They were telling her of the brutal winter in the mountains when they were interrupted by the clearing of a throat. Dr. Bauval stood in the doorway with an odd look on his face.
"I didn't realize that we were planning to tell her about everything," Bauval said. "At least not yet." He wasn't angry, just confused.
Tebrey looked embarrassed, but Mason shrugged. "She had us figured out, Bauval, much like Jeroen. She's smart and knows we aren't local. It didn't take her long to jump to the conclusion that we were from the sky."
Ana thought that she wouldn't have quite said it like that. But she wasn't going to disabuse them of the notion that she'd had them figured out. She didn't want them to stop telling her things. "Hrothgar," she said hesitantly, "you mentioned the legends of the Lawbringer. He had a giant beast that traveled with him. Are you saying...?" She trailed off, not knowing what else to say.
Bauval was nodding his head. "May as well, Commander. It made the marquess believe." He smiled at Ana. "I hope you like cats."
Late afternoon sunlight was shining through the window. Ana could see dust motes glittering. The golden light made Hrothgar's eyes seem to glow a brilliant green. The light also caught red glints in his hair, making him look even more like one of her people. She wondered again how he could look the way he did. She supposed there must be many kinds of people on his world.
"If you would follow me," Tebrey said, standing up, "there is someone I'd like you to meet."
Ana stood and placed her long-empty tea cup on the side table. She was suddenly quite nervous. "Who am I to meet?" she asked. She did like cats, but didn't understand what that had to do with anything. She'd had a little kitten when she was young, before she had been taken as a slave.
"His name is Hunter," Tebrey said, oblivious to her inner turmoil. "I think he will help you believe what we've said." He motioned for her to follow him.
Sergeant McGee gritted his teeth painfully as he watched the commander take the girl up the stairs to his room. It wasn't right. He was tired of taking orders from people who never gave him a moment of rest. Even when he was on active duty on the front in the war against the Nurgg, he had been given time to get a beer and find a woman. He'd told the commander he needed to get out.
All of his stress and suppressed frustration came together. He stood up. No one was around. No one was watching. He often stood guard for hours without seeing anyone. No one would have to know that he was gone. He'd been holding onto some coins for months. They had given him money in that village to buy pack mules. No one had to know that he'd paid much less than they thought. A man had a right to look after himself.
He hitched his sword belt up onto his lean hips and nodded slowly to himself. He was doing nothing more than taking some long-deserved leave. He unlocked the gate and quietly let himself out. He'd just slip down to the docks and have himself an ale or three, find himself a good looking wench like the commander had, and get some much-needed relief.
McGee smiled and rubbed his hands together in anticipation. He felt more relaxed and happy than he had in months. He began to whistle as he walked.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Hunter, Tebrey thought as he climbed the stairs, I'm bringing her to see you.
It's about time, Hunter replied. I've been wanting to check her out and make sure she's good enough for you. She looked good from a distance.
Why does everyone think that all I'm interested in is how she looks? Tebrey thought angrily. She is nice, and I'm certainly attracted to her, but it's not like the relationship could go anywhere. What if I fell in love with her and then we got rescued? I couldn't take her with me.
I don't think that's all you want, but I do sense your need for her. I think she would be good for you. Why couldn't you take her with us when we leave? Hunter asked. And I'd like to point out that we don't know if we are ever going to be rescued. You're going to need a woman if we stay here long.
And what about you, my friend? There are no other neo-panthers here.
I'm not made the same as you. I don't feel any particular need for that. If I do later, we'll deal with it when it occurs.
Tebrey sighed and paused with his hand on the door to his room.
"What's the matter?" Ana asked. "You seem sad."
"Nothing," he said. He reached out and placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "I have to warn you, you might be a little scared at first, but I promise that you will be safe."
Ana swallowed convulsively. He could sense that she was more worried about the way he was acting than anything else, although she was a little disconcerted to realize that he was taking her to his sleeping room.
She glanced nervously at the bed as he opened the door and motioned her inside. She wasn't sure what his intentions were. She wanted him, but she didn't want to rush into anything. He hadn't thought about what she would think of his actions.
Then she saw Hunter.
Hunter stood and stretched by the window, where he had been lying in the afternoon sun. The sun through his fur caught a reddish tint that Tebrey hadn't noticed before.
Tebrey gently guided Ana into the room and shut the door. She stood staring at Hunter. He had expected her to be scared by the large cat, but the expression on her face was more one of wonder. What do you think? he thought to Hunter.
I can see why you like her, Hunter replied. She has spirit, and a nice ass.
Hunter!
Well? he thought back with a mental shrug.
"Ana," Tebrey said gently, "are you okay?"
She nodded and reached out a tentative hand to Hunter.
He ducked his head and let her run her fingers through his soft fur. Suddenly she laughed and wrapped her arms around him.
Tebrey blinked in surprise. The girl was weeping softly, but seemed happy. She was blushing as she stood back and wiped the tears from her face.
"Thank you," she said. "Thank you so much." Suddenly she nodded her head and glanced at Tebrey.
What was that? he asked Hunter. He could have sworn they had exchanged something, and he hadn't heard it.
