Page 117 of The Fall

“Why would I care about birds?” Mackenzie straightened her jacket in an attempt to regain some dignity. “Even when I was alive, climate models suggested that they would be extinct by now.” But we didn’t factor in human decline. Wolves and bears were gone in my time. I was a little surprised to see you have a pet cougar.”

“I wouldn’t call Minuschok a pet.” Lusa imagined Mackenzie getting mauled to death trying to touch her. “There are enough rabbits and deer around to keep her fed.”

“And no-one seems to mind having murder-cats in the woods next to your house?”

Lusa stared off into the orange haze of the sun making its nightly descent. That was her, wasn’t it? Wild and uncontrollable? A predator needing to be managed or exterminated? And a group of mothers, rightly concerned for their daughters’ safety, had made her feel like a dangerous outsider for most of her life. Even her own mothers had recognised the threat and mitigated her in their way.

But somewhere in the woods, Minuschok was still there. Doing her own thing. No-one needed to control her. No amount of training would change her anyway. You simply knew what you could and couldn’t do when she was nearby. And if something was off about her, someone would go get Callie.

And Lusa would be the same. Caoimhe was her person. Her girlfriend. Lusa took a deep breath and swept the hair out of her face. She’d done everything she could to push her away. To make sure she knew that she wasn’t safe. But Caoimhe had wanted to stay. She wasn’t sure where this would go long-term, but for now, she was so unbelievably grateful she was there. And for now was all she could ask for.

“Did you run out of RAM?” Mackenzie jolted her back to reality. “What now?”

Lusa swallowed, her mouth had become strangely dry. “The vault is downstairs.” She tuned her monocle to Sparx’s frequency and looped him in to the video feed.

“The last time we did this,” Sparx nudged Lusa with his shoulder. “You threw a knife at your girlfriend.”

“Oh, I need to hear the whole story!” Mackenzie practically hopped with excitement.

“No, you don’t.” Lusa opened the door. “Call mom the moment we have her. The cussing out is going to be legendary and I want to see all of it.”

Mackenzie made a face.

“What?” Lusa shrugged. “I’m not above schadenfreude. Didn’t you have sisters?”

“No.” Mackenzie followed through the door. “Most families that had kids only had one.”

“How long had the population been declining? Lusa picked her way around the rotting floorboards toward the stairwell.

“You have no idea. Men haven’t changed at all.”

“I heard that.” Sparx’s voice came through Lusa’s monocle. She ignored him.

Leaning against the generator in the bunker-like concrete room, Sesi looked older, more tired, yet relieved. Her shoulders relaxed at the sight of her daughter, spreading her arms wide.

“You’re here!” Lusa fell into her, the scent of strength and home amidst the dust and decay of a long-abandoned room.

“Dealing with Pinga is getting to be a habit, isn’t it?” Sesi ran her thick fingers along Lusa’s cheek. “You know she’s not your responsibility.”

The ache behind her eyes overwhelmed her, walls turning to paper, dissolving in a fury of hot tears. Sesi’s arms prevented her from stepping away or hiding. “I was going to teach you to punch your feelings out in the boxing ring, but Talia gave you those damn knives first.” Sesi’s slight laugh said she was only half joking.

Lusa tried to stretch her face muscles in some absurd attempt to stop the tears. “I’m not for vegetables,” she managed through salt-stained lips.

“Not for vegetables,” Sesi repeated with a warm smile. “And we are incredibly lucky for that. Especially Pinga.”

“I forgot how often bodies did that.” Mackenzie’s voice wavered, wiping her own tears. “It’s really fucking annoying.” She spread her arms.

“Is she expecting a hug?” Sesi whispered, pulling Lusa close.

“I heard that.” Mackenzie said. “And yes. I am.”

Shrugging, Lusa moved aside, the incongruity distracting her from her feelings. Sesi hugged Mackenzie awkwardly.

Mackenzie gripped Sesi’s biceps. “Damn, I can see where…” Sesi shoved her off before she could finish.

“She does that.” Lusa rushed to explain before Sesi killed her.

“Just do your thing.” Sesi pointed to the terminal, eyes shooting daggers.