“How it start?” Halber’s voice hoarse.
“They did it!” Raulie.
“Unies ran roun’ setting fire? Get on caller, send alla trannies south. We guard streets best we can, make em pay—”
“Naw! Doin’ it from up.”
“Wha?”
Raulie tug Halber’s arm. “No Unies. C’mon. Lesgo Two Three.” He jump down ta sub tunnel.
Halber bellow, but Raulie run ahead to unnercar. Sub Boss stalk afta.
Soon as we in, Raulie jump in cab, drive car south. At Two Three staysh, Raulie dash through dim tunnel ta stair, peek careful aroun’ corna. “No Unies. C’mon.” He don’ wait fo’ us ta follow.
Breathin’ his mad, Halber an’ I go afta. Allie hang back.
I blink in late day’s ligh’.
“Stay close ta stair,” Raulie warn, searchin’ ruined ol’ office builds wid eyes. Good builds, wall still strong, make nice lair. Prolly already be, fo’ whateva tribe live here.
Halber glance roun’, wary.
“Gahh!” I seize his arm, point ta build ’cross street. Roof begin ta peel an’ smoke. In a sec, wall buckle. “Wha’ is it, Halb? Monstas?”
“Naw.” Like he disgus’, Sub Boss stroll ta mid a empty rubbly street, put hands on hips. “Gonna move now, betcha.”
Sure enough, jus’ as firs’ build burst inta flame, monsta move south, eat anotha’.
I stare, in stun. Two mo’ builds smoke.
Invis monsta cross our street slow towar’ stair. Black pave go bubble an’ heave. In coupla sec, monsta chew on roof prac’ly ova our head.
“Come On!” I dart inta street, haul Halber towar’ sub. “Monsta gon’ getcha!”
He shake me off, walk slow an’ contemptuous. “Laser. No monsta.”
“Ha, think ya swind ol’ Pook? Noway. Raulie use laser on towah door, couldn’ barely cut.”
“Not pistol. Cannon. Longtime back, saw in news holo on side a towah. They tested it on ruins.” He start down stair.
I ask, “Where it be, in heli?”
“Naw.”
“On toppa towah? Maybe wid enough trannies, c’d break in, run upstair—”
“Pook.” His han’ give warnin’ squeeze, but not unkind. “We can’ get to. Be from up. Earthport.”
“Whazzat?”
“A staysh in orbit. Navyboys.” Frustrate, he shake me, point ta sky. “Doncha unnerstan’? Orbit. Go roun’ worl’.”
Raulie say, “What we do, Halb?”
“Dunno. Back ta Four Two. Call Jared. Call Chang.” We hurry from stair towar’ unnercar.
Benin’ us, a rumble, a crash. Shriek, cut off.
“Who dat?” I whirl. Where was light from stair, now dark.
“Get inna car!” Halber shove me.
“Allie?” I look roun’. “Joeygirl!”
“Inna car!”
I twis’ outa Halb’s grip, run towar’ stair.
In dim ligh’, almost don’ see small form lyin’, head at bottom a stair. Big rocks scatter roun’ where stair usetabe open. Gentle, I sit, slide knee unner head. “C’mon, Allie, gotta go.” Coupla rocks clatter down blocked stair. A ragged breath lift her shirt.
Halber grunt. He pick up Alliegirl like she sack a cansa, hurry ta track.
In car he lie her on seat, head in my lap. He squeeze in cab, start us wid lurch.
Allie gasp.
“It okay, joeykit. Jus’ unnercar. Don’ be ’fraid.” I croon like I be glitch, dunno what ta say. “Fin’ safe place, take care a ya.”
Raulie sit ’cross, silent.
Car rattle ova bad piece a track. I put han’ on her shoulda like ta protec’. Allie cough. Her lips open. Mouthful a blood pour onta my knee. She stop breathin’.
I look ta Raulie, shakin’ head a furious no.
He nod, cross arms, look at flo’.
We streak pas’ Three Four staysh, Raulie los’ in his own worl’, Allie restin’ on my lap, I stiff ’an straight, joeygirl’s blood oozin’ down leg an’ soakin’ shoe.
At Four Two staysh Raulie pry me loose from Allie. I fight him some, but he don’ even whomp me. Final, I too tire ta protes’.
Daze, I wander back ta main lair. Ignorin’ chairs, I sit in corna near entrance, lookin’ back ta stair. I wait fo’ crash from laser, an’ sudden dark. Anytime soon, I figga.
Halber shoutin’ at Jared on caller. “Don’ tell me ya can’t; jus’ stop ’em!”
