In the Eye of the Storm

“We’re too exposed.”

“Go back to bed, Connie.”

“I can’t.”

“Then at least try. You ought to take the time before the sun rises.”

“There won’t be any time left if we’re caught.”

“Jesus. What’s gotten into you?”

“Maybe the shuttle ride that nearly got us killed? Have you forgotten it yet?”

“Of course I haven’t. But there’s no good to come if we dwell on it. Just go to sleep. It’s three in the fuckin’ mornin’.”

“Fine. If you’re so daft, I’ll run the mill’s perimeter. See what I can do with the lead you decided to stop.”

“Then do it. Go. But we can’t be caught. I swore a vow to myself, Connie. I won’t let them find her, not until my dying breath.”

“And the others?”

“I trust they’ll pass to the right hands.”

“Such an optimist. It’s a wonder you haven’t passed.”

“Always brightness from you.”

“You’re lucky it’s not curses.”

“Oh, I’m sure. But listen. I’ve watched enough of these bastards’ routes, ripped enough thorny truths from their mouths, to know that they won’t send troops past their shifts unless the evidence points to a solid target. And we’re not solid anymore; we’re slipping.”

“I don’t think routes matter. You saw what they did on the Western Wall. As soon as they sniff us, their jaws are around our throat.”

“Connie….”

“Dinah.”

“What is it? You’ve been off since we left the road; I can see it in your eyes. Is something the matter? Did they say something to you?”

“Thought you wanted to go back to sleep.”

“Yeah, once your comments are purged. I can’t rest easy knowing you’re brewing in your cot beside me.”

“Look, Dinah… I’ve been on this front a long time. I’m with a band of thirteen now, but I’ve also been with twenty, with thirty, with fifty. The guns are the same. The enemy’s the same. But the odds… Dinah, I just don’t believe the blue boys care for decency anymore. If they find us, there’ll be no one to claim our graves. We’re at the end of the line.”

“I know.”

“And? You’ve no feelings about it?”

“I do, I just don’t say ‘em. Route’s better that way.”

“You’re giving yourself hope.”

“I’m giving it to all of us. But not in the way you’d think. In silence, we learn to accept. We take the good and the bad, and we make peace with them both. That emptiness… it’s a gift. It’s the most I can offer them. It’s the most they can offer themselves.”

“You truly believe this will work?”

“I believe it might. Despite what you may think, it’s a good thing the world stopped paying attention. At least here, in the dark, our tracks will end. The station will be safe. ...We’ll be gone.”

“Swept up like the wind.”

“So you did read the manual, then. Yes, hopes are, we’re swept up like the wind.”

…

“The girl’s cryin’ again. Get her to stop.”

“Mornin’ to you, too, Connie.”

“Aye, it’ll be a good mornin’ once you shut her up.”

“Someday, after I teach you manners, you’re gonna have to learn Hindi. Aasmi, love, what is it? Kya baat kya baat? Shh, shh, it’s okay. Come ‘ere, love. Yes, there you go. Koee baat nahin. Koee baat nahin. It’s okay. It’s okay.”

“She’s been cryin’ after her mum.”

“Ah, yeah, I had no idea.”

“We shouldn’t have left the body out. It was stupid.”

“Do you not see that maybe this isn’t a good time to mince the details? Leave her be, for goodness’ sake.”

“She can’t even understand us. None of ‘em can.”

“They understand more than you think. And they can understand a face. Yours is as pretty as the blues’ right now. I would watch it.”

“Tum kis baare mein baat kar rahe ho?”

“Nothing, love. Connie aapakee madad karane ke lie yahaan hai. She’s here to help you. Aren’t you, Connie?”

“Tell her ‘of course.’”

“That’s very encouraging of you.”

“I trust you’ll make it sound just right. You're the heart of the sector, after all. If the Croat said what I thought he did.”

“His name is Hrvoje.”

“Didn’t ask.”

“Go barricade the storage. I’ve seen enough of you.”

“You barely woke up.”

“Yeah, and that’s enough. Aasmi, kya aapane vishaal beenastok kee kahaanee sunee hai?”

“Nahin.”

“Main tumhen bataata hoon. This will be a long day.”

…

“What’s the fastest form of escape?”

“Dinah, I can’t laminate while you talk to me. Fill up the water, will you? And take the silencer along. I want all our journeys to be armed.”

“Brightness, again.”

“The mill’s open country; we never know what we’ll see or who will see us.”

