Zenith Rising

by Gavin Zanker

  ‘Good,’ Leigh said matter-of-factly. She was trying her best to come across as confident, but felt as if Woody was seeing right through her. She wished she could read him like she could Aiden. ‘It seems like you’ve been everywhere and know everyone,’ she said.

  ‘Well, I’ve been around the walkways once or twice,’ he said.

  ‘Is everywhere the same as this place?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Here in the city, people are always… standing on each other to try and get ahead; fighting and stealing. Have you ever been somewhere where people trust each other and just… get along?’

  Woody was quiet for a long moment. Leigh thought he hadn’t heard her and was just about to repeat the question when he answered. ‘Those places are rarer than beef steak on a Sunday.’

  She saw lines around his eyes she hadn’t noticed before. ‘So they don’t exist?’ she asked.

  He stopped and leaned down, putting a calloused hand on her shoulder. ‘They exist, little fox, and if you’re ever lucky enough to find yours, you hold on and fight for it with everything you’ve got. Because you never know when it might all get taken away from you.’

  Leigh found herself lost in the depth of his expanding eyes as he stared intently into hers. She couldn’t begin to imagine the things he had seen with them. She wanted to ask him about all of it, but the words stuck in her throat.

  He stood up straight and they carried on walking, his usual sly smile returning. ‘So what have you been doing with yourself anyway?’

  Leigh coughed as she found her voice again. ‘Nothing much. Just keeping my eyes and ears open. Staying out of trouble.’

  ‘That sounds like you’re already in trouble to me.’

  Leigh scrunched up her nose. ‘There’s no trouble to get into here even if I tried. Everyone is so stuffy and boring.’ She remembered overhearing some of Aiden’s conversation with Zachary in his office the other day. ‘Say, do you know much about Zachary?’

  ‘I know he’s not to be trusted.’

  ‘Why do you say that?’

  ‘I couldn’t give you a reason. My gut just says so.’

  Leigh nodded. ‘I feel the same. I heard him offering a job to Aiden that sounded dodgy.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘Something about Carson Waters. I didn’t really hear the details. I just know Aiden turned him down.’

  ‘Of course he did.’ Woody’s expression grew serious as they arrived at the heavy door leading back into the Brentford. ‘Not everyone around here has the same moral compass as Aiden, so you keep your wits about you, little fox. Trust your instincts. And keep Hitch close by — he has a nose for trouble. You’re a breath of fresh air and I wouldn’t want to see you get hurt.’

  Leigh looked up at him and nodded firmly. ‘I will,’ she promised, her stomach doing somersaults at being treated like a proper adult for a change.

  CHAPTER 27

  AS THEY SLIPPED into the Brentford board room meeting where a heated debate flew back and forth across the table, Aiden motioned to Patrick to stay quiet.

  ‘Look, it’s unfortunate,’ Zachary said, standing up and spreading his hands, ‘but this is a dangerous world we live in and accidents happen.’

  ‘That was no accident,’ Orlen shouted, glaring across the table at Dion. ‘Places don’t just explode like that on their own. Somebody rigged it up. Somebody who didn’t care about all the poor sods on board.’

  ‘Something to say, old man?’ Dion said. ‘You got yourself some proof before you start giving me that skunk-eye?’

  ‘Yeah, come here,’ Orlen growled. ‘I’ll give you some proof, you rust-sucker.’

  ‘Aiden?!’ Julian said, his surprise cutting through the argument and causing everyone to swivel around. ‘I thought you and Patrick… I was just about to…’ He fell silent and looked to Orlen, but the old man just sat with his mouth hanging open.

  ‘You thought we were dead,’ Aiden said, stepping forward. ‘I’m not surprised, though I didn’t expect to be left behind.’

  Orlen stood up. ‘Dion said you were both still inside when the Hermes went up. If I’d thought you had any chance… I would’ve gone straight back—’

  Aiden held up a hand. ‘Don’t worry,’ he said, flashing a look that could pierce stone at Dion, who shifted uncomfortably in his seat. ‘I know who I can trust around here.’

  ‘What the hell happened back there?’ Orlen asked.

  ‘We got locked in a cabin in the cargo deck. Fortunately, the hull was more corroded than Cowards Gap, so we managed to knock out some panels and swim out before the explosion.’

