Глава 9

And don't forget the little alley clinics. Plenty of them out there without signs, but a lot of our friends around here rely on them.

Lass, is this really proper? We never bypass local healthcare, directly providing medical organizations and individuals with pharmaceuticals.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. And it's not like a hospital's gonna refuse an 'anonymous donation' from concerned citizens, right?

True! So you got it all figured out, eh. But then, who'll take charge of sending it? The people around all know we're Rhodes Islanders.

I will... I can help Shredder parcel the medicine, and then I'll deliver it.

Jane, you all better?

My wounds aren't bleeding anymore.

You know I'm not asking about the wounds.

I didn't want to be tucked alone in a corner crying while you were all bustling about.

I'm glad you can help, but we've got a lot of meds here.

Please, trust a Vouivre's stamina.

I just don't want Rhodes Island work getting in the way of your own plans.

It's alright. From here to the zone of battle, there just so happens to be plenty of hospitals and clinics along the way.

Once I'm done delivering, I'll rejoin you.

Just a little left. We'll be done with wrapping in no time.

Then it's about time we got on our way.

As Outcast speaks, she draws a revolver from the holster at her side.

Whoa. That's your gun?

That it is.

For a Sankta, pre-op prep's only complete once your gun's loaded.

It doesn't look like your chamber's full.

Under normal circumstances, five rounds is enough to do the trick.

When I was back at the landship and ate with Barty's group, I heard a lot of stories from the field about you.

You once took down three Columbian bandits with a single bullet, and used three to scatter a whole mercenary team.

If I had to guess, there wouldn't be an enemy out there worth six straight shots?

Can't say for sure. After all, there's always a bigger beast.

But I made a promise to someone that I'd never fire a sixth round lightly—because we made a bet.

I can't help but be curious. What kind of bet would make someone like you change up how you work?

That's a long story.

The short version is that friend of mine tried every way under the sun to show me an easy retirement.

And I always had a feeling that even if I retired for real, someone like me just couldn't live peaceful.

Like right now?

I never imagined County Hillock could turn so restless. It was just a day or two ago, we were all huddled together playing cards and drinking tea...

A lot of times, a situation's like the color of the sky, shifting on and on.

If it's up to me, I'd sure like this retreat operation to go nice and quiet-like. Best case scenario, I don't even need to fire one round.

...Lass, it's all ready.

Friends, it's time to say goodbye.

Janie...

You don't need to be so sad, Uncle Oliver. I trust in what Outcast says—we can surely see each other again!

Jane, be careful.

I will, Shredder. All of you too, be sure to take care of yourselves.

Oh... did I hear thunder?

...It'll be raining soon enough.

No. Something's not right about that sound. Jane, stay inside for now!

Mr. Chef, Mr. Chef, are you here?!

Agh! Yes, I'm here, I'm here! Stop it with the banging! There's too much lampblack on our office door. Can't stand up to knocks.

Okay, good, you're still here... here's the thing, I need a Messenger, we've got important information that needs sendin' out!

Yeah, I understand. Fancy that, I've got something to give to you too.

Eh? What's this? A piece of... paper?

It's a list of stationed officers—the one named Louis Kelly, he just handed it to me.

Captain Kelly? How'd he get in touch with you?

Relax, he's got no clue who I am. It was only 'cause I was the last person he ran into.

I was going to go poking around for the latest. Still remember my actual job, after all... Didn't imagine I'd run into the troops arresting him!

Arrestin'... him? You mean, Captain Kelly's been arrested by his own?!

They said he was harboring Oripathics! But that can't be right. His son passed from Oripathy a few months ago, the whole city knows that. The first thing he did was report the news his son'd gotten ill!

These people... usin' such a tragic illness as an excuse? That's beyond shameless!

Not just once or twice, either. For people wanting to use any form of discrimination as a front, it's true, Oripathy is an especially good pretense.

Just take this time. The troops are weeding out any inside people born Taran.

Officers or soldiers, so long as they were kindred with Tarans in some way, were stripped overnight of any right to act freely.

Clearin' out the barracks' Tarans? In wartime, pressed for people? I've got an awful feelin' about this already.

So, Captain Kelly slipped me this like his life depended on it, wanted me to give it to 'the soldier not from this barracks who's constantly been hanging around here as of late'—

Mr. Chef, this is proof the barracks are makin' illegal Originium weapons!

What?! Hamilton's lost his mind!

I want you to find a trustworthy Messenger, give 'em this paper and our report about the spectre force both, to be treated as vital intelligence, and taken out of County Hillock straight away!

This is the Captain's endeavor in his final moment! We cannot waste it!

Can't do that. This information's too important, and we can't rely on a civilian Messenger. How about this instead, Miss—I'll make this trip myself.

Mr. Chef, you were a Messenger too?

Don't forget, passing on information's part of us lamplighters' profession too. Ah, finally, I can take on a decent assignment at long last. Excitement's got my hands and legs shaking.

Wait, hold on, there's some sound outside...

It's lightning, isn't it?

I'm feelin' doubtful about that.

It's fine, I've been here in County Hillock how many years now. The weather changes when it wants to. Used to it at this point.

A little lightning and rain can't hold me back! I'm off!

The Messenger charges into the recess of the street with nary a look back.

On his head, a hard rain is pouring down, and the thunder gradually nears, getting concentrated, louder—

This... this isn't lightning!

No, Mr. Chef—

—This is bombardment!!!

The Messenger isn't in time to hear her words.

Countless shells come down with the rain, exploding the moment they contact the ground and walls.

The blast waves tear effortlessly through the gel material, blisteringly and ferociously melting the metal makeup, but the more fearsome thing takes advantage of the illness that bores beneath the city's muscle and bone—

Incomplete combustion sees immense formations of Originium crystal, solidifying dense within the open wounds of streets and buildings, as if in the dirty rain, identically and rapidly, bloom pure black flowers.

Is everyone okay?

We took cover in time, thanks for the warning... *cough*, Janie, what about you? You in one piece?

I'm okay. Outcast covered me proper.

But... what happened outside?

I hear lots of screaming... and the children...

Jane, don't go outside yet! All of you, stay low and stay in cover. Get away from the windows!

An explosion of this scale always comes in waves—

Aarrrggh! M-My leg... The bookshelf's got my leg pinned...

Will, give Fred a hand!

Ha... thanks, mate. I can move now.

Are you bleeding anywhere?

I'm fine. Just a little bit.

Do we have a first aid kit? Take that acute infection inhibitor right now!

Huh? Lass, I got a gash on my leg 'cause of the splinter, that's all.

No, you don't get it.

Right now, you're at the highest possible level of infection risk. Did you see the black crystal that smashed through the windows?

M-My god... I...

Is that Active Originium...?!