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“He will if you tell him to”
“No, he won’t” I pauseeyes “We both knoould have to knock his her shoulders, suggesting she would be fine with that plan “I can’t do that to him”
“But you can take him to Venus? Where he’s likely to die?”
“I can’t manipulate hiht behind me in another, slower ship”
“Then I’ll put his leg in a bear trap”
“He’ll just chew it off”
“True” She mental sound and leans forward to kiss ers so I smell the bitter flowers of her perfume, and for a moment, so close and quiet, we are in a different world, in a different life Then she draws back to look at h her narrowed eyelids “I love you, Darrow You are the best friend I have You are godfather tomy husband back to me, I will leave this blasted moon, return to Mars, and you will never see ain”
“I’ll bring him back,” I say She looks doubtful “I pro in return—”
“You know I hate politics,” she interrupts, guessing ahs nonetheless “But I’ll help the lioness If she lets me”
“Thank you,” I say,it more deeply than she probably knows Threeknife disappear into the rucksack I cinch the opening closed with finality
“Yes, yes You’re lucky you’re so pretty”
I join the rest of the Howlers on the roof and watch Sevro say goodbye to Victra She clings to him in a desperate way I’ve never seen Should I leave hio the distance without hi his head clutched to his wife’s chest, I feel the trau not just to hi this to us But is it the world, or is it me? The way I am built? A breaker, not a builder after all
Soon Sevro is withrain I’ him stay behind, but he’s already past me The Howlers follow hi their heads against the wind as they cross the roof toward our waiting ships Absent are the howls The jokes and ribbing The city throbs with light, butcityscape and wonder if the Republic Wardens are already on their way
—
It is two hours by shuttle to Lake Silene The hour is late and the house quiet by the tiuards salute as we pass across the grounds I feel their eyes on my back They will knohat I aoes to the rooo to Pax’s I sit for aI should not wake him The lie I tell myself is that I should protect him and just leave The fear is that I cannot face him But I must, or what sort of man am I?