She can hear me, Hunter replied calmly, as if it was perfectly normal.
"What?" Tebrey exclaimed.
Sergeant McGee smiled and nodded to people he passed on the street. His Lyonan vocabulary was limited to a little under two hundred words, but he didn't expect that he was going to want to do much talking. He didn't have time for niceties; he just wanted to wet his whistle and dip his wick. Then he'd run back to the house before anyone even missed him.
There were people out lighting the small lampposts on the street corners. The guard at the gate glared at him until he produced the badge that the marquess had given to Tebrey, then passed him through. It was a handy thing to have, he thought to himself as he trotted down the lane. Technically, he could be court-martialed for something like this, but who was going to do anything to him here?
The cobblestone road had a distinct slope down toward the river. It would be easy for him to find his way back up the long hill after he'd had a few drinks.
Night had fallen, and the streets were empty by the time he reached the docks. It was further than he'd thought. A cool wind blew in from the north. It carried the scent of the moist fields from across the river. Birds and avian sauroids fought for the waste from the dockside fisheries.
Light and raucous laughter guided him to a small tavern set back from the road in an ally. It looked like just his kind of place. Few people noticed when he entered the tavern. He was weathered from his travels, and his hair was short and silvered. He expected anyone who noticed him to take him for an old sailor. The hearth had a merry fire roaring in it despite the heat of summer. Oil lamps on a few tables provided the rest of the meager illumination. The air was thick with sooty smoke from the lamps and laden with pungent smells: unwashed bodies, piss, vomit, and an overlay of alcohol. The welcoming smells of a good tavern.
He shoved his way over to the bar and slapped a few copper teeth on the polished wood top. "Al
e!" he shouted over the noise of the tavern. He had learned a few things traveling with the men of Jeroen's guard.
The barman slid a frothy pint of ale to him in a not-too-clean mug, but McGee didn't care about such things. His immunity implant would protect him from any major infectious diseases. He swept the mug up and drained it in one long swallow. "Again!" he said, slapping down more money beside his empty mug.
He could see a few tired looking girls working the crowd. I'll give 'em a ride they'll remember, he thought lustily. It's going to be a good night.
Tebrey didn't think about how late it was getting until he noticed that he had difficulty seeing Ana where she sat beside the hearth. "I guess we had better get you home," he said with a sigh. The evening had been filled with revelations for him. Hunter was an even more powerful psion than he had suspected, and Ana had the gift as well. Not even Jessica had been able to hear Ripper. He'd never heard of someone able to tap into the link that joined an operative to their companion.
He didn't want her to leave. He didn't want her out of his sight. He would rather have her spend the night with him. But he didn't think she was ready for that. He didn't know how her culture considered such things, and he didn't want to jeopardize the rapport they were developing. And sleeping together on a first date was probably pushing it.
He was going to have to talk to Mason and Bauval about her soon. They would have a better idea of how she would react to his advances. He walked over and opened the door.
She smiled and stood, brushing at her skirts. "I suppose I should," she said. She hugged Hunter and kissed the top of his head.
It gave Tebrey hope to see that. Might be a kiss waiting for me too, he thought.
Sap, Hunter thought to him teasingly.
Tebrey glared at the panther as Ana brushed past him, still smiling. Her body was lithe and firm against him as she passed. He caught a scent of spice and only then realized that she didn't smell like everyone else. She didn't have the musky stink that people get when they sweat. He wasn't going to complain. He hated the fact that he tended to smell like burnt insulation only a few hours after bathing; he had long since run out of deodorant.
She stood on tiptoes to brush her lips against his when they reached the landing. He wanted to pick her up and carry her back up the stairs. Instead, he opened the door to walk her home. It was dark outside, and Tebrey stopped with the outside door half open. He couldn't see anyone down by the gate.
"Sergeant?" he called out. There was no answer. He swore to himself and stepped back in, quickly shutting the door. "Christopher!" he yelled.
She came running out of the side room. "Sir?" she asked. Tebrey was scowling.
"Who is on gate duty?" he asked.
"Sergeant McGee, sir." She looked confused. "What's wrong?"
"I'm not sure." He called out mentally to Hunter, who came trotting down the creaking stairs. By then Bauval and Mason had come out of the parlor.
"What's going on, Commander?" Bauval asked.
"McGee isn't at the gate. I don't know where he is. Lieutenant, make sure he isn't in the house somewhere. Douse that light." He turned to Mason. "Can you take care of Ana for a bit? I'm afraid we may have a problem."
"Certainly," Mason said. "Ana, why don't you come with me? We'll grab a bite to eat. You must be hungry."
"Hrothgar?" Ana asked. She was frightened. She wasn't sure what was going on.
"It'll be okay, Ana. One of our people has gone missing; we need to find him. If you don't mind staying with Mason, we are going to look for him."
"Okay." She followed Mason in through the parlor door.
Hunter, do you mind going and looking for him in the yard? He may be out there, injured, Tebrey asked.
I don't mind, Hunter replied. I like the sergeant.
Just be careful, Tebrey admonished, and then let him out the door into the darkness.
"What can I do?" Bauval asked.
