Vigilia Antes da Sineta

Lesser Oratory · deck two · first bell before combat watch.

The chaplaincy weighed less at that hour. Sub-Commissar Rós knelt before the engraved symbol, drew off her left glove, and set her palm against the cold iron.

Behind her, Operator Karp waited at the threshold. Four watches aboard the Vigil-of-the-North and she still did not know whether she should enter.

“You enter or you stay. There is no record for the halfway,” Rós said, without turning.

Karp stepped in. Her boots made less noise than she expected.

“Sub-Commissar, briefing is at the third bell.”

“I know.”

“Were you here all night, ma'am?”

Rós did not answer at once. She rose, drew the glove back on, and turned to the younger woman. The pressure suit bore an old mark over the heart, scored three times by clean puncture.

“When I took the oath,” Rós said, “they taught me that the vigil does not begin at the third bell. It begins when I can sleep before it. I still cannot. Can you?”

Karp lowered her eyes.

“Not tonight.”

“Good.”

Rós drew closer, set her right hand briefly on Karp's shoulder — short weight, no affection — and motioned to the symbol.

“Five minutes. Then close the oratory. Pro Humanitate, Operator.”

“Semper Vigilo, Sub-Commissar.”

Rós left. Karp knelt where the other had knelt, and the iron still held the warmth of a human palm. Above, on deck three, the first bell of the next watch struck.