The Silver Ship and the Sea

by Brenda Cooper

  He nodded, but stayed up on Lightning until I got down from Stripes and tied her to the twintree that spread its branches over the top of the amphitheater. As long as no one took her, she’d be close, and maybe I could retrieve her. After I had my hands free, Akashi dismounted and quickly tied Lightning next to Stripes. He frowned at my knot and redid it. It seemed surreal that we were allowed so much time, so much freedom.

  Akashi and I walked side by side, stopping at the top, looking down.

  Everyone was looking up, the whole amphitheater of people, Nava and Ruth and Hunter and Wei-Wei on the dais, Gianna halfway up the steps, one-handed Chayla with a tray of sandwiches and fruit stopped in the act of climbing the stairs, Ken, Hilario, five or ten other people. Their faces were wrong, Wei-Wei’s twisted in fright, Ruth’s in anger, everyone standing still as if some huge thing were about to descend on them. Ruth’s stunner was in her hand, frozen in position. They looked up, past us, higher than us.

  I followed their gaze, up, to where the twintree the hebras were tied to overhung the amphitheater. It was about three meters to the left of the entrance, and nearly that far from the ground. Its long pointed leaves danced in the wind. Partially hidden by the leaves, a slender figure hugged the trunk, legs braced, a head full of wild dark hair exposed and facing toward the assembled Town Council.

  Alicia.

  In her raised hand, she held a featureless silver ball.

  27

  Threats

  At the sight of Alicia in the tree—threatening everyone in the amphitheater—I stopped, staring at her as if she must be an apparition. My breath came fast and deep, accompanied by an urge to rip her from the tree and send her running so far away I would never see her again. I hissed at her, “No, Alicia! You can’t do this.”

  “I’m already doing it.” Alicia spoke without looking down, her eyes nervously scanning the people spread below her, her words clipped and angry. “Go away. Go stay safe and warm down by the spaceport.”

  Akashi drew in a whistling breath. “What are you bargaining for, Alicia?” he whispered.

  A hint of triumph laced her voice. “Tom is bringing Bryan to me.”

  I tore my eyes from the tree and looked down. Nava’s and Wei-Wei’s gazes had swung to me and Akashi. “Traitor,” Nava hissed to no one in particular, loud enough for me to hear in the near-silence of the amphitheater. It wasn’t clear who she meant—Alicia, or me, or Akashi. But Akashi stiffened.

  Alicia’s presence above me was heavy, like being under a paw-cat in a tree. I had nothing to say to her. She was wrong.

  Joseph? Joseph hadn’t warned me! He must not know. I hissed softly, for his sake and not hers, to draw his attention. “Alicia…” I hesitated. What to tell him?

  Alicia called down from the tree, loud enough for her voice to carry, “I waited. I stayed hidden until they rode back. I heard them trying to figure out how to capture us all, and I knew that talking did you no good. They’re too scared of us to let us go, to let us be. Ever. I heard it in their voices.”

  “Joseph?” I queried.

  There was no immediate answer.

  My feet felt rooted; my mind spun. If we walked down, talked to Council, it would negate Alicia’s threat. She would not throw the weapon where we were. I had to believe that—and Council would anyway. Akashi and I could back up, follow Tom, get Bryan, abandon Alicia to whatever fate she created for herself in the next few moments, abandon Artistos’s leaders to whatever fate Alicia created for them in the next few moments. Then it wasn’t me, it was her choices.

  I couldn’t.

  I wanted to scream in frustration.

  Joseph’s voice in my ear. “Sis? Sorry…I was…doing something. I’ve been offline…I traced back, I can see where you are, where Alicia is. I can’t talk to her.” I couldn’t tell whether his voice shook with fear or anger.

  “Neither can I,” I retorted.

  Nava called up, “Chelo, Akashi. Stop her!”

  I wanted to. It was too late. She’d started us down this road, and now we had to negotiate it. If I simply stopped her, if I even could, we would all lose. I called down to Nava. “I’m sorry. I did not choose this.”

  “How do I know you and Alicia didn’t plan this together?” Ruth yelled up at me.

  I ignored her. Wait for Bryan. We needed Bryan. At least Alicia had accomplished that. I took two steps down and moved to my right, away from Alicia, far enough away from everyone to watch them all, and to talk to Joseph without being overheard. Akashi gave me a withering look and started down the steps.