  ‘Well, it’s a relief to see you’re fine,’ Julian said. ‘False alarm then people, we can all go back to normal. I’ve got to say, that was a conversation I wasn’t looking forward to having with Leigh.’

  ‘What conversation?’ Leigh said as the doors swung open and she strode inside with Woody. ‘Aiden!’ she cried as she caught sight of him. She sprinted at him, throwing her stick-thin arms around his waist. He knelt down and squeezed her as Hitch bounced around trying to lick his face. ‘I missed you,’ she whispered.

  ‘Me too,’ he said into her ear. He reached down and patted Hitch, trying to calm the dog down before he knocked a hole in the floor with his wagging tail.

  Woody nodded a greeting to everyone and stepped up to the table. ‘The trip to Kiln Commons went well. Kendal set us up with all the weapons we’ll need. They’re being stashed in the armoury now.’

  ‘That’s great news,’ Julian said. ‘Now everyone is here, Orlen, you want to fill us all in on the trip to Carson?’

  Orlen was still tongue-tied from the shock of seeing Aiden walking around, but he stood up and stammered through. ‘There was an incident — an explosion on the Hermes — and we thought we’d lost someone, but… well,’ he blew out his cheeks, ‘everything turned out okay. For us, at least. We found almost all the gear we’ll need for the expedition. We’ll have to jury rig the rest.’

  Julian nodded sagely. ‘It’s tragic what happened in Carson, I feel for those people, but we can’t let ourselves get distracted from our goal, not now we have the equipment to make the expedition into the Sinking Dust.’

  Zachary excused himself from the table and left, not making eye contact with anyone as he strode out of the room.

  ‘So now the big question,’ Julian continued. ‘Who’s going south?’

  Aiden stood in the uncomfortable silence that followed the question. There weren’t going to be many volunteers, but he would go alone if that’s what it took to get him inside the compound to find Kate.

  ‘I’ll go with him,’ Woody said, nodding at Aiden. ‘I’ve been south before, I should be able to offer some help.’

  ‘Good man,’ Julian said. ‘I’ll persuade a few other Syndicate gun hands to go with you, shouldn’t be difficult if I offer them enough extra pay. Travis, are you all set with planning out the route?’

  ‘I’ve studied the maps,’ Travis said, looking pointedly at Leigh, ‘and I think I have a solid idea of where the quarry is located. Of course, it’ll be a different matter once you get out there. The map’s old, probably obsolete; the terrain might be different; there could be new obstacles. Any number of variables could have changed.’

  ‘That’s why you’re coming too,’ Woody said, patting Travis’ back. ‘Preparation only gets you so far. We’re going to have to improvise out there, and if things go badly, having an ex-Dawnist leader with us certainly won’t hurt.’

  ‘But…’ Travis started to protest before trailing off. He slumped down into his chair. ‘Oh screw it, why not I suppose. It’s not like things could get much worse. I think I’ll need another drink though.’

  ‘Let’s hit the bar then,’ Orlen said, slapping the table with his palm. ‘I lost an old friend in Carson. Plus, I hate to see anyone drink alone.’

  ‘Don’t get wasted,’ Julian warned. ‘We need everyone ready to move out tomorrow morning.’ He clapped his hands
together. ‘Looks like we’re about set, people. Everyone take the rest of the day for yourselves and get a decent night’s rest. There’ll be an early start tomorrow so we can brief before the expedition leaves.’

  As everyone else filtered out of the board room in good spirits, Aiden waited with Leigh, nodding at those who passed. ‘Where’s Grace?’ he asked.

  Leigh shrugged. ‘Back at the radio station I think. She said something about needing to see Robin, if the Dawnists would let her inside.’

  Dion paused in the doorway, rubbing the back of his neck. ‘You made it out,’ he said.

  Aiden stared at him blankly.

  ‘Look,’ Dion continued, ‘I don’t know what happened back there. The thing is, Zachary—’

  ‘Zachary told you to try and kill me?’

  ‘Well, no. Look, I just wanted to say—’

  ‘Don’t worry about it.’

  ‘Don’t worry?’

  ‘That’s right.’ Aiden nodded, despite the cold rage telling him to lash out, to keep swinging until Dion was nothing but a bloody pulp. ‘Water under the bridge.’

