“I said, stand down, soldier!” Romi strengthened his grip on her. “Nedi! Matu!” The men came over and he passed his struggling corporal to them. “Calm down, Jou, or I’ll tie you up.”
“But Romi—”
“I said, calm down. I’ll deal with it. Nedi, take her away.”
He waited until she was well clear and then he turned to Soza. “Is that true?” he asked through gritted teeth. “Did you throw something at the cub?”
“It was going through the specimens! Who knows what damage—”
Romi had heard enough, and as Jou had before him, he hauled the man to his feet. He pushed him against the tree and pulled Soza’s shirt up around his skinny throat, lifting him by it. “I should kill you,” he growled. “You pissing bastard—do you know what you’ve done? Do you know what you’ve done to my people? You pissing little shit.” Soza was starting to turn purple and struggle for air. Romi found he didn’t care.
“Romi, stop.” Romi ignored Wepizi in favour of putting Soza out of everyone else’s misery. “Romi! Captain Romi, stop or I’ll arrest you! Damn it, man, stop or you’ll be a murderer!”
Romi released his grip, letting Soza fall. He allowed Wepizi to pull him back, before pointing to Soza and ordering Netu, “If he moves, tie him up. If he breathes, tie him up.”
Soza was still choking and gasping. “Tried to kill me! Lep Wepizi, arrest him!”
Wepizi turned and gave Soza a hard look. “I saw nothing. Be quiet or I’ll tie you up myself. Captain, come with me.”
Romi let Wepizi tug him along out of the clearing, and by the time they stopped, he had got a better hold on his temper. “Sorry.” Then he punched the tree next to him. “Actually, no, I’m not. You should have let me kill him. Did you see Sibu and Reisa?”
“I did, my friend, but I can’t let you murder a man in front of me. Now calm down. This does not befit you or your rank.”
Romi took a deep breath and another, before nodding. “All right. But gods....”
“Yes, I know. It defies credulity.” Wepizi made him sit on a log, but didn’t join him—Romi got the impression he was being guarded. “Now we have to decide what to do.”
“There’s nothing for it—we turn back now. The only thing I care about is getting Sibu and the others out safely, and if possible, prosecuting that fool for his recklessness.”
“Hmmm, the latter isn’t likely, but I agree we must start back and soon. They can’t travel yet—we need to know how long it will be, and how we will transport them without making their injuries worse.”
“Yes. I’m all right now. I need to go deal with the mess.”
Wepizi kept his hand on Romi’s shoulder and spoke to him before he would allow him to go back to camp. “Do not allow your temper to rule you in this. As soldiers we are sworn to protect even the stupid, and to uphold the law for all, not just those we like. If you lay hands on him again, you will force me to take official notice of it—I don’t want to do that to a friend or a fellow officer.”
“No. I’m sorry, I just—”
“Gave in to a perfectly understandable impulse. I know, my friend, but don’t give this creature the upper hand.”
Romi took another deep breath. “No, you’re right. Very well, let’s go back.”
You could cut the tension in the camp with a knife, and that wasn’t entirely metaphorical as several soldiers had their weapons out, perhaps in defence, perhaps as a more direct threat. The men who had gone to deal with the carcasses had returned, and now Kizinke and Netu were guarding Soza from the hostile team. Jou was still being kept away from him by Nedi and Matu, and a little way off stood Karik, his wet shirt in his hands, his expression unreadable, and, it seemed to Romi, carefully positioned not to show allegiance to one group or another.
“All right, soldiers, weapons sheathed. Come to attention,” Romi called out. There was a brief shuffling as short swords and long knives were slammed back into sheaths, and men stood up straight. “You all know what’s happened, and who seems to be to blame for it. I’ll be making an official report on this incident and further action may be taken once we return to Darshian, but for now, that’s all I’m legally allowed to do. Jou, I know how you feel, I really do, but as Lep Wepizi has reminded me, our duty is to uphold our law and that of Andon. I’m issuing a direct order that no one is to lay a hand on Soza without prior authorisation from Wepizi or me. However,” he said, turning to where Soza was hiding behind his protectors, “you are henceforth confined to camp, and you will not be left unattended at any time. Consider yourself in custody.”
