"Why did you leave so suddenly? Trin said that youd deserted us but I didnt want to think that.
"Trinder bends the truth, Djes, said Mira bluntly. "He told me to leave. When I refused, his carabinere forced me.
"Forced you? I dont understand? But perhaps his decision was for the best? Youve come back for us now.
"His decision was selfish. Djes, I have birthed a "bino while I have been searching for help, a babe, born early, sired by Trin Pellegrini the night he sent me away. I was the last crown aristo alive. He feared that his bloodline would die out, so he raped me and forced me to leave. To protect his progeny.
"No! Djes pulled away from her. "Thats not true!
Mira wished there was more time to explain gently, but she must leave again within a few hours. It was important that Djes knew the truth. "My baby is aboard Insignia, my biozoon. Her name is Nova.
Djes stopped and took several steps away from Mira. Then she turned and ran down the beach.
Josef dropped back to speak with Mira. "Bad news?
Mira sighed. "The truth. Ive hurt her, but she must know what he is.
"Rast Randall told me some of it. I worked the rest out for myself. Hes Novas father.
"Her sire, not her father, Mira corrected.
Josef stopped her. "I will try speaking to Djes. I promised Bethany I would.
Mira hesitated then nodded. She moved forward to catch up with the rest of the group.
As they reached the crest of the beach, the survivors halted and divided. In front of the stunted trees stood Rast Randall, her man Catchut and Trin Pellegrini.
The gratification Mira felt on seeing Randall alive diminished at the sight of the Principe. From his tense, wary expression, she knew hed seen Djeserit leave.
Suddenly Mira wished that Josef had stayed with her. Wished she could reach for the comfort of his hand. But he was not. And this she had to face alone.
She stepped forward.
JO-JO RASTEROVICH.
He caught up with her as she was about to dive into the sea.
"Jess. Wait! Deliberately he used Bethanys p.r.o.nunciation of her name.
It stopped her short. "What do you want? Shed been crying, he thought.
Jo-Jo sank onto the wet sand above the waterline. "To talk. To tell you things. Please.
She didnt come any closer to him, nor did she move.
He took that as consent, so he told her what he knew of her mother-how shed tried to follow her daughter to Araldis but had been put in detention on Dowl station.
He told her about their escape from Dowl and how brave and smart and resourceful Bethany was, and how shed saved him.
When Djes didnt respond, he talked more, about Lasper Farr and how Bethany had feared him; the power that Farr wielded and Bethanys desire to distance herself from her brothers fanaticism. And finally how her mother had helped Mira.
Only when the sun came close to cresting the horizon did he stop.
"Come back, he said. "Some things need to be faced. Mira tells the truth.
He got up and walked up the beach to the closest tree cover and waited. She stood facing the ocean as the light grew more intense, and he began to fear that shed choose neither the sea nor returning, but simply perish right there in the sunlight.
Then, in an oddly final gesture, she scooped water in her hands and splashed it over her face.
TRIN.
Mira had changed little, save for new age lines which he didnt see until she came closer and her calm expression. With each step she took towards him Trin felt the pain of his past decisions and the weight of his future. What had she said to Djes? What would she say to his people?
He waited, more fearful of her than the Saqr. And the "bino... there was no sign of pregnancy? What had gone wrong?
"Fedor. The mercenary next to him strode forward and lifted the Baronessa from her feet to embrace her. Just as quickly, she set Mira down and stepped aside. "Never figured to see you alive again, she drawled. "Never figured to be so pleased to see you alive again. Looks like Ill be owin you again.
Mira seemed fl.u.s.tered, her composure deserting her for a moment. "I would say the same thing to you, Rast Randall. We are both fortunate, it seems.
Trin saw his opportunity; the mercenarys unexpected greeting had rattled her. "Mira Fedor, he said loudly, "your biozoons are a welcome sight.
His rebuke, couched in an innocent greeting, didnt slip past her though, and as quickly as shed become ruffled, her face regained its mask. "As are your people.
The moment hung between them, filled with tension and anger. Shed gained confidence, he thought.
Despite her fragile appearance, her will projected fiercely upon him.
"I have little time before I must leave again and there is much to tell. She looked around the group. "Please sit, all of you, and I will begin.
Many of them glanced to the Principe, who nodded.
Once they had settled Mira told them of the Post-Species invasion across OLOSS.
"The satellites in the skies? asked Ca.s.s.
"Geni-carriers, which are gradually being dispersed all over Orion. Millions have been murdered. Systems reduced to dust.
"How many are there? asked Juno Genarro. "The lights have diminished over recent nights.
"Thousands, said Mira. "Perhaps more.
The survivors moaned with one voice.
"There is something I can do to arrest the destruction of our species but it is complicated to tell and not a certainty. I will be going at dusk, but will leave you the hybrid biozoon. It is s.p.a.ce-worthy, though it needs some days bathing in sea minerals to replenish its amino acids. It has been treated cruelly.
"But where would we go? this came from Jilda.
