Charles Ingrid - marked man 02 The Last Recall (44 page)

Thomas grunted, then added, "He needs to be taken down a notch or two. The dean inadvertently destroyed most of the Mojavan rebel faction, though. They were just as eager to get control of the shuttle as the nesters were. Denethan always could fall in horseshit and come up smelling like roses."

"Drakkar's making arrangements to go back. He wants to take Alma with him, but I convinced him to wait a few more months until Denethan solidifies his rule again."

He asked, "Will she go?"

He could feel Lady's smile through her hands. "Oh, yes. She'll go."

The gentle pressure of her fingers on his temples set him drifting in thought. He said suddenly, "Any word on Watty?"

"Yes. He's doing well. He has something he wants to discuss with you. He says some sort of great beast carried him into Orange County."

Thomas felt her fingertips detour, trace out the chevron scar on his brow. She murmured softly, "You're not done yet, you know."

He knew that all too well. He turned his head, saw the commander of the
Challenger II
watching them. He had a contented look. "When is the
Mayflower
coming down?"

The contented look faded. Dakin answered, "They're not sure. They may go back out. Heredia runs a democracy. She told me they're going to take a vote. They're a bigger craft, nearly twenty-five hundred people. They're of a mind to start a colony, as they were intended to do."

"We could use them here. Or anywhere on the planet."

"We know that." Sun noted, "Dusty has something on her mind. I know that look."

Her gray eyes flashed as she looked up at them. Then she grinned. "Well, why not. I'm not a good loser. For the first time in over two hundred years, my thoughts are not alone. The silence has been banished. I thought it might have been the dean, but now I know it was you. When you took me on the ghost road, I knew it. When you asked me to open up my mind as a lover opens up her body, I felt it. When you kissed me, I wanted you— all of you. Dammit, why didn't you wait for me? Sir Thomas Blade, I want to marry you."

Thomas' jaw dropped agape. His head began to throb again, but Lady laughed.

"Why, Dusty," she said. "We accept. Every good woman needs a wife."

Sun Dakin continued to stroke his cat's ears. "Blade," he said. "You live in interesting times."