Глава 12

No.

I will do it. I will still do it.

Times like these, you look just like Harvey.

Catherine looks at Feist with a sidelong glance before disappearing into the crowd. All around Feist, men dressed in all kinds of attire come and go. All of them are exhausted, but not a single one of them has given up.

Feist knows that all those who stand here are his most trustworthy allies.

This little comfort is better than nothing. As the idea crosses his mind, Feist breathes out a little and exercises his stiff arm after having been on edge for so long.

Once the mist fog that we call opportunities, luck, and other nouns disperses, what form will life take this time?

Feist decides to stop speculating and to instead experience it himself.

Feist—

The wounded are all in position. Now we just have to take the maintenance access and leave Londinium, and we'll be safe for the time being.

We'll rebuild Squad 11 of the Self-Salvation Corps when that time comes, right?

Of course. I promise you.

Let's go.

Suddenly, Feist feels a faint tremor.

What's... going on?

In the distance, the exit and entrance of this underground structure gradually begin to close at the same time.

Why is the passage getting sealed off? Did the Sarkaz find us?!

Damn it! Catherine and Clovisia are both over at the entrance!

No, I've been listening in on the Sarkaz communication channels around us. We shouldn't be exposed.

Uh, it can't be a wiring problem, right?

No, these passageways have manually controlled gates. I checked before entering, and I didn't see any problems with the drive system.

Feist has very good eyes, and he has always been very proud of this fact. This is pretty rare in the factories, where lighting is always needed for the workers to actually do anything.

Yet at this very moment, he would rather not have seen what he saw so clearly.

At the other end of the entrance, beyond the gap that is about to shut, he spots a few familiar silhouettes.

The silhouettes flash by until the gate closes completely and the last ray of light disappears behind its iron frame.

Until darkness engulfs all of them.

Feist tries his best to regain his footing. He feels the taste of blood spread throughout his mouth.

He tries to swallow this blood stench but finds himself unable to. He can't.

This isn't part of the plan!

Who's over there on that side of the passage? What are they trying to do?!

What's the matter, Feist? Are... Are your lips bleeding...?

I know who it was on the other side.

They.... They're my friends. The factory workers of Munitions Factory No. 11.

They said they were going to check if there was any equipment left that we could take.

They're the only ones who could've closed the gate.

...Tommy.

Catherine, this... this wasn't my idea! We all decided this together!

Just like when you saved me?

That's a whole separate thing, Catherine!

Tommy, get back to work. Find a Defense Forces soldier and tell him what happened here.

A-Alright! I know where they are!

I have to say, your kidnapping skills are far worse than the Sarkaz.

I'm not trying to look for trouble with you, Catherine. How many years have we known each other? There's no surprises here.

But we don't want to die in the Londinium countryside, killed by those monsters' Arts either!

I'm just a foundry worker! I can use the furnace, the choppers, and I can cast some passable parts.

But now they want us to leave the city and fight a war with the dukes and the Sarkaz? You've got to be kidding. Out of all the things that I've ever held in my hands, the only thing that even remotely looks like weapon is my spanner!

Catherine, I promise. It'll all be fine. I have an uncle who's in the Defense Forces. I can talk to him, see if he can plead on the factory workers' behalf.

What about the things we've done? We attacked the Sarkaz.

We can say that it was the Self-Salvation Corps who did it. We had no choice.

Hah, and you think they'll believe you?

We may face harsher treatment after this... but as long as the dukes win this war, we can go back to our lives before!

We forged Londinium with our own hands!

Everything will get better.

You didn't used to lick the nobles' boots like this.

What choice do I have, Catherine?! Tell me. What choice do I have?!

I... I just don't want to leave my home. I just want to walk on the streets of Londinium again, maybe play ball with my friends every now and then.

I...

...I don't want to die in a shell crater in the countryside, with my arms and legs all blown off. I've seen it before.

The Sarkaz... They will only get more and more brutal. My daughter might not even be able to put my dead body back together.

Go, Catherine. I don't want to be rough with you.

As for you, little leader of the resistance...

Hm? Where did she go?

There is only a rope that has been cut in the spot where Clovisia used to be.

Huh? She was here just a minute ago! Where'd she...?

You mean to tell me you couldn't keep eyes on a little girl?

I-It has to be some kind of Arts!

Whatever... Let her go. I heard she's just the daughter of a tailor.

I just hope that she'll find a hiding place in Londinium's dark night.

...It stinks.

How many people do you think have died the last couple days?

Don't take the alley to the north. A few Infected went kaboom there yesterday. There's Originium dust everywhere.

Those Sarkaz bastards! Their plan was always to trap us in here and have us fend for ourselves!

You went to the transport union during the day. What did Marshall say?

The place got burned down. There are nothing but steel beams left. I don't know if Marshall was in the pile of dead bodies. I didn't try to look.

I...

Porties can't all be idiots and wimps, right?

All this is... is us taking a punch directly, and we're still dazed.

Once we come round, Norport Borough will bounce back!

Perhaps the dukes will make it here soon. When the time comes...

What? When did you start worshipping the dukes? Are you hiding the Duke of Wellington's bloody autograph in your drawer now or something?

We have to count on ourselves!

We can leave this place. I will lead the charge, I swear!

The last time you swore anything, you told me you would never fall asleep while you stood night watch.

I was just...!

Enough. Before we start dreaming, we have to find ourselves something to eat.

We have Delphine and her tendency to hoard to thank for keeping the gym's storerooms well stocked.

Otherwise, we would likely be in this pile of dead bodies, too.

Cador, they're fighting up ahead again.

Ugh, not here too...

Let's take another route. The restaurants at the loading area might still have some supplies.

We could try to buy something... or trade.

What will you do if they don't want to sell?

You brought a weapon.

This is just for defense. We won't use it.

Things... have yet to get that bad.

Guh... Urgh...

I really... don't have anything here.

Bollocks! We saw it with our own eyes. You used your stove. Where did you get food?

How come you have something to eat every day?!

I... I just found it by chance...