Глава 12

I bought from him a number of times since he gave me discounts. They aren't all that good, though.

I saw him just now... His eyes were deep red, there was blood on his lips. That crowbar was completely bent. I... I almost didn't recognize him.

Fear is spreading, Cador.

The transport union guys did say there could be cowards going nuts, but how could...

Barricade the door!

I... I...

What are you spacing out for? Make yourself useful! Cador, push that sofa over here!

Bloody bastards, what do the lot of you want?!

Now piss off, we've got people alive in here. This is Glasgow's territory!

Baird, watch out!

A fire axe smashes through the gym's thick door and breaks open a hole. The sharp axe brushes past Baird's hair.

A few strands of her hair flutter in the air.

I said it already. We've got people still bloody alive in here!

Cador presses against the door with his body and grabs the axe peeking through the hole back with his two hands. The man outside makes several attempts to pull the axe back in vain.

I don't care who the hell you are, but get out of my sight, or I'll have this axe in your brain!

The axe wobbles a few times, and after a few heavy kicking sounds on the door, the men outside finally gives up, their chaotic footsteps slowly growing quieter.

Your hand... Your fingers...

Good thing that bandages are the last thing we'll run out of in a gym.

Baird, Delphine. We need to take inventory of all our resources again.

I'll take down a couple sandbags to reinforce our front door.

Th-These people... Have they gone mad?!

They... The citizens of Norport Borough were all upstanding men, basically... What about the police? They were always so quick to write tickets!

If I were a cop so unlucky as to not make it out of this plate in time, I would definitely have locked myself in my home with my weapon at the ready by now.

I... I need to head on over to the transport union later. The people here still trust Marshall.

He—Everyone always listens to him. He'll find a way.

Dammit... Bloody hell! The Sarkaz are still out there. These people are out of their minds. How could they—

What... What should we do now? Cador said we just had to wait for...

An opportunity?

Mr. 'Next Academician,' are you aware of the great fire in Norport fifteen years ago?

Oh, yes, I've heard. It was in the port, if I recall...

It doesn't actually take very much to burn down a port.

All you need is scorching hot weather, a warehouse full of wood shavings, and a cigarette butt not fully extinguished.

No one can put out a fire like that.

All we can do is watch everything burn to ashes.