Exit Kingdom by Alden Bell

Author:Alden Bell
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: TOR
Published: 2013-04-08T03:12:09+00:00

Seven

Two Men and a Woman » Bloodshed » A Plan » ‘Kill em Good’ » A Kiss and a Belt » A Showdown on the Bridge » Shooting Wild » A Farmhouse » On the Topic of Family » Void » An Apology » The Love of Broken Things » Gunnison » Arrival

It is the Vestal who wakes Moses when the light is still grey and misty. It is no longer snowing, and instead of the tap-tap-tap of the flakes on the windowpanes, there is only a muffled silence that sanctuarizes their small and fractured home.

The Vestal says nothing. She simply puts a hand against Moses’ cheek, and he wakes. He opens his eyes to see her holding a finger to her lips, hushing him. She points to a window and bids him to wait and listen.

He remains still, and then he can hear it. The stuttering groan of snow beneath clumsy boots. It is difficult to sneak up on someone in the snow. The ground itself cries out your presence.

Did you see them? Moses whispers.

The Vestal nods.

Three of them, she whispers. Two men. One woman with a bow. Fletcher’s people.

Moses wakes his brother, and they creep to the windows, peeking out from behind the ratty curtains they kept closed in case of just such an intrusion.

The men’ll come through the door – both at once, Abraham says. The woman with the bow, she’ll stay back, watch for runners.

Right, Moses says and nods.

What do we do? the Vestal asks.

Moses turns to her. They are all three crouched to the floor.

You want to go back with him? Moses asks her.

No, she says and shakes her head. Why would I—

You’re goin with him or you’re comin with us. My brother and I, we put our necks out there to get swinecut again, you’re comin quiet. No more sneakin off.

She looks at him straight, her eyes narrowed, as if she would consider this. As if her word of honour were a puzzle box she is trying to open behind her back.

Decide, Moses says.

Fine, she says quickly. Fine. Agreed.

Moses then turns to his brother.

The two that come in, he says. You and me’ll take em. No noise. Let the Vestal be the bait.

*

When the door opens, there is first one man – wrapped up in leather and carrying an Uzi swaying in an arc before him, as though he would pepper the room with rounds if given a reason. But as soon as he sees the small figure on the bed, he lunges and holds the Vestal down with brutal and gleeful force. He swings the automatic weapon around to his side on a long leather strap.

Found you, ain’t we? he says. Brucie, get in here!

Then the other man, a twin of the first, comes into the room, smiling and carrying two pistols.

Where’s your boyfriends at? says the one named Brucie. He chortles. They use you up and leave you behind? I guess that’s what you get when—

But that’s when he spots Moses, emerging from behind the door like a bearded leviathan, a monstrous bladed weapon raised above his head.

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