Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 687
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"Sir?"
Hesty’s voice came to Lavin from a long way away. The
voice represented the distant past, a time of hope he could no
longer comprehend. The present was an unending cycle of
misery that would end only with death. Nothing mattered
except that pain.
He had lain here under a canopy, unable to move, for
days now. He knew the official story was that vertigo had laid
him low, but the truth was much more simple. Lavin’s heart
had died, and he no longer wanted to live.
"Sir."
With difficulty he turned his head. Hesty stood over him,
his face revolving in a direction opposite to everything else.
Lavin retched.
"How are you feeling, sir?"
What a laughable question. Lavin wanted to close his
eyes and vanish into his misery again, but to his surprise Hesty
sat down cross-legged next to him and whispered, "We need
you, sir."
Lavin looked at him closely for the first time. Hesty’s
face was lined with care, and his hair unkempt. It looked like
he hadn't slept in days--not surprising in the circumstances.
"What..." Lavin was surprised at his own voice, which