The Siege of New Terra (Star Sojourner Book 7) (18 page)

“That is good to better.” He watched me finish my meal.

Sophia shook out the blanket. “You should teach him what a figure of speech means.”

“I doubt it would take.”

“I guess if I want the Terran cub,” she folded the blanket, “I'll have to tolerate his mother, too.” She leaned over and kissed my head.

“I am a male Vegan.” Huff pulled up his belly pouch. “Beneath my pouch I have a–”

“Never mind!” Sophia put up a hand to block her eyes. “I believe you.” She slid me an angry look, I guess because I was laughing so hard.

She picked up the empty dish and cup. “Someday, I swear –” “I'll wash my dishes,” I said.

“No! Let me. I need a change of scenery.” She stomped off toward the stream.

I waited an hour for her to return.

She didn't.

“Joe,” I called. “Chancey!” I trotted to the jeep. They had closed the hood. Joe was wiping his hands on a rag. “Did either of you see Sophia? She went to the stream to wash some dishes.”

They glanced at each other.

“I saw her walking down there,” Chancey said and shrugged. “But that was–”

“You checked the stream?” Joe asked me.

“Sure. And the camp. She's not…I can't
find
her, Joe!”

He threw down the rag and slid into the driver's seat. “Get in.”

The claw of fear I had been feeling suddenly grew into a talon that dug beneath my rib cage. “You think–”I couldn't catch my breath. I sat next to Joe. Chancey got in beside me.

Huff saw us and left the fishermen to lope to the jeep and jump into the rear compartment. I turned to look at him. He must have read the expression on my face.

“I am here, Jules.” He put a forepaw on the rear seat. “I am here with you.”

I nodded and felt tears slide down my cheeks.

“Hey!” Bat called. “Wait for me.” He picked up his medkit, which was always by his side.

Joe started the jeep and swung it around to meet Bat as he strode toward us. He got into the rear seat.

“Did you see Sophia?” I asked him. “She went to the stream to… I can't
find
her, Bat!”

“I saw her this morning,” he said, “when she was sitting with y'all on the blanket.”

“There's Oldore,” Chancey pointed to him.

The Orghe leader was surrounded by his warriors, including Galrin, as he talked to his general, golden-furred Sunrai.

I stood up in the jeep and held onto the windshield. “Oldore!” I called as Joe approached him and stopped. My hand trembled on the rim. “Have you seen Sophia?”

“I saw her,” Oldore walked over, “when she brought you a meal earlier in this day.”

“Not since then?” I asked.

“No.” He looked at his group of warriors and hooted.

They shook their heads.

“Not since then,” Sunrai said.

“Perhaps she went for a stroll?” Oldore suggested.

“No!” I said. “She wouldn't do that!”

“Sit down, son.” Joe pulled on my sleeve and I sat down.

Oldore turned to his warriors. “Search for her, my breths, and if you find her, send out a calling to say that she is safe.”

The warriors hooted and dispersed. Galrin climbed into the rear seat of the jeep. “I am still duty-bound to be your sim, Terran Jules, to serve you in any way that you wish for a turning of the moon.”

“OK.” I sat back and tried to slow my breathing.

Chancey patted my shoulder. “We'll find her.”

But we didn't.

We called her name over and over through the thick woods, and scared winged creatures from their roosts in trees and small animals that skittered and hopped to safe dens. We ventured further than she could have walked from the time she went missing.

I clutched my jacket at my throat and stared straight ahead, sick in my heart as Joe maneuvered the jeep back to the stream to search there again. My breath shuddered in my throat. Chancey put his arm across my backrest.

“This is a nightmare,” I whispered.

“Take it easy, son,” Joe said softly, “the light plays tricks in these woods. It's easy to get lost.”

I spread my hands across my temples and probed again for her mind pattern, but all I received were the simple thoughts of animals. “She's gone, Joe!”

“We'll keep searching,” he said grimly.

“How many more days,” I asked, “until the ship comes to pick you up?”

“To pick
us
up.” He sucked his lip. “Two more.”

I laid my head back and stared at the sky…what was that creature wheeling overhead in the afternoon light? “Oh, no! A Shayl!”

Joe braked hard.

Another Shayl joined the first, and then more.

“Looks like reconnaissance,” Chancey said.

And then a Shayl joined the group carrying a limp Terran form in his arms.

I stood up in the jeep and clasped the windshield so hard in both hands, the metal dug into my palms.

The Shayls turned and flew toward Mack's base camp.

