Merit nodded, and he looked less alarmed at the prospect than he would have a turn or so ago. Merit had gained a great deal in confidence since Moon had known him. Jade turned to Delin. “From what you’ve said, I’m assuming you don’t intend to tell Callumkal.”
Delin’s frown deepened a little. “I feel it is something that should be hidden and left alone. My passion is to know and describe living species; the past draws my curiosity but it does not mean as much to me as it does to Callumkal and Kellimdar and Vendoin. And as much as I would like to understand its purpose, this object was not meant for us. If Merit is right, it is meant for people who are as dead and gone as those who built this city.”
Everyone twitched a little in relief. Bramble said, “We don’t tell Rorra? I mean, she’s a sealing, she might know things about the ocean, like where we should drop it.”
Jade dipped her spines in a negative. “I don’t want to ask her to choose between us and Callumkal. Besides, she’s known him a lot longer and she might choose him.”
Delin nodded once in grim agreement. Moon didn’t say anything. He had the uneasy feeling they were making a mistake. But he had no idea what the right course would be. Telling Callumkal seemed to be asking for trouble, and leaving the object here in the city for the Fell to find was too dangerous.
Still miserable, Briar said, “I’m sorry, Jade.”
Jade sighed, but stepped over to sit on her heels in front of Briar. “No one is blaming you,” Jade told her. “We were stuck with this thing as soon as we walked into that trap. If it hadn’t been you, it would have been someone else.”
Moon caught the ironic expression in River’s eyes, as if he was thinking of the reaction if he had been the one to pick up the object. He was probably right.
Stone said, quietly, “Rorra’s coming.”
A moment later Moon heard her steps in the corridor. Stone slid the door open and Rorra looked inside. She had changed her clothes and her natural scent was overlaid by oil soap and something astringent, probably a healing salve. Her face was still hollow-cheeked with exhaustion. She frowned at them all, and said, “Is something wrong?”
“We’re just discussing the situation,” Jade said. “Is there any progress on the lock?”
Rorra’s frown turned annoyed. “They’re talking of blowing it up. I wanted to warn you.”
Moon, Chime, and Stone followed Rorra up to the bow, where they had a good view of the lock. “They know this canal goes all the way to an outer door?” Moon asked Rorra.
She jerked her chin toward the lock. “They explored using the levitation harnesses. Past this point, there’s a short passage, then a basin that looked to them like a port, and another door in what must be the outer wall, like the one we came through.”
Moon hoped they were right about it being the outer wall. Knowing the waterlings were out there somewhere in the dark made the shadows and empty spaces even more forbidding. It would be a relief to get out of here, even with their unwanted souvenir.
Below them on the pavement, a weary Magrim said, “The problem is that it isn’t locked in place, it’s just so old the gears have been eaten away and it’s too heavy to lift without them.” Several of the crew were gathered around the curved pillar that supported this half of the lock, the exposed bits of their dark skin stained green with mold. More Kish-Jandera were stationed nearby with their fire weapons, guarding the workers.
Callumkal stood on the pavement with Jade. He was telling Kellimdar, “I don’t want to bring the city down on top of us. Using this mixture in an enclosed space is—”
“But we have no choice,” Kellimdar said. He sounded weary and his blue skin had flushed dark in spots. “We can’t go back. There isn’t enough power left in the moss reserves.”
From this vantage point, Moon had a better chance to see the lock. In the glare of the distance-lights, it looked thick and heavy, an insurmountable barrier. Beside him, Chime said around a yawn, “If we’re going to be killed by the escarpment collapsing, I’m going back to sleep with the others.”
Jade had told the warriors to get more rest while they were waiting. If the waterlings attacked, somebody had to be in good enough shape to fight them. Jade needed more rest too, but Moon thought the few hours of sleep had helped.
“If we don’t get crushed, the Fell will be on us as soon as we get out,” Stone pointed out.
That rankled a bit. “We weren’t much help with that,” Moon said. Finding the way out of the city quickly hadn’t come to much, thanks to the trap. It would be nearing dawn outside.
“If the door opens at all,” Chime said. “If it has that coral growth on it, it might be stuck. And that’s if the mechanism is inside the rock like the other one, and not exposed to metal-eating mold like this.”
“You all are such a cheery bunch,” Rorra said.
Stone’s voice was dry. “That means so much, coming from you.”
“He only talks like that to people he likes,” Moon said. Rorra’s frown turned a little alarmed.
Below, some of the Kishan began to collect their tools and lights to carry back aboard. Others moved along the base of the pillar, placing something on it or next to it that Moon couldn’t quite see. One lifted up in a flying pack to attach something higher up on the pillar. In the light from the boat’s large lamps, it looked like the same stuff that came out of the bolts that the fire weapons used. Rorra pushed away from the railing. “We’re going to need to move backward. I should get up to the bridge to help.”
“Bridge?” Chime asked, watching her go.
“The steering cabin,” Moon translated. He wondered if they were going to shoot at the lock.
The Kishan continued their work, and Kalam came up the ramp carrying one of the moss containers. He asked Moon, “Are you well? When you collapsed, I was—We were all very worried.”
“I just needed to rest,” Moon said, conquering a surge of guilt. “Thanks for helping Balm and Merit save us.”
Kalam looked away, either uncomfortable with the praise or the situation or something. Possibly the smell; Moon knew he needed a bath and clean clothes very badly, but there hadn’t been time. He eased back a step. Kalam said, “It was . . . I just did . . . What anyone would do.” He seemed to realize he was still holding the moss container. “I need to put this up.” He hurried away down the deck.
Chime sighed heavily. “What?” Moon asked him.
Chime pointedly turned back toward the railing. Amused, Stone muttered, “Kids.”
“What?” Moon asked again. He had no idea what was going on. I’m starting to remember why I don’t like Raksura.
Jade, Callumkal, and Kellimdar walked up the ramp back onto the deck, and the other Kishan followed with the last of the equipment. “We’re nearly ready,” Callumkal said.
Stone stood up straight, his head tilted, listening. Moon froze with the other Raksura, but he couldn’t hear anything over the low noises of the boat. Stone said, “You need to hurry. The waterlings are moving.”
Kellimdar said, “Are you sure?” but Callumkal strode immediately for the hatchway.
“We need to move the ship back from the lock.” Callumkal called up to the Kishan on watch on the deck above, “Alcon, warn the fireguards!”
“Can you tell where they are?” Jade asked Stone. “Are they making for the canal?”
Stone, his expression distant as he listened, said, “Can’t tell exactly. They’re moving down out of the hall above us.”
If the waterlings got underneath the boat and attacked from there, it could be disaster. Moon told Chime, “Go warn the others.”
Chime bolted toward the hatch. Moon moved along the railing, staring into the shadows past the sunsailer’s lights, trying to spot movement.