Chapter Thirty
Deeta
The pavilion looks so different from the other times that I have seen it, so sober and disorderly, completely at odds with its usual air of pristine elegance and gaiety.
“Aunty Deet!”
I hear Carris’s voice, loud against the surrounding quiet, and make my way to where she’s sitting on Jan’s lap.
“Where have you been, Deet?” asks Jan, the customary airiness of her greeting conspicuous by its absence. Looking down into her taut face I see her eyes are feverish and uncertain.
“I went to see Tom off.” I hesitate. “I was surprised not to see you there.”
“I didn’t want to see Rye off with tears.” Her voice is brusque and determined.
“Charlotte, why don’t you sit down here between me and Roydon?”
We settle ourselves into place and Roydon, seeing that Charlotte is on the verge of tears, tries to cheer her up. I hear him asking her, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, why the sea roared.
“I had a quick word with Ryder before he left, he told me to tell you he loves you.”
For a second Jan remains stock still and then, with a sudden dry sob, she cradles her head in her hands. Carris slips from Jan’s knee, and I see Clare pull the worried little girl into her arms. I cuddle Jan to me, smoothing her hair back from her face.
“Janny don’t, please don’t.”
Jan’s shuddering sobs only continue.
“What am I going to do, Deeta?” Her voice cracks. “What will I do if he doesn’t come back?”
Clare is sitting on the other side of Jan, and as she hears this utterance her startled eyes meet mine questioningly. Before either of us can say anything, my mother almost drags me from my place next to Jan. She slides her arm around her youngest daughter, asking her what’s wrong.
I feel someone’s hand on my shoulder.
From the look on my father’s face I know that he heard Jan’s words.
“If who doesn’t come back, Deeta?” His voice is a little stern and I see the anxiety in his face.
“His name’s Ryder.”
“And who is Ryder?”
“He’s Andak. In fact, he’s Tom’s brother.”
My father pushes me into the chair opposite Jan.
“I think you’d better explain, Deeta.”
“You remember me telling you that when we first got here, we were taken to holding rooms? Ryder gave that order because he saw the locket Tom gave me and recognised it. He knew that there was a chance that someone else might recognise it too, and he didn’t want anyone else to know. At that point he was under the impression that Tom and Dec had been kept prisoner by our tribe —”
“Why did he think that?” asks my mother.
“Because that’s what someone told him. We knew that someone in Tom’s tribe was killing the Andak brothers. At that point we thought it was an Andak brother, because we couldn’t see that anyone else had a reason to want them dead. Due to misapprehensions, on both our side and his, we didn’t trust each other at first. Yet he still looked after us the whole time; he protected us even though we must have been driving him crazy.” I pause momentarily. “In any case he took quite a fancy to Jan right from the start. I think he liked her spunk and I’m pretty sure that the feeling was mutual.”
“How mutual?” asks my father dryly.
“He asked me to marry him.” Jan’s voice is husky and I see her eyes pleading across the distance to our father. “I told him I would.”
I hear my mother and Clare gasp at this disclosure, and watch nervously as my father appraises Jan’s tear stained face.
“I don’t know, Deeta; both of your sisters have stolen a march on you.” His tone is soft and kind, and I see Jan’s face break into a tremulous smile.
“Not for long, Dad.”
“Aha! So Tom managed it in the end, did he?”
“Not without an epic struggle.” I hesitate shyly. “You knew, didn’t you?”
“Only since you were about fourteen, Deeta,” he laughs.
“Dad, you couldn’t possibly have!”
“You’ll find that fathers have a sixth sense where their daughters are concerned.” He slides his arm around me and we sit back down on our chairs, lapsing into silence.
I find my thoughts on Tom, fighting to protect us out there in the City. In a way it’s a strangely comforting thought; that someone loves me so much, they’re willing to give their life for mine.
The explosion is deafening, breaking into the silence with such sudden violence I jump from my chair, my hand clamped tightly over my mouth.
