Barker, Clive – Imajica 01 – The Fifth Dominion. Part 10

“Get ready to run,” he whispered across to Huzzah, and she returned a nervous little nod.

The mustachioed man had now begun to address Pie, speaking in the same tongue the mystif had used. There was nothing in either his tone or attitude that was particularly threatening, though neither, Gentle knew, were foolproof indications. There was some comfort in the fact of dialogue, however, and at a certain point in the exchange the fourth veil was dropped. Another woman, younger than the leader and altogether less amiable, was taking over the conversation with a more strident tone, waving her ribbon blade in the air inches from Pie’s inclined head, Its lethal capacity could not be in doubt. It whistled as it sliced and hummed as it rose again, its motion, for all its ripples, chillingly controlled. When she’d finished talking, the leader apparently ordered them to their feet. Pie obliged, glancing around at Gentle and Huzzah to indicate they should do the same.

“Are they going to kill us?” Huzzah murmured. Gentle took her hand. “No, they’re not,” he said. “And if they try, I’ve got a trick or two in my lungs.” “Please, Gentle,” Pie said. “Don’t even—”

A word from the squad leader silenced the appeal, and the mystif answered the next question directed at it by naming its companions: Huzzah Aping and John Furie Za-charias. There then followed another short exchange between the members of the squad, during which time Pie snatched a moment to explain.

“This is a very delicate situation,’.’ Pie said.

“I think we’ve grasped that much.”

“Most of my people have gone from the Kesparate.”

“Where?”

“Some of them tortured and killed. Some taken as slave labor.”

“But now the prodigal returns. Why aren’t they happy to see you?”

“They think I’m probably a spy, or else I’m crazy. Either way, I’m a danger to them. They’re going to keep me here to question me. It was either that or a summary execution.”

“Some homecoming.”

“At least there’s a few of them left alive. When we first got here, I thought—”

“I know what you thought. So did I. Do they speak any English?”

“Of course. But it’s a matter of pride that they don’t.”

“But they’ll understand me?”

“Don’t, Gentle.”

“I want them to know we’re not their enemies,” Gentle said, and turned his address to the squad. “You already know my name,” he said. “I’m here with Pie ‘oh’ pah because we thought we’d find friends here. We’re not spies. We’re not assassins.”

“Let it alone, Gentle,” Pie said.

“We came a long way to be here, Pie and me. All the way from the Fifth. And right from the beginning Pie’s dreamed about seeing you people again. Do you understand? You’re the dream Pie’s come all this way to find.”

“They don’t care, Gentle,” Pie said.

“They have to care.”

“It’s their Kesparate,” Pie replied. “Let them do it their way.”

Gentle mused on this a moment. “Pie’s right,” he said. “It’s your Kesparate, and we’re just visitors here. But I want you to understand something.” He turned his gaze on the woman whose ribbon blade had danced so threateningly close to the mystif s pate. “Pie’s my friend,” he said. “I will protect my friend to the very last.”

“You’re doing more harm than good,” the mystif said. “Please stop.”

“I thought they’d welcome you with open arms,” Gentle said, surveying the quartet’s unmoved faces. “What’s wrong with them?”

“They’re protecting what little they’ve got left,” Pie said. “The Autarch’s sent in spies before. There’ve been purges and abductions. Children taken. Heads returned.”

“Oh, Jesus.” Gentle made a small, apologetic shrug. “I’m sorry,” he said, not just to Pie but to them all. “I just wanted to say my piece.”

“Well, it’s said. Will you leave it to me now? Give me a few hours, and I can convince them we’re sincere.”

“Of course, if that’s what it’ll take. Huzzah and I can wait around until you’ve worked it all out.”

“Not here,” Pie said. “I don’t think that would be wise.”

“Why not?”

“I just don’t,” Pie said, softly insisting.

“You’re afraid they’re going to kill us all, aren’t you?”

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