Глава 11

Take him to the front.

I tire of the noise. Begin.

B-Begin what?

Run in when you hear the order.

Confirm everyone is dead and you can come back alive.

In... into the fire? A fire that big? N-No! I'll burn to death!

You're going to do exactly that.

The ancient Sarkaz steps on the Heart of Victoria and raises a finger.

Argh—!

He did not see what was chasing him.

As the Sarkaz warrior said, he follows the order instinctively, running forward like a man possessed.

In the fire, the slightest chance of survival. On his tail, the scent of certain death.

But he only takes a few steps before stumbling in confusion.

Blood spurts from his body.

It no longer belongs to him. It serves another master now.

At its new master's command, it charges forth towards the collapsing manor, towards the raging flames, chewing through the ruins, swallowing the rubble, covering the cinders.

Nothing can stop the march of blood, not even fire.

He was right, Lettou.

I haven't sampled his private reserve.

We should, shouldn't we?

This is it. Wait here.

Lund, Charlie...

This is where you kill us.

...How do you know?

Simple.

You never told the workers what you were building for the past two years.

But a factory boss gets a few clues.

I guessed you were close to the final stages, the way you people have been pressing us lately. And that means it's time for those who know too much to die.

You lied to me.

Just getting my affairs in order.

What could lowly workers like us do, after groveling for the past three years?

Don't you dare try anything.

You, you and you. Come with me; we'll take a look around.

Keep a close eye on her, Paprika.

Alright.

Can I have a smoke?

Hm... okay.

Thanks.

Did you ever consider running?

Where?

And anyway, it'd only make trouble for the workers left behind.

I've been thinking about what you'd do to us. Looks like whoever's giving the orders still has something of a heart.

But... what do you mean?

They said to get rid of us quietly so the workers don't panic, didn't they?

If my life buys a chance for the others to live, then so be it.

You think the rest of the old timers you brought here don't get that?

I don't get it...

Huff...

How old are you, girl?

Doctor, do you know the story of the Steam Knights?

Yes.;I've heard of them.

Granny used to build them.

It was a point of pride for us.

With our own hands, we built the armor worn by the defenders of Londinium, the ones who defended our home.

I wanted to see the birth of those great things, just like Granny... to take part in it.

Granny's been through a lot. She saw how Londinium became what it is today. And I can see how disappointed she is.

But I don't want to give up so soon.

Must be this drawer.

Hidden compartment... hidden compartment... ah, here it is.

Granny's incredible. I'd never know this desk had been altered, if she hadn't told me.

This is... my badge?

And a notebook?

I don't know who I'm writing this for, what I'm writing this for.

Harvey died before Feist was born.

Lindy tried to understand, but her sorrow turned into anger towards me. She blamed me for not stopping Harvey that day.

I couldn't argue with her. I couldn't blame her for leaving Feist behind.

I heard she remarried someone decent. Good for her.

I never told Feist. I didn't want him to know that his father died for nothing, and that his mother left with hate in her heart.

So you grew up in Columbia.

Yes, my grandma raised me.

Mom and Dad were both mercenaries, but they're dead.

Why did you become a mercenary, then?

To feed myself, and grandma.

Sarkaz aren't welcome most places, so I had to be a merc.

What a good girl.

So you agree with the Regent?

You mean with occupying the city?

Hmm... I don't know.

We do what we're paid to do. I didn't know we were going to occupy such a big city.

In Columbia, we were helping merchants smuggle goods that they didn't want people to know about, or hunting wild beasts.

But I can tell you, that was the first time I saw Grimm so excited. He said the Sarkaz would get to live a decent life, if we were successful.

Grimm? The smoker?

Yes.

Where's he now? I haven't seen him around in a while.

He's dead.

Aren't you sad about that?

He always said that death and parting are a normal part of the mercenary life.

Death and parting. All these years of chaos, and the Victorians haven't learned the slightest thing about the Sarkaz.

Catch, girl.

Huh?

Catherine takes a little thing from her cigarette box and tosses it at Paprika.

It is small, soft, made of wool, and bright in color.

This is... a finger sleeve...

Grimm...

You made it for the old merc, didn't you?

His finger hurt because of an old wound, but he couldn't cut the smoking habit. I saw him hide it in his cigarette box.

Guess he didn't want to get it dirty, even though you made it for him to use.

He gave me the box when he left. Payment for smokes, those few months.

He never talked about you, but the moment I saw you, I knew you were the girl he was always thinking about.

I... I don't...