Part Six
The day started ordinarily enough. Ayari was woken up by Kai early, so was out of bed first. Mythia was up soon after. Then everyone else followed slowly, as daily life got into swing. Reyden had been planning to pay a visit to the other houses, and was due to leave at midday. He had been spending the morning getting the transporter ready. This time he was going to go alone, the incident with Turin although weeks ago had driven the rift between them deeper than ever. Leorie, her sleek outline now broken by the bump of the growing baby, had come outside to talk to him before he left. Ayari and Mythia had taken their children out for some fresh air, and were due back for lunch. Turin decided to do something useful, and fix part of the outside fence, that had become somewhat broken. The last thing that they expected was to see another transporter coming their way. Reyden looked at it carefully, and then identified it.
"That's Ezala's transporter," he said, concerned. He and Leorie watched it pull up in front of them. A tired and frightened looking Ezala tumbled out, and ran up to Reyden.
"You must leave, Reyden," she gasped. "The High Council came…we only just managed to escape them."
"We?" asked Reyden, and looked back at her transporter. Out stepped a young girl, as frightened as Ezala. Her face was tearstained, and she looked nervously about.
"Cayanne?" asked Reyden.
"Cayanne was staying with me for a while," said Ezala. Turin, noticing the new arrivals, left what he was doing and came over. Cayanne's face brightened, and she ran over and hugged him. He smiled at her, but looked questioningly at Ezala and Reyden.
"What's going on?" he asked, and Ezala told him what she had told Reyden.
"I don't know if they know about you, but it's only going to be a matter of time," she said. Turin looked at Reyden.
"So, what do we do?" he asked. Reyden shook his head.
"Let's go inside. We need to talk about this properly," he said, and turned around. Ezala and Leorie followed him, while Cayanne smiled at Turin.
"I thought I wouldn't see you again," she said, he face still tear stained. Turin guided her towards the house.
"I would have hoped that it wouldn't be under these circumstances," he said. Cayanne clung to his arm.
"It was horrible," she whispered, tears filling her eyes again. Turin hushed her.
"Let's just go inside, and I'll get you something to drink." Cayanne nodded, and walked into the house with Turin. The others had gone into the dining room, and Turin tried to get Cayanne to follow them and sit down, but she shook her head and kept hold of his arm.
"I want to stay with you," she whispered. Turin just smiled at her, and took her into the kitchen, where he got her a drink, then they both went back to join the others. Reyden was arguing with Ezala.
"You can't expect us to just up and leave? You have no proof that they know about here," he said.
"It's better to remain safe," replied Ezala.
"They could just as easily find us elsewhere." There was silence. Leorie looked anxiously at Reyden, who was going through the possibilities in his mind.
"I have always said that those who wish to move on can do. Some have taken up on that, and we have not heard of them again. I hold the same reasoning now. If anyone here wishes to move on, they may do so," he finally said.
"I don't think you have a choice," said Ezala. "You know that there's every chance that I could have been followed. By allowing people to stay here, you could be sentencing then to death."
"I could be doing that by moving everyone. And where are we going to go?" Ezala pulled out a map.
"Here. In the old sector. Remember, we discussed it as a possibility when planning the hideouts," she said.
"It's too close to where Olds live," said Reyden. Ezala gave up.
"Well, you can do as you wish, Reyden, but Cayanne and I will be going there. Anyone else is welcome to join us." Cayanne looked at Ezala.
"I don't want to go anywhere without Turin," she said. Turin looked at her.
"Cayanne, I'd rather you were assured of some kind of safety," he said.
"You're not going to come?" she asked.
"I haven't made up my mind," he said. "I have a lot to think about." Leorie looked at Reyden.
"So do we," she said. The sound of children made them all turn to the door. Mythia's face peered round the doorway, and she smiled at them.
"Why are we all sat in here?" she asked, ushering her children into the room in front of her. Ayari, who looked curiously at Turin who still had Cayanne wrapped around his arm, followed her. Cayanne sensed who she was by the looks exchanged between her and Turin, and hastily let go. Ayari and Mythia sat down. Kai was sat on his mothers' knee, and held there, much to his protests. Ayari tried to quieten him as she listened to Reyden. There were a few uneasy looks between Mythia and herself, as he came to an end. Mythia spoke.
