City of Ruins

TWENTY-EIGHT



Hand up. Foot up. Followed by opposite hand. Then opposite foot. I concentrate on each movement, marveling at how well constructed the ladder is. The handholds fit my fingers. The rough surface keeps my boots steady.

The early part of the climb is easy. It’s almost like walking. The slope is gentle, the ladder more of a guide than a necessity.

But a third of the way up, the wall’s angle gets steep. Suddenly, I’m climbing, hand over hand, foot on one rung at a time, with nothing to support me except my grip and my caution.

I feel awkward, my torso hanging out in the air. I also feel heavy. I can feel the weight of my body with each movement.

My arms are tiring first. Apparently, I lack upper-body strength, something I didn’t know. But my legs are getting tired as well. And I’m getting thirsty, which means I’m getting dehydrated. I have a slight headache between my eyes, caused by the growing dry heat.

Sweat drips off my nose and chin.

As long as I sweat, I’m all right.

I should have left the damn environmental suit on, though. I hadn’t thought that through.

I really hadn’t thought any of this underground stuff through, not until now.

When I’m halfway up, I hear sounds. I’m not sure what they are—some kind of rustling, or maybe even conversation. It’s not what I expect in any way, but I haven’t really listened before. The hovercart moved so quickly as it went into the caves that I couldn’t notice details like sound and distance.

“Hello the top!” I yell as I pause, hanging there.

I don’t like hanging. It feels precarious. It also makes me want to look down.

“Boss?” I hear a relieved female voice.

Then Ilona leans over the edge, her black hair surrounding her face. She’s not supposed to be here. She’s supposed to be collating the research and doing some work with the City of Vaycehn.

“That’s me,” I say.

“God,” she says, and stops so quickly that I hear the rest although she doesn’t speak it. We thought you were dead.

Yeah, well. We could have been.

“They wouldn’t let us go down there. They say it’s not safe,” she says.

“They’re right. It’s not safe,” I say. “There’s fallen rock everywhere.”

“Let me get you help,” she says, and backs away before I can tell her not to. I don’t want a rope or a guiding hand or some equipment sent down here. I want to keep climbing, one hand over the other, moving slowly, until I reach the top.

I think—just for a moment—of climbing faster. But that way lies error, and error can cause death.

I resume my pace—right hand up, followed by right foot. Then left hand up, followed by left foot. I climb another three meters before she reappears.

“Are you the only survivor?” she asks, and in spite of my best intentions, I shudder.

“The Six are fine. So are Mikk and Roderick,” I say. “If anyone else was below, we haven’t seen them.”

Which is a polite way for me to tell her that any guides who were waiting by the hovercart have either fled or been crushed.

“Are the others climbing behind you?” she asks.

“No,” I say. “I’m coming up, then we’re going to figure out how to get them. I’m not sure the Six can climb this.”

I barely can, although I don’t admit that to her. I’m not sure I like admitting that to myself.

I continue to climb. I count to keep my pace steady. I make sure I breathe. I try not to notice as I’m getting light-headed with heat and the increasing light.

I can’t get careless now, so close to the top.

“Are you up there by yourself?” I ask as I get closer.

“God, no,” she says.

“Are there guides?”

“Yes,” she says. “No medical personnel, though. They had to leave.”

I don’t want to know why.

“Get someone who can help me over the edge,” I say. “I’ll need water and food. In fact, we’re going to need to send water and food down. Can you do that?”

“Easily,” she says, and disappears again.

The medical personnel have left, even though we might need medical attention. Something has gone wrong elsewhere, or maybe even nearby.

As I reach the top, two of the guides lean over the edge.

I stifle a gasp. I’m afraid they’ll knock me loose.

“Don’t touch me,” I say. “Help when I tell you.”

Still they put their hands near me, so they can grab me if they need to. I’m alarmed at their closeness, but I’m comforted by it, too. I’m not alone here.

I was afraid I’d have to get over that edge on my own.

My head pops over the top.

Rubble everywhere, and another hovercart on its side. I see dust, rising in the distance, and hear faint voices from far away. The skyline looks different, but I’m not sure how.

I don’t care how, not at the moment.

“Okay,” I say. “Help me up.”

They grab my armpits and pull me over that edge. I scramble several meters away before stopping. I don’t want to fall back into that damn hole.

Ilona gives me a bottle of water. McAllister Bridge hands me some of that amazing applelike fruit that I enjoy. I’m surprised he’s there. I look around, realize that everyone is here—everyone I brought with me, my entire team.

It’s unbelievably hot, and I’m incredibly tired. But we’re nowhere near done.

“Get food down to the others,” I say to Ilona.

“Already doing that, Boss,” she says.

I nod. I’m a bit dizzy, and there are black spots in front of my eyes. I will myself not to faint. I grab that water and pour it over my head, cooling myself down. Bridge hands me another bottle of water without saying a word.

I wipe the water off my face. My hand comes away black. I must be filthy.

“All right,” I say. “Now how the hell are we getting the rest of the team up here?”

* * * *