The Orphaned Worlds (60 page)

Without warning, the floater started to slow, losing height.

‘Father,’ said Rosa. ‘Arm yourself and be ready to run when we come to a halt.’

The moment the floater finally scraped to a stop, she leaped to the floor and took off in a full-pelt headlong dash. Taken by surprise, Robert charged after her, straining to catch up. At the same time, the lighting dimmed and a harsh voice boomed throughout the interior, uttering incomprehensible words.

‘What’s … it saying … ?’ he shouted as he ran.

‘That we are a violation … and we must be erased.’

‘At least they’re … taking us … seriously …
What’s that
?’

The silver frames spaced along the avenue were starting to distort. Their silver faces warped, pointed shapes pushing forward against metallic yet elastic membranes.

‘Trouble,’ Rosa yelled, slowing to push the Zyradin cylinder into his grasp. ‘Take it and go on ahead – quick. I’m right behind you.’

Even as she gave him the container, a shape broke free from one of the frames. On five limber legs it fell to the floor, a fist-sized, chrome spiderlike thing, creature or mechanism, he couldn’t tell. But it was like a signal because now every silver frame began spilling them into the avenue. With the cylinder tucked firmly under one arm, he aimed the beam pistol and fired as he ran.

THERE HAS BEEN A SERIOUS BREACH OF THE SEAT OF REGARD’S DEFENCES
THESE THINGS ARE THE LESSER XEZRI, AND THEY COULD NOT HAVE INFILTRATED THE OVERSYSTEM BY THEMSELVES
ANOTHER AGENCY IS AT WORK HERE

Robert felt too gripped by fearful determination to answer, too focused on burning aside any of the spiders that scuttled too near, as well as ducking and dodging the ones that sprang into the air. Behind him he heard the whining hiss of Rosa’s flechette carbine. Ahead the steps to another platform were less than a hundred metres away.

Then a grabbing silvery shape flew at him from the side. He cried out as it scrabbled at his neck and he flailed with his pistol, trying to knock it loose and succeeding. But another group of them were rushing to intercept, the front runners suddenly launching themselves towards him. Somehow he managed to cut them into burning, melting fragments with a single sweep of the beam pistol. Then he executed a tight turn, sprang past the remainder and found himself with a clear run at the steps. But when he glanced back he saw Rosa surrounded by a surging, glittering horde that reached her legs and began to climb.

‘Rosa! No!’

YOU CANNOT SAVE HER
CLIMB TO THE PLATFORM