Глава 12

They're armed!

Let go of me! What do I have to be careful for? Listen up, Sarkaz! I've lived here for thirty years! This is my city! This is my neighborhood!

I know you've taken over those factories. I know you lust after Londinium's wealth, so take it. Splitting off a few factories won't put a dent in Victoria's glory.

But I am my own man! Not even the King can take my home!

Tell me, why did Norport Borough drive out of Londinium overnight? What's the meaning of all these walls outside the borough?!

Hey... Are you trying to get yourself killed?

What possessed you into thinking... that you could challenge my authority?

Wait, please, good sir! He doesn't know what he's talking about!

Urk... Nngh...

What a waste.

Listen up, you sorry worms. To tell the truth, I'd like nothing more than to slaughter each and every one of you right now. Seeing your faces makes me sick. But the boss says you lot are still useful.

So I promised him– I'd show a little restraint.

This is the grace I've afforded you, but know that I can take it back just as easily.

Hurry! Run! Get away from here!

H-Help!

Run, run, as fast you can, pathetic Victorians! You've had your fun already! Now, it's your time to get a taste of the life once forced onto us!

Hide in every nook and cranny, hide beneath every shadow. Rip up your morality and swallow your dignity! This is everything we Sarkaz have experienced! Now, rejoice, because it's yours too!

Call it equality. This is the kind of equality you've never known!

Explain myself? Answer your questions?

No, this is war, you dipshits!

Learn it! Embrace it! Just like we did for thousands of years!

*sob*... *sob*...

I... *sob*... Where am I...?

Stop your blubbering already.

Did you think they invited you here for a picnic? You can guess where the people who weren't so willing to come ended up.

You're...

Call me Baird. You're hurt, and need your wounds dressed.

Follow me.

Alright. We should be safe here.

Cador, it's still a mess outside. We're most certainly not in Londinium anymore. I reckon we can see the situation outside the plate from the top of the old loading tower, but I can't get near it. It's outside the restricted area.

And I reckon even if you could spot anything, it wouldn't mean a thing. The Sarkaz keep a close eye, and... there are too many of them.

Alright.

And what's the old bloke's story?

Hmph, he was trying to talk terms with the Sarkaz?

And how did that turn out?

Take a look yourself.

There. That's about all I can do, bandaging your wound.

Thank... Thank you.

Goodness... Why... Just what happened?

What else could've happened? The Sarkaz have been in Londinium for four years now.

You can't possibly still think they were invited here by that poor sod Cavendish as his guests, right?

But they haven't ever...

Haven't ever what?

You must be one of those noblemen who never leave their mansions and need their maids to fetch them their morning cystymilk. How'd you fall so low as to find yourself in Norport?

No, no, I'm but a scholar. I have merely run into certain... troubles financially. As soon as I finish my manuscript, I shall...

Drat! The manuscript is still in my study!

Baird, you've really got a knack for finding these poor, down-on-their-luck bastards, don't you?

Would you at least have some respect? If all goes well, it's very likely I will become the Royal Academy of Sciences' next academician!

'Very likely.' Heh.

I still don't understand. The news kept saying that...

'All is well.' What more do you want them to say? 'Friends and citizens, I sincerely regret to inform you that Londinium is now a shithole?'

The 'special instructors' that they sent to the newspaper offices and TV stations actually earned their keep, you know?

Did you see whose flag they're flying above the munitions factory in Highbury? If not, you've got to at least remember the fire in Auchterigg the other day, right?

But the war... What about the Defense Forces? The dukes? Aren't they defending us all around Londinium?

How can this be...? The Sarkaz can't possibly triumph over the dukes, can they? The devils are a bunch of savages who cower in the wilderness, but Victoria is the greatest country across all the lands!

Who told you that? Did you realize that out of nowhere while munching on cake at home?

I didn't feel that way at all when the dibbles held me up against the wall and frisked me.

Alright, 'Next Academician,' off you go. You don't belong here.

But... where can I go?

My flat is not in this lockdown zone, and I haven't the slightest idea where my loyal servant is... I know no one here.

Tch.

What can you do? Medical work, sewing, repair, anything.

M-My research is in heraldry...

You scholarly chaps ever studied how to turn air into steaks?

Well... it is by no means my area of expertise, but I'd imagine it's a little difficult...

Baird, stop bringing these fancy lads back, will ya? He doesn't even understand sarcasm.

We don't have a lot of supplies on hand here.

*sigh*... Maybe he can help Delphine manage the warehouse?

Baird! Stop trying to pass all your problems to me!

I can't very well watch him die on the street.

At times like this, we have to come together and unite as one. Even having one extra man on board is more power to us.

'Come together...' *sigh*.

I wish Parliament and the dukes would learn from you people. We wouldn't have fallen to where we are today.

You think they're not united enough? They were all very united when it came to hanging the king.

That was... *sigh*, never mind.

I just hope you'll be of some use, Mr. 'Next Academician.'

I shall do everything in my power! Though, speaking of which... who would all of you be?

Who are we?

Alright, welcome to our gym, the 'Slobberknocker'!

You can call us Glasgow.

Heidi, how have you been?

To tell the truth, I haven't any idea where you have been as of late. Ever since Mr. Adams the bookshop owner died, I haven't been able to reach you.

It has been a long time since I last continued our work.

Forgive me, my dear friend. I never hide anything from you.

But I am truly very... befuddled.

You once told me that peace would come again...

But I can't fool myself with false hope anymore. I can't hide in my room and pretend that everything we do is still meaningful.

Right, we could look at things on a broader scale. 'The dimension of history...'

Of course, peace will come. It will, eventually.

And war will undoubtedly shatter it in an even crueler way.

I once thought we could win, and I still hope that we will win.

But, Heidi, if everything that we have done amounts to nothing but self-comfort...

No, not 'if.' This might already be the truth...

These books, these desks, and this school that may come crumbling down at any moment... How are they meant to stand up against the force of a new era?

Heidi, I can't... I can't keep going anymore.

What should I do?

Lady Golding, are you alright?

Molly... you're back.

Are you writing a letter?

No, this is nothing.