“Yeah, in seven kilometres of empty land. I’ll take the gun, but I’d like for you to ease up for me. These people don’t wanna be hearing about all the ways they can be killed.”

“Then maybe they should say so, and you should translate instead of speaking for them.”

“Who’s to say they haven’t already talked with me? Just... make sure you smooth the photo edges. Sometimes they make little pockmarks.”

“I’ve done this before, woman.”

“Yeah, and that doesn’t mean you’ll do it well. Be careful.”

“Always am.”

“And remember the extra ‘n’ in ‘Baumann.’”

“I can also read.”

…

“Hello? This is Mrs. Skyring, calling the Undercove residency. Hello? Yes, hi, this is Mrs. Skyring. I want to speak to Mr. Undercove.”

“Slower, Connie.”

“Shush. I’m trying to hear him.”

“Mrs. Skyring, this is Undercove. What a pleasure to hear your voice. Are you going to stop by soon? The kids miss you.”

“Aw, the kids miss me.”

“That they do. Now read the script.”

“Yes, I think I just might. But you’ll have to keep it a surprise. We finally found just the present for your lucky girls and boys.”

“What are the dimensions? I have some extra packaging you can use. I know you were out of paper last we talked.”

“Oh, you’re just too kind. Let me look at the label… Ah, eleven by thirteen centimetres. Should arrive before Christmas, but we never know.”

“Before Christmas Eve.”

“Shut up, Dinah. Excuse me, Mr. Undercove. Before Christmas Eve.”

“Not a worry, Skyring. I have just enough wrapping for you. Are you making a card?”

“No, just the present. I’m packing light this year.”

“All right. We’ll have to tell their mother; she’ll be thrilled to hear you’re coming.”

“That she will.”

“Until then, my dear.”

“Until then. … One, two, three, and –”

“Set it down. Perfect, Connie.”

“Do you think they’ll be ready in time?”

“Have to be. Why create a manual of instructions if you’re not prepared to use it?”

“I dunno.”

“Well, we’ve done it. The certificates next?”

“Just wait a moment. Wait. Mrs. Skyring, he called me. Did you hear? I think this is the only time I’ll be married.”

“Enjoy it while it lasts. When we reach the next outpost, it’s Miss Morris. I’m afraid you’ll have a divorce.”

“Oh, really? Mr. Skyring is such a snob. I should’ve known.”

“Well then, Connie Skyring – or Morris, whichever you prefer – where will you stay while you wait for the court?”

“With Mr. Undercove, of course.”

“Ah, so Skyring is cheating with him?”

“In secret. The children cannot know.”

“You’re funny sometimes, Connie.”

“Am I? Or have we just been running for so long that you never noticed?”

“Hmh.”

“What?”

“Well, you’d think running would dull me, like it does most of the guides. I’ve seen plenty of ‘em grow impatient and walk away. But to be honest, running clears my senses. It makes me feel like I’ve actually done something with myself, something good. Did you know my dad came from Nigeria?”

“No.”

“Yeah, he left before the war. Real papers and everything. But it was never enough.”

“Shit. Did they come for you?”

“Not in the way they do now. Back then, the attacks were mostly through glances. Remarks. Nasty little jabs in the underground, on the streets, just to remind me I was ‘other’ and they were ‘one.’ I wasn’t sprinting, but my heart beat so fast that I often thought I was.”

“Shit, Dinah. Why didn’t you say this earlier? We could’ve found another linguist for this route.”

“Have you seen another linguist at station?”

“I….”

“No. You haven’t. I’m the only one we’ve got, for this cell, at least. But if I hide, it’ll be just as it used to. And I can’t do that. You understand?”

“I think so.”

“When I run, I'm leading the passengers farther than any guide could. It’s just easier when people understand each other.”

“The heart of the sector.”

“Stop saying that.”

“But you’ve essentially confirmed it’s true. Now I’ve got two cargos to worry about.”

“Oh, shut up. I’ve as much training as you. And stop calling them cargo.”

“It’s better than getting attached. God, I swear, if you die on this route, I’ll punch you in the afterlife.”

“What?”

“I will. I’ll beat you bloody.”

“But how?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I thought you were goin’ to one of the hells.”

“Fuck off.”

“There you are. There's Connie. Nothing better than an insult to pull you to attention. We’ve been here too long as is. Got to get the tunnels unboarded.”

“Aye. And nothin' better than a ticking clock to get you goin’, too.”

