'Sure, but the military don't know the city the way we do.'
'So if we see something suspicious, alert the authorities.'
'Right. And Pyke's got all his spooky conspiracy contacts, right? Maybe he can get something from them.'
'Maybe.' Cassi drew the word out. 'Okay, I'll ask around.'
'Except nobody can be told that an engine's missing. Not until the lictors release the information.'
'No problem.'
The coach slowed and pulled over. Taya looked out and saw that they were in front of the same hospital she'd visited with Lt. Amcathra, a few days before.
'You'll tell Pyke?'
'Sure.' They pulled Cassi's armature out, and Cassi buckled back in. 'I'll look for you at that punch-jockey bar later on?'
'Could you bring my armature with you? Just in case I don't make it back to the eyrie?'
'If Pyke can get it out of the shop.' Cassi pulled on her flight gloves. 'You be careful, okay? Don't let anyone else shoot at you.'
Taya waved as Cassi left, then asked Gregor to wait for her as she limped into the hospital.
A nurse directed her to the same hospital room, but this time the Demican was sitting up in a chair and playing cards with his lictor guard.
'Excuse me,' Taya said, standing in the doorway. 'May I come in?'
The lictor frowned, setting down her cards, as the Demican regarded her crutches with open curiosity.
'The little warrior has met her match?' he asked, not unkindly, in Demican.
'The man who shot me is dead,' Taya replied in Demican. She wasn't happy about it, but it was the response that would most impress him. As she expected, he laughed with appreciation.
'Good. That is the best fate for a man who would use a gun on his prey.'
'I am glad to see you are healing,' she continued, studying him.
'It seems my spirit will not be visiting you on Darkday.'
'Excuse me,' the lictor said with annoyance, 'but who are you?'
'I'm Taya Icarus,' Taya replied, dropping into Ondinium again. 'I was responsible for putting this man into the hospital, and I wanted to see how he was doing.'
'Taya Icarus.' The lictor's voice was cool. 'So I guess this man was the lucky one, huh?'
'Yeah.' Taya winced, then turned to the Demican and began to speak in his language again. 'The two Alzanans you were working with — did they ever mention anything about stealing one of the city's metal brains?' It was the closest Demican came to ‘analytical engine.'
'They talked about stealing many things. Your wings, ‘punch cards’' — he used the Ondinium words, so heavily accented they were almost meaningless—'people, metal brains, weapons. I should have known better than to work with carrion birds.'
'Did they talk to anyone else about their plans?'
'Other Alzanans.' The Demican shrugged. 'Have you looked for the tavern with the red door yet?'
Taya chewed on her lip. Had Amcathra followed up that lead? Maybe, but the wireferry bombing happened right afterward, and it would make sense if less important cases had been shoved aside for the investigation.
'Icarus, unless you have clearance to talk to this prisoner, you should leave,' the lictor said, giving her an acrimonious look.
'Can you tell me anything else about them?' Taya asked quickly, in Demican.
'I think they found somebody to sell them the weapons they wanted. Bombs. They were very pleased.' The Demican shrugged. 'Bombs are no better than guns. They are both cowardly ways to kill.'
The lictor was standing, one hand dropping to the pistol at her belt. Taya hopped backward on her crutches.
'I agree,' she said, in Demican, then added in Ondinium, 'I'm leaving, I'm leaving.'
'What was that about?' the woman asked, her expression full of suspicion.
'Spirits, scavengers, and guns.' Taya glanced at the woman's weapon. 'Demicans think firearms are a coward's weapon.'
'I don't give a damn what Demicans think.'
'No reason why you should.' Taya nodded to the prisoner, then limped out, feeling the back of her neck crawl under the lictor's glare.
Gregor helped her back into the coach.
'Do you know of a bar with a red door in Slagside?' Taya asked, setting her crutches by her. Gregor leaned in the coach door, frowning.
'Slagside, is it? There ain't much call for hacks down there, even where the roads would be wide enough for one. You've no desire to go there, now, do you?'
'Actually, I do.' Taya sighed. 'Do you know anyone else who's familiar with Slagside?'
'No, not a one.' Gregor shrugged. 'People who pass their time in Slagside ain't people I'd care to count as friends. Smugglers, thieves, and cutthroats all.'
'Surely not all of them.'
'Enough of ‘em for it to be a bad place for an outsider to visit. A pretty girl on crutches, especially, don't you think?'
'How about the Pickled Thalassonaut?'
'The only danger you'll be facing there is being bored to death,' Gregor said, chuckling. 'Be that our next stop, then?'
'If you don't mind. And I'll pay for your meal there, too, because I'll probably be there a while.'
'Fine with me. Bolt and I could use a rest, the two of us could.' Gregor closed the door and climbed back to the driver's seat.
Chapter Sixteen
Taya found Alister's programming team, with the notable and worrisome exception of Kyle, desultorily arguing about a new program and keeping a close eye on the door. She left Gregor to tend Bolt and joined their table. It didn't escape her that the other programmers in the bar were watching Alister's team with open suspicion. Alister might have cleared the team's reputation with the lictors, but not in the court of public opinion.
Minding Cristof's request to avoid telling them about Kyle's possible kidnapping, Taya filled them in on everything else she'd learned.
'Slagside, huh?' Victor asked, his eyes narrowing. 'Dangerous place.'
'It's not much of a lead,' she admitted, 'but it might be worth looking into.'
'Give me half an hour.' The programmer stood, then stopped. Taya followed his gaze and saw Pyke and Cassi walking in, holding her armature and flight suit.
'You got it!' Taya leaped to her feet, then dropped back into her chair again with a wince. 'Ouch.'
'Yeah.' Pyke was staring at Victor. For a moment the two men held each other's gaze, and then the icarus looked away, maneuvering the floating armature through the tavern to her table. 'I signed out for it, too, so if you break it again, I'm the one who has to answer to my uncle.'
'I won't break it,' Taya promised, grabbing his hand and squeezing it.
'Better not.' He grinned at her.
'Watch it,' a programmer at another table growled, ducking Cassi's wings as she maneuvered around to join them. 'This isn't a bird bar.'
'Mouth off to me and you'll never get a letter again, punch jockey,' Cassi warned him, leaning on the back of Taya's chair. She addressed her friend. 'We're off work now.'
'Good. Sit down.' Taya made the introductions, then stood to inspect her armature. The programmer at the table behind them snarled and moved. Cassi put a leather-booted foot on his table and shoved it several feet away