  Was I making the right choice? I had to wait for Bryan. Was Akashi truly angry with me or did he want them to think so?

  Akashi stopped about ten steps down, a third of the way, and in range if Alicia threw the ball down there. Mediating with his life. “What’s happened?” he called down to the dais, suggesting immediately that he was not involved, that I was not involved. I praised him silently, and held my ground.

  Joseph. “Tom’s at the hospital. Dr. Debra is trying to stop him from taking Bryan. Tom is arguing.”

  No one had answered Akashi. “Nava,” I called down. “Nava, I came to take you up on your invitation to talk. This does not appear to be a convenient time”—I glanced at the tree, at Alicia, hoping for a reasonableness I no longer expected—“but perhaps we can prove to Alicia that talk is a workable way to make change.”

  Nava looked trapped, her face a mask of anger and fear, her throat red with emotion. Hunter answered without looking at me. “It is difficult to negotiate in good faith under threat.”

  Bravado. I needed bravado. “Did you discuss my proposal? You asked me to discuss it with all of you. I’m here.”

  Alicia spoke to me. “Haven’t you figured out yet that you can’t talk to these people?”

  I ignored her, just like I had ignored Ruth. Alicia was leaving if the ship left, if she lived through this little escapade. And Ruth, Ruth mattered in the long run. But Nava and Hunter mattered more.

  Ruth glared up at Alicia. “No talking until Alicia stops or dies.”

  Meaning until they captured her or killed her. I mumbled under my breath to Joseph. “You might back the skimmer out.”

  “I already did. Tom still hasn’t pried Joseph out of the hospital. They need a wheelchair of some kind, or someone to walk with Tom, help take Bryan’s weight.”

  Dr. Debra was a small woman who often spoke bitterly of her days as a field surgeon during the war. She’d always acted, at best, coldly efficient with us. I whispered to Joseph, “Liam. But tell him to stay behind Alicia. Keep him out of harm’s way.”

  I called down to the dais. “Well, we can stand here and wait to see what happens, or we can talk.”

  Lightning forked above us, followed closely by bone-rattling thunder.

  Lyssa called up to me, her voice higher than usual, shaky. “Can you come down? We could hear you better.”

  “Why don’t you come halfway here?” I said. I glanced at Akashi, who nodded almost imperceptibly.

  Alicia said, “I don’t think that’s such a good idea. I’d rather hear both sides of the conversation. I don’t want anyone too close.”

  Good. She had just publicly distanced herself from me. “That’s fine, Alicia.” I called to the Council, “How about a change of topic. Gianna, what’s happening with the meteors?”

  She took a few steps up, turning so we could all hear her. “They’re a risk.” Her face said not-too-risky. “Some may hit ground, maybe cause fires, damage the immediate area around them. None in this swarm are long-term weather-changers and none of the trajectories appear to put them in the middle of Artistos. Mostly by the lakes.” She looked at Akashi. “Your band might be wary, though.”

  “Have you called them?” he asked.

  Joseph in my ear, “Liam is helping Tom get Bryan. The big rock may swamp the plains with water. Models suggest it won’t reach Artistos, but could drown us here. Gianna knows.”

  Gianna, speaking clearly
, her hands wringing, her eyes on Akashi. “Yes. Mayah is watching. She didn’t seem worried.” Gianna glanced nervously from Nava to Alicia to me. She wasn’t giving up her conversations with Joseph.

  “All right, Gianna, we won’t worry too much.” Was Gianna truly an ally? Probably not for Alicia. Maybe for me. I shouldn’t give away my own conversations with Joseph. I asked, “Nava, how long until Bryan is here? How badly is he hurt?”

  Below me, Chayla crossed the dais and set her tray of sandwiches in front of the Council. No one touched it. Chayla backed away and started walking up the steps.

  Nava frowned at me. “Anytime, he should show up anytime.”

  “And after that?” I asked her and Alicia at once.

  Hunter shrugged. “That’s all we’ve been asked to do—to bring him here.”

