Rebel Heart

by Moira Young

  I’m next to Ash in the back of the cart. Molly an Maev sit opposite. We’re tied at the ankles an wrists, good enough to pass inspection, loose enough to slip free quick. Creed an Tommo bring up the rear on Prue an Hermes. Lugh an Bram sit tall on the driver’s bench with Bram’s work horse, Ted, in the traces.

  We ain’t long on the road, maybe half a league from Bram’s place, when a dot appears on the road behind us. It gits bigger an bigger. Ash leans around me to squint. What is that? she says.

  A smile starts to crawl over my face. It’s Tracker, I says. It ain’t long before he catches us up. He’s runnin flat out. Tommo an Creed give him room an he takes a flyin leap into the back of the cart.

  What a boy! cries Ash.

  He flops on top of our legs an rests his head on my lap. I shake mine as I stroke his ears. The dog that won’t be left behind. When will I learn?

  A little bit later, a familiar call has me lookin skywards. It’s Nero, cruisin along above us.

  I ain’t seen him fer hours, I says.

  He drops down. He’s got the heartstone in his beak. Nero! Come here!

  He ignores me an lands on Molly. The furthest he can git from me. He dumps it in her lap.

  Well, Nero, hello, whatcha got here? she says. She holds up my heartstone. Did you lose this, Saba?

  I give him a death glare. He jibbers at me. Smart-alec crow. That’s what he flew off to find this mornin when he disappeared. It must of washed up down at the rockpool. So, I didn’t imagine him jest outta sight. He’s bin lurkin around all day with it, on purpose waitin till now when everybody’s here.

  No, I says. He stole it agin. He’s a thief an a menace an I’m gonna trade him in fer a umberella.

  He laughs at me, bobbin up an down. Molly notices the stitches on his breast. She shoots me a quick glance as he takes off agin. Mission accomplished, he settles into a steady pace ahead of us. Molly tosses me the heartstone. I shove it in my pocket.

  Scuppered by my gawdamn bird. Not fer the first time. An, if I know him – which I most surely do – not fer the last time neether.

  We roll through the warm afternoon. We aim to be in place by curfew. Nightfall. Ready to go. Ready to move. Sadly fer our rear ends, the Cosmic don’t ride no smoother than she did before. Along the dirtpack road we rattle, in an outta the shade of cool, sweet-smellin woodland. Over clear-runnin streams. Past Stewards in their fields who stop what they’re doin to watch us go past.

  They’re thinkin, I’m glad it ain’t me in that cart, says Molly. Wonderin if their turn will come one day.

  Wouldn’t they like to know what we’re sittin on, says Ash. I am dyin to have a go with them little pinballs of Slim’s. I sure would like to of seen that causeway go up. Ka-boom! She winks at me. Ash, never more cheerful than when she’s got trouble to look forward to.

  Bram kicked Tracker out. He’s keepin up with us, slippin through trees, runnin low through fields, disappearin from time to time, then showin up agin a bit further down the road. He knows he’s gotta stay away from other people.

  Creed an Tommo ride close behind the cart. Creed cain’t take his eyes offa Molly. He tries, but eventually he gives up an jest outright stares. She ignores him fer a bit. But you can see her windin up. Gittin more hotter an crosser an vexed by the minute. Finally, she snaps.

  Stop starin at me, she says.

  Stop bein so gorgeous an I’ll stop starin, he says. Smile at me, Molly, please. One little smile an I’ll die a happy man.

  You tire me, Creed, she says.

  That’s my strategy, he says. I’m gonna wear you down, like water on rock.

  I wouldn’t paddle in a shallow stream like you, she says. She sinks into her corner an glares at the road ahead.

  He winks at the rest of us. I’m makin progress, he says.

  Tommo’s makin every effort not to meet my eyes. What a relief. I couldn’t take trouble from that quarter too. Not at the moment.

  Creed an Ash an Maev seem to of reached some kinda unnerstandin of what happened at Darktrees. Some kinda peace between ’em that’s led ’em to decide to stay here an work with Bram an Cassie to build the resistance. To do what has to be done, in the service of something greater than ourselfs. DeMalo agin. I cain’t git away from him. Right here in front of me, it’s what they’re all doin.

