Unspeakable, Part 14

Who? Miles demanded. Can we trust them? Absolutely? Sally nodded. Yes. Definitely. Boy and I were in the same classes together for ages, I know him.

Miles raised his eyebrows. Boy? Boy’s the one helping us? He looked thoughtful. Jackpot indeed, he murmured. Connie sat up. His name is ‘boy’? she said skeptically.

I doubt that’s his given name, Miles said absent mindedly, but that’s what he calls himself. Connie looked unconvinced. Who is he? Shylock asked, startling them all.

Miles looked down at Shylock. After a moment he said, he’s a dark horse. Powerful. Sally raised her eyebrows. Boy? she said disbelievingly. Boy’s just an oddie, he’s never been operative track.

Miles glanced at her shrewdly. By design, he said. Everything he does is his own choice. If he were an operative, that’s all he’d be. This way…

He sees everything, Sequoia said, her deep voice echoing. Miles glanced at her with a half smile. Exactly. He leaned back in the chair, leaving his fingertips on Shylock’s shoulder. I remember.

I’d see him at arena, he said, he came every night. But he never fought. He just watched. Helped the injured. He looked at Sally. You did well. With him in our corner, we’ve got a shot.

Sequoia’s voice came again. If he came to arena and helped the injured, why didn’t he help you? Silence fell, and Miles grew grave. How do we know, she went on, he didn’t put you down here?

Sally broke the silence, digging in the bag she still held. Let’s just ask him, she said, pulling out the communicator. The others’ eyes widened, and she pushed the beeper button before she could change her mind.

Sally? came Boy’s voice softly. Did you make it?

Yeah, I made it, she said, Boy- With a squeak of the chair Miles scooted closer and stuck out a hand that trembled a little. Give it here, he said, and she gave it to him.

Boy, it’s Miles, he said, an edge in his tone that had Shylock’s eyes glued to him. Did she tell you it was me down here with her?

No, came Boy’s voice, surprised, I wish she had. You’re alive, you made it after all. Thank god.

Miles scoffed. God. Right. Listen, Boy, before we go any farther, tell me something. Were you there? His voice was tight, like his throat. When it happened. Were you there? I didn’t see you. But then I didn’t always.

After a pause, Boy said, no. I wasn’t there. I didn’t think it would be a bad one. I found out too late that Chak decided to go after all. I got there too late. Everyone had cleared out. I’m sorry.

Miles closed his eyes as Boy repeated, I’m sorry, Miles, I should’ve been there. Miles cleared his throat. Never mind then, he said, we’ll move on to the present, glancing at Shylock.

Right, Boy said, Sally and I didn’t have much time. Can you give me a more detailed report? Who’s down there, who’s hurt? Miles glanced around at the others, who looked tense.

Don’t you know? Miles asked, to buy time. The dungeons I haven’t been able to track, Boy said, not reliably. They move people in secret, without warning. Their cover ups are superb.

Ain’t that the truth, Miles grumbled. I suspected about Sally, Boy went on. And I heard whispers about a Russian. Miles met Ivan’s eyes. After a moment, Ivan gave a slight nod.

That’s right, Miles said, Ivan. Banished for being too tall. Sequoia, similar bullshit. Mander, similar bullshit about being visible. Connie, blamed for a different genetic condition.

He met Shylock’s eyes again. And you know about Sally, he said at last, banished for being unapologetically magnificent. Boy chuckled briefly. And the seventh? he asked.

Miles took a slow breath, not breaking eye contact with Shylock. The injured man, Miles said, our martyr. He got slashed protecting me and Connie, the least mobile.

The supplies should help, Boy said, how is he? Miles again took a moment to choose his words. Hanging in, he said, but I’ll tell you now, Boy, I’m getting him out of here. Non-negotiable.

Obviously, Boy said. Eventually we’ll get you all out. But we have to do it right. The Academy’s a time bomb, and if we’re not careful it’ll blow up in our faces.

A half smile crept over Miles’ face. I like the way you think. Boy’s voice came back with good. Keep me posted. If it gets too dangerous down there, if your friend gets worse, we’ll get you out of there and work something else out. Satisfied, Miles said, will do. Out.

The first and best development was an improvement in food. The rubbish heap suddenly became a treasure trove, with everything from basic resources to small pleasures.

Connie watched the others rush between the rubbish heap and the common area. She was a sentry, to sound the alarm if there was activity from the not-so-empty room.

Ivan and Sequoia took turns staying near the doorway, but privately, Connie had begun to dangle one of her feet over the edge. Just in case.

She watched Sally run to give Miles some cloth, and Miles grinned. She saw through the doorway as he again swapped shirts with Shylock.

The tender way he helped him, covered him back up with a blanket from Boy’s stores, combined with the way Shylock looked at Miles when he wasn’t looking, made her heart hurt.

But it also made her nervous. Paralyzed or not, Miles had an edge to him. Big doe eyes or no, Shylock was down here for a reason. Their intense relationship had dangers for everyone.

Of course, at that moment Shylock met her eyes with an unreadable expression. She didn’t bother to try and cover her tracks, just kept on looking, with a small smile of recognition.

When the moment passed she felt guilty. Shylock didn’t want to hurt anyone. He was just a scared kid. She glanced at Miles, giving orders to the others. God. She was probably jealous.

I am not competing with Shylock for Miles, she told herself firmly, and turned to smile at Sally, who, ever loyal, had come to bring her into the action, to give her some food.