"When Ayari and I were out with the children, we thought we saw…I mean, we weren't sure, but it looked as if there was someone watching the house."
"How so?" asked Reyden.
"We didn't see them properly, but we think we saw someone running across the road, into another building," said Ayari. Ezala looked panicky.
"They followed us here," she said. "Just as I thought. You have to leave before the High Council's enforcers arrive. They will kill you or take you away for trial." She stood up. Reyden closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them, he looked calmly at the others.
"I guess we have no choice but to leave," he said. "We must go now before it is too late, as Ezala says." He made his way out of the room.
"How will we prevent ourselves from being followed?" asked Turin. Reyden paused at the doorway.
"I'm sure we won't," he said, and left. Leorie got up and followed him.
"How does he know?" muttered Mythia, going to get her belongings together. Turin remembered a certain cupboard that was always locked on the second floor. He realised that Ayari was speaking to him.
"Turin? Hadn't we better go and get our belongings together?" she asked, getting to her feet. Turin nodded.
"Wait a minute, Ayari. Let me introduce you to Cayanne." Ayari smiled at Cayanne.
"Pleased to meet you, Cayanne." Cayanne managed to return the smile, and nodded her head. Turin took hold of Kai.
"And this is Kai," he said. Cayanne smiled.
"He's cute," she said. Both Turin and Ayari smiled at this, but something in Ayari's eyes told Turin that they should leave.
"I won't be long," Turin reassured her. Cayanne looked at him, earnestly.
"Can I look after Kai for you? You can get your stuff done quicker." To her delight, Turin agreed.
"Yeah, I don't see why not. Ayari?" Ayari hesitated for a moment, but then nodded her head. Turin gave Kai to Cayanne, then he and Ayari left the room. Ezala looked at Cayanne.
"You're completely besotted with Turin," she said, amused. Cayanne blushed scarlet.
"He's okay," she replied, letting Kai play with her necklace. Ezala gave her a knowing look, which Cayanne pretended to ignore. Upstairs, Turin and Ayari were going through what few possessions they had left. Ayari carefully put away her telescope and charts, then put a few other things inside a small wooden box, in which she kept some of her most precious belongings.
"This is the second time we've done this," said Turin. "How many more to come?"
"It could be worse," said Ayari, automatically. Turin sighed, and finished packing their clothes into one case. Ayari had put Kai's things into an old bag she had found ages ago. Reyden stuck his head in the room.
"Ready?" he asked.
"More or less," replied Turin. Reyden disappeared, and Ayari and Turin prepared to follow him.
"Funny, I'll miss this place," said Ayari. Turin smiled, and hugged her, sensing the anxiety in her. He kissed her, holding her face in his hands.
"Everything will be fine. We'll move to this other place, and carry on just as before," he assured her.
"Out into the unknown again," said Ayari.
"I never thought that you were scared of the unknown," said Turin, as they began to make their way downstairs.
"I'm not," said Ayari, but she was clearly still unsettled. Turin hoped that this move would be over and done with quickly. They stopped by the dining room to get Kai, but the room was empty. They went out of the front door, and saw Reyden and Bejan putting things in both transporters. Cayanne gave Kai back to Ayari, then wandered off to look at the scenery behind the house. Turin gave their things to Bejan to put in Reyden's transporter, then looked around at the assembled group. He saw Cayanne looking at the fields behind the house, in her own little world. Reyden helped Leorie into the transporter, while Ezala climbed into hers. Everything was calm and orderly. Suddenly, Turin caught a movement across the road. He turned to Ayari, carefully, so as not to draw attention.
"Get in the transporter with Kai," he said.
"But…" began Ayari, but Turin pushed her towards the door. Reyden noticed.
"What's the matter?" he asked. Turin took him aside.
"There's somebody in the shrubs across the road," he said.
"Where?"
"Near the door of the house. I think they're armed. There was something glinting as it caught the sun," Turin told him. Reyden gritted his teeth, then reached inside the transporter under the front seat, and brought out two gun-like weapons. He gave one to Turin. Leorie and Ayari's eyes widened in fear. Neither had seen that kind of weapon before. Ayari got out of the transporter again.