Sub Boss jump on chair, peer roun’. “Sollie!” His voice loud, but ominous calm. “Take buncha trannies an’ hit neares’ towah. Cut inta, I don’ care how many lives it cos’. Kill any Uppie ya see. Burn.”
“But Halb—”
“Ya challenge?” Halber jump down from chair. “Who be Sub Boss?”
Ol’ man run tongue ’cross his lips. “I too ol’ fo’ fight, Halb. C’n cut through doors, but—”
“Joss! Rana! You Easters, go wid! Lissen, all!” Halber begin ta frazzle. “Unies burn ol’ city, entire. No place ta run. We goin’ down. But if we fry a coupla towahs, could be dey stop. Maybe no. But at leas’ we take ’em wid us!”
Roar of agree.
“Show ’em how we rumb!” His sweat shine.
Shadow fall ’cross my leg, ’cross my red sticky knee.
“Alla tribes became one in rumb wid Uppies!” Halber’s eyes burn like towah. Subs, Easters, Chinas go frenzy, shoutin’ an’ yellin’ approve. “If we gotta go out, go as one!”
I look up as shadow passby. I catch glimpse a face.
Slowly, I get ta feet. Hair on neck rise.
Halber yell, “Go! Les show frazzin’ Uppies who own da worl’!”
Mob a trannies turn, race towar’ me an stair. Toward one man standin’ in way.
He snatch chair, sling it inta crowd. “NO!” His roar echo through cave.
Trannies in front skid ta stop, but be push from behin’ just as chair fly. Go down in clumps.
“You?” Halber’s mouth work wid rage. “You!”
“Me.” Uppie’s voice like lash.
Easter joey firs’ ta scramble ta feet. “Who he be?”
Halber snarl, “Fisherman, an’ he mine!”
A murmur, like trannies don’ believe.
“Fisherman,” Sub Boss repeat. Sudden, shiv gleam in han’. “Came down ta Sub, said he frien’, an’ fight fo’ us ’gainst Parkas.” Slow, he come closer.
“But was he called Unies ta diss us when we take Park. Was he sent gas ta tunnels, called lasers ta burn city. Mus’ be a Lor’ God afta all, send him back ta me ’fore too late.”
Fisherman calm. “Is P.T. with you?”
“Dead.” Halb spit da word. “Ate him yest’day. Venge.”
Uppie stand froze like ice.
“In stewpot, Uppie.” Halber’s grin worse ’n I eva seen. “Taste good.” Drift near.
Fisherman’s eye fall on me. His voice harsh. “Is it so?”
Halber stupe. I too petrify ta speak, but ’steada waitin’, Halb snap, “Stay shut, Pook! Or getcha self diss!”
Fisherman sigh. “Thank Lord God.” For moment, he tremble. Den, as Halber close wid shiv, he pull himself togetha. “I didn’t come to fight you.”
“I betcha didn’!” Halber lunge. Uppie step aside fas’. His stiff hand slice down on Halb’s forearm. Sub Boss grunt, clutch arm.
Uppie look roun’, grab chair fa shield. “Listen.”
Sollie call out, “We’ll rush ’im, Halb.”
“Naw! Touch, I skin ya. He mine!” Halb spit. It run down Fisherman’s dies’.
Uppie say, “I didn’t call the troops. I’ve been trying to stop this madness! Halber, why would I—”
“Don’ care why! You be diss!” Halber lunge wild.
Somethin’ in Uppie change. He fling down chair, stalk ta Halber. Quick like cat, he evade upper thrus’ intend ta open his gut. “You trannie bastard, listen!” His foot swing like ta kick Halb’s nuts inta throat.
Halb slice down wid shiv, but Fisherman’s kick jus’ fake; Uppie�
�s han’ waitin ta close roun’ Halber’s wrist. Locked together, two dance slow through corridor, ’til Uppie fetch Halb ’gainst wall, shiv arm pinned tight.
Boss Sub’s muscles ripple as he try ta break free. Eyes bulge.
Sudden, no warn, Fisherman leggo Halb’s otha han’. He whomp stupendous punches, one two three. Stomach, throat, balls.
Halb go down, but Uppie grip his shiv han’ like a vise. Halber kneel, one arm raise behin’, otha pressed ’tween legs.
Slow, unrelent, Fisherman pry loose shiv. At las’, Halber’s fingas give way.
Halb raise head, mouth grimace in agony. Shiv glint high.
Uppie’s fingas spread. Shiv fall to flo’. Hand open, he slap Halber one, two. Crack like thunder. Sub Boss head rock; spit fly loose. Again, one, two.
