Part 21 (1/2)

*She's the one,' says another.

Fingers are busy on keypads. The word spreads.

I walk on, faster now, no idea where I'm going, no idea what to do, thinking, Normal, normal a” I'm normal!

A man shouts. *Hey you, stop!'

I don't look back. I start to jog, nipping through a shopping centre full of empty stores then down the middle of the street to where floats for the upcoming Festival parade are parked. Someone grabs at my arm. I dodge round a float with a cobbled-together tableau of soldier statues that will be illuminated as Umbra rises. I skid along an alley full of uncollected garbage. When I begin to run, men start chasing. My only clear route is across a main street to one of the Old Nation stone bridges that still span this section of River Seaward. Pedla Rue always said if witches were coming for you, ring your bells and get to the river a” witches hate running water. Here's an unexpected twist on her words. I'm running away from the bells.

*There she is!'

The shout acts like a magnet to the crowd. Everyone swings round to look in my direction. Afraid of being crushed by the ma.s.s of people approaching in all directions I jump up on the bridge parapet. My stomach churns as much as the river below. I wrap my arms around a lamppost strung with Festival lights.

How can everything be unravelling so badly? Aura a” tell me what to do! The only message I get when I connect is welcome rain aranoza, location sea-ways city, grid ref 102:2929 a” status update, please wait, please wait, please wait *Doesn't look like a monster,' says a woman with her hair bound up in a turban. I'm sure she's one of the workers from Glissom's Gun Factory. She might even know my mama. Or the woman I thought was my mama.

*You can't tell just by looking,' says another, balancing a toddler on her hip. *Poke her, see what she does.'

*Oh, leave her alone,' says the turban lady. *She's in uniform and everything.'

They all babble at once.

*She's one of those plane pilots, the ones that go out in the dark.'

*The dark's not normal.'

*Aren't they the ones keeping the rail link to Corona free of Crux? I've seen one of their Storm planes. They're made of wood.'

*Wood's not normal.'

*Night Witches, the Crux call them, that's what I heard.'

Witch, a witch, a witch . . . there go the murmurs again, like a horrid torrent of running water, coming to sweep me away.

Pedla Rue shoves her way into the middle of the crowd, all elbows and eager spite.

She cries, *Look at her, wild and wicked! Tricked us all, she has. Brought us all bad luck. Maybe brought the war on us . . .'

A wave of anger and fear spreads through the crowd. A few men and women start climbing on to the bridge parapet either side of me.

*Leave me alone!' I shout.

*Get down from there!' Pedla shouts back. *We'll show you what we think of monsters like you!'

*Is she safe?' asks the woman with the toddler.

*Pedla, it's just me,' I yell desperately.

*That's what a witch would say!' answers Pedla triumphantly. *And to think I ever thought she was nice and normal! She'll be gloating now the Eclipse is almost here. She'll be flying round your houses, stealing babies, you wait.'

The mother with a toddler squeezes him so tightly he squeals. The crowd reacts as if I've hurt the kid. I look down at the water, wondering whether it would be worse to jump in or be torn to pieces.

Pedla's thinking of helping me with that decision. *Listen, everybody a” witches hate running water. Let's push her in!'

*I'm not your enemy! It's the Crux you should be fighting!'

A tall man in the middle of the crowd cups his hands to yell, *How do we know you're not a Crux? They can pa.s.s for normal too.'

Now the crowd really is turning into a tempest. I hear hundreds of voices clamouring . . . Did you hear that? A spy! A Crux in the city . . . Come to kill us all, poison us, blow us to pieces . . .

Pedla stamps her feet with exasperation. *Forget the Crux! I'll prove she's a monster. Don't you know the old rules about witches? Cut some of her hair and give it to me. Cut her hair I say, and burn it!'

My perch on the bridge is completely surrounded. Why won't someone come and help me? Be careful what you wish for . . . As I scan the crowd I suddenly spot the white uniform of the first-yet-last person I want to see.

Reef Starzak.

He calls for silence. The crowd obey without a murmur. Now a Scrutiner is here they look s.h.i.+fty, like kids caught being bad.

*What's happening here?' he demands to know.

*It's her,' says Pedla Rue, but not so viciously now. *Calls herself Rain Aranoza. She's not normal, and we've caught her. That's what's happening.' Reef's eyes narrow. Pedla swallows and starts to stammer, *It's the eve of the Eclipse, when witches come out. They like the darkness. They steal babies . . .'

How stupid all that sounds when one of Aura's Eyes in the Dark is standing listening.

*Let me through to her,' he commands.

Just as he reaches the bridge Pedla's malice bubbles over. *Scrutiners root out rottenness, don't they? Arrest her then! She's a monster!'

I wish I could fold myself as small as possible, like the pieces of paper from Old Nation days, or like the twists of prayers that hang on a Crux traption. I can't bear it that Reef will be the one to arrest me a” another denunciation notch on his belt.

Reef jumps up on to the parapet, steadies himself, then edges towards me.

*Found you,' he says quietly.

*I . . .'

He puts his finger to his lips then turns to speak to the crowd.

*I'll tell you what this girl is. She's a member of an elite squadron of night-flyers a” the very ones who've sacrificed their time, and in some cases their lives, to protect all you city people. Haven't you seen the Storms in the skies over Sea-Ways? Haven't you heard them fight to keep you free? Rain Aranoza is a pilot with Marina Furey's Storm squadron . . . the best of all the pilots, as it happens. In recognition of her immense skills and bravery Aura has seen fit to award her the highest accolade our Nation can give.'

What?

In front of all the people, in front of a flabbergasted Pedla Rue, Reef takes my hand a” and there's no jolt now I already know how he'll die a” and he lifts it up as a sign of victory.

*I came here to announce . . . Rain Aranoza is to be made a Hero of Rodina Nation!'

A few people cheer, as happy to celebrate as denunciate.

*Now, go and prepare for this evening's Festival,' Reef orders. *Tomorrow the Long Night begins, and we'll need all the lights we can get until Umbra sinks again. Anyone who'd like to repeat accusations against this girl can come and speak to me directly.'

He has reinforcements.