“Wait a minute, you—”
“Shut up. Shut up or I’ll have you gagged, Soza. Netu, if he opens his mouth again, use your imagination to find something nasty to fill it with.” Netu saluted as he gave Soza a filthy look—their gentle medic was no happier with the man than anyone else was. “As for the expedition, we’re going back as soon as Sibu, Reisa and Pali can be moved safely. For now, everyone just do what you can to repair the damage. Kepi, take over from Netu—Netu, go back and look after Sibu and the others. Wepizi, would you take charge of the tent repairs, please?”
“Excuse me, captain,” Kizinke said, walking forward towards him. “As a citizen of Andon, I must protest this high-handed treatment of a civilian and guest in my country.”
“Noted—make a report and shut up. Anyone else got a problem? Right, get on with it, people.”
He turned and walked back to where Jou was standing behind her guards, her face stained with tears of rage, her fists clenched into white-knuckled tension. “Romi, did you see what he’s done to her? To them? You’ve got to do something!”
“I know, but under the law he’s not really committed a crime. I’ll make sure those who need to know and who can take action, will. But for now, I need your word of honour that you won’t go near him.”
“I can’t. I want to kill him.”
He searched her face, and with a sinking heart, realised this was literally true. “Then consider yourself under arrest, corporal. Matu, will you find some rope, please?”
Matu hesitated. “Romi, you can’t—”
“That was an order, soldier. If I have to have you all tied up, I will.”
Matu turned to obey with obvious reluctance, but then Jou forestalled him. “Wait. I....”
Romi put his hand on her shoulder and made her turn. “Corporal?”
Her jaw was working, tears filled her eyes, but her voice was steady. “I give my word. My word of honour. I won’t touch him.”
She was still furious, but her word was her bond. “Thank you. Matu, Nedi, dismissed. Go help Wepizi.”
He waited for the two men to leave and then he embraced her, pulling her close in a totally unprofessional manner though he really didn’t care. “I’m so sorry, Jou,” he whispered as she cried. “So sorry.”
Her hands, fisting in his shirt, tightened. “She’s going to be scarred for life. Reisa too.”
“Brave scars, Jou, bravely won. Don’t underestimate them.”
She only let him hold her for a minute or so, before pushing him away, and rubbing her eyes angrily. “Sorry,” she muttered.
“I understand. I promise you none of this is going in my report. It never happened.”
“I deserve—”
“Nothing but praise for handling the injured so well,” Romi said firmly. “You’re still all over blood—go and get clean. I’ll send Tiro down to you and I want you and him to net some fish for supper. Take your time over it, corporal.”
She sniffed and wiped away a few rogue tears. “Yes, captain.”
He saluted, she returned it shakily and walked away. Gods. If she hadn’t backed down.... If he ended up arresting his own people to protect that shit....
He turned to go back into the camp, and found Karik waiting silently for him. “Come to plead for that bastard too?” he snapped.
Karik hesitated, taken aback by his temper. “N-No. I j-just wanted to kn-know if I c-can help.�
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“No, you...wait, yes. Can you do me a favour?”
“A-Anything.”
Romi frowned. Why was he stuttering? “What’s wrong? I’m not angry with you, if that’s what you think. I’m just rattled. Sorry—I shouldn’t have barked at you like that.”
Karik lowered his eyes. “It’s all right. I’m j-just upset about S-Sibu and Jou.”
Romi cursed himself for being an insensitive idiot. “Yes, I understand. I sent Jou down to the stream to wash and cool off, and I said I’d send Tiro down to her so they could net some fish—I want to give her a chance to calm down. Could you go instead, and listen to her and let her vent?”
“Of course. I’ll g-go now.”
“Thank you.” As Karik turned to go, Romi had to ask. “Are you angry about Soza? I mean, keeping him in custody?”
