Глава 12

(Get away from me... get away from me...)

What are you saying? Damn, the fire's spreading quickly.

Hurry... hurry...

Last two. Do you see me, McClaren?

'Come over to the door.' The fire's spreading. We're out of time!

Look this way! Isn't it clear enough?

(Go away... get away from me...)

Stand back. I'll kick the last planks in.

Stay away!!!

A silver flash. Baird takes a step back, touches her cheek, and finds it wet with a warm liquid.

What the...?

McClaren...

The familiar video shop owner stands behind the door.

The blood flowing from his ears lies dried on his neck. Originium crystals cover a large part of his ears. Morgan was right. He has likely gone deaf.

He's muttering at the only light in the room, oblivious to everything else.

Otherwise, he would not have been so frightened when he saw that it was her standing outside, would not have swung his knife.

Or perhaps not.

He would have done so, no matter who opened the door.

The calamity outside has taken his hearing, and almost everything else he had. He stands alone with his knife, only a few fragile planks between the world and the last bit of food he has.

This is mine... I have nothing left...

McClaren...

I want to live... please... I just want to live. I've given you everything else...

What do you still want from me?

(This is mine...)

Look at me, McClaren. It's Baird. I'll take care of you.

Put down your knife. Take my hand.

'Put down your knife.' Can you read it?

The fire is spreading. We've no time.

Right, just like that. I'll come over slowly. No need to be scared.

Finally, Baird sees the once-familiar video shop owner in his entirety.

She finds that it is not a lamp that illuminates the room, but the tiny projector that they spent countless days and nights with.

I'll take your hand and help you up.

(I want to live...)

You will. We all will.

Baird touches the feeble arm. Her heart skips a beat at the solidness of the Originium crystals beneath the soft muscles.

It's ok. We'll all live. You'll have a new video shop, and I'll have a new gym.

(I want to live...)

Relax... now I'm going to take your knife. You're safe. You don't need it.

Thank you... thank you...

She reaches out slowly to the knife that McClaren is holding. There is a little bump under his clothes, the last food that McClaren has left.

Baird takes McClaren's knife. The muscles of the trembling man relax for the first time in many days.

Baird sees an emotion other than fear in the man's eyes. Perhaps he has recognized her.

The thing in the bump falls out from under his clothes. It's an empty can.

We can go now.

(That's mine...)

Baird exhales and bends down to pick up the empty can.

But this is emp—

Baird feels a sharp pain in her midsection. The knife that should have been in her hand is now halfway inside her. McClaren was the one who seized her hand.

It's mine! Mine!

Mine...

(I'll live. You said you'll leave me food...)

I... ugh...

He stumbles towards Baird and snatches away the meaningless, empty can.

(I'll live. I'll protect myself...)

His knife is now inside Baird. He anxiously looks for a new weapon.

He sees Baird's butterfly knife, his delirious eyes reflected in the cold blade.

Baird has had the knife for a long time.

When the members of the Glasgow Gang were just children, Baird bought it at the flea market at a discount, and never let it leave her side.

It has seen many battles, many celebrations with her. It was not particularly valuable, nor did Baird particularly treasure it. It just became a habit.

McClaren's struggle was feeble. That one stab took almost all the strength he had left.

But Baird found that she could not fight back.

McClaren gasps a few times and pulls with what strength he has left. The blade almost pierces his neck.

Careful! Don't... hurt yourself.

Baird cannot lift her arm. She releases the knife.

The man takes the weapon, cradles the can, and stumbles into the light of the inferno outside.

Haha, haha.

It hurts... gotta get Hannah to wrap it up... I hope she learned how to do it gently in her time out there.

*cough* *cough*...

Ugh... I can hardly stand...

McClaren, you bastard... I don't remember owing you any money...

Leastwise, I can't remember.

I have to catch up to them... Vina'll worry...

That's probably the last group that would follow us.

The flames are burning fierce!

Looks like we made it, Doctor.

Can you run, Amiya?

Yes... I'm fine.

Finally. Hurry, while—

Seems like the airship taking off was enough to get the dukes' attention.

Is that the Duke of Windermere's forces?

I don't know and I have no time to care.

We need to go, Siege!

We can't wait for the dukes and the Sarkaz to have it out—

No! Baird's not here yet!

Two minutes. No, one. Baird runs fast.

You see those walking carcasses on the street? Who knows if they don't want a piece of us, even if we got away from the bombing and the fire.

We have no time!

Where's Baird, Morgan?

She went to look for the video shop owner. It's on the far side...

What's more important to you, your subjects or your gang?

That's the question you'll need to answer, sooner or later.

Where are you going, Cador?

I'm just a Glasgow punk. I don't need to think about the things that you have to, 'Your Highness'.

Baird's one of my own. I've got to take care of her.

I look forward to seeing whether you'll keep your promise, and always stand at the fore of these people.

...I hope you do.

Cador squeezes past the silent crowd and goes back into the blockade area.

Let me go, Morgan! Say something, Vina!

Hannah! Is that McClaren? There at the end of the line... he just joined it!

Cador stops in his tracks.