Глава 9

If we get the chance, I'm hoping to hear about your past... instead of having you listen to the silly troubles of an ordinary girl.

You're not ordinary, Jane. No one should call herself ordinary.

Thanks. All your comfort's keeping me from wasting away, honestly, wallowing in my misery.

You've never stopped putting in the effort to do your best work.

I've got everything packed. I'll take it over to the temporary medical base now.

Stay alert on the way.

Right. The whole city's in chaos. Thankfully, the garrison's stopped attacking, and the rioters have mostly dispersed. As long as the citizens can band together, there's still hope for County Hillock.

Man is far stronger than we can ever imagine. A lot of ambitious types find themselves on the wrong side of history when they underestimate that.

*Sigh*. The biggest problem is we don't have enough medicine.

We can at least clean and bandage their wounds.

I still have medicine with me. I don't need the ones you've shared just yet.

If I can use some of it, we might be able to save a few more souls.

Put it back. Don't even think about it.

Make sure you're safe before you go saving anyone else. So you can save even more of those who need saving.

Yeah... Okay, I got it.

I'll come back once I'm done delivering this.

We've taken care of most of the wounded here.

Are you going to head to the other side of the statue?

Oi, Lass, I'm scoping the area with my binoculars, and I'm seeing an injured girl not far away from where you are.

Any details?

She's young. I can't make out her race... Vouivre, maybe?

How is she looking?

Not good. I think I see a huge Originium shard sticking through her abdomen. Chances are she's infected now. Looks like she's lost too much blood and passed out as well.

I'm heading there now.

Wait... Lass, that's an active warzone!

I don't see any hostiles nearby, but that area was taken over by the rioters not long ago. Besides, the building right behind her is their command center!

So?

That wounded lass is very likely one of their key personnel.

Since when has Rhodes Island cared about sides when providing aid to those in need?

Sorry. This isn't a judgement I can make... Oliver, have you been listening in?

Yes... Lass, I'm not prepared to act rashly either. If she has to do with this whole mess, it might be risky for our company.

I get it. You see someone at the center of a power struggle, and who just got infected.

What I see instead is an Infected who is gonna die in the power struggle afterwards.

And before she finally dies, a whole bunch of other struggles will swirl around her, sending even more to their deaths.

But as long as there's still a glimmer of hope that I can stop that ugly mess, I can't give up.

Lass... I can't talk you out of it... but I will follow your lead.

No, Oliver, I'm in no position to give you orders, and I certainly don't want to.

But remember, and make sure you write this in your after action report—

This isn't a Rhodes Island elite operator making a call. This is Outcast's personal decision.

But...

Right, and don't forget your 'but.'

'Temporary Operator Outcast did not follow the officer-in-charge's evacuation orders and opted to rescue an individual who constituted a security risk.' Something like that.

Say what you want, even... Forget Rhodes Island. You're putting yourself in serious danger!

And that is why we can't drag even more people into this mess.

It's better if Rhodes Island has nothing to do with this operation. You and your operators can follow the original plan. As soon as the rescue operation is done, you get out of County Hillock with all the documents.

Lass... I'll stay with you.

Shredder?!

Oliver, feel free to add another note to the report, that you fired me here on the spot.

You've got to be out of your mind!

Okay, yeah... Fine. Go. You're saving an Infected, aren't you? That's Rhodes Island's bread and butter!

I'm not leaving without any one of you. Get to the rendezvous point on time!

Thanks, Oliver. You're a great leader.

Shredder, I appreciate the help, but I hope you'll take my advice.

That is—Stay here.

I'll go by myself. Whatever happens, do not come after me. Go straight to the rendezvous point.

Right... I'll be there.

Outcast...

Jane, you aren't trying to stop me, are you?

Are you really going to save her? I heard she was one of the rioters' central figures...

She might even be the one who killed Saoirse!

Honestly, I doubt a mysterious group with big plans would leave their true leader to die on the street.

Phew... That's alright, then... I—I feel much better now.

But what if she was the one who killed her? What would you do? Would you ask me to leave her to die?

To tell the truth... I don't know.

But I agree with what you said. She's a poor Infected girl who desperately needs our help.

I guess I might ask her once she's out of danger...

Never mind, I'm probably overthinking it. I'll stop wasting your time.

Off I go then.

Hold on. One more thing...

Remember what you told me? Make sure you're safe yourself before you help anyone else!

Well, lookie here. Our little Janie's trying to educate me.

No... I wouldn't presume to...

Don't worry.

It's just as we said—I'm saving a regular old Infected.

5:57 P.M. \ Rainy

County Hillock, Unoccupied house in the vicinity of District Ten

Hnngh...

Finally awake, huh?

Considering the damage your lungs have taken, just breathing is going to hurt like a bitch. You'd better save your air.

*cough*, *cough*...

Your abdomen was pretty much torn open... you're in worse shape than I thought. What kept you alive?

Aha... not that I'm a doctor, but I know a thing or two about the anatomy of this race or that.

My friend thought you were a Vouivre. You can't blame him for that. He's young. He never saw your ancestors tromping across the world.

Hnnnng—!

Simmer down. That wouldn't be good for you.

I've seen your Arts, and I've taken some precautions. I'm afraid it won't be easy for you to set this house on fire.

Now look at that face there. Feeling a little relieved now that you know you can't fight me?

That might be more natural than your instinct to defend yourself—Might be the truer emotion, one from a deeper place in your heart.

No...

Sounds like you're mighty friendly with that word.

You were forced to become someone you don't want to be. I can see that in your pain.

Who's using you? The moneyed ones who just have to stick their hands everywhere? Maybe the shadows in the high tower? Or some thirsty nationalists ready to bring their country back?

No, none of those. You're a gang with a puppet for a leader. There's no way you could've put this together in such a short time under Londinium's watchful eyes.

You... you're a lesser kind of shadow, shoved out onto the stage.

Now does that mean your puppetmaster's of your same blood?

Stop...

Stop what? Too scared to even let me talk about him? Or is it her?

Sure enough. It's not just you. The whole of Victoria... no, the whole world trembles in fear of that one.

She must be about your age, but she turned the tables on the ones who'd use her, and so quickly too.

It looks like change is coming sooner than I thought... We'll need to be ready.