He let go Halb’s arm. Sub Boss sag.
Fisherman turn roun’, glare at tribes. Take step; they fall back, stumblin’ ova each otha.
He drag Halb ta sit ’gainst wall. Fisherman kneel in fronta. “I’m sorry I called you a trannie.”
No ansa. Halber still clutch hisself, face red.
Uppie’s voice slow an’ clear, like talkin’ ta glitchjoe. “I didn’t call the Unies. I swear before Lord God.”
Nothin.’
“You hear me?”
Daze, bleedin’, Halb nod.
“Where’s my son?”
Across lair, Easters, Chinas, Subs stare. No one say word.
I sit very quiet, but don’ matta; Fisherman see me anyway. “Answer!”
I say, reluctant, “Wen’ ta fin’ Jared.”
“He was here?”
I nod. “Yah. Called Changman.”
Halber grated, “Shut, Pook!”
Eyes wild, Fisherman dash across cave, haul Sub boss ta feet, slam him ’gainst wall. “You shut! Philip be my son, my joeykit! I gonna fin’!” I gape, at trannietalk in Uppie mouth.
Halb may be beat, but don’ know quit. “Why we care? End a worl’.”
“Boolsheet. Jus’ gotta stop rumb. Don’ shoot sojers, give back lasers—”
“My Nine Sixers gone!” Halb try feeble ta twis’ free. “Doncha unnerstan? Can’ give up afta dat.”
Fisherman say, “Okay, ya lose some fightas. Dass way rumb go. End!”
“Frazzin’ Uppie don’ give shit ’bout—”
“Goofjuice. I’m tryin’ ta—”
Allasudden, I unnerstan’. “Halb,” I say, urgent. “He don’ know. Tell ’im.”
“Boolsheet! He—”
“Mira his face!” I dance wid frustrate. “He ain’ hear yet!”
Fisherman look back an’ forth ’tween us. “Hear what? Tell!”
“Dissed my Subs!” It be cry a pain. “All ’em.” Halb try ta go on, choke.
I say quick, “Unie sojers put gas hoses in tunnels. Diss everyone ’tween Nine Two an’ Hunnert Ten. Was thousans trannies refuge in tunnel. All gone.”
“No.” Fisherman’s face white.
“Dey did it, Uppie. C’n see fo’ yaself. Smell gettin’ fierce, though. No place get ridda bodies.”
Shaky, he sag ’gainst wall.
I say, “See, Halb? Didn’ know.”
Sudden, Easter joey add, “Blew up lair, Secon’ Ave. We hid joeykits unner. By time we dug ’em out, none lef. Halber sendin’ us ta towah, fine wid us. Venge.”
“China lairs burn.” A dark tribeman, who eyes smoulder.
“Came through Lex turf like monstas inna nigh’. Shoot everyone, even tryin’ ta run.”
One by one, voices add woes, ’til Uppie cover face.
I ask, “Ya know ’bout lasers from up?”
Fisherman shake head. “I left Franjee Tower this morning. They wouldn’t help me; I had to find—”
“We wen’ down ta Two Three, me an’ Halb an’ Raulie. Lasers be crumblin’ builds all ova. City burn. All.”
“That’s impossible.”
Halb stir. “I called Jared Uppie. He say Earthport Staysh lasers doin’ it. Unie Navy. Cantcha smell the smoke?”
Fisherman groan.
Halber eye his shiv on flo’, but make no move.
Long quiet.
Fisherman say, “It’s got to stop.” Somethin’ in his tone make me chill.
“Hah. Sojers gonna ’gree?”
“Probably not. Nor will the government. I’ll need ...” He chew lip. “... about fourteen hours. Don’t attack any more towers until I’ve done what I must.” His voice raise. “Hear me, tribe? Gimme time. I try ta fix.”
Lexboy spit. “Why we trus’ you?”
“Because ...” Fisherman swallow. Afta min, his eyes glisten. “I love my boy so much ... this started because of Philip. Adam Tenere and I combed the city, and my wife was ... for a week, I’ve barely slept. If he dies, my life is over.”
“So?”
“I’m done looking. Your lives come first. I’ll stop the lasers.”
“How?”
“I’ll go aloft. I think I know a way.”
Halber ease himself ta chair, balls still hurtin’. “An’ if ya stop laser, Uppies go back ta gas us like rats inna sewer. Take only water we got, sen’ in troop carries an’ Unie troops ...”
“I know.” Fisherman be deep within himself. “Yes. I’ve known a long while.” He shudder. “Even that, I’ll give you.”
