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"He's got him," the lieutenant shouted. Ian could see
the flight suit folding into itself. As Ian watched, the
young airman's form twisted and shrank and a small
gray pigeon was flying toward the rendezvous. Ian
wiped his eyes, which had begun to water. Simon was
flying back toward the Leda, the jettisoned flight suit in
Shifting Steam - 138
his hand. Ian smiled, marveling at Simon's composure.
Ian had just been more terrified than ever before, but the
Wing Commander had been collected enough to bring
the collapsed uniform, saving one of his men the trouble
of searching for it later.
Ian swelled with affection. Why had he been so
foolish these past few months? As soon as Simon was
back on deck he would apologize for avoiding him. Ian
kept a firm hold on the rigging and leaned out over the
edge again. Simon was closer now. His jet colored eyes
met Ian's and he saw a thin smile play across the Wing
Commander's unusually bloodless lips. Ian smiled back,
but the expression froze as he saw Simon's black eyes
roll backward. Simon's wings curled around him, and
then Cobbe was falling.
Ian threw off his coat and heard the lieutenant gasp
beside him. He pulled a lever at his side and shining
bronze wings spread from his back. Without taking a
moment to consider, Ian jumped from the Leda.
The wind roared in his ears, and Ian maneuvered into
a dive. Simon's face was peaceful as he fell, in stark
contrast to his own clenched jaw and teary eyes. Ian's
mechanical wings clattered and chimed as he coaxed
himself closer to Simon. Reaching out one arm, Ian
scooped Simon from the air and pulled him tight against
his own chest. Ian groped the controls of his flying suit
with his free hand. The brass wings spread wide, and Ian
glided safely to earth.
With utmost care, Ian laid Simon's unconscious form
on the soft grass, so near the place where he himself had
been rescued. Ian leaned close, checking for Simon's
breathing. He shuddered with relief when he felt
Simon's breath in his ear.
"Ian?" Simon's voice was soft and distant.
"I'm here."
Shifting Steam - 139
"You didn't listen to me."
"No, I didn't." Ian stroked Simon's cheek.
"I'm glad. Your wings are beautiful." With that,
Simon's eyes closed and Ian listened to his soft
breathing until help arrived.
***
Hours passed, and Ian waited at Simon's bedside in
the infirmary. The medic had been optimistic, but vague
in describing his prognosis. Ian wrote it off as another
instance of avian insularity.
"The Wing Commander will recover nicely," the
medic had said. "His only real mistake was attempting
such a flight while so overtired. A bit of rest and he'll be
right as rain, I have no doubt. You'll wait here with him,
won't you, Fanshawe?"
It was puzzling, to be sure. Simon's lieutenants had
visited briefly, and none expressed the slightest degree
of surprise to see Ian sitting at Cobbe's side. One of
them had started to ask a question about Fanshawe's
flying apparatus, but the other had shushed him. Later,
the airman Cobbe had saved came by, full of solemn
gratitude. He had even apologized to Fanshawe for
putting on the suit incorrectly. Ian waved it off with a
kind smile and expressed sincere relief that the airman
was unharmed.
The afternoon wore on and Ian watched Simon's face
as he slept. Why were all the avians so calm? Simon had
almost died. The thought still caused Ian's heart to
pound in his chest, and he looked at Simon just to
reassure himself that he was still there, breathing evenly
as he slept.
As afternoon drifted into evening, Simon began to
stir.
Shifting Steam - 140
"Are you here, Fanshawe?" His voice was barely a
whisper, but the words pierced Ian's heart more than his
ears.
"I am. Here, the medic says you should drink." Ian
poured a glass of water from the ewer at the side table
and Simon drank it in long swallows.
"I'm sorry if I frightened you. I shouldn't have tried to
fly, but no one saw the boy falling."
"I did. I should have jumped after him, not you." Ian's
voice was strained.
"You got your wings to work."
"I did, yes."
"Why did you wear them out today?"
"I don't know. To save you when you needed saving,
I suppose."
"I'm sure one of the lieutenants would have come for
me." Simon's voice was tight, and his eyes were probing
Ian's face. A heavy moment passed before Ian could
respond.
"I never want anyone else to have to save you."
"Neither do I." Simon's smile was radiant. In fact he
looked far better than he had earlier that morning.
"What happened to you today, Simon?"
Simon shut his eyes and exhaled slowly. "There is
something important I need to tell you, and I don't know
how you're going to react to it." Simon held up a hand as
Ian began to respond. "I'm going to tell you anyway, so
there's no need to encourage me. There's something I
need to ask you first, though. Why have you been
avoiding me?"
"I -- I'm sorry." Ian felt tears beginning to prick his
eyes. "I was embarrassed by your attention, I suppose.
I'm so plain and awkward, but you -- you're so beautiful.
I'm just a man."
"You're far more than just a man, Ian."
Shifting Steam - 141
"But you're so special. You can fly."
"So can you."
Ian froze. He could.
"You're far more than my equal, Ian. You're brilliant.
I can fly because I was born a shifter. You made it
happen for yourself. As for plain? I think you may need
a new looking glass. You're one of the most handsome
men I've ever seen. You may be just a touch awkward,
though. I can't deny that."
The look on Simon's face was so sheepish that Ian
couldn't help but laugh.
"What do you have to tell me?"
Simon drew in a deep breath.
"We are meant to be together, you and I. From the
moment I first saw you, I felt it. We have the mate-
bond."
"Mate-bond?" Ian searched Simon's eyes for some [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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