  Maev’s quiet. She makes answer if somebody speaks to her, but I can tell she ain’t really here. She’s somewhere deep inside her own head, her own heart, tryin to work things out. Like me. I glance at the back of Lugh’s head as he talks with Bram, as they sit there, shoulder to shoulder on the driver’s bench. They seem to be gittin on pretty good.

  Lugh an Maev probly won’t git the chance to be alone before we hafta leave New Eden. After this is over, after we git Emmi back, we’ll be straight on our way. An even if he did git a moment, knowin Lugh, he’d funk the chance. He’d never admit what he feels fer her. If Maev knew, maybe she’d change her mind an come with us. Maybe not. Maev ain’t run of the mill. Love ain’t all there is. An, like Molly said, you cain’t know nuthin fer sure, least of all the ways of the human heart. Still. I think she needs to know.

  I jig her with my foot an she looks up. I slide my glance to Lugh, then back to her. I look at her steady. She goes pink. He loves you, I mouth at her. She goes even pinker, looks flustered, her eyes goin to him. Then back to me, with a little frown. He told me, I mouth. Do you love him?

  She hesitates. Then, her eyes soften. Her face. She smiles. I give a little laugh.

  What’s funny? says Ash.

  Nuthin, I says. Nuthin.

  The land we travel is rich an fruitful an kind. Lugh’s head keeps turnin to look at this an that. He asks Bram about crop rotation, irrigation an all sorts an I remember what Auriel said about him. Lugh dreams of a settled life. He longs to plant himself in one place, plant the land around him. His hands itch to work good earth, put food on the table that he’s grown hisself, raise children. That ain’t you.

  She’s right. The thought of workin the land don’t heat the blood in my veins. Too bad. I gotta fall in with what’s best fer all of us.

  We pass a little slave gang. Three women an two men with iron neck collars, chained together at the ankles. Watched by a Tonton, they’re clearin stones an rocks from a field right beside the road. They all stand, easin their backs, as we rattle past. One woman raises her hand in greetin. Low, outta sight of the Tonton. I nod in reply. I wonder what they did to end up like this. Probly nuthin but be the wrong sort of person. Not fit into the new order.

  With every roll of the wheels, every rattle of the cart, what DeMalo said repeats an repeats. The old an the sick. The sick an the weak. The old an the sick an the weak.

  Precious resources. Water an land.

  People like me. People like us.

  The young an the strong.

  Some of the people. All of the people.

  I ponder his words. Who deserves a share of what little there is? Who decides?

  Have I lied to you?

  The lies that lurk in the shadows of truth.

  It’s comin up to dusk, nearly curfew. My belly starts to tighten with nerves. We passed through the first two guardposts no problem. Bram shouted the right password fer the colour of flag tied to the barred road gate, an the Tonton guards lifted it an waved us on. We left the farms behind some time ago. Ahead of us, the road disappears. Swallowed up by a vast plain of giant boulders, great glints an rock slabs the height of ten men.

  The Field of the Fallen Mountain, says Bram. We should see Resurrection any— there it is.

  It comes into view.

  Holy crap, says Creed.

  I ain’t never seen such a gigantic Wrecker buildin before. A massive, sheer wall of concrete rises up from the boulder-strewn plain below. It stands half a mile long an looks to be jest as high.

  Remind me, say
s Maev, how high did you say it is?

  I make it seven hunnerd foot, says Bram.

  There’s the four floors with windows he told us about. They run along the top of the vast wall. Otherwise, it’s faceless. Solid.

  There’s the gatehouse, says Bram.

  It’s perched at the end nearest to us. It looks like a dot. It’s jest like he told us, when he was takin us through the plan. He drew it, we seen it, I imagined it, but now, seein it fer real, the size of it—

  Unbelievable, I says.

  Now I know what a flea feels like, says Molly.

  She looks grim. As do we all. But not Ash. A half-smile crooks her mouth.

  Fleas plague you, she says. Swamp skitters can kill you, an a little thorn – so small you hardly notice – it can work its way unner the skin an after a bit, yer hand’s infected. Maybe you lose a couple fingers, maybe the whole hand. Maybe yer blood goes bad an you die. Tiny things can cause plenty of trouble. Cheer up, people!

