"The laws of the train—" Osweiller began.
The train lurched. A violent sideways shift that sent loose tools skittering across the grated floor. Then another. Then a grinding screech of metal on metal.
"Layton," Oscar said quietly. "I've done what needed doing."
Oscar raised his meat-wrapped package like a flag. "For the children of the Tail," he said. "And for everyone else who's ever been told there's not enough."
Layton didn't answer. Three hours ago, he'd watched a Tailie woman get dragged past his bunk. Her crime? Stealing a single protein wafer for her daughter. Her sentence? The Drawers — suspended animation in the storage cars, a fate worse than death. Episode 7 had ended with her scream. Now, Episode 8 began with silence.
"I'm already dead." The old man smiled, teeth red. "I was dead the day I crawled onto this train. But those children? They'll eat tonight. I've already sent word to the Tail. They're coming."
"The laws of the train—" Osweiller began.
The train lurched. A violent sideways shift that sent loose tools skittering across the grated floor. Then another. Then a grinding screech of metal on metal.
"Layton," Oscar said quietly. "I've done what needed doing."
Oscar raised his meat-wrapped package like a flag. "For the children of the Tail," he said. "And for everyone else who's ever been told there's not enough."
Layton didn't answer. Three hours ago, he'd watched a Tailie woman get dragged past his bunk. Her crime? Stealing a single protein wafer for her daughter. Her sentence? The Drawers — suspended animation in the storage cars, a fate worse than death. Episode 7 had ended with her scream. Now, Episode 8 began with silence.
"I'm already dead." The old man smiled, teeth red. "I was dead the day I crawled onto this train. But those children? They'll eat tonight. I've already sent word to the Tail. They're coming."