“No. I s-support your decision completely. I j-just.... I’ll get the fishing gear.”
“You just...?”
Karik turned. “It’s j-just...we’re so c-close. To finishing, I mean.”
“Karik, we can’t go on with people this badly injured.”
“I know. J-Just a shame to w-waste their sacrifice. C-Can’t be helped. I’ll find Jou.”
And he walked off, leaving Romi with something else to think about. Not what he really needed at this point, he thought with a sigh.
All credit to his team, order was restored far quicker than he’d expected. Someone had shovelled earth over the blood that had poured from the dead tewi, and the tent had been moved a little distance away from the mess. Sibu, Reisa and Pali were now safely sheltered within it and being tended by Netu, who didn’t like to venture an opinion as to when they could travel just yet, but would know better within a day, he said. Sibu was the worst injured though Reisa was also badly hurt. Pali had no broken bones but would be very sore and immobile for a few days. Romi told Netu to concentrate on making them comfortable and to worry about travel later on.
Keeping a guard on Soza meant that the personnel available for the watch and normal duties was reduced even further, but it was as much for the man’s protection as to prevent him doing something else so culpably stupid—even now, Romi was glad he was out of sight because the urge to do serious harm to the bastard was almost irresistible.
As Wepizi directed the repairs to the side of the tent—fortunately not as badly damaged as it had first appeared—Romi discussed the rearrangement of the watch rota, and then the matter of getting people home. “How quickly do you think we can get back?”
“Hmmm. With good weather and travelling constantly, I would think we could be back in Visiqe in under a month, and then two weeks to Tsikiugui by river. Our injured will slow things down, of course.”
“Can’t be helped,” Romi said. “Kizinke?” The guide came over, his expression still surly. “I want you and Tiro to draw up maps for Lep Wepizi’s use. I want the fastest, safest route back to Visiqe you can devise—safety before speed, the easiest route for the beasts.”
“As you wish, captain. But a map is unnecessary if I will be with them.”
“It’s a backup plan in case something happens to you. Don’t argue with me,” he snapped.
Offended, Kizinke withdrew. Wepizi gave Romi a wry look. “He’s going to make a complaint about you, you know that, and his family have influence. It seems a little unfair of you to blame him for his friendship with Soza when you aren’t blaming Karik.”
“Karik didn’t leap up to defend the bastard,” Romi growled. “Besides, I don’t like Kizinke’s face.”
“Our beautiful man is far easier on the eye, for sure.”
“Wepizi, not the time or place for this, all right?”
“I apologise, my friend,” he said with a little bow. “Merely my attempt to lessen the tension.”
He was putting his foot in it all over the place this afternoon. “No, I’m sorry—but gods, what a mess.”
“It could have been so much worse,” Wepizi said seriously. “No one’s dead or in danger or dying, and we don’t seem to have lost anything important.”
“Only through pure luck,” Romi said. “I still want to see him pay for this.”
“My friend, people do stupid things all the time, only not usually with this kind of consequence. We’re soldiers. It’s our job to save the population from the effects of its own idiocy.”
“Yes, I know,” Romi said with a sigh. “I better go see how the others are getting on.”
Two hours later, Jou and Karik returned, bearing a good catch of fish and a sack of edible plants from the river’s edge. Jou looked a lot calmer, though it seemed to Romi her peace had been won at the cost of more tears. Karik looked rather subdued and Romi couldn’t really guess at his thoughts.
“Is everything all right?” Romi asked Karik as Jou went over to Netu.
“Yes,” Karik answered, preparing to walk off as he did so.
Romi caught his arm. “Thanks for that. She needed someone.”
“She helped me, I helped her,” Karik said with a little shrug.
“Still.... Listen, I’m giving some thought to what you said...we’re on watch together, let’s talk then.”
“Together?”
“Well, Jou and Netu need to look after the others. Do you mind?”
“No. But I...need some time alone now.”
“Of course.” He released Karik’s arm. “Just don’t wander off—we don’t know if there are any more tewis around.”
