by P. J. Sky
“Why you?”
“Why not?”
“Why you, and not someone from my father.”
“Starla…” For a moment Max seemed to be trying to find the words. “I’m here because your father sent me. We are family Starla. And you being lost out here, that goes beyond any petty family feuds. Out here we stick together. And you and I. We’re the future Starla.”
But Starla didn’t trust it. Something wasn’t right. She looked at the wide open door of the aircraft and it looked like the jaws of some great animal. Maybe she was seeing things, maybe she'd been out here far too long, unable to feel safe or trust in anything or anyone, but her deepest primal instincts were reignited; she wanted to fight or she wanted to flee.
Now it seemed like a long time since the night of the party, so many moons ago. She remembered Liviana standing too closely on the balcony. She remembered the way she spilt the blue champagne…
∆∆∆
When he’d heard Starla was missing, Max’s father had been furious.
“We can’t leverage Corinth if we don’t know where she is, now can we?”
Red faced, he’d paced back and forth in his office, rubbing his palms against his thighs.
“Those bogans are useless,” Max had said. He’d pulled at the skin on the back of his neck. Sweat clung to his brow. “Bunch of inbreed swamp-rats.”
Agrippa Panache had stopped pacing and had affixed his unblinking gaze on Max.
“No. It’s you, my boy, who’s useless. They haven’t lost her, you have. The buck stops with you, you hear me? I didn’t authorise this. This, my boy, is all you. It’s in your hands now.”
“I…”
But Max couldn’t argue with his father, he’d never been able to. Somehow, everything his father said came out as the definitive final word.
“Yes Sir,” said Max.
Max had felt small. His cheeks had started to redden.
“You are a disappointment my boy.”
The words sliced through him, so easily said, so difficult to undo. His fingers had begun to shake.
“I expected more from you. But at this rate, you’ll never amount to anything in this city.” His father sighed. “Oh, how I’d hoped for more from you. But still, here we are. What’s done is done. Now, you take responsibility for this, you hear? But remember, this is business my boy, that’s all it is. That’s all it ever is. You lost her, you get her back.”
Max had nodded. “Yes Sir.”
“I know what you’re trying to do, but don’t take it too personally. Just get her back.”
His father’s words had echoed in Max’s mind all the way out to the ore mines.
“You are a disappointment my boy.”
Well, I’ll show him.
The aircraft vibrated. Far below, the wasteland stretched out in all directions, a vast, red, omnipresent emptiness. A world of dust and more dust.
Agrippa Panache, praetor of the city, his father.
One day, I’ll control the ore mines, he thought. All that iron, all that steel. I’ll take the coal mines too. I’ll plate the city walls in graphene. I’ll show him who’s a disappointment. Business he says, but he makes it so personal. You’re such a disappointment. I’d expected so much more of you. From each generation to the next, an endless cycle of inherent indignation. I’d like to rip his throat out. One day I’ll take it all from him. I’ll slip the knife in when he least expects it and tear open his jugular. We’ll see what he has to say about that.
Max glanced out of the window as the ore mine came into view; a vast stepped terrace gouged into the red earth and hollowed out. Like an open wound, inflamed and infected, and at least two miles wide. The terraces crawled with moving bodies like insects, chained in lines, each oscillating back and forth with his or her own particular axe. The ore to build a thousand towers. Max’s skin prickled. He hated to be beyond the city walls. This world beyond his own unnerved him. Involuntarily, he tapped his right foot against the metal floor panel.
On the landing pad, the hive of activity kicked up an ever present dust cloud that coated everything and everyone in a fine red powder. Max held a handkerchief to his mouth. The muscular foreman had no such luxury. The burly man’s torso was covered in tattoos; a fist, a skull, a dog with its teeth bared. Max had no desire to stray far from the aircraft. As the engines slowed, the sounds of thousands of pick axes emerged, metal on rock on metal on rock. There were a lot of people in the world with axes to grind.
“So you lost her,” said Max, over the din.
“I didn’ lose ‘er. You lost ‘er. I lost two good men. You lot owe me for those.”
Outside the city, nothing could be done properly. Nothing was easy with these ill-educated outsiders.
“We paid you didn’t we? You got the money.”
“Ya pay us for the ore. Ya don’t pay us to take care of ya children. That’s your job. I did what ya said and I lost two good men. If you’ve a problem with any of that I suggest ya take it up with the big fella. We got a deal with you people but otherwise you lot don’t mean squat to me out ‘ere.”
Dag it.
Deep in the wasteland, Max felt exposed. He listened to the idle hum of the aircraft engines; an island of civilisation in an age of barbarians. They were almost drowned out by the constant clang of pick axes. He hated it out here. He hated the stench of human labour and the metallic tasting dust that infused everything. Why did he need these people? But he did and he knew it, however useless they were. And the plan had seemed so simple. What better place to hide Starla from the all powerful mayor than down a mineshaft? The mayor would have been forced to negotiate power. He would have never found her here, and Starla was his obvious weakness.
“So where is she then?” asked Max.
“Last I heard, she was bein’ picked up in Cooper. Lost two good men of mine there.”