  Okay, says Bram, we’re comin to the last guardpost. This time of day, their mind’s on other things. All they wanna do is lock the gate an git their supper on to cook.

  Ahead of us, on the left, a stone-walled hut with a door onto the road. As we approach, we can see the barred road gate. It’s up. No coloured flag. The rumble of our wheels brings a Tonton from the hut. He’s holdin a chunk of flatbread in his fist, chewin. When he sees who it is – four Tonton with a cartload of prisoner women – he waves to come on through an goes back inside.

  What’d I tell you? says Bram. He clicks at the horse an we pick up the pace.

  We ain’t more’n thirty foot away. Another Tonton rounds the back corner of the hut, twitchin his robes into place. Call of nature. When he sees us, he shouts somethin an breaks into a run. Th’other guard comes dashin outta the hut to pull down the gate. Bram curses.

  What is it? says Ash.

  There shouldn’t be a commander here, he says, He’s too high up. Okay, they’re stoppin us. No problem, we done this before. No eye contact an I do the talkin. He slows Ted to a walk. The Tonton in charge – the commander – steps into the road.

  Long life to the Pathfinder! Bram calls, clenched fist to his heart.

  We all make the sign too. The commander replies the same. Bram pulls Ted to a stop. Evenin, sir, he says.

  The guard who closed the gates comes runnin up. Check the women, the commander tells him.

  We go tense. Me, Maev, Ash an Molly.

  We’re from Sector Ten, sir, says Bram. We caught ’em doin sabotage. Takin ’em to headquarters fer interrogation. Nuthin unusual.

  The commander ignores him. Check their faces, he tells the guard.

  A chill shivers my skin. You won’t get far.

  What’s goin on, sir? says Bram. Some kinda trouble?

  The commander says, How’s the roads in yer sector, brother?

  Nero lands on the closed gate. We keep our eyes down as the guard starts movin around the cart, lookin at each of us in turn. Ash first. He leans in to look at her. He trades nods with Creed an Tommo. He moves on to me. I stare straight ahead.

  Creed coughs an shifts in the saddle. You bin out here long? he says to the guard. His gun hand rests, casual, on his weapons belt, fingers touchin his bolt shooter.

  He’s pricked a grievance.

  Too damn long by far, the guard mutters. A sour look towards at the commander, listenin to Bram rattle on about the state of the roads. His eyes scan me quickly an he moves on, happy to have Creed to complain to.

  I bin here two days, says the guard. Me an my partner was set to be relieved at sundown an then he shows up, my partner gits to go back to barracks an I gotta stay.

  He barely even looks at Maev.

  How long? says Creed.

  Only a brief glance at Molly. Another two days, says the guard. With this jackboots.

  That ain’t fair, brother, says Creed.

  Well, you tell ’em that at Resurrection, he says. An like it ain’t bad enough bein stuck here four days, you should—

  You! calls the commander. I didn’t see you check that one! He goes on talkin to Bram.

  The guard throws him a filthy look. What one? he says. Sir?

  Mind yer tone, he says. The one with the short hair.

  He means me.

  The guard comes to stand at the foot of the cart, right beside me. I stare across at Maev. Hold her eyes. Sweat starts to trickle down the back of my neck.

  Turn yer head, says the guard. Lemme see you. Slowly, I turn towards him. I hold my breath. Keep my eyes dropped. Clammy hands. He stares at me. Then he leans a little closer, licks his thumb an drags it over my cheekbone. His eyes widen as he sees my tattoo.

  Sir! he yells.

  Then he’s dead. Double dead. Two bolts through his head. Creed an Tommo.

  Another shot. Two shots, three, four.

  Saba! screams Lugh. Saba!

  We all hit the deck at the first shot. Me, Maev, Ash an Molly. Now we scrabble free of our ropes an tumble outta the cart as Tracker comes runnin. Creed an Tommo jump offa the horses. Both Tonton lie dead on the ground. Bram hangs halfways outta the driver’s seat, face down. He’s bin shot in the back.

  Lugh’s standin in the footwell. Bolt shooter clutched tight in his hand. Face white. Eyes wide.

  A rush to pull Bram free, lay him on the ground. Me an Maev run to Lugh.

  Lugh! I cry. I clamber in beside him. Lugh, what happened? Are y’okay?

