Earthseed

bridge on wobbly legs. Ho held his knife, ready to throw it; Caleb aimed his gun. “It’ll be quick,” the man said, moving closer.
    She aimed her foot at his knee and kicked; Caleb had come too close. She jabbed at his throat and he cried out, firing the gun. The beam shot past her head. She went for his eyes and the gun flew out of his hand; she jabbed again. Ho was dancing, still holding his knife as if trying to decide where to aim it.
    Caleb covered his eyes, moaning. Zoheret searched the ground frantically for the gun while Ho backed away. Caleb dragged her up by her hair; she struck him in the throat once more. He staggered backward, clutching at his collar, swaying on the edge of the ravine. His hands clawed at the air as he struggled for balance. Then he was gone.
    Zoheret screamed, then ran toward the ravine.
    His head was on a red-stained rock below, his body twisted at the waist. She backed away, then remembered Ho. She pivoted and dived at the boy, knocking him to the ground and pinning him by the shoulders. He gripped his knife; she seized his right hand by the wrist. “You lied,” she said. “I should have guessed.”
    “He was watching me. I had to do what he said. I didn’t think he’d try to kill you.”
    “You’re lying. You had to know. You knew about Willem.”
    “He said it was an accident, and that you were going to accuse him to make trouble. I thought he was just going to beat you so you wouldn’t tell anyone else.”
    “So beating’s all right.”
    “I was trying to throw the knife at him. I didn’t want to hit you by mistake.”
    “You were waiting to see who’d win.” She noticed that the gun was lying near her. She grabbed the weapon, rolling off the boy. He sat up and she took aim.
    “I was looking for an opening,” Ho said. “I didn’t trust him, but I knew I had to let him trust me in order to get away. I swear it’s true.”
    She lowered the gun. She would never know whether or not he was telling the truth. “You would have let him kill me.”
    “I would have thrown my knife at him if you hadn’t been in the way.”
    She got to her feet. “He’s down there, hurt.”
    Ho rose, walked to the edge of the ravine, and looked down. “He’s dead.”
    “No.”
    “He’s dead. His head hit a rock. I can see the blood and bone fragments from here. He’s dead, all right.”
    “He can’t be.”
    “Look for yourself.”
    “I can’t.”
    He came to her and took the gun from her hand before she could resist, then went back to the edge, aimed the gun straight down, and fired several times. He turned and threw the gun at her feet. “He’s dead now.”
    She backed away, then fell to the ground, retching. Curling up on the ground, she hugged her knees. Ho’s booted feet were next to her face; his arm snaked out and hauled her up. “Stop it.” He stood her on her feet, picked up the gun, and tucked it under her rope belt.
    She wiped her face. “I’m all right.” Her mouth tasted bitter, and her hands still trembled. “Now I’m a killer.”
    “You were defending yourself. It was you or him.”
    She pressed her hands against her temples, trying to clear her head. The gun nestled against her ribs; Ho had given it to her as a sign of trust. They now had the same immediate goal; that would bind them even if trust did not. “Ho, we have to do something. I heard two of them talking last night, in Arabic. I could understand most of what they said. They’re going to try to disconnect Ship.”
    “What?”
    “Just its mind, not life support or the other functions. They’re going to block its sensors first, I think.”
    “Can they do that?”
    “They helped build it. They must know how.”
    “Then they’ll have us for sure.” Ho shook his head. “I have to warn my band.”
    “They’ll go after them. They know where they are.”
    “No, they don’t.” Ho smiled. “I told them we were hiding out in the swamp. If they go there, they’re going to get a big surprise. There’s plenty of quicksand.”
    “Don’t be so sure. When Caleb doesn’t come back, they may know you lied. You have to go to your group. They’ve still got my friends.”
    “Don’t worry. I’ll see that they’re all right. I’ll take everybody back to the corridors. You should go there now. One of us should be able to get through to Ship.”
    She nodded, then searched his face, suddenly distrustful again. “You’d better bring my friends to the corridors safely.”
    “I will.