“Cooper?” The salt plains. But that was Corinth’s territory? The big fella.
∆∆∆
“Max.”
On her knees, Starla leaned over the edge of the dark hole that had opened up beneath Max.
They should never have run away from the guards.
From the darkness, a small voice cursed. “Dag it.”
Starla’s heart began to race. “Max, where are you?”
“Where do you think?”
In the darkness, Starla caught the glint of Max’s eyes. “How deep is it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, can you climb back up?”
“I don’t know. I think I’ve hurt my leg.”
Starla tried to lean further over the lip of the hole. Her hand slipped on a loose rock and she drew back quickly. She looked up, the new wall looked a long way away now, as did the old one behind her.
Maybe there were guards already stationed on the wall? But what if it was fully automated? What if there were only robotic construction vehicles? And weapons.
Max and me aren’t supposed to be here. I’m not supposed to be here.
“Max, what should I do?”
Far below, she could hear Max straining like a trapped animal. His eyes glinted again.
“Max, I’m going to find help.”
“No, don’t. My father would kill me.”
“And you think mine won’t?”
“Starla, don’t go.”
“I’ll be back soon.”
“You can’t tell him, you can’t.”
“I’ll be back, Max.”
“Starla…”
Starla stood. She turned and began to trace her way back across the cleared land. She could hear Max crying, trapped down the hole.
“Starla come back.”
Her heart beat deep in her chest. A few meters away, she collapsed on the ground. Who could she go to?
I could find a guard. I don’t have to call my father or Max’s. But word was sure to make it back. We’ll be in so much trouble. But what else can I do?
For a moment she felt paralysed. She looke
d back at the hole, then back towards the city. But what else can I do?
She picked herself back up and made her way across the broken ground. Max’s call’s disappeared beneath the hum of construction crews.
Later, the guards came and rescued Max, but after his time in the hole, his reptilian green eyes didn’t pulse quite as brightly. And Starla guessed his father was probably very angry. He didn’t run off again.
∆∆∆
“How did you know I was on the outside?”
For a moment, Max was quiet. He took another step closer. “Well, once we’d checked your rooms and the zoo, where else would you be?”
Starla took a step backwards. “I don’t trust you Max. This isn’t right. You’re playing games.”
“No games, Starla. You know I don’t play those games.”
“Max, you were always playing a game. Even when you think you’re not, you are. You can’t help it.”
“Dag it, Starla.” His face was turning red. “For one second would you just do what you’re supposed to do.”
“And what’s that Max?” She took another step backwards, towards the stairway leading off the platform. “Marry you? Hand you the keys to the city? Go into exile for you?”
Max took another step forward and the guards followed.
“Starla, you’ve gone crazy out here. And we don’t have time for this. Now come on.”
“I’m not crazy Max.”
“Alright fine.” He turned to the guards. “Get her.”
Starla turned and fled down the stairs, back onto the walkway that ran along the top of the dam. She ran towards the riverbank. One of the guards fired and Max screamed.
“Fire at her and I’ll fire at you.” Then he called down; “Starla, its time to stop this. There are bigger things than us Starla. And there’s nowhere left to run, not this time.”
Starla ran along the top of the dam and almost tripped over the lifeless body of Jirra. He lay twisted on his back and stared lifelessly upwards.
I’m sorry, she thought, I never meant for this to happen to you.
She stumbled onto the riverbank and ran up the metal pathway. The wound on her leg was screaming again. She hobbled up the rocky hill beyond, tripping on the loose rocks. She got to the top, lost her footing, and tumbled down the other side.
She came to rest at the bottom. Her heart galloped and her fingers shook. Her arm was bleeding but it didn’t hurt, her ankle however did.
Max set this up, I just know it. This is some kind of power struggle, some political game.
She hobbled to her feet and a stabbing pain shot up her leg. She looked down and the wound on her leg was bleeding again. She looked around for a place to hide and saw a small cave hidden among the rocks. She limped over to it and wedged herself down inside. There was a space just big enough for her to squeeze. Her arm was beginning to hurt too and dark red blood was dripping down her elbow, smearing the wall of the tiny cave. Tears came to her eyes but she stifled them down. She was too angry to cry. On the rocks above, she heard footsteps. Nearby, a few small rocks tumbled down the hillside. Starla started to shiver.
She remembered being cornered in the back of the van. She remembered the look of glee in the older man’s eyes as he contemplated assaulting her. A cold feeling crept into her stomach. She shuddered and held her breath.
Chapter 31
Ari remained hidden under the panel. She heard Max order the guards after Starla. This was an ambush. Carefully, she crawled out from under the panel and peered over the windowsill. Starla was on the riverbank, hobbling up the rocks. The guards pursued her. Max stood at the edge of the landing platform, his hands on the rusty railing and his back to Ari. He was calling after Starla.
“…and there’s nowhere left to run, not this time.”
Ari slipped the blade from its sheath on her ankle. She moved slowly and carefully, keeping her body low, around the panel and through the doorway onto the landing platform.
The platform creaked gently, a warm breeze moving across its flat metal surface. The stationary aircraft ticked as its panels cooled.