“They've got her!” I rasped. “Oh my God, they've got her, Dad!”

* * *

I felt numb during the ride back to our camp. The warriors had returned and were gathered around Oldore.

“Wait here,” Joe told me and went to talk to Oldore.

I started to get out of the jeep. Chancey grabbed my arm. “You heard what the boss said. He knows what he's doing.”

I sat back down, too drained to argue, and continued to scan the empty sky. “Do you think she's still alive? I didn't feel her kwaii leave this plane of existence.”

“Jules,” Bat put a hand on my shoulder, “they wouldn't be taking her back to their base if she was dead.”

“No. I guess not.”

“It's
you
they want,” Galrin said.

“We know that, kid.” Chancey threw him a hard look. “Now shut up about it.”

Galrin was right! I hadn't been thinking straight. It was
me
they wanted. Sophia was the bait. The Shayls had wanted us to see them, to see Sophia being carried back to their base camp.

Joe was still talking to Oldore while his warriors moved closer to listen. Let them talk. Let them plan all they wanted. I knew what I had to do.

“I don't like that look in your eyes,” Chancey told me. “What've you got in mind?”

“Just waiting for Joe,” I mumbled, and lowered my head.

“I don't think so.” Chancey's arm, around my backrest, suddenly tightened as he closed his hand on the shoulder of my jacket.

“Bubba,” Bat grabbed the collar of my jacket, “let's listen to what Joe has to say, OK?”

I unzipped my jacket in one motion, pulled out of it, and slid into the empty driver's seat. “
You
listen, Bat,” I said. “I'm beyond listening!”

I threw myself out of the jeep, rolled and got to my feet. Chancey followed and tackled me. I hit the ground hard, with the wind knocked out of me.

“Don't fight me.” Chancey tried to pin my arms to my sides. I pulled one free, made a tight fist, and hit him hard. He rolled off me with a grunt, but was quickly on his feet. He grabbed my shirt and drew back a fist. Before he could swing, Huff slammed into him and sent him sprawling. I scrambled to my feet, unholstered my stingler, spun it to stun and aimed at Chancey.

“Don't do it, man!” He thrust an open hand forward. “Mack's just
lookin'
to snuff you.”

“That's my decision.” I swung the gun to aim at Bat. “Get out!”

“Can't do it, bubba. You might need me.”

He was unarmed. I jumped into the jeep and Huff followed. “Get out, Galrin!”

He wiped a hand across his eyes. “I am duty-bound.”

“Whatever the hell!” I put the jeep in gear and floored it as Joe and Oldore trotted toward us.

Chancey ran full out and jumped into the back seat.

“Don't try to stop me,” I shouted to him. “I'll sic Huff on you.”

“Wouldn't think of it, man. I'm just along for the ride. Wait fer Joe an' Oldore.”

“Joe's sneaky,” I called and headed in the direction of Mack's base camp. “He'd lie, and find a way to stop me.”

“He's probably right,” Bat said.

“There's no right here, Bat, or wrong. There's only saving Sophia's life.”

“Will you die in order to save her?” Galrin asked me.

“I'll try not to, Galrin. I'll sure try not to.”

Huff howled a plaintive chant. Perhaps a requiem.

* * *

Leave the jeep and walk to the gate alone,
Jules of Terra,
Evrill sent as we approached Big Mack's base camp.
Anything less or more and the Terran woman will die by my employer's orders.

I stopped the jeep.
Where is she?
I sent.
Is she all right? I'll do what you say. Just tell Big Mack not to hurt her!

“What's happening, man?” Chancey asked me.

“She…she's alive,” I said. “They've got her.”
Is she all right?
I sent.

Follow his orders. She is only anomalous in her thoughts and emotions. Scared and sad, you would call it. Her physical body is unharmed, as yet. She is watching you and prays that you will save her life.

I need assurance that if I surrender to Big Mack, he'll let her go, unharmed.

That is not to be. Give yourself up. She will be turned free after all the island Orghes are terminated.

“I have to surrender to Mack,” I told the group, “or he'll kill her. I don't have a choice.”

“He'll kill
you,
” Chancey said.

Why does Mack want me
? I sent.
You're a more powerful telepath than I am.

True. But I cannot infiltrate the Orghe warriors' camp by the white cliff and the running stream. Only you can do that. He has a vial of poison so deadly that one drop on their food will produce death within minutes.

Oh God.
“He wants me alive,” I told Chancey.

