“Favors.” she said and refused to discuss the matter further. Andy didn’t want to know what kind of favors; Jimmy D’s reaction to Kit was too fresh in his mind.
When they reached their destination at Farragut West station, Andy wasn’t sure they hadn’t gotten turned around in the tunnel. The station was every bit as reeking and crammed as Rosslyn. After a moment, he noticed a difference and wished he hadn’t. There were more wounded and dead here.
Andy didn’t wait for Kit to suggest getting out of there. If not for all the bodies in the way, he’d have bolted for the exit. As it was, he stepped on several people in his haste, leaving a wake of shouts and curses. He didn’t stop. The climb up the dead escalator was tough, especially with so little oxygen in the air, but Andy made it gladly. Emerging, he found the harsh, fouled summer air of the city seemed delightfully clear.
Kit and Cinqueda weren’t far behind. They hadn’t talked on the ride or in the station, and they didn’t talk now. Kit indicated their direction, and Cinqueda took the lead, shepherding them through a stop-and-start route that somehow slipped them through any cordon the Army was keeping around the station. Andy saw soldiers from time to time, but none of them ever seemed to see the runners sliding through the shadows.
Once the station’s barricades were a couple of blocks behind them. Kit took the lead. As Andy understood the plan, she was using some subtle magical art to locate Tom. Every so often she would pause, tilt her head up as though sniffing at the air. Most times she would nod and go on, but twice she made them change direction. Andy didn’t know if it was because Tom was moving or because Kit was finding them a path that avoided the roving groups of rioting Compers and the reaction teams of soldiers or FedPols. Occasionally the sullen clouds overhead were illuminated by a sudden flash of light or the roving beam of a spotlight. He heard gunshots, screams, explosions, and sirens, but they never came upon any of the sources of the sounds.
“Very near.” Kit said as they crept into the broad intersection of Rhode Island Avenue and Seventh Street. Someone had abandoned three hulking military trucks there.
“At hand.” Cinqueda said.
Andy saw the direction in which she stared and squinted. The trucks weren’t abandoned. Two soldiers stood near them. One wasn’t wearing a helmet. A flash of light in the sky lit them. Yes, the one without a helmet was Tom!
The helmeted soldier had his head down and was talking. “Captain Furlann, this is Jackson. We don’t got no driver down here. You wanna get somebody down to the truck park, Ma’am, so I can get back to work?” He was quiet for a moment, then said to Tom. “She says the driver’s on his way, Major.”
If Tom was waiting for a driver, he would be leaving soon. “That other guy’s a problem.” Andy said. “We need to talk to Tom alone.”
“Subtle or fast?” Cinqueda asked.
“I don’t know how much time we’ve got.” Andy said.
“Good answer.” Cinqueda said, and she was gone.
“I wish we had time to warn your brother.” Kit said. “He may mistake Cinqueda’s actions, and that would be unfortunate.”
“Why? What’s she going to do?” Andy asked.
“Questions better asked before now.” Kit said. “Wait. Watch.”
It wasn’t long. Andy saw Cinqueda, a blur coming at the soldier from behind. The soldier didn’t know she was there until she touched him, and by then it was too late; Cinqueda had him disarmed and bent like a bow. One of her arms was around his throat, the chrome-nailed fingers of that hand caressing his hair. Her other hand held his weapon. His helmet spun lazily on the pavement. For a moment Andy didn’t understand why she’d stopped her assault, then he saw that Tom had pulled his pistol and was pointing it at Cinqueda’s head. At that range, he was unlikely to miss. Tom’s voice was deadly cold as he spoke.
“He goes down and you follow him, samurai.”
“Test of speed, soldier?” Cinqueda asked. She smiled, tight-lipped. “You’ll both lose.”
“No!” Andy shouted, bounding to his feet and racing forward. His shout drew everyone’s attention to him. Better that than somebody getting killed. He skidded to a stop a few steps from the frozen tableau, panting, “Nobody has to get hurt.”
“This augment with you?” Tom asked.
“Yeah. Sort of.” It wasn’t like Andy was actually in charge or anything. However, Tom seemed to think so.
“Tell her to let Jackson go. Easy and slow.”
Andy nodded, but he decided a request was more suitable than an order. “Cinqueda, would you let the soldier go?”
She responded with a slight shrug of her shoulder and a blur of motion. No longer held, the soldier stumbled forward. Tom shifted aim, but Cinqueda laid a hand against the barrel of his pistol. She was well out his line of fire.
