Station, стр. 75
Hadder squinted against the early Haela backdrop andsighed. Up ahead, making himself a fool while making othersuncomfortable, was his old friend Jonny VV, someone who helped himwhen he much needed it. It was time to pay off a substantial debt."I know him, Glen."
Glen wore a confused look. "Friend of yours?"
"Yes. Yes, he is."
Hadder approached the drunken Jonny VV, whoseusually immaculate suit was stained with dirt and caked with grime.The man looked as if he had aged ten years since Reena's passing."Jonny, Jonny," called Hadder as he came up behind Jonny VV, whoturned and fell onto his backside at the sound of his own name.
Hadder rushed over to his friend. "Jonny, it'sHadder. Marlin Hadder."
Jonny VV looked up through unfocused eyes. "Hadder?Is it truly you, old chap?"
"Yeah, it's me, my friend. You don't look so good.Where are you going?"
"Oh, you know me, old boy. Just on my way to jointhe festivities." Hadder could barely make out the words Jonny'sfat, swollen tongue was making. "I told Reena to wear somethingextra stunning, so I'm on my way to meet the old girl."
The bruise on Hadder's heart ached once more, andGlen moved a safe distance away in discomfort. "Jonny. Reena'sdead, Jonny. She's gone, remember?"
Jonny nodded dumbly. "Oh yeah, that's right. Quiteright, old chap." Jonny began to cry, tears leaving clean lines onhis otherwise grimy face. "I loved her so. You know that,Hadder?"
"I know, my friend. We all did."
"She's the only one who got me. Really got me. Shewas mom, sister, and friend all in one. She was all I had."
"That's not true, Jonny. You have lots of friendshere, but you need time to heal, away from the fucking CelebrationCluster and these soulless runners. What do you think, oldfriend?"
Jonny's eyes finally focused on Hadder, who leanedback on his heels from the pain he saw in those red, irritatedeyes. "I think I'm tired, Hadder."
"Would you like to rest, my friend?"
"Yes, please. I would very much like that."
Hadder reached down and helped his friend up,throwing Jonny's arm over his shoulders and pushing down thefeeling of nausea that erupted from the smell of his troubledcompanion. "Glen, I want to complete our loop, finish the analysis.Would you mind taking Jonny here back to Cranesman with you,find him a room, and some hot food? I owe this guy a lot."
Glen softened under the scene of Hadder holding uphis bereaved friend. "Sure, Hadder. Happy to help." He looked toJonny. "Jonny, my name is Glen. I'm gonna get you somewhere safe.We're gonna get you straightened out, ok?"
Jonny began to nod off in Hadder's grasp. His headcame up at Glen's voice. "Any friend of Hadder's is a friend ofmine. I accept your kind offer, dear sir."
Glen walked over and accepted Jonny from Hadder."Jesus, he's heavy. And he's not gonna be much help. Don't know ifI can get him there alone."
Hadder nodded and walked into the growing throngs ofresidents. He grabbed the arm of a large man with a bright orangeduster and flat-top of bleached hair whom he remembered from hisCelebration days. The man's name escaped him. "Hey, what's thefucking deal," began the man before recognizing Marlin Hadder andquickly altering his words. "Sorry, Hadder, you startled me, that'sall."
"I need your favor."
The man bumbled, finding the words, and stammeredwhen he unearthed them. "Sure, sure, Hadder. How can I help?"
"I need you to help my friend Glen here get ourmutual friend Jonny VV back to Cranesman west of here."
The flat-topped man made a face. "But I was justheading to Morning's Echo. People are waiting for me."
"And I'm sure they'll be there when you return. Youdo remember Jonny VV, don't you? I'd hate to think of you as a guywho turns his back on his friends." The Rage was there, justbeneath the surface, a lifetime of fair-weather friends andself-involved acquaintances fueling the fire.
The man could see the threat hiding behind therequest, would be a fool to ignore it, especially from the nownotorious Marlin Hadder. "Of course, Hadder. They'll be there whenI get back. Happy to help."
The danger in Hadder's eyes vanished as quickly asit appeared, and he slapped the large man on the shoulder. "There'sthe good friend I knew to be there. Glen! This gentleman hasoffered to help you."
"I, I'm Nesto. Nice to meet you."
Glen had no time for Celebration folks. "Great. Gethis other arm. We've got a bit of a hike."
"I'll come by and check on him after I'm done," saidHadder. Glen replied with a simple thumbs-up.
The pair began to walk Jonny west when the nearlyunconscious man came to and turned his head back to Hadder."Hadder, I heard you got the bastard. The one who killed my lovelyReena. Is it true?"
"I did, Jonny."
"Did he suffer as she did?"
"I cut his fucking head off, Jonny."
Jonny weakly nodded. "Good shit, old chap. Thankyou."
Hadder simply smiled, and the three were off again,slowly making their way to Cranesman, where Hadder hoped hisfriend's heart would heal.
Before a Riser had the chance to rip it from hischest.
Hadder completed his work in the Celebration Clusterand continued north, planning to hit the Lethe River and follow itupstream until he reached Cranesman and could check in onJonny VV.
As Hadder came upon the Lethe, he couldn't help butlook back to the Skirt, imagining the army that waited for themacross that empty strip of land. Hadder and Glen had spottedseveral Caesars making the rounds earlier in the Solay, giving themboth a warm feeling that they weren't quite yet on death's door.With the Caesars still active and on their side, there was hope forvictory.
With this thought running through his mind, Hadderlooked to the Caesar Bridge, hoping that seeing another colossalally stationed there would provide even more comfort. Lookingclosely, Hadder could see a hulking form on the bridge, but it wassitting down, as if at rest. Never having known a Caesar to restwhen on patrol, Hadder reversed his