  I killed him, he chokes out. The Tonton went to shoot Bram, so I shot at the Tonton an . . . Bram moved. He got in the way an I killed him instead. I killed Bram.

  I take the shooter, put my arms around him an sit him down. His whole body’s shakin.

  Two shots. Creed looks up from Bram’s body. One to the head, one in the back.

  Eether would of killed him, says Tommo.

  You don’t know, I says to Lugh.

  I think they was lookin fer Saba, says Ash. They know she’s here. They must of got Emmi to talk.

  I says naught. I hope she’s wrong. I cain’t think about the Tonton frightenin Emmi, maybe hurtin her to git her to spill all she knows. I hope it was DeMalo put out the order to look fer me.

  There’s silence. No hue an cry. Nobody to hear the shots an the screams. Jest the empty road behind us. The closed gate ahead. An, on the other side, the Field of the Fallen Mountain with the road leadin up to Resurrection.

  What about Cassie? says Tommo.

  Cassie sure don’t like you. She asked me not to go. Says we oughta leave you to sort out yer own mess.

  I dunno, says Molly. Fer now, she’ll have to leave the farm, I guess. We cain’t let nobody find Bram here.

  Bram. If it hadn’t of bin fer his cool head last night – only last night – things could of gone real bad. Fer Emmi, fer me, fer all of us. Thanks to me an my blind faith in Jack, we blundered into Bram’s set up an nearly wrecked it. An now he’s dead. He should of listened to Cassie. All of this ruin becuz of me.

  What a gawdamn mess, says Ash.

  What’re we gonna do? says Tommo.

  We go on, says Maev. We do the job.

  We look at her. She ain’t said a word till now. But the old Maev’s back. She stands tall. Head held high, green eyes dark with determination.

  Ash stands up, a smile creepin over her face. The Free Hawks is back in business, she says.

  We’ll operate right unner their noses, says Maev. An I got a mind to let the boys join this time around. Creed?

  I’m in, he says.

  Me too, says Molly, if that’s okay.

  Whaddya have in mind, Maev? I says.

  We’ll go through the gate an escape by the lake, she says, jest like Bram planned. But that’s as far as it went, remember. He’d never bin inside, so we ain’t really no worse off. We’ll jest b
e one person down. Lugh? You okay to go on?

  He’s pale an shaky still, looks a bit sick, but he nods. Yeah, he says. We gotta git Emmi back. I’ll drive.

  I hug him. Good man, I whisper.

  Hang on, hang on, says Creed. There’s a password. A different one fer each gate, dependin on the flag colour. Bram’s th’only one who knew ’em. They won’t let us into Resurrection without it.

  We all look at each other.

  I know what I gotta do.

  I know the password, I says.

  What’re you talkin about? says Lugh.

  The Angel of Death has a price on her head, I says. We’re gonna hand her in. I’m the password.

  Three dead. The two Tonton, an Bram. We leave their bodies concealed by rocks. Hid from view. Safe from dead eaters. Once Emmi’s safe an we’re on our way, the rest of ’em’ll come back fer Bram. Take him home to Cassie an send him back to the sky with warrior ceremony.

  The blood on the road gits shuffled to the dirt. The stone hut’s closed. The gate left open. Fer all the world, it looks like post deserted. Maybe fed up guards who took a hike. Nuthin as it seems.

  We empty the Cosmic’s secret innards. It don’t take long. She’s only packed with enough to do the job. Lugh an Creed an Tommo stock their weapons belts, slingin as much hardware on ’em as won’t attract undue notice. I make sure Tommo’s got my bow an quiver on his back. Molly an Ash pack what they need onto Prue an Hermes. Thinkin she’s on the sly, Ash slips two of Slim’s bad-tempered pinballs in her saddlebag.

  Hey! Ash! You warn’t supposed to bring them, says Maev. We agreed, no explosives.

  I ain’t gonna use ’em, Maev, says Ash. I jest like the feel of ’em.

  In case we meet anybody comin down from Resurrection, Creed an Tommo’s gonna ride the horses till we part company with Molly an Ash. Till that time, they ride with me an Maev in the back of the cart. I’m trussed up with rope, way too much fer the purpose. Hopefully, it won’t draw notice. Nor the fact that Tommo’s got a rope coil hung on his belt.