“Told you.” she said.
Slowly Tom holstered his pistol. “You okay, Jackson?”
The soldier rubbed his neck, replying hoarsely, “Been worse.”
Kit walked up to Tom and looked up at him. “You were under guard.”
“That’s right. Would you be the missing Kit?”
“Not missing, but Kit, yes.”
Tom turned to the soldier. “What happens now, Jackson?”
“Some things it’s better not to see, Major. I figure your driver’s arrived, so if it’s all right with you, I’ll be getting back to my post.”
“It’s all right, Jackson. Thanks.”
“Null persp, Major.”
“Good luck, Jackson. Keep watching your hoop.”
“Always do, Major.” Jackson gave Cinqueda a brief nod before stooping to scoop up his helmet. Slapping it on his head, he turned and walked away.
“What was that all about?” Andy asked.
“You don’t want to know.” Tom said. The bleak look in his eyes confirmed it.
“We cannot stay here.” Kit said. “Others will come." Cinqueda raised an eyebrow and faded back into the darkness as Tom said, “If this is a rescue attempt, I won’t be going with you.”
“We didn’t know you needed to be rescued.” Andy said. “I don’t.” Tom said gruffly. “What are you doing here?”
“I had some information to give you. I thought you might be able to use it.”
“Information about what?”
“Telestrian and the Confeds.” Andy jacked into the viewer he’d brought and downloaded the incriminating files for Tom to read.
“So Telestrian is working with the Confeds, and the governor of North Virginia’s involved as well. A few things are starting to make sense.” Tom told them about Telestrian’s hold-up on the supplies and equipment that could have made the confrontation with the Comp Army far less deadly.
Tom’s news made thing fall into place for Andy. “Everything Telestrian has done has jacked up the tension, hasn’t it?”
“Looks that way.” Tom agreed. “And by denying the Army its supplies, they’ve helped make the inevitable confrontation with the Comp Army a bloody one. Net result: the UCAS government looks bad, right at a time when anti-UCAS sentiment is running high in North Virginia. It all puts Jefferson in position to claim his state’s better off with the Confederated States.”
“He’s said as much on the news.” Cinqueda offered. She’d rejoined them without Andy noticing her return. No one else even seemed to notice she’d left. “He’ll be inviting CAS troops in next.”
Tom snapped her a look that suggested to Andy she’d hit close to the mark.
“Border crossing means war, yes?” Kit said.
“Confeds don’t want a war any more than we do.” Tom said.
“But with the trouble up in Chicago, they might think this was a good time to make a grab.” Cinqueda countered. “They’ve always claimed North Virginia and the regions south of the Potomac were theirs, anyway. If they were squatting on the territory, they could stake a legal claim that would be messy to dispute.”
“Chicago or no Chicago, we’ll fight if they try it.” Tom said. �
��And while we’re beating each other’s brains out, the Azzies make their own grab at Texas while the Confeds’ backs are turned. The Azzie claim there goes back even further than the Confed claim to old Virginia.”
“Steele hasn’t got the balls for a fight.” Cinqueda said. “Especially not with North Virginia saying it wants to go South.”
Tom looked as though he were afraid she might be right. “I just wish I knew Trahn’s connection to all this.” he said. “I know he’s being friendly with the corps. He met with Osborne from Telestrian Industries East just as all this was blowing up. He can’t be working with the Confeds. He’s got nothing to gain from losing North Virginia.”
“What if he wants a war?” Andy asked. “If the Confeds send troops and there’s a war, he’d get a chance to be a hero.”
“He’s already a hero, and a war wouldn’t do any good. He knows that probably better than anyone.” Tom said.
“But you said he’s involved with Telestrian.” Andy said. “Involved, yes, but I can’t picture him mixed up with a plot to split off North Virginia and hand it to the Confederated States. To haul the rest of Virginia back into the Union—that I’d believe.”
“But he’s not innocent.” Andy insisted.
“No.” Tom said sadly. “Not innocent.”
“Well, there you have it.” Andy said. “Whatever Trahn’s up to, right now everybody but us thinks everything’s just happening naturally. Nobody knows that the Confeds are pushing it. Nobody knows what Trahn’s game is. But we know there’s shadow work afoot. If we expose everybody, people will wake up.” Andy thought that exposing a Confed conspiracy would be great. They would be heroes.