“They’re here.” Mari’s voice is soft, and she clutches Dec and Jojo to her more tightly.
“Don’t worry, mum; Uncle Tom’ll send ‘em packing.” Dec’s voice is proudly certain.
The second explosion is quickly followed by a third and a fourth, until the sound of fighting is a constant cacophony of noise. I close my eyes, turn my face into my father’s shoulder, and pray.
-------
Jimmy
Jimmy pauses on the stairwell, leaning breathlessly against the wall. Even in here he can hear the sound of the battle outside. The fighting had been heavy, the Andak more prepared than he had thought possible. Still, he didn’t have a doubt that the Lewises would come off the winners. They were power crazed thugs, capable of the sort of brutality that the Andak were not. They would prevail in the end, and then he would kill the council of both tribes. With their leaders dead, the fighting would come to an abrupt halt, and he would use his influence in both tribes to secure the power of leadership for himself.
Jimmy begins to climb the stairwell again, eventually reaching the last flight that leads up to the roof. His progress doesn’t slow as he moves on to the metal stretchers, but he leaps onto them without really noticing. His head is filled with the triumphant vision of his brilliance.
He’s half way up the metal ladder before the rusted brackets holding it to the wall give way under his weight, and the stairs fall fifty stories to the ground below.
--------
Deeta
The battle has been raging for hours, the sounds of warfare steadily creeping nearer to us. The children are gathered on the floor playing monopoly. They seem to have accepted the frightening sounds from outside as normal, and their attention is fully occupied with the game. I wish I could be so relaxed but every gunshot, every explosion that sets the ground trembling, tears at my heart and pounds in my head.
I hear a commotion and turn to the entrance of the pavilion. A dishevelled soldier in dusty camouflage makes his way towards us, and with an inarticulate cry Jan casts herself into his arms. Ryder holds her tightly, a look of deep relief and thankfulness on his face. He closes his eyes and rests his cheek against her hair.
“I told you I’d come back, Jan.” His arms tighten, crushing her to him as though for the past hours this moment has been all he has thought of.
“Is it over?”
“No, not yet.” He raises his eyes to mine, and before he speaks I know what he will say. “I’ve come to tell you that the preliminary block didn’t work. Now it’s up to Tom.”
His expression is sad, reaching across the distance between us, trying to reassure me. There are dark circles around his eyes and fatigue in every line of his body. A light film of moisture covers his face, a testament to the ordeal he has been through.
“We both knew it would be.” My voice is calm, completely at odds with the turmoil in my head and the pain in my heart.
For a while there is silence, and then Ryder’s eyes fall on my father and I see him realise just who Dad is.
“So you must be Ryder?”
“Yes, sir; that would be me.” Although his reply is polite, I see a defensive gleam enter his eyes. “I think that you ought to know that I asked your daughter to marry me and she accepted.”
I see a mischievous smile play about my father’s mouth.
“Did she? Well if
Deeta wants to, I see no reason why I should stop her.”
Ryder stiffens in surprise, he’s not used to having the mickey taken out of him and I can see he’s not too sure about the flavour.
“I think you understand that I was referring to Jan.” He answers carefully.
“That’s just as well seeing as though you’ve got both arms around her,” replies my father. “Just what is it Tom’s up to?”
“He’s breaking through enemy lines so that he can take their communications out,” answers Ryder.
“How many people has he got with him?”
“Jamie and Robin, but they’ll only take him as far as the Lewises front line.”
I hear their voices as if from a distance, echoing a little and growing fainter. Then there is only blackness.
-------
I come round to feel some one smoothing my hair back from my face, and groan softly.
“Look, look! She’s waking up!” Carris calls excitedly.
“Are you sure she’s not just snoring?” asks a second voice. It takes me a while to realise it belongs to Jojo.
“Aunty Deet doesn’t snore,” comes Tarri’s indignant voice.
I open my eyes carefully and find three childish faces bent close to me, blocking my view.
“See; she awake. Are you alright, Aunty Deet?”