  ‘Okay,’ Dion said with a relieved laugh. ‘Hey, with what you pulled on me, you know I had to try, right?’

  As Dion stupidly admitted being responsible, Aiden forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. ‘Of course, who can blame you?’

  Satisfied, the junkie walked away, his usual swagger returning.

  ‘What happened out there?’ Leigh asked after he had passed out of earshot.

  ‘He tried to murder me.’

  ‘What? That idiot? I’ll kill him!’

  ‘Steady,’ Aiden said, catching her arm to stop her from marching off after Dion. He lowered his voice and explained what had happened in Carson Waters.

  ‘That bastard!’ Leigh said.

  ‘Watch your language,’ Aiden warned. ‘I thought you were dead against hurting people anyway?’

  ‘He tried to kill you!’ Leigh protested. ‘We should go after him. Or tell people. Or… or something!’

  ‘There’s no point, without proof he’d just lie. Plus Zachary would back him up, and then it would be my word against theirs. Don’t worry, I’ve handled Dion before. He’ll get what’s coming to him soon enough. I’ll see to that.’

  Leigh frowned at him. ‘I still don’t like it.’

  ‘And what about you, huh? I saw you walk in with Woody. You didn’t leave the Brentford, did you?’

  Leigh looked down. ‘I just went out into the tunnel to help him carry stuff back. I didn’t go outside, I promise. I can take care of myself — nothing bad is going to happen in this boring place. And you don’t have to worry about Woody either, he’s a good guy.’

  ‘He seems all right doesn’t he?’ Aiden said, rubbing his chin. ‘But you go around looking for trouble, that’s the bit that worries me.’ He put an arm around her. ‘Come on, I need a shower and something to eat after all that walking. Let’s go find some supper, and you can fill me in on all the mischief you and Hitch got yourselves into while I was gone.’

  CHAPTER 28

  ‘YOU’RE LEAVING ME behind again, aren’t you?’ Leigh said as she sat on the lower bunk, swinging her legs in the air.

  Aiden looked up from packing for the expedition. ‘You know I can’t take you.’

  ‘Because it’s too dangerous.’

  ‘Right — especially this time.’ Aiden slumped down beside her. ‘I told you before, I’ve got to see this one through on my own. I already need eyes in the back of my head going out there with people I can’t trust, but heading into the Sinking Dust as well? That place is worse than anywhere we’ve ever been together. And on top of all that, when we reach the quarry there’ll be Dawnists and their Faithful goons.’

  ‘I know, I know. I could still help.’

  ‘Look at it this way,’ he said, slipping an arm around her slim shoulders, ‘you staying here where I know you’re okay is the best thing you can do to help me at the moment. Would you do that for me?’

  Leigh nodded. ‘As long as you promise to come back safe.’

  He squeezed her shoulder. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be back. You’re not getting rid of me yet.’

  ‘Okay then, but be careful,’ she said, resting her head against his chest. She grabbed his hand and raised it. ‘And stop picking your nails, your fingers are a mess.’

  ‘I’ll try. Stick close to Grace while I’m gone, you know you can trust her. Maybe play with Patrick’s kid brothers; I hear they’re about your age.’ He rose and grabbed his pack before turning to Hitch who sat beside Leigh. ‘How about you, boy? You wanna come or are you staying here again?’ The dog lay down, looking up at Aiden with his tail low. ‘Fair enough, I wouldn’t want to go either.’

  They finished saying their goodbyes and he departed, feeling satisfied with how they left things for a change. He headed for the tunnel and was surprised to find Patrick waiting by the door.

  ‘Let me guess,’ Aiden said, ‘you’re coming too?’

  Patrick grinned. ‘As long as you and Woody don’t mind? I don’t think Orlen likes me much, so I don’t fancy sitting around here doing nothing.’

  ‘Can’t blame you,’ Aiden said as they entered the tunnel. ‘Orlen doesn’t have a problem with you though. He’s just a grumpy sod — you need to learn to give as good as you get.’

  When they reached the guard post, Woody and Travis were pouring over a map, discussing the route they would take, while Dion and three other Syndicate men stood off to the side checking their weapons and sharing a joke.

