Page 197 of Carousel

Dezeeves’ voice sounds out through the radio at Rike’s waist, stopping my words. “Rike? Did you find them?”

Rike pulls out the radio. “They’re down on Deck 3,” he says, into it. “But…”

“But what?”

“I think Cosmer broke my knee.”

Dezeeves sounds grossly unimpressed. “We need them. At once. When the enemy ships arrive⁠—”

My heart sinks. I squeeze Cosmer’s hand. “Rhavnan ships are coming?”

The radio crackles out.

Rike looks at me mournfully. “No, Ara. Hevallan ships are. Someone here must have told them about… us.”

No.

No.

No.

I let go of Cosmer’s hand.

The deck is still frenzied. But my mind is chillingly still. I snatch the radio from Rike’s hand.

Bearing down on him, I spit, “How do I get hold of Ephraine?”

“He tends to sit on the same frequency. The telescope.”

“Why do you want to speak to Ephraine so much?” Cosmer asks.

I ignore him, flicking to the frequency. Turning my back on them all, I yell, “Ephraine? Where are you?”

At first, there’s nothing. But then his sickening voice feeds through. It’s as arrogant and awful as it always was.

“I was wondering when I might hear from you.”

And suddenly, I understand him completely. Can assess him, the way I was taught to assess my opponents when I lived in the Palace. He’s self-absorbed – just his physique tells me that. Maybe he doesn’t even need the metal eye, but wears it for decoration, and to add threat to his appearance. He’s risen to a station he doesn’t deserve too young, while he’s still selfish and foolish, and it’s made him think the deities owe him something.

I move away from the others completely. “Where are you?”

“The Mantis.”

I lean back against a wall. “Another hive ship.”

“Correct.”

“You…”

You didn’t just betray Dezeeves.

You betrayed us all.

“What do you want? I’m busy.”

“Busy doing what?” I snap. “Overseeing the fleets on their way to us?” I take his silence as a resounding yes. “You were supposed to put Dezeeves on trial!” I shriek, my whole body crumpling in on itself. “You were supposed to do things right. Go to The Assembly⁠—”

“Traitors are vermin, Ara,” he says, tauntingly. “They breed. Who knows how many people Dezeeves has been whispering to? The ship will be overrun with them. It needs burning down. And the captain always goes down with his ship, after all.”