“I’m fine thanks, Carry; what happened?”
“You feel asleep standing up,” answers Jojo.
“She did not!” breaks in Dec scornfully. “She got up to quite, it made her dizzy.”
“I’ve bought you an apple to make you feel better,” interrupts Tarri, climbing over me to offer me the gift. Her knees find all my soft spots.
“Thanks, Tarri.”
“You’re welcome.”
I struggle upright and hold my aching head in my hands.
“How do you feel, are you alright?” My mother’s voice is tender.
For a moment I just gaze at her, tears gathering in my eyes. The second I see their faces, I know that something’s wrong.
“Where’s Ryder?”
“He went back to the control room an hour and a half ago,” answers my father, dropping to his knees beside me. “Deeta, Tom managed to destroy the Lewises communications post. They’ve gone, it’s all over. Without the link to each other, and the added problem of no man’s land, they couldn’t win. The losses they sustained were very heavy, too heavy, and they had to retreat.” My father hesitates, and I close my eyes as though it will stop the blow I can feel coming.
“Where’s Tom, Dad?”
“We don’t know, Deeta,” replies my father gently. “The Lewises comm. link went down an hour ago, he should have been back.”
His arms close around me comfortingly as I cry, and as he soothes me I hear the distress in his voice. I’m not sure how long I remain enfolded in his embrace, but suddenly I struggle to break free.
“Please, Dad; let me go to the control room? Let me talk to Ryder. Tom could still be out there, he might not be…”
“Ryder’s out searching in the City, Deeta.” Jan’s face is tearstained, her voice choked up.
I look at my father again, squeezing his hand tightly in my own.
“Please, Dad. Please?”
I see my father suddenly come to a decision and he pulls me to my feet. As we leave the pavilion I’m dimly aware that Jan, Clare, and my mother are following, along with Tina, Jennet, Fay, Mari, Jojo, and Charlotte. We pass through the pleasure garden, across the road, and up the steps into the great hall.
I’ve never seen it so crowded. There are people everywhere, men and women in torn and dusty camouflage embracing their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, wives, and sweethearts. I see in their faces the relief that I long to feel and my pace quickens.
“Hold up there, Deeta, where are you going?” He catches my arm as I pass him, and my momentum spins me round to face him.
“Val!”
Before he has time to release me, Charlotte flings her arms around his neck and kisses him. I try to pull my arm from his slackened grip but his hand tightens, holding me in place and making me wait for him.
“I guess you missed me,” he asks Charlotte quietly, a smile curving his mouth. Then he turns to me again. “Where are you going?”
“Val, did you hear about Tom?”
He responds with an affirmative nod.
“I just want to know what’s happening. I thought maybe if I went to the control room, that maybe… maybe…” My voice trails off, but Val seems to know what I mean.
“Right you are. Come on then, I’ll take you myself.” Val leads us through the hall towards a door and through a maze of passages.
“Val this isn’t —” begins Charlotte, only to be unceremoniously silenced with a kiss.
“Subterfuge never was your strong point, was it, love?” Val asks with a smile.
Charlotte looks perplexed, but makes no move to speak again.
“And here we are,” says Val, rounding a corner and coming to a halt in front of a door.
“But this is —” begins Jojo.
“Jojo go and get yourself a glass of water from the dispenser up the hall,” commands Mari.
“But, Mummy, I’m not thirsty!”
“Then get one for me: now, Jojo!”
I see a look of bemused confusion on Jojo’s face, but she does as she’s told. Val pushes the door open and steps through into the room, pulling Charlotte with him. I hear voices from within float out towards me.
“Don’t even try it, pal.” His tone holds a warning.
“But, sir, you need a shot: it will take away the pain,” assures the doctor.
“It’ll knock me out and I’m not ready to be knocked out just yet, so put that thing away and stop making me feel like you’re going to stick it in me the moment I take my eyes off you.” Tom looks up as Val enters. “You were quick, where is she?” Before he has finished the sentence, his eyes have travelled past Val and come to rest on me.
