A vein in Jael’s temple throbbed.
“So I see. I need to talk to the boys.” But he didn’t tell Jael what he was thinking because he was turning to pound somebody when Calypso vaulted up onto a table.
“While I love a party, we need to honor a brave man, Queensland-style.”
“What’ve you got in mind?” someone shouted, while another ass**le hooted at her, too far into his bottle to realize what a bad idea that was.
She leapt lightly down and stalked toward the poor idiot; Jael almost felt sorry for him. But at least the noise died down in her wake. The shit-faced dimwit had the temerity to grin up at her, like catcalling at the mistress of the circle was a good idea. Her smile was feral as she swung back an arm and backhanded him out of his chair. His booze spilled as he hit the floor; nobody said a word as he scrambled backward.
“Yeah, proper respect, that’s what I’m talking about.” Calypso swept the room with her dark gaze, then added, “For Ike, of course.”
“Of course,” Jael murmured.
The woman hopped onto the nearest table, ignoring the men who had been drinking there, then she raised her voice in a rich and lovely alto. “His day is past and gone / The evening shade appears / Oh, may we all remember well / A night of tears draws near.”
Almost timidly, a few voices chimed in. Apparently, this was a well-known song though Jael hadn’t heard it before. The slow, mournful memory opened up a hole in his chest as Calypso nodded, encouraging the others to join the chorus. She’s right. Ike would like this better than the wake we gave Einar.
She sang on, “We’ll lay his garments by / Finally, he is at rest / Death will soon disrobe us all / Of the little we possess.”
Depressing as hell, that. Having caught the tune, Jael hummed since he didn’t know the words.
“Mary, keep us safe this night / Secure from all our fears / Her spirit guard us while we sleep / ’Til morning light appears.”
The mistress of the ring bowed her head, and the rest of Queensland did likewise. For the full space of a minute, Jael heard nothing but convicts breathing, quite a rarity with his senses. Nobody whispered or coughed; a few men even had their eyes closed, as if they might be praying. Closest this lot has come to a church in turns, no doubt. The thought held a certain dark charm.
Then she flashed the others a big grin. “Back to drinking, you sots. That’s enough reverence.”
* * *
TAM could hardly bear to stay at Ike’s service.
When Einar died, it was bad, but he’d known Ike even longer and had come to realize that he didn’t belong in Perdition. Yet like all the rest, he had no hope of escape aside from death. After Calypso’s serenade, Dred spoke all the right words, honoring his memory, and they carried him to the chute. For a man like him, there should be something more, something better, but Ike went like the rest, down, down, down, meat to feed the beast that was Perdition.
Tonight, the still was unlocked, and most of the men were drinking themselves stupid—with Dred’s blessing—leaving a light crew on watch. He didn’t agree with the decision, but he knew better than to question the Dread Queen. Perhaps she’s right. The mercs probably won’t move on us again for a while. They’ll be wondering how many Peacemakers we have, how well fortified Queensland is. They also need time to rest and regroup.
So do we.
He was in no mood to watch criminals get soused, however, and partner up in an orgy supposedly in honor of Ike. So Tam went to Dred’s quarters to bathe. She wouldn’t mind—or she never had in the past—as long as he tidied up after himself. In some corner of his brain, he hoped the san-shower would wash away the profound feeling of failure. If he’d planned better or noticed the drone cam tracking them, Vost wouldn’t have gotten the drop on them.
Ike wouldn’t be dead.
Martine surprised him when he stepped out of Dred’s quarters. He’d expected she would be drinking with the others. But instead, she was propped on the opposite wall, arms folded over her chest. He tilted his head.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m thinking it’s more the opposite.”
“In what regard?”
“You don’t think I can tell you got a knife buried in you blade deep? Figuratively speaking.”
Tam was speechless for a few seconds. “I don’t see why you’d notice. Or care.”
“Funny thing about arrangements. We’ve nearly come to one, don’t you think?”
He nodded. In here, sex was entirely separate from emotional entanglements, however. It was better and safer that way. Since he wasn’t in the mood for games, he didn’t see why she was waiting for him.
“That means you’re my business, and I look after what’s mine.”
Her tone sent a frisson down his spine. There was no beginning or end point; he couldn’t remember a time when that hadn’t been the case for him. In some way, he’d always known he was meant to serve, and it gave him pleasure. It didn’t even have to be sexual in nature though that was best.
“What do you mean?” he asked though he knew.
“I can’t have you whipping yourself over Ike. That’s my job.”
“Not today,” he said politely.
“I wouldn’t have thought you’d be so literal. Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“You think you’re the only one with secrets? Trust me.”
That was an impossible request, but when she put out her hand, he took it. Then she pulled him along, past the hall to the common room, past the hydroponics garden and the armory, past the dorms. The only thing back this way was the ladder to the next level. They had so much space to protect now that it almost wasn’t even worth it; numbers in Queensland had diminished to the point that they no longer needed to expand.
It might be dangerous to break away from the pack like this, but the promise of silence lured him on, almost as much as the neat sway of Martine’s hips. She cast a look back every now and then, making sure he was still with her. He appreciated her silence, too. They emerged in a narrow hallway he’d never seen before, almost as if this were between levels on the station.
She read the question in his eyes, and answered, “I think this is where the maintenance crew hid from their supervisors.”
“Back when it was a mineral refinery?” It amused but didn’t surprise him. Tam could well imagine men holing up here to take a nap.