Page 66 of Stealing Tink

It takes Acel little time to dispatch the engineer. This pleases Lars, partially for the sake of the mission, partially because he has always considered train engineer to be a pleasing alternative career should insect dissector no longer work out, and he has wondered about whether being able to defend oneself is part of the qualifications.

It seems it is not. Although, as Lars stares down at the engineer, knocked out cold, his hat askew, he wonders if it should be.

“You’re kidding,” says Acel.

“I don’t make a habit of it,” says Lars.

“Not you,” says Acel, pointing out the window. Outside, the world races past them in a whirl of colors. They remind Lars of the layers of sediment. “We’re in Serorse.”

Serorse is past the bridge.

“We failed,” says Lars. He doesn’t particularly like the feeling, but he is pleased that he got to act on a train.

Acel puts a hand to his face and groans.

Lars pulls the brakes.

Lars does not understand why Acel is in such a foul mood with him.

Lars was promised the opportunity to pull the brakes on a train. A lifelong dream. What does it matter that pulling the brakes no longer benefited the heist? Lars is certain that if Acel had the chance to be with his princess, he would do so regardless of its impact on the heist.

“Come on. We need to go get Phoenix and Venus,” says Acel. “Before the Company guards at the station realize the train is late arriving.”

Ah, so that is why Acel is angry.

It is possible that Lars should have considered this. Not that he will admit such a thing aloud.

Suddenly, Lars feels the need to defend himself. “The deceleration will assist the Nomad and Tink in climbing back down to safety.”

Acel raises a brow at Lars. “That’s why you pulled the brakes? Because you were concerned about their safety?”

Lars pauses. He is fairly sure the correct response to this is yes. “Yes.”

Acel makes a noise with his lips closed.

They make the rest of the journey up the train in silence. It’s when they reach the car adjacent to the breakfast car that it becomes evident that something is wrong.

There’s screaming from the other side. Female. Lars cannot distinguish between Phoenix’s and Venus’s screams. Voices he could differentiate. Screams are another matter entirely.

Acel rips open the door.

Visual confirmation that it is Venus who is screaming. She’s struggling with a guard. Before Acel can intervene, the guard takes her by the throat and slams her against the window.

The shatter of glass scrapes against Lars’s ears. He resists the urge to cover them and instead blinks hard.

When he opens his eyes again, Venus is limp, still suspended by the guard’s arm.

Acel and Phoenix share a look. A moment later, Acel swings, his fist landing squarely on the guard’s temple. The guard’s legs drop from underneath him. Venus falls to the floor, but Phoenix is already there, ready to catch her.

By the way Venus’s body is already limp, Lars suspects that Phoenix’s catching her does not do much.

Phoenix, unlike her friend, is not a stupid girl. Her finger immediately goes to the crook underneath Venus’s jaw.

“Venus,” she whispers, her voice raspy and panicked. “Venus.” Progressively louder.

Acel kneels, trying to help.

Lars would help if he saw a point.