He haul Halb ta feet, stoop ta pick up shiv. “If I can stop the lasers, I’ll stop the rest also. I know how. I just hoped ... I’m sorry.” He put shiv in Halb’s nan’, put own arms behin’ back. “Diss me now, if ya don’ trust. Or lemme help yas.” He close eyes, raise head like ta bare throat. “Diss, if ya wan’. Dunno if I care.”
Halb glance at Easters an’ Subs, back ta shiv. I c’n see flicker a venge in his min’.
Voice say sharp, “No one touch him.” I in fronta Fisherman, protectin’, lookin’ backanforth. “No one!” My own shiv out, glintin’ sharp.
Someone snicker. I spit, signalin’ ready ta rumb.
Halb say soft, “How long, Fisherman?”
“Give me ’til midmorning. The lasers will stop ... or they won’t.”
I look in Halb’s eyes, beseech.
He nod.
Few min later Fisherman stand at stair. “Keep your joeys underground. Disperse them—you know what that means?—as far as possible from the square.”
“Yah.” Halber look morose.
“And remember laser fire comes from the south; the station’s in equatorial orbit. Low buildings north of a tower should be safe.”
“Yah.”
“Keep that caller with you, the one I recoded. Don’t change to another; they all have different codes. I’ll call as soon as I know.”
“Yah, you’ll call.” Halb look like he don’ believe it.
“Bring Jared Tenere under, if you find him. His father is desperate.”
I tug at sleeve. “Whassis name?”
“Adam Tenere.”
“Mista Tenere? Peetee call him Mista?”
“Yes.”
“He diss.” Immediate, I regret sayin’ it so bald, ’cause Fisherman go white.
He manage, “Why’d you kill him?”
“Not us. He run down ta warn Hunnert Ten Subs ’bout gas. Peetee foun’ him wid othas, blood ova mouth.”
Long silence. Fisherman’s voice impossible weary. “How do you know?”
“Peetee tell Mista Chang onna caller.”
“Why Chang?”
“He our speakfo.”
Fisherman mutta somethin unda breath, cross hisself. Then he stalk ’cross Four Two Square, stride towar’ towahs ’til he disappear in swirlin’ smoke.
Chapter 54
ROBERT
ALONE IN MY LUXURY suite at the Earthport Hilton I massaged my forehead, hoping to soothe the dull ache gripping my skull. I’d been more than foolhardy to endure liftoff after a concussion.
Still, I’d had to leave the war room, had to leave Franjee Tower. Had to leave New York.
I poured a second glass of whiskey, took a
nother sip. It didn’t seem to help.
“I only noticed him because his clothing was so different from the tribesmen.”
I swirled the scotch.
“Objectively speaking, I’d say he died in agony.”
Did the boy know what he’d done to me?
How could I face life without Adam?
Even when he was furious with me, in his middy days, or when he saw me manipulate Arlene and the Captain, his rebuke had an undertone of respect, his disapproval something akin to love.
I’d called Dad, and told him the news. He grunted, said he was sorry. Then he told me the situation had changed; the Navy was intervening with pinpoint laser fire. My job had been to stay with General Ruben. The least I could do, having fled to orbit, was to attach myself to Jeff Thorne.
Our public position was that we approved the Navy’s pulling U.N.A.F.’s chestnuts out of the fire. Of course, it helped that Supranationalists had always supported the Navy, while the Territorials favored U.N.A.F I should make sure I was interviewed when the dust settled.
It left a sour taste that alcohol couldn’t etch clean.
I groped for the caller, punched in familiar codes. “Mother?”
“Robbie? You sound a million miles away.”
“I’m at Earthport.”
“Good heavens. Why?”
“I’m ... not sure.”
“Concussions are tricky. I’ll call Van to get you.”
“No, I feel fine.” Other than a persistent headache that threatened to suck in my eyeballs, and a gentle sway to the room that I assumed was an excess of whiskey on an empty stomach.
“I was dusting the roses. The damn aphids have them again. It’s time I changed the service; those lawn people don’t know the slightest—”
“Mother, Adam’s dead.”
“About spraying—who? Someone I know?”
“Adam Tenere.”
“Ah, yes. Your ... friend from the Navy.” As always, she made it sound as if we were sodomites. No matter how often I told her ...Had you known he was ill?”
“He wasn’t.” My tone was sharp. “They killed him in the insurrection. We killed him. Our side.”
“Oh, dear.” A pause. When she resumed, her voice was soothing and, well, more motherly. “I’m sorry, of course. Should I take you to the funeral?”
“Damn you, Mother, his body’s rotting in the subway tunnels!”
Voices of Hope (The Seafort Saga Book 5) Page 45