Black Hole Heartbeat

Elizabeth - 86

Elizabeth had to turn away. The jewel of a bullet hole between the eyes of one of her

dearest friends was already too hard. But she knew Forr's pain was greater. It cast

her in the role of nursemaid. She wasn't strong enough to help. She felt shame in

her stomach.

Forr's weeping continued to pour into her ear as she walked away.

"Donovan," she spoke into her bracelet, "It's not good. When you come to pick us

up...." her words faltered, "Come with a box."

Donovan spluttered on the other end. Elizabeth had never had to recover a body

before. She had only heard Borreah do it in her gang days. Something in her brain

must have dug out the memory.

"...How many?" Donovan asked eventually.

Elizabeth thought about what Forr had said. She thought about Lavell. Flowers.

Bullet hole. Oozing blood. Serpe.

"Just the one."

"I hate to ask, but who didn't make it?"

"Neither. But we're only bringing Lavell back."

Elizabeth sank to the ground and stared up at the darkening skies. Her fingers traced

mazes in the dirt, every one doubling back on themselves until the earth was just a

mass of scrawls. Her fist slammed the ground, drawing up a cloud of dust. She

should never have gone back to that temple. Never touched that shield. Never

gotten her friends killed. She looked up. The slow moving clouds rolling on with time.

She should never have bought maps to The Barely Charted.

Her mind went back further. Never should have met Lavell? Never should have left

Earth? No. Despair would not fuel self-pity. Lavell's blood was on her hands. But this

quest needed to be completed. This was bigger than any of them. She didn't know

what West knew, or what he wanted. But she needed to find out. Lavell's death

would not be for nothing.

Elizabeth's knees shook as she walked back to Forr. Lavell's head lay across his lap.

From a distance they looked peaceful. But she could smell the blood.

Elizabeth touched Forr's back. He looked down and seemed to realise all over again.

Colour leaked away from his face.

"I've called Donovan. We'll make sure Lavell has honour in death."

Forr nodded. He moved her as if she was only napping. It made Elizabeth's heart

sting. Forr walked to the discarded parachute. Without saying a word, he dragged it

back and ceremoniously set it over Serpe's corpse. He circled around it, making sure

her whole body was covered. Then he stood by Elizabeth's side. She nodded like she

understood. She did not.

They waited for the shuttle to come. Then, with Roka's help, they picked up Lavell

and set her gently in her coffin. Forr tore a fistful of flowers from the dirt and softly

lay them down beside her.

None of them had words good enough. The short shuttle ride back took place in a

shared, respectful silence, heavy with regret.