Page 57 of Mercy Written in Blood

"The chamber."

"Burning."

"Attackers?"

"Two down. Others retreated."

Haruki looked past him. Family members moved through smoke in the tunnel. One knelt over a fallen attacker. Another guarded the junction with a shotgun.

"How did you find us?"

"Old drainage schematics."

Haruki almost smiled.

Ken leaned closer.

"You gave an order not to investigate."

"You ignored me."

"I decided the problem had changed."

Haruki remembered the dispute from that morning. Different problems. Same goal.

"Good decision."

"Don't sound surprised."

"I'm not."

The passage blurred. Ken pressed both hands against the wound in Haruki's side. Pain pulled a sound from him.

"Sorry."

"You're not."

"No."

Ken looked over his shoulder.

"Where is that medic?"

"Coming."

Haruki's body had begun to shake. Cold moved through him despite the sweat on his skin. He had seen shock often enough to recognise it. It felt insulting that his body could become another problem to manage.

"Ken."

"I'm here."

"Names."

"What?"

"The historians."

Ken understood.