It was a quiet, tense team who ate supper and prepared to settle down for the night, their wounded given precious extra space and protection in the cramped shelter. With half their team either injured or otherwise occupied, the watch shifts had to be lengthened to two hours each. Romi had assigned Karik and himself the second last one, an hour after midnight, and found it hard to wake up when Nedi came to give him the nudge. Karik was already by the fire, boiling up water for fresh tea—he looked tired. “Did you sleep at all?” Romi asked as he sat down.
“A little. Nightmares,” he added briefly.
Poor sod. “You did well today. I couldn’t have asked for more from any soldier.”
“Thanks, but I think I won’t change careers just yet.”
Romi grinned at his own words of months ago being quoted back at him. “No, I imagine not. Do you think Sibu will recover all right?”
Karik looked up at him. “I’ve seen much worse when I was training with Kei, and once or twice with Ma. Most of the breast tissue on the right is gone, and the slashes are bone deep—gashed the bone in one place. She will probably have bad scarring, apart from the disfigurement, and that could cause problems. She needs to be treated in a proper infirmary.”
“With the best will in the world, we can’t get her to one within a month.”
“Then we’ll do the best we can for her until we can. Netu and Jou are excellent medics—she’s in good hands.”
“They tell me you’re not exactly useless either, Karik. I’ve been thinking about what you said.”
Karik poked the fire, his eyes shuttered. “Forget it, it was selfish of me to think of it with them lying hurt.”
“No, it was only natural. How long would it take a small team, no more than say six of us, to do what you need to do at Mount Arzha?”
Karik considered. “Sticking to essentials, not collecting geological specimens—if we had a week clear, I wouldn’t complain. But can we do that?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking—if Wepizi takes Sibu and the others back, they could make better time in a smaller group. The tent splits into three—we could take a third and we’d also make better time, especially if they took the specimens back, which shouldn’t make any difference to their speed.”
“And Soza?”
“Ah, now, that’s the tricky question. What do you think?”
Karik poked the fire again. “I think it would be a burden to Wepizi to have to handle him,” he said finally. “And with so much ill-feeling.... But no one will want him with them.”<
br />
“This is true, but he has to go back one way or the other. I can stand him—just. You can, Kizinke can. If I ask for two or three other volunteers, it might be possible. He would be more use collecting plants than hindering a group with injured people.”
Karik nodded. “If you judge it wisest.”
“I need to think about it more, and talk to Wepizi. It’s not certain anyone will want to come with us, and I won’t force people. Whatever happens, we need to be back at this point within six weeks or we’ll run out of time with winter coming.”
“Then maybe we shouldn’t risk it—I don’t want anyone else hurt for this mission.”
“Nor I. But as you say, it’s a pity to waste the sacrifice. I’ll bear responsibility for the decision, whichever one I take.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Karik.” That got him a small but genuine smile, which warmed Romi strangely. It had definitely been a bad day if getting a single grateful look made him feel better.
Staying Power: 25
Karik couldn’t help feeling a definite sense of responsibility for what had happened to Sibu and the others, though not a soul other than himself attempted to make him feel guilty. He could have stopped Soza coming on this expedition if he’d been less concerned about offending the man. Arman had given him the chance, Pa had warned him, and so had Romi. All their worst fears had been realised—but it hadn’t been Soza who’d paid the price, it had been Sibu, Reisa and Pali.
He could hardly bear to look at Soza, and he avoided contact with Kizinke who seemed to think Soza had been harshly treated, even though Kizinke surely knew what a stupid thing it had been to do. It was a typical city-dweller’s mistake, for sure—to think you could scare off a large wild animal in that way and not suffer for it. Karik might have forgiven Soza a little if the man had shown the slightest regret for his actions, but anytime Karik heard him talking to anyone, he was trying to justify himself and pretend it hadn’t really been his fault at all. Karik wanted to shake him for being so stupid, but at the same time, he wanted to keep well away from him.
Staying Power (Darshian Tales #3) Page 34