"What is going on?" she asked.
"Ayari, get back in the transporter with Kai and Leorie," said Turin. Ayari gave him a look. "Please," he added more gently. Ayari was about to say something when suddenly there was a bang. Startled, they all looked round to see Cayanne lying in a crumpled heap on the ground. Turin started forward, as did Reyden, both brandishing their weapons. Then all hell broke loose. Members of the High Council's enforcers, wearing their protective masks out of fear of germs, burst out of the shrubs across the road. Reyden and Turin began exchanging weapon fire with them. As Reyden and Turin provided a cover, Ezala leapt from her own transporter to Reyden's. There were people running everywhere. Except for Ayari. She remained rooted to the spot, watching the chaos. In the transporter, Kai began crying, terrified by the noise. The enforcers had managed to grab Mythia and her children, and Dalin. Bejan was struggling with another enforcer. Ayari watched as Turin bolted behind Ezala's transporter, then out again to help Bejan. Reyden, meanwhile, was busy working his way towards his transporter. Turin helped Bejan get rid of his attacker, and together they began to make their way back towards Reyden. The High Council's enforcers were beginning to fall back, taking their prisoners with them. One of them fired another random volley across the area. The fire flew past Ayari's ear, half masking a scream which she didn't realise was her own. She ran out towards where Bejan stood, who looked at her sadly. She pushed him aside, and knelt down beside Turin. Blood oozed from his stomach, and a trickle of blood came from his mouth. She saw his eyelids flutter and turned to Bejan.
"He's still alive. Help me get him to the transporter." Together, they picked Turin up, and half dragged him to the transporter. Reyden came running over.
"Ayari, we have to leave," he said.
"I'm not leaving Turin," replied Ayari.
"He's dead. We have to go," shouted Reyden, grabbing her arm.
"He's not! I won't leave him!" Ayari cried, trying to shake him off.
"Do you want us all killed?" said Reyden, furious. Bejan ignored Reyden. Ayari climbed into the transporter, and somehow Bejan and Reyden managed to get Turin in so he lay across Ezala and Ayari. Bejan squeezed in to what little space there was left. The High Councils enforcers were retreating, their injured meaning that they could not finish the operation. Reyden wasted no time in starting up the transporter and speeding away. Instinctively, Ayari pressed her hand over the wound in Turin's stomach, her other hand stroking his hair. She looked desperately at Ezala as his blood seeped through her fingers.
"It won't stop bleeding," she said, tears beginning to fill her eyes. She fought them back. Ezala thought for a moment, then tore at the hem of her dress. She passed the material to Ayari.
"Use this, Ayari," she said. Ayari folded the rag up and pressed it over the wound. Ezala lifted Ayari's hand and took over. Ayari looked at her bloody hand and wiped it on her own dress, not caring. She looked at Turin again, and saw that he had opened his eyes, but they were distant, and she could see that he was in a lot of pain.
"It's going to be okay," she said to both Turin and herself, wiping away the blood that came from his mouth. Turin tried to smile at her, and managed to raise his hand. Ayari clasped it, and tried again to hold back the tears. She noticed Leorie had quietened Kai, and was looking over her shoulder at them. Turin's eyes closed again. Alarmed, Ayari shook him.
"Turin, open your eyes. Try and keep awake."
Turin opened his eyes for a moment, then they closed again. He was clearly getting weaker. Ezala was still unable to staunch the blood flow from his stomach. Bejan held a hand over Turin's mouth.
"He's still breathing," he said. "How long till we get to this place?"
"About another forty five minutes," replied Reyden. Ezala and Bejan exchanged anxious glances. Ayari lowered her head, unable this time to stop tears trickling from her green eyes down her cheeks and onto Turin's face. Deep in her heart, she knew they did not have that long. They didn't know where any doctors might be. She shut the others out of her mind. It was just herself and Turin there in the transporter, alone together as it always had been, and as she had thought it always would be.
A few minutes later, Ayari could no longer feel Turin's breath on her face. She looked up at Bejan, who gently touched her arm.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. Ayari nodded, then looked away, wishing she was anywhere but here.