“What for?” Chancey asked.

What if I don't agree, Evrill?

You know the consequences.

Turn your eyes to the sky if you do not believe the urgency of your woman's situation.

I hesitated, afraid of what I'd see. But finally I looked up. “Oh no,” I murmured. A Shayl was circling, high in the afternoon sky, grasping a figure beneath him. “Sophia…”

Must I describe her death to you?
Evrill sent.
I do not like this killing work! Must I send you an image of how her body will appear when she hits the land?

You don't like killing,
I sent,
but you'll do it for the credits!

I have been banished by my people. I have no other recourse.

We always have a choice, Evrill. You'll pay for yours. Either in this life or when you face Great Mind in geth state.

He will understand.

I wouldn't count on it. He punishes those guided by greed or the love of power in their lives. Between you and Big Mack, you have both going for you.

I am not in contact with you to discuss theology. There is no Heaven or Hell, but only what we make for ourselves. Now leave the jeep and walk to the main gate. You are taxing Big Mack's patience.

Will my companions be allowed to return to the Orghe camp?

That is not my decision to make.
Go to the gate now, or watch Haj the Shayl let go of the Terran woman. She will be free, only to die.

No! I'm coming. Tell Mack I'm coming.

“Jules,” Bat said, “why does he want you?”

“I don't know,” I lied, “but he wants me alive. Chancey, turn the jeep around and get out of here as fast as you can. I don't know what Mack plans for all of you. He might have lookouts watching us right now.”

Chancey grabbed my arm as I tried to get out. “He'll use you, and then he'll kill you, and Sophia. You can't save her, man. She knew the risks when she came to New Terra.”

“Chancey, listen to me. I couldn't live another day if I turned and ran, and they killed Sophia.”

“Then I'll make the choice for you.” He drew back his fist. I raised an arm and blocked the blow. Pain shot up my arm. “All right,” I said, and held my arm to gain time. “I can't fight all of you”

I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead as though I were distraught, which I was, and spun a red-hot coil behind my eyes. “I don't know what to do,” I said, and forced the coil to spin faster and stronger. I'd get a severe headache for pushing the power this fast and hard, but I'd made my decision to surrender to Mack. I threw the coil, directed at Chancey, but the impact and the message would spread wider.

You want me to leave the jeep. You want to drive back to your camp.

Huff moaned. He's a latent sensitive and was aware of the subliminal message.
You want me to leave,
I sent again, with all the force I could gather into the message. My head pounded as though drums beat inside me as I got out of the jeep.

Drive back to your camp,
I sent, targeting Chancey. I unstrapped my holster and left it on the console.
Now hurry!

Chancey looked like a sleep walker as he slid into the driver's seat, his mouth slack. Huff leaped out of the jeep and came to my side.

“No, Huff,” I told him. “Go back!”

I glanced at Galrin. If I did what Mack wanted, I'd be responsible for his death, and the death of all his people. A Judas goat. I glanced into the harsh, brilliant sky. The Shayl was still holding Sophia. I probed her mind.

Terror.

All-absorbing terror.

I'm coming,
I sent to Evrill. I heard Chancey turn the jeep around as I started toward the gate with Huff at my side. My head ached as though a band were tightening around it, but I spun another coil and threw it at Huff.
Catch up to the jeep and go back with them. Go!

He stopped as though he'd hit an invisible wall. For a moment he swayed, then stared at me with glazed eyes. Tears wet the fur on his face.

Go
! I sent.

He turned with jerky movements, as though another being controlled his muscles, then he trotted back down the dirt road.

A tattooed, bald-headed merc unlocked the gate when I reached it and swung it open. At first I thought it was Tempest, but no, they were all obsessed with taboos.

Three more mercs accompanied me as I walked toward Big Mack, who stood in the center of the compound with a comlink in hand, and Evrill by his side. I recognized her as an Egruan woman from planet Equus as I walked up to them.

“I'm here!” I told Mack. “Now let Sophia down, or by God I'll burn your brain where you stand.”

I yelled and pressed my temples as a blister of pain seared across my forehead.

Evrill tilted her head and spread thin lips in an imitation of a human smile.
I do not like the work, Terran, but I am committed.

I tried to raise my shields. She held them down as though they were putty.

I cannot allow that,
she sent.

“I'm here,” I told Mack. “Now goddammit, let her down.”

He lifted the comlink and spoke into it.

I watched as Haj spiraled toward the ground, still clutching Sophia, and landed near Mack.