Глава 13

I was the first to see the scout.

While I scouted the silent government buildings next to the plaza on the other bank, his dead body drifting in the water, still grabbing the reeds by the bank.

It seems he never gave up trying to survive.

Not far from him, his journal lay quietly in a waterproof pouch, the last entry written just before his departure.

'I volunteered for this mission to deliver the SOS. I won't come back, whether I succeed or fail.'

'No one will survive.' (Crossed out)

His journal indicates that the defenders of Chetleigh are in dire straits.

See the crossing on the other side? The ferries have been sunk. Horn's squad has been completely cut off from the outside.

Two days ago, this soldier tried to cross the river under the cover of darkness, but was shot by the Sarkaz patrolling on the opposite bank.

There is no word from the troops that were garrisoned in the city hall.

The soldier's journal made me uneasy.

Twenty-three soldiers, two squads.

Other than the city hall, silent in the darkness, the rest of the buildings around the plaza have been reduced to smoldering ruins by artillery fire.

At least the tragedy hammers one thing: No one can truly escape death on the battlefield.

The Camus River runs to the east and north side of the plaza. The crossing to the east is under Sarkaz control. The lights coming from the south should be the Sarkaz camp.

They've holed up in the city hall for more than two weeks.

If the journal is accurate, the last bridge that connects the city hall to the residential district on the other side of the north bank was attacked no less than two days ago.

It's possible that they're cut off from all supplies.

Out of ammo, out of food.

What do we do?

If we have the time to worry about that here, we might as well just cross the river and see for ourselves.

We can't just cross without a plan, Hannah. If we're discovered—

Actually, Hannah's words made me think.

We've been unable reach Horn's squad by radio. Restoring communications is our first priority.

Me, Hannah, Morgan, and Dagda will swim across the river and see what the situation is inside city hall.

That's too dangerous, Vina!

You realize that we're the best people for this job. The only people for this job.

We're Rhodes Island operators. Small squad spec ops is our game. And we're Norport gangsters, who know how to get into a place and get back out again unnoticed.

We have a few volunteer soldiers and civilians who want to offer their support for the legendary Tempest Platoon. But there are only so many people we can bring...

We need people to stay behind for defense, with Lieutenant Shearer gone.

I hardly hear what Vina is saying.

Is this a bad joke by Trilby Asher? Or is this how the battlefield is?

The call for help, deciding whether to answer, and the sacrifices that must be made to help... the laws of the battlefield.

I know what you're thinking, Delphine.

There are personal sentiments involved, but I can't ignore the SOS.

They're good soldiers, and they'll be of help if they're still alive.

Alright... I trust your judgment.

Stay behind with these men, Delphine. We need to keep watch.

If you lose our signal, take them and get out of here.

Alright.

Come back alive.

Okay, we're on the bank. Keep your eyes out for any patrols.

Two Sarkaz standing guard at the crossing. One to Hannah's 3 o'clock, another in the building.

Roger.

Draw the attention of the first, and Hannah and I will do this together. Three... Two... One... go!

The light in the window goes out.

All is well?

Wait... a fowlbeast?

A black fowlbeast flies out of the hut at the crossing, flies a circle above, then heads towards the Sarkaz camp.

Vina!

An agile shadow leaps across the moonlight from the roof of the hut and grabs the fowlbeast.

Got it!

A military fowlbeast. You spooked it, Hannah.

Sorry, I didn't notice.

No sign of Sarkaz. To the city hall.

Lots of bodies on the plaza, but it's too dark to identify them. Ready to go in.

I see the bridge that connects the residential district, but the barricades on the other side of the bridge are blocking the view.

Go to the top of the city hall, try to get a better vantage.

Roger. Hm...

The entrance has been boarded up.

Over here. A gap has been blown in the west wall, wide enough for us to go in.

Good... do you see Horn's squad?

Not yet.

Stop! Something's moving. Radio silence. There's a crossbowman in the building watching the residential district, allegiance unknown. Watch for my sign.

*Sarkaz profanity* What's that sound on this frequency? Who *Bzzzz—*

The signal goes silent.

I did not hear anything from them for the next ten minutes.

How many men in the building? What's the situation with the surrounded troops? Has Vina's group been discovered?

I'm completely in the dark.

Crouched in the dirt on the banks, I feel my heart beat harder with every throb.

The heartbeats merge into the river, resonating with the flow, growing faster and stronger—

I see you.

They've been discovered?

Someone's waving from the top of the building, the moon at her back. It's... Vina?

Siege here.

Horn, Tempest Platoon. Do you hear me?

We got your SOS. We've confirmed your location—the bridgehead at the residential district, on the other side.

We're coming to help.

'Bzzzzt— Bzzzzt—'

I hear cheers coming from the radio.

They did it.

Sorry about that. The men are excited for our first bit of support.

We should be able to talk normally now.

Horn, we can help your squad evacuate—

Thanks, but we're not evacuating. There's something in this town that the Sarkaz want, and they won't abandon their assault.

The nearest Victorian battalion that received our SOS will arrive within one week. We must guard the entrance until then, and ensure the safety of the survivors of Chetleigh.

*Radio noise*

We voted on this. The decision was unanimous.

Including... Misery. Much obliged.

Dead silence.

She sounded like she was talking about the weather.

A vote. On a battlefield, there are only two choices you get to vote for: Life, or death.

Vina seems lost in thought. What decision would I make? What decision would Mother make?

Then...

If you choose to gamble, I have an even bolder plan. Care to hear it?

I don't support Vina because she is the heir to the throne.

She's brave, competitive, hates losing.

Some would call her reckless.

But I count on her to get us there, to find a way out of hell.

I have to believe in her. I have to believe to get out of this hell.