…

“All right, loves. Hej! Hai! Privet! Listen up! The tunnels, we need to open the tunnels! Yes, the surang. I want Purnima on the left, Hrvoje on the right. Ndulu, get the others packing. The blues can never know we were here.”

“Dinah, what about the footsteps to the creek?”

“Should’ve washed away with yesterday’s rain.”

“No, the ones from today.”

“You went to the creek today?”

“I had to wash.”

“Fuck. Then grab one of the rags and drag it along. But quickly. And burn the rag after. No, Ilyushkin. Left to right. Sleva napravo.”

“Ty vzyal dokumenty?”

“Da. Oni v sumke. Oh, Aasmi, girl, no, we can’t take the bear. It belonged to the other little girl who used to live here, see?”

“Lekin….”

“No, we need to leave it for her, so she can find it again.”

“Kya ab vah badee ho gaee hai?”

“Haan, she’s all grown up. Not quite like you though. You’ll have to wait a few more years.”

“Kitane?”

“Anek.”

“Dinah?”

“What? You’re back already? What is it?”

“Brzo dolaze.”

“The blues. Look out the window. We need to get everyone out. The Croat, he told me that –”

“Dolaze!”

“One at a time. Što?”

“Brzo dolaze. Girl. They come to… girl. Four kilometres.”

“Dinah, we can unboard fast, but we can’t cover up in time.”

“I know.”

“Girl. Get girl. Ići.”

“I’m thinking! There's always something new out here, I swear.”

“I told you we should have dumped her.”

“I remember.”

“If you didn’t take that blasted detour, we would’ve been out of here by now.”

“And then what, Connie? Sung lullabies into her grave? Left another scrap of blood for them to trace? I had to take her alive. There’s too many records out there. By all rights, we should have been fine. It’s been quiet for so long. Even on the hilltops. I thought….”

“Kya ho raha hai?”

“Did the boys find our tripwire?”

“Hrvoje. Jesu li pronašli našu žicu za pucanje?”

“Ne znam. Natjeraj je da zašuti.”

“He doesn’t know.”

“Well then, help me block the doors. And get everyone packed.”

“If you weren’t so irritable, you’d have been a fine station commander.”

“Good thing I’m no longer in uniform, then.”

“Hal satughadirna?”

“No, Purnima, I’ll help in a moment. The chair, Connie. Let’s put it under the door.”

“No, we’ll use it in the hall.”

“The hall?”

“We block as many layers as we can.”

“Zbližavaju se.”

“Fuck! They’re getting closer.”

“Carriers are fast. People, less so.”

“Not soldiers.”

“Dinah, as soon as they hit the mill’s exterior, they’ll slow to scope the area. Trust me. It’s protocol. No matter how fast the soldier is, he’ll want to use caution with live targets.”

“Here. Take the filing cabinet. I’ll get the desk. No, no, no, Aasmi, go with the others. I’ll follow you. I promise.”

“Vaada. …Promise?”

“Yes, vaada. Purnima! Take her. Aur use vaapas mat aane dena.”

“Dinah, come help me with these shelves. I can’t move them alone.”

“I’ve got them. You cover the stairs.”

“Which side?”

“The basement. And where’s my silencer?”

“Under my blanket. Wait. Wait, shit, come back to the window.”

“What is it?”

“I think they’ve brought the fuckin’ auxes.”

“They wouldn’t.”

“Second carrier, left side. The armored man.”

“Fuck. Did you seal the passports?”

“They’re secured.”

“Then it’s now or never. Hej, svima! Ići! Jaana! Yadhhabi! Idti! Get ready to go! You’ll need to send them through without prep, Con. Take the leftmost passage.”

“What are you talkin’ about? You’re coming with us.”

“No time to explain. You know the route; you’ve met Callum before.”

“I have, but you speak with him the best.”

“I speak to anyone the best. You’ll be fine. Morris sector knows your face. They’ll lead you to the next safehouse with little pause.”

“Not without you. This group’s about as manageable as hounds without your stupid lexicon.”

“That’s why you need to have the reins.”

“Dinah.”

“Are they getting closer, or am I just mad? Take Aasmi and the rest and run as fast as you can.”

“Dinah.”

“Did you forget how to follow orders? I said run! Ići, ići! Everyone with Connie, now!”

“It’s not going to work.”

“None of it works perfectly, alright! I know that. But we still try, so that maybe someday, somehow, perfect will find us. Do you hear?”

