Глава 9

Colonel.

We meet again, Skamandros.

You don't seem one bit surprised.

Surprised?

No, from the first I met you, I have not been one bit surprised—you were bound to mingle with this rabble, simply because of that cheap sympathy you learned from your noble etiquette classes.

You shadowed us?!

I'd rather term this rational management.

Regardless of anything, I must thank you. If it weren't for your leading the way, I wouldn't have such a sublime opportunity to net all these rot-eating vermin in one fell swoop.

You hide fairly deep most of the time, don't you?

I confess I'm quite curious. What made you so audacious as to gather up? Could it be that from the outcomes of your last few pathetic, negligible sneak attacks, you mistakenly believed County Hillock was already under your control?

A-Ahem... Colonel, sir, I believe there may be some misunderstanding at play here.

That is wrong, Baron Bolton. There is no misunderstanding between us whatsoever. I am pristinely clear about your confidential lowly dealings.

It's only some of my good friends and family gathered here today. That, I can guarantee you on my very name—

Shut up kindly, good sir. The honor you've inherited from your ancestry purchases nothing in my eyes.

Y—You have some nerve saying that!

The one dishonoring your so-called noble reputation isn't me by far. Who are they, reveling in the position and wealth Victoria accords them, then turning to secretly collude with the most lowly rebels of them all?

This is out-and-out slander!

I'm starting to be sick of this blather now. You rabble should behave as the rabble outside, weeping in the light of a blaze while you confess your own wrongdoings.

Just as he said, from outside the window come wails and cries, the glass reflecting speckled points of fire.

(Leader, look outside! It's not just in here, he's got the Tarans from the whole block surrounded too.)

(He's not exaggeratin' at all. He's cowerin' ordinary residents with military force.)

(I've been around that street before—a huge portion of them are elderly and children!)

(With methods suddenly this radical, it seems there's some other information he has a hold on. He's very likely to have hidden intel about the spectre force from us.)

(Nothin' from Triangle?)

(No comms at all since afternoon.)

(Flip. Could somethin' have happened to them?)

(There's no point in worrying. What's more pressing right now is we should hold the troops back as much as we can.)

(We can't stay trapped in here, at least...)

You, the Vouivre over there. You are not to think of breaking out through the wall. Before my questioning bears fruit, no one is allowed to leave this room.

Ugh, he spotted me!

Come out! I see you! No movement, I want you to kneel here and behave!

Agh!

Is there anyone else in your home? Speak up!

N—No...

You're not hiding anyone? I'll see for myself. Listen, so long as I see you move a muscle, no matter what you're trying at, I will immediately shoot your head through.

*Whimper*...

What are you doing?!

Who are you, coming from nowhere and running in front of my crossbow? Watch your own head!

Wait, hold on, I recognize you. You're that guard of honor from Adams's group, aren't you? I saw you at the New Year do. Your group didn't get any order to move. What are you doing here?

I... I...

I have another assignment nearby I'm on.

Fine, then, each to their own. Don't you start getting in my way.

I...

(That lass called Bagpipe told me I could step forth too, change the situation.)

(Can I, though...? I have to try, at least...)

Did they... do something wrong, to be treated this rough?

You're asking me? Why don't you go ask them?

*Sob*...

What are you crying for? Wasn't it you lot, harboring thugs, giving them food and drink, feeding them information?

Do you have evidence?

Evidence? You want evidence? Do the wounds on the 9th and 13th count? Each one of their bodies still warm?

Some died by eerie Originium Arts, some died by makes of crossbows and sabers identical to the ones we carry, and some had traces on their necks left behind by farming tools.

Our heads cut off with threshers like wheat, bodies crushed thin and flat by tractors like plowed land—have you ever... pictured that? The devastation?

Ulp...

That's right, you should want to puke. I saw with my own eyes, and I recognized who that head used to belong to, and for an entire afternoon, I puked. I couldn't stop.

They... why would they treat their own like this... this is too cruel!

Hah, damn right you are. Behaving never suited them.

Now you understand this serves them right, don't you?

What are you still blanking out for?

So... these are all bad people? Just because... they're all Tarans?

*Sob*... agh... I haven't done a thing, Sir...

She's crying.

Her husband already passed away from Oripathy, and her child's only pushing ten... is someone bereft like this really going to be a murderer?

How have I not gotten it through to you?! They're all one kind, do you understand? Even if this woman and her child haven't done anything yet, they're all together in this.

If it wasn't a Taran, in front of you all, but some other Victorian citizen...

Would you still insist on treating them all as thugs?

If... I'm just saying, if, from the very beginning, there were never those discriminatory laws, if Tarans could've earned as much as anyone else, gotten the same chance at healthcare...

Wouldn't none of this conflict have ever happened?!

Alright, guard of honor, if you love asking questions so much, keep asking. There won't be an answer. Nobody's got any way of answering you. I'm essentially done searching this house by now anyway, so it's onto the next one.

Hey! I said I was going, not that you could stand up!

*Sob*... Ah... don't take me, Craig can't be without me...

Shut it with all the sobbing! Wailing about your child all day long just so I can go soft on you, is it?

Just let her go.

Eugh, you. Fine, I'm busy anyway. I can afford to ignore this woman.

But just to warn you, you might be protecting them now with all your kind heart, but be careful they don't blow you sky-high without blinking the moment your head is turned.

Don't you forget, after all, you and them aren't the same kind. Have you seen the looks in their eyes before? In their eyes, no matter how you behave, you'll always be one of us.

Just go... Please.

*spits* Don't say I didn't warn you.

Phew... you've not been harmed, no?

(Shakes head)

It's lucky. After me and Saoirse talked, I couldn't shake this nervous feeling, and I had to come back and take a look.

So it really can be a bit of use... to stand up.

Come on, I'll help you back inside. For tonight... no, tomorrow as well, don't go out, please. There's ruffians outside, as well as... um, at any rate, Hillock won't be as safe for these next few days.

Right, and where's your boy...? Craig? He's not at home?

Craig... he... *gulp*...

He's been taken away by the soldiers, hasn't he?!

I... I don't know...

I need to go and find him.

Hill!

Colonel, we've just apprehended this one in this corridor outside, right as he was attempting to dive out of the window.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry...

Let me guess, this boy is some follower of yours, preparing to send word to somebody or other?

I... (Wipes off a cold sweat)

I want a lawyer! I know the Mayor and quite a few Members too... Let me go, you have no authority to keep us held like this!

It seems my guess was dead on. Every one of you has some involvement.

You may speak. All I need to know is where your co-conspirators are hiding.

How about this, then. I'll count to three—

Aaaargh! Don't, don't kill me!

My goodness... Why must you have me see such cruelty?

You can't be doin' this!