Free Phoenix Rising by Bryony Pearce Page B

are they?” he asked.
    Hiko swallowed.
    “That close?” Toby slumped, then a memory screamed to the surface and he clutched Hiko’s arm. “The captain! Tell me he wasn’t in the bridge.”
    Hiko tried to pull away. “I’m sorry.”
    Toby groaned and his fingers fell away from Hiko.
    Hiko shook his head. “No, Toby, he’s alive. He rolled under the table just in time. It protected him. He’s at the stern, helping Uma. I was to let him know when you woke up.” Hiko looked suddenly panicked.
    Toby’s heart thudded. “What about Big Pad?”
    Hiko wouldn’t meet his eyes.
    “Paddy?” Toby shouted.
    Hiko scooted backwards.
    “Son, you’re awake!” Barnaby appeared at Toby’s side. His glasses were crooked and one lens was cracked right through. Dust was matted into his beard and blood dripped from shoulder to elbow on his right-hand side. Gusts of rain followed him down.
    “Where’s Big Pad? Is he all right?” Toby gripped his father’s hand. “He saved me.”
    “I know.” Barnaby squeezed Toby’s fingers. “Uma’s with him.”
    “And?”
    Barnaby’s nose dripped on Toby’s sleeve. “He’s alive.”
    Toby blanched. “But…?”
    “Uma thinks his back is broken, she’s treating him now. Luckily we have all those new medical supplies. There’s some excellent insta-plaster, the first I’ve seen in years. She’s immobilized and drugged him. He isn’t in any pain.”
    “Oh, ashes.” Toby glared at the black clouds rearing behind them as Barnaby carefully pulled him into a sitting position and lifted his shirt.
    “You’re bruised, but no broken bones. I’ve got arnica, and it’s even in date.” He started to rub his son’s spine. “You’ll be black and blue, but it could have been much worse.”
    “If it hadn’t been for Big Pad,” Toby groaned.
    “Yes. You’re a new generation, strong bones, but if he hadn’t turned you both, you’d have been a skin bag full of shattered skeleton bits.” Barnaby shuddered.
    Toby sat miserably as the chill of the arnica eased into his bruises. The sound of the wailing Banshee knifed his brain. Although he was almost too scared to ask, he forced out the question that needed asking. “Did everyone make it?”
    Barnaby’s hand stopped moving on his back and he packed away the cream before he answered. “Everyone’salive. There are a few broken bones. Big Pad’s the worst by far, although Uma is worried about Nisha’s baby.” Toby heard Barnaby sigh. “There’s a good reason I don’t allow pregnancies on ship.” He had to shout now, over the noise of their approaching rival. “Arnav took a bolt of lightning and Peel, a beam to the chin. His head’ll be ringing for a week. I’m more worried about the Banshee .”
    “We can outrun her, can’t we?” Toby asked. “The Phoenix , how bad is she?”
    Barnaby’s lips pinched together. “We’ll need to dock for repairs. But the paddles are working and we’re staying ahead of the leading edge of the storm. The Banshee might be close, but we’re giving her a run.”
    Beside Toby, Hiko squeaked, his whole body clenched.
    “What?” Toby followed the younger boy’s gaze. Above the Phoenix ’s guard rail the Banshee loomed.
    “Run’s over,” Hiko whispered.

    Toby had never seen the Banshee up close. She was a horror.
    “See that?” The captain’s eyes shone. “A wave-piercing tumblehome hull configuration – she’s the only destroyer with that design. Works brilliantly on the junk, but when the fuel crisis reached its peak they ended the building programme.”
    The Banshee looked like a colossal chisel slicing towards the Phoenix . Rain splashed from her metal hull, but she was so big and heavy that the waves barely affected her. She powered through the junk, forcing it aside and churning it into debris behind her.
    As Toby watched, holes opened along one side and a hundred oars dipped into the water. Ponderously the Banshee turned so that she was side-on to the Phoenix ,