  ‘About time,’ Dion said, seeing Aiden. ‘I was starting to think maybe you were chicken.’

  ‘I had to say goodbye to someone,’ Aiden said, ignoring the insult. He was surprised to see Dion here; he had expected the thug to disappear after getting paid for the Hermes job. Maybe Zachary hadn’t followed through on his promises of women and money.

  ‘What’s freckles doing here?’ Dion said.

  ‘I want to help,’ Patrick said, sticking his chin out.

  ‘You sure about that, newbie?’ Dion asked. ‘This ain’t no walk in the park. No one is going to hold your hand out there.’ He raised his voice. ‘That goes for everyone here, you listening? I intend to collect on a fat payday once this is over, enough to not have to look at your ugly mugs again, so I ain’t getting killed for anyone else’s scrawny arse. You slow us down, you’re getting left behind. ’

  ‘I have just as much right to be here as you do, metal mouth,’ Patrick said, his tone defiant.

  ‘Metal mouth?’ Dion repeated, stepping forward, eyes wide as he brandished an intimidating Winchester Model 12 pump-action shotgun.

  ‘We need all the extra hands we can get,’ Woody said, coming between the two of them. ‘Patrick wants to help? He’s welcome to tag along with us.’

  Dion glared at Woody for a moment before the tension dissipated and he stepped back.

  ‘We’re all on the same team, so start acting like it,’ Woody said. ‘I’ve laid out a collection of the best weapons from the Syndicate armoury over there, so take whatever suits you and and gear up.’

  ‘I still think I should get that piece,’ Dion said, nodding at the scoped bolt-action rifle strapped to Woody’s pack. ‘I love popping me some eyeballs.’

  ‘Then you should’ve got here earlier before I spent twenty minutes taking it apart and cleaning the mechanism,’ Woody said. ‘You might want to think about doing the same.’

  Dion exhaled in contempt as he patted his gun. ‘No need. Shotguns don’t fail. You might know that if you’d ever been in a firefight before.’

  Woody turned away and rolled his eyes, uninterested in wasting the effort to correct the man.

  ‘So this is everyone then?’ Aiden asked, as he picked out the most reliable firearm there: an AK-74 assault rifle. While not the most expensive or fancy gun in the cache, AK-74s weren’t prone to jam or overheat. You could drop them, bash them, or cover them in mud and they would still shoot. A real dependable
weapon. ‘We’re going to assault the quarry and get inside the compound with just eight of us?’ he asked as he grabbed a handful of pre-loaded magazines.

  ‘We have the guns,’ Dion said, raising his shotgun. ‘And these are solid, hard men. I’ve done time with a few of them myself. I don’t see the problem.’

  ‘Assault is a strong word,’ Woody said, folding up the map and slipping it into his pocket. ‘Infiltrate might be more appropriate. We can’t hope to take on an army, and there weren’t exactly a lot of volunteers for this one, not even with the extra pay from Julian. So we’ll be taking a more subtle approach.’

  ‘Whatever you say,’ Dion said, stroking the barrel of his shotgun, ‘but if I see a cult freak out there I’m blasting first and asking questions later.’ A couple of the other men sniggered in agreement.

  Woody flashed Aiden a look of exasperation. Neither of them wanted to head south with these hotheads, but there was something to be said for safety in numbers. ‘Everyone checked their pack?’ Woody asked, changing the subject. ‘If we get out there and find you’re missing your climbing rope or gas mask, you’re going to get left behind without pay. No second chances. I’ve got the radio, but it’s not going to be used to cover your mistakes.’

  Aiden had checked his gear three times already, and he assumed the others had done the same. No one was going to take any chances on such a dangerous trip.

  Travis’ hand shook as he picked up a rifle and fumbled with the magazine. Aiden went over and showed him how to load the weapon. ‘It’s just the hangover,’ Travis explained.

  ‘It’s fine to be scared,’ Aiden said, keeping his voice low so the others wouldn’t hear. ‘Working through the fear is what makes someone brave. Just remember why you’re here; do it for Emily.’

  Travis looked at him sharply, surprised at hearing his wife’s name. After a brief pause he nodded firmly and turned to the group. ‘Most of the Faithful are busy keeping order in the city,’ he said, ‘so the quarry should be a ghost town.’