Ari held her breath and moved quietly forward. Her heart thumped against her breastbone. She could almost reach out and touch Max. Underfoot, a metal panel creaked.
Max spun around, his eyebrows raised, his mouth twisted, and then he lunged for Ari, pushing her over and knocking the blade from her hand. Max landed on top of Ari and pinned her arms down.
“Well, what do we have here? The girl from the outside.”
Underneath Max, Ari wriggled. His breath smelt strangely sweet.
“Now come on sweetheart,” said Max. “I’m flattered, but you're really not my type.”
Ari tried to reach for her blade. Her finger touched the edge of the handle, then it pushed it away.
Max gripped one hand around her shaven scalp, the other across her jaw. He pressed the back of her skull against the hard metal floor.
“I mean, is this haircut really what passes for attractive in Cooper?”
Max's fingernails pressed into her cheeks. Ari wriggled and, with her freed hands, tried to reach around his broad shoulders.
“I think I’ll just break your neck now, I’ve no other use for a girl like you. But I want you to know, so that perhaps you might derive some pleasure from it, that I am going to enjoy this.”
Ari thrust her knee into Max’s groin and his angry grimace collapsed. Ari kicked him again and he removed his hands and rolled sideways off her.
Ari rolled the other way. She grabbed hold of her blade and sprang to her feet. Still on his knees, Max reached inside his long jacket and pulled out a handgun. Ari kicked it away and it slid over the edge of the platform. Then Ari kicked Max hard in the face. When he lifted his head again, red blood seeped from his nose. Ari tried to kick him again but he rolled away. He held one hand out as if to surrender. With the other, he covered his bleeding nose. He looked pathetic and for a moment Ari held back. Seemingly taking his chance, he rose and fled back to the aircraft.
Quickly, Ari descended the stairs to the walkway along the top of the dam and ran towards the riverbank.
Then the guns on the aircraft opened fire.
Bullets popped along the walkway near Ari’s feet. Ari leapt sideways and fell hard onto the metal platform below. Here, she was sheltered from the guns.
I should have finished him, she thought. I should’t have hesitated, not for a moment.
Where she’d fallen, her right side felt tender. She got to her feet and started limping along the lower platform towards the riverbank. Then, close by, another bullet clanged. She pulled herself against the metal wall. Something damp trickled down her right arm. She felt around the wound and when she looked at her hand it was red.
Dag it, she thought. A dull ache began to form in the upper part of her arm.
Cautiously, she peered upwards, and spied Max on the upper walkway, pacing back and forth, swinging a pistol in one hand while, with a handkerchief, he intermittently dabbed his red nose.
“You’re dead now,” he said.
Ari didn’t think he could see her.
She crept along the wall, keeping well against it. Max fired the pistol again and the bullet ricocheted a few feet from her. Then, via a stairway close to the middle of the dam, she saw Max climb down onto the lower platform. He fired towards her and Ari hunkered down behind a steel column. When she peered around, he fired again.
Ari felt like her heart was in her mouth.
She could hear Max’s footsteps getting closer. Ahead, the rocky embankment formed a steep wall. To get onto the riverbank, she’d have to climb back onto the upper platform. Then she looked at the bulb of water expanding away from her before going through the dam.
Close by, Koora’s body lay face down, a dark pool forming around it. Ari looked at the fuse wire running just above her head. She looked at Koora then back at the fuse wire.
Koora, I really hope you knew what you were doing. This better work.
> She pulled her fire-starter and flint from her pocket. She placed the fire-starter against the fuse wire. She took a deep breath and then struck the fire-starter twice with her flint. The second time, the spark caught and the fuse wire burst into hissing orange sparkles. Ari hunkered down close to the floor, ready to jump. It was the only way.
Chapter 32
Starla hid in the tiny cave and tried not to make a sound. The guard made their way down the slope, swinging their gun left to right. A crisp blue uniform and tall black boots. The guard’s face was opaque, hidden by the black helmet’s full-face visor.
Starla prayed; please don’t let them see me, please don’t let them see me. Turn back now or go on passed but please don’t see me.
Starla tried to push herself deeper into the tiny space. Her heart raced. The muscles in her calves tightened and her skin began to crawl.
Please, please don’t see me.
∆∆∆
The fuse wire hissed and fizzled until it reached the first sack of gunpowder.
This is it. Do or die.
Ari leapt.
From beneath the waves, she heard a thunderous boom and a ripple surged through the water.
∆∆∆
Starla’s heart leapt. The ground shuddered and loose rocks tumbled down the hill. Briefly, Starla feared the cave would collapse.
The guard paused and turned towards the direction of the explosion.
∆∆∆
The explosion triggered a chain reaction right along the dam. One after another, the sacks of gunpowder exploded, ripping holes right through the metal structure. By the time the explosions reached the middle of the dam, the weight of the water pressing against it was splitting it clean in two. The centre collapsed inwards and aircraft and platform went tumbling into the water. A wall of water heaved through the dam breach.
∆∆∆
The ground continued to shudder and more loose rocks tumbled down the hill.
What is happening, thought Starla? It feels like an earthquake.