  I glanced up at Alicia. Alicia’s shadow, all of our shadows, fell long on the steps and floor and walls, as if the shadows themselves felt like I did, stretched and thin. The low sun painted one side of her sharp, angular face with light, illuminating her light eyes and frosting the dark tips of her hair with reds. None of us could talk to her privately, not even Joseph. Had she thought farther ahead? A risk-taker. Jenna said we needed that, but I didn’t want it, not now. What did Alicia mean to do? Just back off and head for the ship? Or would she do damage on her way out if she could? How badly did she want to hurt Ruth?

  Ruth called up. “Then we’ll see if she can figure out how to get away.”

  Lyssa made a hushing sound. “Then we let her go. We never let them come back.” Her voice shook. “Isn’t that enough?”

  Ruth’s voice dripped sarcasm at Lyssa. “They’ve breached our perimeters and threatened our lives. We can’t keep them out, Lyssa.” Ruth still held the stunner. The tree was protection, but when Alicia wanted to climb down, what then?

  I stalled for time. “I like Lyssa’s idea. Let them go.”

  Lyssa looked up at me, pleading. As if I could help her.

  No one answered me.

  Joseph said, “They’re in the park, two minutes.”

  Chayla passed Akashi, neared the top of the steps, and safety.

  Alicia called down, “You. Stay here.”

  I grit my teeth. Alicia didn’t even know Chayla, quiet Chayla who served, uncomplaining, who had helped me with child care more than once. “Let her go. She’s just different, like you and me.”

  Alicia shifted the ball from one hand to the other. “I don’t trust any of them. If you trust her so much, let her stand by you.”

  Chayla’s eyes were wide. Her body shook. We had no right to scare her. “Chayla,” I said, “go ahead. Walk out. She won’t hurt you.”

  Alicia shot me a quick angry glance.

  I spoke, making sure my voice carried. “Alicia, you have an opportunity to show compassion here.”

  She squinted, silent for a long moment. She bit out her acquiescence. “Fine, Chayla. Go out. Stay nearby and suggest that others don’t come in, except for Bryan and Tom.”

  I nodded. A small victory. My will had to stay stronger than Alicia’s.

  They must almost be here. I addressed Nava again. “If you won’t talk to me now, I’ll stay after Alicia and Bryan leave. We can talk then.”

  “No,” Alicia hissed loud enough for me to hear. “Come with us.”

  “I can’t.” We could not all flee at once, not if Council was free to act. Liam and Kayleen wanted to stay, and there was no time to force them. No time to get Kayleen and Paloma in line and get a decision. The only way to get Bryan and Jenna and Alicia and Joseph away was to hurry. “I can’t,” I repeated, swallowing hard, biting back tears, my anger, even with Alicia, gone to sadness. I glanced at Akashi, at Gianna.

  “Are you offering yourself as hostage?” Hunter asked. “Come on down here.”

  I shook my head. “After they leave. My word is good.”

  The scraping sound of footsteps. Tom’s voice. “We’re here.”

  My gaze flicked between Alicia and the dais. I spoke quietly. “Bryan. Come here please.”

  “Chelo.” The pain in his voice ripped through me. I was afraid to look. The moment felt like standing on a log over a stream, balancing, barely balancing. Alicia gasped from above me in the tree, screaming out, “You had no right!” Her words echoed in the stone around us.

  I heard him sidle up next to me, felt his hand on mine. I looked briefly, and my eyes teared against my will. The skin around one eye and all down one cheek was swollen and dark. Medi-tape held slashes in his skull and along one arm closed. I didn’t have time, or heart, to see more. I squeezed his hand. Only then did I notice Liam from the corner of my eye. He’d ignored me, and come in. “Liam, please wait outside.”

  I couldn’t see him, couldn’t tear my gaze fully away from the dais, or the stunner in Ruth’s hand. His voice was shaky but loud enough for people to hear. “I stand with my father.” He started down toward Akashi.

  Akashi jumped up two steps at a time, keeping Liam near the top, farther out of danger, stopping and standing with his son, looking down. Akashi’s face was a mask of anger, and he hissed, “I’m sorry, Bryan,” through his teeth.

  “Alicia,” I said. “Hold them off. There’s two hebras tied to the tree. I’m going to put Bryan on Stripes. When I come back, I want you to go down the tree and get on Lightning. Then ride. Quietly. Go to the cornfield past the hebra barn. I’ll have Joseph pick you up in the skimmer.”

