As acceleration pushed them into the seats, a holomap came on, showing Nightingale receding into the spectacular bones of the Giant’s Skeleton Mountains. The peaks withdrew until they were no more than wrinkles in the vast panorama of the world.
Gradually Jato’s mind absorbed the situation. He was free. Free.
Or at least, he thought he was free. "What happens now?" he asked.
Soz glanced at him. "I’ll take you to headquarters. You can clear your name." She hesitated, a blush on her cheeks. "I can help out, if-if you would like."
Her uncertainty floored him. He had seen her face death by Promenade collapse, clockwork venom, and snuff-art, all with remarkable composure. Yet asking if he wanted her to stick around made her nervous.
He smiled. "Yes. I would like that."
Her face gentled. She glanced at the statue he still held. "I felt what it took for you to offer your sculpture to me. Thank you."
"It’s not much."
"It’s spectacular, Jato. Both the bird and the fugue."
He swallowed, at a loss how to tell her how much her words meant. So instead he motioned at her holo display. "Soz, look."
Together they watched the sun rise over the rim of Ansatz.