn’t truly understand his beliefs. Tina was right. But there were still those with him that did.
Perhaps that was enough.
MIRA
Mira carried Vito along Insignia’s strata to the buccal, myriad things playing on her mind.
‘Trust me. Nourish the biozoon. Clean it. Then it will carry you away from here,‘ she’d told Djeserit as she left.
‘What do you have to do?’ Djes had asked.
‘Something no one else can.’
Vito didn’t look back when she and Josef left the island to go aboard Insignia.
Now, as she entered the buccal, she kissed the ’bino again, and felt him cling closer to her. To her relief, Nova lay in Primo, just as she