  “I’m not done here,” she said.

  “No, you’re not. You have to hold them off until I get Bryan on Stripes.” I pitched my voice low, hoping, even with the acoustics of the amphitheater, to keep the Town Council from hearing. “Akashi has a weapon. He will shoot you if you do more than hold the situation in balance.”

  She flinched. I didn’t look at Akashi, sure he would understand, and sure he would do it.

  Joseph gasped in my ear. I ignored him, too.

  I leaned down and slid my own microwave gun from its leather pouch, palming it, hoping no one would recognize it from a distance. This wasn’t over, and I wasn’t going to lose Bryan. I looked at him more carefully. The facial injuries were matched by a taped tear on one bicep, bruises on his hands, and cracked knuckles. I glanced down. His foot was casted, heavy, and the same leg was deeply scratched. “Can you walk?” I asked.

  He shook his head. “Only if you can take my weight.”

  Not a good strategic choice. “Liam?” I called.

  Tom spoke from just above me, out of my line of sight. “I’ll do it.” I swayed briefly, realizing how easily he could have stunned me if he had wanted to. He came around and stood by Bryan, letting Bryan put his weight on Tom’s shoulder. Bryan’s hand separated from mine.

  “Thank you,” I said to Tom. I called down to the dais. “I’ll be back,” resisting asking them to wait there. Alicia would see they waited; Akashi would see she did no more than that. The urge to flippancy had to be fear—but absurdly, I felt like giggling. Momentarily.

  I stood while Bryan started back away from me, leaning hard on Tom. He was so slow now! I backed out, trusting Tom to watch in front of us. I kept backing up until I lost the view of the amphitheater, although Alicia, wedged in the tree, remained clearly visible. I turned, hoping against all reason that there would be no one near the hebras.

  No luck.

  Stile and Julian stood watching us, Chayla next to them. Stile stepped toward us. I called out, “No, back away.”

  Stile stopped, looking at me, his eyes wild and confused, his stunner in his hand. He started to bring the gun up.

  I raised my hand with the microwave gun. “I will use this. And then Alicia will use…will use what she has.”

  He stared at me, his mouth open.

  I struggled to keep my voice from shaking, to keep my hand with the little weapon in it from shaking. “I don’t want to do this, Stile.” My voice shook. “If I use this, I have to leave, too, and I gave my word I wouldn’t do that. Bryan won’t hurt you.”
>
  Chayla stepped forward and put her good hand on Julian’s arm. “Let them go,” she said. “They let me go. Bryan is not the threat.”

  Stile looked around. No one else was close, although a few people stood a few meters away, watching. Eric was among them, back from whatever errand he had run. He looked ashamed; the others nearby looked curious and confused; not threatening.

  Stile looked at Bryan, his eyes roaming Bryan’s damaged face, his cast. Confusion and sorrow showed in his face. “I’m sorry, Bryan. You didn’t deserve what you got. I’ve seen you stand still to get picked on. I would’ve done what you did, and sooner.”

  Bryan looked evenly back at Stile, his eyes glazed with physical pain. He managed a short nod and one side of his mouth quirked into a half smile, but he didn’t speak.

  Stile dropped the hand that held the stunner, pointing the weapon at the ground. “You two are all right.” He swallowed. “Go safely.”

  I breathed a long sigh of relief.

  The three of us continued walking, moving at Bryan’s tortured pace. I hissed at Tom. “How are we going to get him up? He can’t climb the mounting straps.”

  Tom frowned. “I don’t know.”

  Eric must have seen the problem. His voice was slow and carefully measured as he said, “May I help you?”

  I looked him over. His face was earnest, open. Eric had no stunner. I’d never seen him with a weapon, never even seen him hunt. I nodded and stood where I could watch, the microwave gun resting easily in my hand, not feeling so heavy anymore. “I’ll watch from here.”

  Bryan turned toward me, his eyes tortured. “Where am I going?” He stared, confused, blinking. He knew nothing of the New Making, nothing of the skimmer or Joseph’s skill. And I could not tell him here.

  “Do you want to stay in Artistos?”

  He shook his head. “I want to stay with you.”

  “It’s safer if you go,” I choked out, blinking back a fresh round of tears, trying to keep my eyes clear and watchful. “Trust me.”