“You’re irreplaceable. I am. Stop resisting the fact that –”

“Do you remember what I asked you earlier? About the fastest form of escape?”

“You want to tell me now?”

“You just don’t. You blend in, allow yourself to let go. And then when their backs are turned, you strike.”

“Is this some sort of mantra?”

“Part of a poem. I thought you’d like it.”

“Of course it’s poetry.”

“Just pause and look for a second, please?”

“You… Mother of…. What is that?”

“Enough to stop two carriers and an aux.”

“Give it to me.”

“No. I’m the one who can buy us the most time. You’ll just send them into a frenzy – your image is all over the country posts. Hrvoje, go. Vrijeme je.”

“Nijedna žena nije toliko vrijedna poštovanja kao ti. Hvala ti.”

“Hvala ti. Connie, I need you to listen to me. Please. They’re in the tunnel now. They’re going to be safe.”

“Swept up like the wind, you said.”

“More like a thunderstorm."

“You’re mad. You’re absolutely, completely mad, Dinah. Remember what I’m going to do to you if I don’t see you at base.”

“Hm. In the afterlife?”

“Yes.”

“You won’t be able to.”

“Why not?”

“Cause you’ll be in the hells.”

…

“Silver, this is Bronze Commander Walsh, approaching the mill. Perimeter and road to Langthwaite stable.”

“Received, Walsh. Katz?”

“In position. Holding.”

“Green, standing by.”

“Blue, standing by.”

“Red.”

“Yellow.”

“Right. Move in.”

“Red, be advised. Tripwires on the outer fence.”

“Received.”

“...Entrance clear. No visuals. Yellow, proceed.”

“Moving. Basement entry obstructed.”

“Upper stairs too. Requesting authority to use force.”

“Received. Stand by.... Request approved.”

“No movement along the windows. Blue, you’re cleared for entry.”

“Moving. …We’re in.”

“Pẹlẹ o? Tani o wa nibẹ?”

“Bronze, one individual located on the upper floor. Eastern window.”

“Jowo…”

“Not the subject. Appears compliant.”

“A traveler?”

“Please, help… all gone.”

“No; cargo. Who’s gone, woman? Your band?”

“Restrain her. And fan out. She could be bait.”

“Nwọn lọ.”

“English only.”

“Blue, weapons located in the basement. Stay alert.”

“Shit. Mandreaux, stay with her. I need to follow.”

“The manacles –”

“You can manage. She's small.”

“Jowo…”

“What happened, woman? Huh? Where’d your friends go?”

“Gone.”

“Already said that. Gone where?”

“Down. Small room... down.”

“The basement?”

“Basement, yes. Omugọ ọkunrin.”

“Was Aasmi Nagarajan with them?”

“Aasmi? Oh, no, please, I am not… I help you. Look behind. At wall.”

“Yellow, eyes on basement. Check for tunnels, trapdoors. Cargo suggests it’s... what the –”

“Mandreaux? Mandreaux, answer.”

“You feel this knife, soldier? Mmh. Yeah, you do. Smarter men would’ve caught a bad accent on the first syllable. A sorry mistake. It's a pity they don't teach you anything about the world.”

“Yellow team –”

“Save your breath. I flipped the comms off for you. And stop resisting; it'll only make this worse for you.”

“Where’s… Aasmi?”

“Aasmi? Oh, she’s long gone. I made sure of that. And as soon as I go through this window, you’ll be too dead to stop me.”

“We'll kill you.”

“You might, if your team manages to keep its eyes on the creek through the fire.”

“You wouldn't dare.”

“I wouldn't? Who's speaking? I thought you were proud soldiers. Skilled in slaughter, unafraid of dirtying a hand in the name of justice. You're daring enough for us both.”

“You disgust me.”

“Glad we can agree on something.”

“Mandreaux! Mandreaux, shit, what’s going on? You can't – oh my god.”

“Let him go, woman!”

“Should I? You’ll have to shoot first.”

“Easy enough.”

“Then catch this.”

“Red team open – fuck! Get down!”

“Yellow team? What's going on over there? ...What's happening?”

“Shoot her!”

“Run!”

“You were so close, loves. I’m a bit disappointed.”

“Mandreaux –”

“It's twisting, I can't –”

“Fuck, she’s through the window –”

“You have to –”

“– System error. … System error. ... System … Log terminated. Data sent to Gold.”