Station, стр. 79

CHAPTER 24

Meetings with the residents continued.Some were successful, others were not. As Royal spoke, Hadder andGlen would peruse the audience, looking for any sign of betrayal.While Royal knew most everyone in Station, many remained unknown toHadder. Unfamiliar faces always looked suspect; Hadder imaginedeach of them fingering sharp blades hidden in their jackets andcoats.

Progress also continued, with weaponry coming out ofthe manikin shops each day and residents fabricating any metal theycould find into instruments of violence. Additionally, Solays wereincreasingly spent exercising, practicing martial arts, anddrilling attack plans. Chemicals were still imbibed, but more toaccentuate the training and help harden the body than to soften themind. While they still had a long way to go, Hadder was encouragedto see some residents' willingness to die fighting for theirlives.

Stories of brutal battles made their way across theSkirt as The Krown's forces put forth full effort in eradicatingthe remains of Ego Rounds' followers. Despite being insanelyoutnumbered and with no hope of victory in sight, those remainingof the South Rising loyalists fought valiantly, utilizing thetraps, terrain, and fortifications that Ego Rounds had sobrilliantly put into place. Hadder smiled when he thought of thebeautiful and deadly Kamaria defeating another of The Krown'sbattalions, stubbornly denying the death that she knew was rightaround the corner. Hadder believed that if she could hold The Krownoff for a few more weeks, those in the Setting may have achance.

Hadder and Cal walked the Skirt in silence, thebright rays of Solay allowing them both to take in theirsurroundings completely, marking areas most susceptible to Riserattacks or crossing attempts. With the alarming news that some ofthe Caesars may be actively working with the Risers, Hadder took itupon himself to strategize with Station's guardians, only workingdirectly with Cal, whom he trusted implicitly. Every now and then,Hadder would point something out to Cal, who would nod or offersome small counterpoint. Eventually, Hadder grew tired of theelephant in the room.

"Have you discovered which Caesars are supportingthe Risers?"

Cal kept walking, kept scanning the landscape. "Notyet. We are good at hiding our emotions, hiding our thoughts. But Ihave my suspicions."

"If you have your suspicions, why not call them out?Let them know you're on to them. Force their hand now, not whenyour back is turned."

Cal shook his head. "I cannot. I'm not sure yet howmany there are. An accusation would set off a fight. A falseaccusation would set off a more brutal one, and we could all killeach other in a single skirmish. Then where would you and yourSetters be?"

Hadder closed his mouth, unable to argue Cal'spoint. They continued south along the Skirt, below the CelebrationCluster and the Perch, when a large field referred to as theGrasslands opened up on Hadder's right. Often used for large gamesof soccer or football, it now sat empty, the times for joyousfrolicking a thing of the past. Hadder nudged the giant creature inthe ribs. "You could wage a hell of a battle there."

"Silence," was all that Cal said, squinting as hewalked. Hadder peered down the Skirt and saw what the Caesar wastrying to decipher, a flurry of activity a few hundred yardsfurther south on the Rising side, past the Grasslands. "Let'sgo."

Cal tore down the Skirt at a trot, with Hadderrunning full speed at his heels to keep up with the sentinel'simpossibly long stride. They slowed as they approached a smatteringof Risers, perhaps two dozen in total, who were working onsomething on the ground, out of sight from their position on theSkirt. On the Setting side, thirty or so residents from the nearbyCluster had gathered, apprehensively watching the Riseractivity.

Two Caesars were already standing guard on the Skirtbefore the Risers, a giant gray block of stone called Titus and apink-skinned colossus named Jules. In his large hands, Titus held ahammer that probably weighed as much as the average resident.Hadder nudged Cal again, pointing his chin towards the hammer,before giving the guardian a suspicious look.

Cal bent down to whisper. "Many Caesars change upweapons, grabbing the first thing they see before patrols. Plus,there's no way the killer would have used his own equipment."

Hadder accepted Cal's explanation, but kept a waryeye on the