"Principessa, Mira acknowledged Trins mother with a tiny bow of her head. "The Post-Species are preparing to leave here. Theyve transformed their ship into an organic lifeform, a gigantic Saqr which continues to grow as we sit here. Its genesis is inexplicable. I cannot tell you how it happened, other than it grew from within the old ship. And it smelled of ligs.
Ligs. Miras story jolted Trin. "There are ligs on this island, huge ligs that attacked us near the spring.
"You believe the giant ligs are linked to the Saqr, Principe? said Juno frowning.
"When I searched for water alone, I found a grove of trees. Bigger, stronger, more developed than these. He waved his hands at the stunted bushes under which theyd taken cover. "I rested there and broke off a branch to help me walk. The ligs came in while I was there, swarming after the sap. Its the sap, I think, that has made them grow so large. Perhaps the Post-Species have used the same sap to grow their organic ship?
"Possibly the sap is in other places, said Mira thoughtfully. "Or they have harvested the ligs themselves. In which case, the quixite is only their fortification, the external protection against s.p.a.ce travel. The ligs have been used to grow the Saqr. If so, then Araldis had everything they needed.
"Dandy! interceded Randall. "But how does that change anything? I say we go load up the hybrid and Ill take us the h.e.l.l out of here.
"I will be the one to make that decision, said Trin. "And I believe it safer to stay here until the Post-Species have left. He glared at Randall until the moment was broken by another voice.
"Neither of youll decide for anyone else.
Heads turned to see Djes and the third mercenary, Josef Rasterovich, in the bushes behind them.
The pair crawled forward to the front of the circle.
"The hybrid is mine by law, and I have given it to Djeserit Ionil. Sh.e.l.l choose her pilot, her route and when sh.e.l.l leave. Those who dont like this arrangement can, as your Principe suggests, stay right here.
Trins heart, which had contracted into a tight fist, relaxed. Djes would never leave him. "At dark we should return to the caves for food- "I will leave in three nights, said Djeserit, cutting across him. "Long enough for the biozoon to replenish and for those to who wish to, to return to the caves and collect berries and roots.
"Djes- But Trin was cut off again.
"Where will you go? asked Ca.s.s.
"To the Biozoon Pod. Ill ask for their protection. She crawled out of the circle and moved to a thick bush at the side. "Ill speak now with those who want to come with me.
After a moment of silence, most of the survivors moved over to be near her, including Ca.s.s Mulravey, Joe and Tivi Scali, and Jilda.
"Madre, said Trin hoa.r.s.ely.
Jilda clutched at Ca.s.s Mulraveys arm. "She has been kind to me.
Only Juno Genarro, Josefia and Tina Galiotto stayed near Trin. Innis Mulraveys woman, Liesl, crawled away into the bushes.
Trin suppressed a moan. Everything hed tried to preserve for the renewal of his world had just disintegrated before him.
"Its decided, said Mira Fedor, with open satisfaction. "I wish you all to be safe.
Djeserit left him before dark, when Leah had dipped and left only her indirect glow to light the beach. Mira Fedor and Josef Rasterovich had gone before her, taking the "bino, Vito.
Trin and Mira had not said goodbye.
Djes came to him though, for a brief moment. He wanted to hold her in his arms and prevent her leaving but Rast Randall hovered close.
"Its not as Mira told you, said Trin.
"You raped her, said Djes.
"It was my right to sire a bambino. It has always been the way among our people.
"Then your way is wrong, she said simply.
He fell silent, unable to find the right words to defend himself. "I love you, he said softly.
Her mouth softened as if she was weakening, but then she spun on her bare feet and walked away.
As he watched her go, he became aware of Tina Galiottos presence at his elbow.
"She does not understand our ways, Principe, said Tina.
Trins sore heart eased a little, and he took solace in the truth. Djes wasnt one of his kind; she didnt truly understand his beliefs. Tina was right. But there were still those with him that did.
Perhaps that was enough.
MIRA.
Mira carried Vito along Insignias strata to the buccal, myriad things playing on her mind.
"Trust me. Nourish the biozoon. Clean it. Then it will carry you away from here, shed told Djeserit as she left.
"What do you have to do? Djes had asked.
"Something no one else can.
Vito didnt look back when she and Josef left the island to go aboard Insignia.
Now, as she entered the buccal, she kissed the "bino again, and felt him cling closer to her. To her relief, Nova lay in Primo, just as shed left her, nourished and peaceful.
You have my fratella. Nova opened her eyes and smiled at her mother and Vito. We must go now.
Mira sat Vito on the edge of the vein and scooped Nova into her arms. She held them close, inhaling their scent and revelling in the touch of their skin. She could not remember ever feeling such aching joy. She would not leave her baby, or Vito, again.
Ever.
"Whats her name? asked Josef Rasterovich as he came in behind her.
"Nova, said Mira.
Josef moved closer, his face flushed. "Shes beautiful.
Nova reached out and caught his finger. He is sweet, Mama, can I go with him? Secondo vein will care for us, and you can carry Vito.
Mira laughed. "She likes you. You should hold her for a while.
Jo-Jo took Nova carefully from her, as if the child might disintegrate under his touch. "Where are we going?