“She met me half way, mate,” answers Val, leaning against a table and pulling Charlotte against him.
For a second I stand completely still in front of the door and just gaze at him. He looks dishevelled, he has a graze down one cheek and is lying propped up by pillows. He smiles at me lazily, a faintly teasing, rueful light in his eyes.
“I’m afraid it’s going to have to be a case of the mountain coming to Muhammad,” he grins apologetically, “’cos I’m stuck on this bed for a while.”
Acutely aware of the many indulgent eyes that are upon us, I take a few hesitant steps to the foot of his bed.
“You’re hurt?”
“Not that bad.”
“What happened?” I ask, edging a step closer.
“Got hit a few times in the leg, but it’ll be fine.”
“Mr. Tomasz was very fortunate,” breaks in the doctor. “The three bullets to his leg did minimal damage. He suffered a few minor abrasions, two very deep knife wounds, and a great many bruises. But he should be fit as a fiddle in no time,” he assures me, seeing that my lower lip has begun to tremble.
“It’s good to see you all in one piece, Tom.” My father comes forwards and I see him exchange a knowing look with Tom.
“Thank you, sir, I’m rather relieved to find myself still in one piece,” he replies. “Doctor Burns wants to stick me full of needles, but first, if you don’t mind, I’d like a private word with Deeta.”
“I think that could be arranged,” answers my father with a grin.
I keep my eyes fixed on the covers on Tom’s bed as they leave, unable to look directly at anyone. The warmth of my face assures me that my colour is up.
“Hey, Tom?” Ryder’s voice comes from the doorway, lazy and amused. “Try to remember that you are an invalid, won’t you?”
The door shuts behind him and Tom and I are left alone. For interminable seconds neither of us speaks and I begin to chew on my lip anxiously.
“I think you’re being very
unfair, Deeta.”
“Why?”
“Because you know I can’t move, and yet you’re insisting on standing just out of my reach.” He laughs and holds his hand out toward me, waiting until I place my hand in his, before drawing me towards him.
“What is it?” With my head just inches from his, I feel his arm slide around my waist. His hold is light and possessive, as though that is where his arm belongs.
“Tom, do you think we could get married very soon?” I ask.
Tom looks down at me, a sudden serious light entering his eyes.
“Are you sure, Deeta? I mean…” He lays his head back against the pillows, looking suddenly exhausted. “Look, Deeta; I know I came on a bit strong and that we were in a very stressful situation… maybe… maybe I should have waited. I really didn’t think that I was coming back and so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to be impulsive for once, to forget the danger.
“I need you to be sure, Deeta, sure that this is what you really want. Ryder told me that you weren’t very keen on this place, but this is my home. This is mine and Dec’s rightful place; it’s where we belong. Do you understand what I’m telling you, Deeta? I don’t want to make you unhappy. If you have any doubts, if you couldn’t stick this place, now is the time to say so.”
He looks down at me, his face showing plainly the worry and apprehension he is feeling.
“Do you love me, Tom?”
He looks surprised by the question.
“More than I could tell you, Deetina.”
I snuggle up a little closer to him, pushing the fringe back from his forehead.
“Then that’s all that matters. I’m not going to let other people’s jealousy come between you and me; so do you think that we could get married soon?”
Tom’s eyes narrow a little.
“Not that I don’t find your urgency incredibly flattering, but why do you keep asking me that?”
“Because I sat in that pavilion today and all I could think about was all the time I’ve wasted, all the time I’ve missed with you. Now I’ve got a second chance I’m not going to waste a second longer than is decently possible!” I answer with feeling.
It’s some time later that I’m interrupted from the very pleasurable task of trying to make Tom forget his aches and pains, without the aid of drugs, by a very indignant little voice.
“Deeta! What are you doing to Uncle Tom?” asks Jojo shocked, almost spilling the cup of water she carries. “Can’t you see he’s not very well?”