Girard just nodded, closing the ledger so the images and evidence of blackmail were covered up.
“The director, Donall, Sylvie and Rhodda have been talking practically all day. The director thought you’d like to know what they’ve agreed.”
“I would,” Hallie said. She blinked as a lamp lit nearby and realised that Captain Gould was still in the room as well.
“I think we’ve probably got as much from this place as we can, for now at least. Peredur wants all the paperwork and electronics taken back to base for further examination,” Elyan said. His eyes were bright as he looked at Hallie. “But I’d like to hear what Peredur and the others have been planning, too.”
“Absolutely,” Hallie said. She was a little stiff getting to her feet and blinked again as she looked at the plastic sheets across the window. It was nearly dark outside. “Have we been here all day?”
“You have,” Girard said, half-laughing. He gathered up her plate and mug, and added them to a tray on the desk. “And Elyan, too. He managed to find some chart references which gives us a few places to start looking for Findo.”
“Oh, that’s good,” Hallie said fiercely as she walked through the house with Girard. “I really want to put him back behind bars.”
“I want him behind bars, too, and I’ve never met him,” Elyan commented.
Hallie laughed, as she was meant to, and came into the kitchen to find that more than just talking had been taking place. There was the scent of something delicious cooking and her eyes turned to the large pots sitting on the stove. Sylvie and the unnamed man from Reunion were there, heads together as they made some adjustment or other to whatever they were cooking.
Donall and Peredur were standing not far apart, leaning against the counter with mugs in their hands, apparently at ease with each other and friendlier than Hallie would have believed possible for akarlenandhochlen.
The table had been wiped clean and set for a meal, with mismatched plates and cutlery and glassware.
“Meal’s almost ready,” Sylvie reported, turning to the room. Her mouth lifted in a smile as she saw Hallie. “There you are. I hope you’ve brought an appetite.”
“I have,” Hallie confirmed, her stomach growling. She wasn’t sure what she’d eaten earlier, but she was ready for whatever Sylvie was going to dish up.
She settled around the table with the others. Peredur, Donall, Elyan, Girard, Rhodda and Sylvie, with Yasir Rojas joining them at some unspoken signal. Rhodda looked better than she had in all the time Hallie had known her, the shadows almost gone from under her eyes. She’d managed to find fresh clothes, too.
“They have a whole pantry full of things,” Sylvie said, amazement in her voice as she settled at the table with them. The unnamed man excused himself, taking a tray with plates of food and glasses out of the room. Hallie wondered if he’d had enough talking and was going to join Bryn for his meal. Then she turned her attention back to Sylvie, whose amazement was fading into bitterness. “Enough to have fed the whole island for weeks. Canned vegetables, frozen meat.” She stopped talking, pressed her lips together. “Anyway, it was a joy to have a choice of things to cook with. I hope you like it. I’ve made plenty. There’s enough for everyone around the house, and second helpings, too, I should think.”
Hallie took a mouthful of the food she’d been given and murmured her approval along with everyone else at the table. Sylvie had made the most of what she’d found, making a hearty stew with thick gravy, plenty of vegetables, some chicken pieces and dumplings. Simple but full of flavour.
When everyone had more or less finished their food, Donall sat back with a sigh.
“I haven’t eaten this well for a very long time.” There was a quaver in his voice, which he swallowed. He looked across the table at Hallie and Girard, sitting next to each other. “I want to thank you both.”
“I’m not sure we did much,” Hallie protested, hearing a similar demur from Girard.
“You could have just found somewhere to hide, waiting for back-up. Or not listened to what we told you,” Donall said.
“Honestly, although hiding would probably have been more sensible, it never seriously occurred to me to do that. And why wouldn’t I - or Girard for that matter - listen?” Hallie asked, confused, and saw Donall, Rhodda and Sylvie exchange glances and smiles. “What?”
“The director said that although you’re one of them, you’re also one of us,” Sylvie said, still smiling.
“Oh. Well. I suppose that’s right,” Hallie said, a crease between her brows. “I’m still working it out,” she added, in case she’d sounded abrupt.
“Well, let’s tell you what we have worked out. There are still some fine details, but we’ve got the basics,” Peredur said.
“Donall and Rhodda are going to lead us, and we’re going to choose some other people to form a council,” Sylvie said, face flushed. “We’re actually going to get our own governance. Finally.”
“That’s good,” Hallie said, smiling in response to the infectious enthusiasm she could feel from all the humans.
“We’re going to do a sweep of the main settlement and Reunion to pick up any wanted fugitives,” Peredur said, and Hallie’s desire to laugh faded.
“Don’t worry, almost everyone of that type is already locked up in one of the outbuildings here,” Sylvie said, mischief on her face. “They found our lives very boring and mostly ended up as one of the gunners or working for Jonah.”
“We’re going to distribute the goods from this house to the settlements,” the director went on, “along with the ATVs.”
“We’re going to set up some central stores, and make sure everything gets handed out fairly,” Rhodda added, eyes bright. She was hopeful, and determined. “No more of this favouritism.”