"Wake up the other marines. Keep everyone safe." Tebrey ran up the stairs and into his room. He snatched his pistol belt from the bedpost and turned to leave.
Jeroen was standing in the hallway. "What is going on? I heard shouting."
"McGee has gone missing." He paused to check with Hunter. "He's not outside, either."
The young lord followed Tebrey down the stairs.
Christopher came back into the room, breathless. "He's not anywhere downstairs, sir. I even checked the cellar."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. I don't think we're going to find him here."
"You think that he has been taken," Jeroen said.
"I do."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to get him back," Tebrey replied grimly.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Sergeant McGee awoke to pain.
His head throbbed from whatever had struck him, and was covered with a coarse sack that smelled of rotten meat. He gagged from the pain and the smell but didn't dare to vomit. He wasn't sure that whoever had captured him would remove the sack. It wasn't a way he wanted to die.
His arms were cruelly bound behind his back at the wrist and elbow. He couldn't feel his fingers. His legs were similarly bound. He was sitting on a hard surface, possibly a chair. He could hear voices talking softly somewhere to his left. He didn't recognize any of them.
Some subtle change in his breathing or posture must have alerted his captors that he was conscious. He was jerked roughly upright.
A man with a deep voice asked him a question.
"What? I don't understand," McGee struggled to say through the sack.
There was a sudden sharp pain in his abdomen as he was struck repeatedly with a blunt rod. He cried out and tried to turn away from the blows, but he was held firmly in place. The beating continued for some indeterminable time until his screams were reduced to hoarse sobs.
Why is this happening to me? he thought.
The man with the deep voice spoke again. It might have been the same question. McGee was in no position to say for certain. Each breath was an agony of effort. McGee was certain some of his ribs had been broken. He prayed silently that they wouldn't puncture his heart or lungs. There were no surgeons or medical nanotech packages here. The way they were pounding on his abdomen, they could damage his immunity implant. Then even some small infection could kill him. The thought was terrifying. He stayed quiet, hoping that they would think he had passed out.
The voice spoke again, not fooled.
Before McGee could even think about answering, he was stuck in the head repeatedly. Sometime around the sixth blow, he mercifully lost consciousness.
"Tebrey, please be reasonable," Bauval said tensely. "You have no idea where they may have taken McGee, and even if you did find where they're holding him, what could you do?"
"You know what? I'm tired of being reasonable. This isn't a time for reason. It's a time for action. I'm going to do what I do best, Bauval. I'm going to do what I'm trained to do. Now get out of my way, or I will move you out of my way."
Bauval stepped back from the doorway to Tebrey's bedroom. He had followed him up to the room and talked to him while the commander was changing into his old, worn black uniform. He had hoped to talk Tebrey out of doing something foolhardy. He was desperately worried that the man was going to get himself killed.
Tebrey brushed past the scientist and trotted down the stairs. "Lieutenant," he said to Christopher.
She handed him her ten-millimeter caseless pistol and spare ammunition. There wasn't much. She had often carried the gun out of sight. He knew it must feel strange not to be wearing it. He appreciated the gesture. He strapped it to his left hip, opposite his own ten-millimeter pistol.
Her eyes widened as she saw the other bulky pistol tucked behind his back. "Sir, you can't seriously be thinking of using that."
"If I have to," he said, stashing the ammunition in his pockets. He felt laden down with the two caseless pistols and the heavy antimatter pistol. He shrugged to settle the rest of his gear. He di
dn't know what he might be called upon to do, and wanted to be prepared.
"But, sir," Christopher said. "Consider the radiation!" She looked frightened.
"The secondary pulse is only lethal up to ten meters or so. I think it time that our enemies learn the error of their ways." He drew it, and his hands caressed the positron pistol, admiring its sleek deadly lines. The red armed light was flashing, indicating that the gun was building a charge. "Don't worry, Lieutenant. I'm taking it as a weapon of last resort. I'll not use it unless there's no alternative. I'm well acquainted with the horrors of radiation poisoning."
Tebrey had been carrying the pistol with him for months, stowed away with the items of gear he had left from when they were stranded. He had kept the gun packed away precisely because it was so dangerous to use. It was one thing to use an antimatter weapon on the surface of an airless asteroid, or on an alien world, where the residual effects of the radiation were irrelevant. It was quite another thing altogether to use it in the heart of a friendly city. His fierce anger and concern for McGee had prompted him to pull it out of storage and bring it along.
"Sir!"
"Christopher, if I had my old twenty-millimeter pistol, I'd take that instead. But I don't. I'll only use the positron pistol if I have to." He was ardently hoping he wouldn't have to use it, but he wasn't willing to risk his life by not taking it.
"Sir," Christopher said quietly. "The Nurgg might be able to detect the antimatter pulse. You could get us all killed."
"I thought about that, Lieutenant. Have you looked outside recently?'
"What?"
"There's a thunderstorm building. The Nurgg are good, but they aren't going to be able to differentiate the small burst of antimatter from my pistol from that produced by the storm."
She sighed and nodded. "Good luck, sir."
"Thank you."
"Hrothgar," Jeroen said from beside him, "be careful. I wish you would take a sword with you, or let me come along."
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