Chapter 19: Red Water

Caspian's POV

The port was dead, and I knew what that meant before the engineer said it.

Nobody was going to hold me.

"Chief," I said. "Take her off the bridge."

"No," said Vesper.

"Take her to the shelter deck and lock it."

"Caspian, I can stay on the bridge. I'll put my hand on your arm."

"You'd be in the chair with me when it takes the guns." My voice did not sound like mine. "I won't be able to tell you from the targets."

She looked at me.

I had never lied to her about this.

I didn't now.

"Chief," I said.

The chief hesitated, and I loved him for it.

Then he crossed the bridge and picked her up in both arms.

She kicked him, and he took it.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," he said. "Orders."

"Put me down!"

"Not yet, ma'am."

She stared at me over his shoulder until the lift doors shut.

I turned back to the screen.

One cruiser was left whole, and two were limping.

The Surge was already waiting for me in the dark behind my eyes.

I let it in.

It always begins the same way.

The sound goes first.

The pilot was shouting something, and his voice thinned and stopped.

Then the colours go.

Everything on the bridge turned the same hard bright red.

The consoles, the crew and the stars on the screen were all one colour.

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