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Now what in hell's name happened down there?"
"Peralta signed the agreements right here before me-your men were here, too.
Then he and they went off ship. Not long after, you called. I went out and
marked site for Hoad's landing and came back aboard. The next I knew, a lot of
Peralta's people poured off No Return, armed-killing or capturing anyone they
could find of mine and Vanois's. I sealed ship and so did Raoul-I saw his ramp
go up-but all I know of Car-charodon is that it hasn't been taken. We don't
have scramble except through you, and I couldn't raise you-so we haven't said
much in No Return's hearing.
"I did warn Hoad, in clear, but Peralta's men had already boarded him. There
was a hell of an explosion over that way, a little later-"
Rissa gasped. Osallin? "-and then Peralta loaded the projector on your aircar
and took off with it."
"What about my men-do you know? And what's the situation now?"
"Deverel and Kenekke?" Limmer shook his head. "I'm sorry, Tregare-I don't
know. And the setup here is that Peralta's soldiers hold groundside against
us; we're bottled up. Do you want us to try a sortie?"
Tregare did not hesitate. "Anything but that-stay sealed. Wait a minute-" He
paused. "Is groundside lit up? Who controls the area lighting?"
"Vanois. Remember-he ran circuits so he could move supplies at night without
having to go to your powerhouse every time. You want me to-?"
"I'll call him. Now-you have people armed and ready-right? But don't move
until I give the word."
Limmer agreed; Tregare cut the circuit and called Vanois. The story was
roughly the same.
Tregare spoke briefly, concluding, "I'll be calling in the clear, so when I
want ground-side lit
I'll just say, 'Hit it.' Between now and then, cut it all dark." Vanois
acknowledged; Tregare tried to call Deuces Wild, but received no answer. He
shook his head and turned to the flight controls.
Putting concern for Osallin out of her mind, Rissa said, 136
" Bran? What do you intend ? "
"Same as I told Main and Anse a few days ago-take this scout down there and
kill everyone that's outside a ship. It's not a thing I like, but they've left
me no other way."
"Might you not better wait for daylight?"
"Can't afford to give them that much time to hit Limmer and Vanois."
"Yes, I see-but I have a thought."
He looked at her. "Go ahead-I'm listening."
"They must not know whether you are alive-but what if I call, and see who
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speaks for No Return and what is said to me?"
After a moment he grinned. "Here-I'll set up the call."
Rissa waited, then recognized Hilaire Gowdy, No Return's First Hat. The
woman's face and voice showed tension. "Well, I see you're alive, Ms. Tregare.
What's happened?"
file:///C|/WINDOWS/Desktop/Incoming/Busby,%...2004%20-%20Rissa%20and%20Tregare
%20v1.0.txt (64 of 117) [7/14/2004 3:25:21 PM]
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Rissa shook her head. "No-we speak of what has happened where you are."
Gowdy's throat moved, swallowing. "If Peralta wins, you ask me to speak my own
death." Rissa wanted to reassure her, but did not need Tregare's headshake to
advise against it. She waited.
Gowdy shrugged. "This much, then. Jimar took his armed force offship and
controls groundside
There's been killing-I don't know how much. I've sealed ship; I now control No
Return. When I open it again, and to whom-that depends on what's said to me-by
you, by Peralta,or others."
Tregare stood out of screen's view; Rissa looked to him, but he gave no sign.
To Gowdy she said, "I tell you only this- keep sealed until you yourself are
convinced it is right to open."
"There's no choice for me, is there?" Hilaire Gowdy nodded. "All
right-agreed."
Rissa cut the circuit and looked to Tregare. He said, "That was well done. Now
buckle in-we're hitting Base Two."
THE scoutship, Rissa learned, was not a vehicle for comfort. Takeoff was
harsh-accelerations, turning or otherwise, stretched her body's tolerance.
Tregare took the scout high, then coasted downward and slanting toward the
crater. Rissa
\r137
\rsaid, "What if Hain and Anse are caught outside with Peralta's gunmen?"
He shook his head. "I have to go with the odds-they could be dead, or captive
and under cover.
If I don't assume that, I can't act at all."
Before she could speak he said, "Hold it!" and lit the screen.
"Vanois?" The bearded face appeared, the head nodded. "Get ready! In two
minutes-hit it!" The screen went dark.
Looking ahead, Rissa could see nothing except shadows of hills below.
"Tregare! When the lights come on suddenly, we will be blinded."
"No. Five seconds ahead I put on dark goggles and coast blind. Here's a pair
for you." She fumbled and found his hand.
"But how could you have thought ahead, for this!"
"I didn't. They have other uses-that's what I thought of. Now get ready-and
brace yourself-this kite hasn't even started to ride rough, yet."
First tensed, then deliberately relaxing, she waited. The scout coasted
smoothly. Then, as the ground ahead sprang into brilliant illumination, it
swung to one side and all orientation was lost. Four ships grew in her view,
rotated, and shot off to one side as forces crushed her first in one
direction, then another. Ground rushed to strike her-four towers ahead-ground
washed in flame as the towers, the ships, passed on either side within grazing
range and the surface again fell away. Sidewise pressure as Tregare turned the
scout; he said, "Good pass-I got their main group. The rest'll be
disorganized; I can take my time now."
Diving again, slower and with less gyration, he raked the ground once more
with flame. And again, and again-each time, she realized, less wary of
retaliation. Then after two passes when he held his fire, Tregare circled high
to inspect the area.
"Time to land, I think," and the scout dropped.
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He came near to hitting Lefthand Thread as he landed, in line with Carcharodon
on the other side. He picked up the energy gun-Rissa had not noticed he had
brought it-and said, "Now let's see who's on the reception committee."
The ship's ramp came down; at the top, holding a gun, 138
stood Limmer. Rissa saw no movement elsewhere. "Bran- shall we go?" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]