Glory Season

Two bored-looking fighters stood watch at this nexus point, armed with cruelly sharpened trepp bills. They spoke together in low voices, and barely glanced at the passing work party. Which suited Maia just fine. She averted her face anyway.

The string of electric lights continued down only one staircase to the right, while Maia’s group plunged straight across the open foyer to the dark center steps, leading upward and further into the heart of the dragon’s tooth. Two lantern-bearers turned up the wicks of their oil lamps. As Maia and the others climbed, she glanced down, and caught sight of several figures, two levels below, landing at the start of the illuminated hallway. Four women were exchanging heated words, pointing and shouting. Maia felt a chill traverse her back, on hearing one harsh voice. She recognized a shadowed face.

Baltha. The erstwhile mercenary stood next to one of the other Manitou traitors, a wiry var Maia had known as Riss. They were debating with two women she had never seen before. Emphasizing a point, Baltha turned and began waving toward the stairs, causing Maia to duck back and hasten after her companions. High on her list of priorities was to avoid contact with that particular var, not least because Baltha would recognize her in a shot.

Maia’s group plunged deeper into the mountain. Since leaving the last electric light, stiltlike shadows seemed to flutter from their legs and bodies, fleeing the lanterns like animated caricatures of fear. To Maia, the effect seemed to mock the brief, earnest concerns of the living. Each time a black silhouette swept into one of the empty rooms, it was like some prodigal spirit returning to exchange greetings with shades of those long dead.

If experience had taught Maia to endure water, and even enjoy heights, she felt certain her habituation to deep tunnels would never grow beyond grudging tolerance. She could stand them, but would never find confines like these appealing. Of late, she had begun wondering if men did, either. Perhaps they built this way because they had no other choice.

Maia leaned toward the woman warrior she had ex-changed words with, earlier. “Uh, where are they… er, we … looking for him, now?” She asked in a low voice. Her words seemed to skitter along the walls.

“Up,” the short, husky pirate replied. “Five, six levels. Found some windows lookin’ over both sea an’ lagoon. We’re to skiv anyone comin’ or goin’, them’s the orders. We also look for any signs the vril’s been that high. Footprints in the dust, and such. Cheer up, maybe we’ll get th’ reward, yet.”

The ruddy-faced var leading the party glared briefly at the one talking to Maia, who grimaced a silent insult when the leader’s back was turned once more.

“What about the room where he was kept?” Maia whispered. “Any clues there?”

A shrug. “Ask Baltha.” The reaver motioned with a vague nod behind them. “She was still checkin’ out the cell, after everyone else had a turn.” The reaver shivered, as if unhappy to remember something weird, even frightening.

Maia pondered as they walked on silently. Clearly, this expedition was taking her farther from any useful clues. But how to get away?

At last, the group arrived at the end of the long hallway, where a narrow portal introduced a spiral staircase set inside a cylinder of stone. The women had to enter single file. Maia hung back, shifting from one leg to the other. When the boss woman looked at her, Maia acted embarrassed and pushed the rifles into the older woman’s arms. “I have to … you know.”

The squad leader sighed, holding a lantern. “I’ll wait.” Maia feigned mortification. “No. Really. Climbing’s simple. No way to get lost, and there’s a rail. I’ll catch up before you’re two levels up.”

“Mm. Well, hurry then. Fall too far behind th’ lantern, and you’ll deserve t’get lost.”

The leader turned away as Maia ducked into a nearby empty room. When the footsteps receded, Maia emerged and, with only a distant glow to guide her, swiftly retraced the way they had come. Could I have gotten away with holding onto a rifle? she wondered, and concluded this had been the right choice. Nothing would have been more likely to elicit suspicion and alarm. Under these circumstances, the weapon would have been a hindrance.

Soon she arrived back at the great nexus hall and cautiously looked down. Two guards still kept watch where the string of light bulbs made a downstairs turn.

Maia would have to get by them, and then past Baltha and Riss, in order to reach the site where Renna had been kept, and vanished. That was clearly the best place to look for clues.

Do I dare? The plan seemed rash, more than audacious. Maybe there’s another way. If all passages end in spiral stairs, there may be one at the far end of the south hall—

Sounds of commotion reached her ears. Maia crouched next to the stone banister and watched as women converged on the guard post from two directions. Climbing from below came Baltha, Riss, and two tall vars, one carrying an air of authority to match Baltha’s. At the landing, the foursome turned and looked west, toward the sanctuary entrance, where a single figure appeared, a slender shadow marching before her. Maia felt a numb frisson when she recognized the silhouette.

“You sent for me, Togay?” the newcomer asked the tallest reaver, whose strong-boned features stood out in the harsh light.

“Yes, Leie,” the commanding presence said in an educated, Caria City accent. “I am afraid it’s out of my hands, now. You are to be kept under confinement until the alien is found, and thereafter till we sail.”

Maia’s sister had her face turned away from the light. Still, her shock and upset were plain. “But Togay, I explained—”

“I know. I told them you’re among our brightest, hardest working young mates. But since the events on Grimké, and especially tonight—”

“It’s not my fault Maia escaped! Isn’t it enough she died for it? As for the prisoner, he just disappeared! I wasn’t anywhere near—”

Baltha’s companion cut in. “You was seen talkin’ to the Outsider, just like your sister!” Riss turned to Togay and made a chopping motion. “Like seeks as seeks like. Ain’t that what they say? You may be right ’bout her bein’ no clone, an’ I guess she don’t smell like a cop. But what if she wants revenge for her twin? Remember how she was against us tuckin’ in Cojsh an’ his boys? I say drop her in the lagoon, just to be safe.”

“Togay!” Leie cried imploringly. But the tall, strong-jawed woman looked at her sternly and shook her head. With an expression of satisfaction, Baltha motioned at the two guards, who stepped alongside the fiver and took her elbows. Leie’s shoulders slumped as she was led away. All seven women descended the southward set of stairs, leaving behind a dusty, silent emptiness.

Creeping as quietly as possible, wary of the betraying reach of shadows, Maia followed.

A single electric cable continued down to the lower level, bulbs spaced far apart. Maia let the reavers and their captive get some distance ahead before hurrying after in short bursts, ducking into dark doorways whenever any of the women seemed to even hint at turning around. After they passed into a side corridor, she sped at a dead run, stopping at the edge to cautiously peer around.

The group halted at the first of several metal-bound doors, where stood another pair of guards. This time, one of them was armed with a vicious-looking firearm, the likes of which Maia had seen only once before in her life. This was no hunting rifle, being misused in pursuit of human beings. Rather, it was an automatic killing machine, built for spraying death in mass doses.

There was low conversation, a rattling of keys. As the door flung open, Maia glimpsed figures within, stirring in surprise. Her sister was shoved through. A reaver laughed. “Be nice to yer new friends, virgie. Maybe you can shuck your nickname b’fore drownin’ with ’em!”

“Shut up, Riss,” Baltha said, while Togay locked the door. Then, all except for the second pair of guards, they filed twenty meters or so down the hall, into the chamber next door. From an angle, Maia saw ranks of benches lining one wall of the room. Baltha and the others could be glimpsed walking around inside, frustration evident on their faces each time they reappeared in view. Shouts of anger and recrimination could be heard. One time, Baltha’s voice rang out loud enough for Maia to make out clearly, “Back in the city aren’t gonna be happy about this. Not happy t’all! …”

Maia was concentrating so hard, she only noticed the sound of footsteps after they echoed behind her for some time. Her hackles shot up when she realized, turning around quickly, ready to run. A single form could be seen approaching, entering and leaving succeeding pools of light. It soon manifested as a heavyset woman with a