Free Night Witches by L J Adlington Page A

want to see what bizarre experiment has earned the great Marina Furey’s time and expertise. Aura sends a message rippling with reassurance – victory is near! be calm and confident!
    ‘I wish our new uniforms weren’t one-size-fits-nobody,’ Zoya complains as we stand by the hangar at dawn, watching Planet Umbra slowly sink below the horizon. ‘At least everyone in our squadron has to wear them, so we all look awful together. I can’t believe I got issued boots for two left feet! The only reason they don’t pinch is because they’re two sizes too big.’
    ‘You sound like Ang Two-Times!’ I tease. ‘Did you stuff them with spare socks, like Petra suggested? You’re lucky you haven’t had to roll your trousers up a million times just to see your own feet, like me.’
    The test plane is wheeled from the hangar out to the runway. Its wood glows a warm, dawn orange, while the metal parts sparkle. Some of the crowd sneer with contempt. I don’t blame them. The Storm looks very small and silly compared to real bioweave bombers.
    Ang glares at me and taunts, ‘Time for your moment of glory, Pip. Everyone’s been asking why you get picked to fly first, when some of us have tons more flying experience. I suppose it’s because you’re more disposable.’
    Zoya bristles, but I hold her back.
    ‘Don’t you want to kill that girl?’ she hisses. ‘Everyone else does. She nabbed the best bunk in the dorm, she drapes herself over Yeldon like he’s a coat hanger and did you hear her when you last went in the flight simulator, Oh, but I’ve had to wait twice as long as everyone else for a turn ? You can’t help it if Aura’s got you doing extra sessions in the sim. I just wish I knew why . . .’
    ‘Hey, Pip, there’s your boyfriend . . .’ calls Lida.
    I squint into the rising sun to where Steen Verdessica is a kneeling silhouette, praying to the light of the rising sun. Reef is, as ever, close by as guard. He smiles, subtly, when he sees me. My heart sings and suddenly the sun does seem worth celebrating.
    Reef messaged me just once that first day in the hangar, as we were leaving to be shown dorms and things. I’d connected to Aura for updates and instead got a bloom of white flowers unfurling into my mind, the colour of the Morass in winter and the shape of wild snow roses. They were tagged with a message – found you .
    Lida folds her arms – usually a sign that trouble is brewing.
    ‘Why has that Crux pilot got a thing for you, Pipsqueak? I saw how he squashes up close in the flight simulator. Mates, are you? Maybe sweet on each other? Lovers?’
    Does she have any idea how much I hate it when Steen presses against me in the sim, or the way he slides his arm round me to point out some detail on the control panel?
    ‘Everybody knows Pip hates Steen!’ sparks Zoya quickly. ‘She’s loyal to Rodina – One of Many .’
    ‘ One of Many ,’ we all echo.
    Lida flushes. ‘Are you calling me disloyal to the Nation, because if you are . . .’
    ‘You’re disconnected!’
    ‘No, this whole setup is disconnected! Yash planes, a Crux instructor, Cadets for crew, no Aura and night-flying ! It stinks.’
    ‘Not as much as your moaning,’ says Ang, wading into the quarrel.
    ‘I’m not moaning, I’m just saying, don’t you think—’
    ‘I don’t think,’ pipes up Dee. ‘That’s what Aura’s for. If Aura says I need to fly that wooden plane thing for Rodina , that’s what I’ll do and that’s what Rain’s doing. Right, Rain?’
    I nod and Zoya nods too. Thank goodness I’ve got her as my ally.
    Lida leans in. ‘OK, Pip, but you still haven’t explained why the Crux singled you out from all of us.’
    Zoya flares up again. ‘She doesn’t know and she doesn’t like it any more than you do.’
    ‘Can’t she speak for herself, Zoya, or does her big cousin always have to look out for her?’
    Mossie throws her hands in the air. ‘Girls, girls! Untwist your knickers. We’re