Глава 9

Ah, there's more shortbread left here, if you still feel hungry, that is...

Thank you.

Ahh, now this dessert hit the spot. My stomach hasn't been this happy in a while. My tongue was beginning to really miss flavor.

Now, you, cute little miss—

I—I'm Jane, Jane Willow.

That's a lovely name. I'm gonna guess you're old enough to drink?

I've long since been of age, La... Lass.. Outcast. I'm serving, after all.

Oh? That gray Victorian military uniform sure falls flat under your shimmering blonde hair. Oliver, count yourself lucky. No matter how dull and cloudy it gets, you've always got your sunshine indoors.

Haha... true, true. Little Janie's brought us a mound of happy days.

Listen to you, Uncle Oliver. You're the ones all kindly letting me in while I've snuck off from the barracks.

I was actually a tiny bit surprised, seeing you get along as well as you do—

Jane, if all Victorian soldiers were as lovable as you, we'd lose at least half of those awful rumors making their way across our world.

Thank you, if I haven't misunderstood. I assume those are compliments...

Even on my way here, I saw some not-so-pretty sights. But anyhow, that's not gonna dampen the joy of meeting all of you here.

I'm very glad... I could meet you too!

Well, then, a toast to our encounter?

I came here in kind of a hurry, so I could only bring some regular old gin, with way too much lemon because that's how I like it. You folks might find it too sour—

We don't really drink... on work hours.

You killjoy!

Alright, that's on me for being sloppy. As a Rhodes Island Operator, I can't be an exception. Let's just have some tea.

So—who's dealing next?

M—Me.

Need a little blessing from a Sankta?

'As the wind combs through golden wheat,'

'The forest wild wi' pipes of steel clank and beat,'

'I found by the edge of a plate my dear love true, and following a firelight straight from the blue...'

So that's how the second half of the song goes...

How sad.

Now Damian's gone, and he won't even get a decent burial...

They'd never give him back to us. All they'd do is scorch him to ash, scatter him off the city, treat him like the dirt under anyone's foot.

(Soft sobbing)

First it was Lowry, then it was Chris, and now they've caught hold of Damian too. Grainne, when Sean got arrested, they all said he'd caught Oripathy—

No, Ronan, don't go on. Sean... he just caught it being careless.

He was a hardworking, loyal man. A poor, poor man, and the only thing he ever wanted was just a better life for me and my son...

Grainne, haven't you figured it out?

We're just a bunch of rivets to them. Of course they'll toss us away without a care when we rust.

And even if we haven't rusted, so long as we don't fit too well in the city's machines, we've got the same fate coming. Nothing changes.

They never gave a shit we were catching Oripathy one by one.

Every month they give out those drugs, the other workers get their whole lot, and we can only expect a half. Maybe even a third.

And the protective suits. How long has Sean been wearing his for? Five years? Bloody hell, seven? How many times have you snuck out of bed at night just to patch it up?

All those laws, all those standards, just for their benefit. And us?

We're only fit to eat the potatoes and the rotten apples they don't want. Means nothing that the ag plates of this city soak in our sweat.

We're only fit to waste away our lives day and night in the factories, and once we can't work a day more, we fall ill one by one just like they wanted!

The way this is going, it's like they're sitting there playing dominoes, wiping us Tarans off our own city—

Stop it... I'm begging you. Ronan, nothing you're saying will lead to any good.

Just look at Cliodhna and her kin stood over there. Crying over their own son, their own brother. How many more loves do you want lost, how many more hurting over what your anger did for them?

It's the murderers that brought this hurt. They're killing us one after another. Times it's with sickness, times it's with mortar shells. Grainne, don't you deceive yourself any longer.

(Low voice) This morning, a few came looking for me. The O'Briens, and Conor's brother. They've decided to join us.

It's been hard getting by for you and your kid, we understand. This is a big moment, and we need to help each other now more than ever...

You'd better keep far from me and my child, Ronan... seeing as my Sean got on well enough with your lot.

I have to go, Grainne. You see that one over there? She's wearing that uniform.

You know our rules. I trust in you, and I'm asking you to trust me more. If you've made up your mind, you can tell Saoirse.

Hello!

Er... hello.

Do you know Barry's, er, Damian Barry's family?

(Shakes head)

I heard you singin' just now. I'm not in the wrong place.

I... I don't know what you're searching about for, but Damian's ma and sister know nothing.

Then did he have any especially good friends, or anyone who worked at the warehouse with him?

We know nothing... That's the truth...

*Whimper*... I'm begging you! Please don't take me...

Huh? Sorry... did I get too close? I've got no intentions of hurtin' you.

You seem awful scared of me. Is somethin' on my face?

N... Nothing at all...

If you'll allow me, I need to go home. I still have so much fruit from this morning, and it'll go rotten in no time, if I leave it alone...

*Sigh*.

Eh? Is that... Captain Kelly?

Cliodhna, I just want to see you for one moment. I want to know if you and Fiona are still alright...

Yes, it was my mistake, but—

My hands were tied...

Of course I remember, I remember it all. Damian... he was the boy of my sister.

I watched him grow up his whole life. The day I was transferred back from Peninsula to Hillock, he set an edelweiss in my cap with his own two hands.

He was still so little then... I...

I'm sorry... I shouldn't be telling you all this.

You're right... I've been good for nothing. I haven't the face to return here.

I wasn't in time to stop him when he got involved with that group... and I couldn't disobey the Colonel's orders.

Not just that, I have to do this. This is all for County Hillock.

I love you all, and I love this city... I can't just stand goggling while that bunch tear our home to pieces.

I understand, Cliodhna, my sister, and I'm not asking your forgiveness or anything.

I'll... be going, then. You... you and Fiona be sure to take care of yourselves.

If I can find the time tomorrow, I'll come see you again...

*Cough*, *cough* *cough*...

What are you—

Oh, just... just a boy.

Are you... *cough* *cough*—are you hurt? Don't run too fast now. It's been decades, and they've still never levelled the road here...

Traitor!

Wh—What did you say?

Traitor!!!

I...

Craig! What are you doing?! Get back here now!

And what's that ball in your hands for... oh, forget it, you're always gripping that ball wherever you go. Were you off looking for Conor's brother again? Oh, you... Ronan's told you, hasn't he?

Look at your hands, all covered in black. It's like you were digging through a mine.

You come with me to the morning market from now on. You can't go looking for them around this time anymore... I can't let you become like them...

Traitor?

Boy... wasn't one bit wrong.

The Captain stands still for a moment, repeating the word, once, twice to himself, finally turning to leave.

His head is hung low as could be, and he doesn't meet the gaze of a single person more, including those young colleagues of him that rush his way.

Hold on a moment, Captain...

You—What are you all doing here? Pack off home, if you know what's good for you!

We've told you, you're not allowed to congregate on the streets at this time!