“Don’t be absurd.” Tom said. “Who are you going to bring this stuff to, who won’t bury it?”
“He’s right.” Cinqueda said. “Too many parties would get burned, and if it’s one thing folks in this town are good at, it’s covering their hoops.”
Andy couldn’t believe the situation was hopeless. Somebody had to be honest enough, and uninvolved enough, and still have something to gain. “Who’s in a position to do something?” Suddenly he knew who. “Let’s take it to the President.”
“Only one problem.” Tom said. “Any idea how you’re going to take this story to him?”
“You’re a military officer, Tom. You could—”
“Get nowhere near him. Not now. You won’t be able to get near him, either.”
Andy was unwilling to give up. “What if we go straight to the public? Tell everyone. If everything is out in the open, there’d be no way to hide what’s been done. No faction will be able to bury the truth. Something will have to be done.”
“How are you going to do that?” Tom asked.
“I don’t know.” Andy admitted.
“But Harry would.” Kit said.
“Who?” Tom asked.
“Markowitz!” Andy grinned. “Kit’s right. He would know.”
All they needed to do was get back to Arlington, and it turned out that Tom had an idea about that.
>NEWEBLIP5 FEED
-[2 2:12:03/8-25-55]
Access Charge Applied
Welcome to NEWSBlips, your instant information service. Please tap any blip and receive additional informative blips that you need to know. Access charge will be applied. Have a nice day!
BLIP
Government troops are obstructing fire-fighting efforts in riot-torn Washington. “It’s for their own safety.”—General Nathan Trahn, Commander, SE Military District
BLIP
General Trahn a liar. “The feds are using the rioting as an excuse to burn out those who support the right and proper destiny of Northern Virginia.”—Teresa Lee, Fairfax Regional Commissioner
BLIP
Corporate representatives expressed concern that their assets are at risk and that the federal government seems unable to provide protection. “We must look to other resources.”—Stephen Osborne, Allied Council of Concerned Corporations.
BLIP
President urged to declare martial law in Washington. “May as well. The Army’s running things anyway.”—Senator Gorkakov (Dem-MN)
BLIP
Genocide in progress. “The government is orchestrating the so-called crises in Washington and Chicago as a cover for a pogrom against metahumans.”—Spokesman for International Civil Liberties Union.
BLI—FUZZZZZZ
There is no North Virginia, only Virginia! Read your maps! Vivat the Old Dominion! FUZZZZZZ
BLIP
NEWSBlips apologizes for the interruption. No access charge has been applied for the previous item. Normal charges apply for additional informative blips that you need to know.<<<<<
21
Tom suggested they take one of the trucks since it was faster than walking. Andy pointed out that it wasn’t their truck. Tom, to Andy’s surprise, said he could drive.
“I thought you couldn’t help.” Andy said.
“You’re headed across the Potomac, right? Past the riot cordons?”
“Yeah.”
“So am I.” Tom said. “Since my driver hasn’t shown up, I may as well drive myself, and since I’m going that way anyway . . .”
“We might as well go with you.” Andy looked at Cinqueda and Kit. “But we don’t exactly look like we belong in an Army truck.”
“Except as prisoners.” Cinqueda said. “And one major doesn’t look like much of a guard detail.”
“I can fix that. There is a trick I can pull, so long as I don’t have to move.” Kit said. She snatched Tom’s helmet from where it hung on his belt and plopped it on Andy’s head. “We shall be soldiers.”
In an eyeblink she changed. Andy shook his head and blinked again, for Kit had been replaced by a burly black soldier—who giggled just like Kit.
“Look at yourself.” the soldier said with Kit’s voice.
He looked down. His hands were coarser and his clothes had become a gray and black camouflaged uniform. A web belt festooned with pouches cinched his waist. Andy looked at the others. Tom was still Tom and Cinqueda was still herself.
“I can do little for her, since she has surrendered so much of herself. She can be our prisoner.”
Kit’s illusion faded as they climbed aboard the truck, but she renewed it once they were aboard. Tom opened the panel between the cab and the back of the truck so they could communicate. Thus Andy heard Tom tell the guards at each checkpoint that they encountered, “Prisoner to go to Belvoir.”
To Andy’s relief, the scheme worked.
They had crossed the river and were somewhere in Arlington when Tom pulled the truck off the road and around behind a shopping complex. It was darker back there than it should have been, a lone, unbroken spot casting a pool of light at the far end of the building. The overcast sky offered only the reflection of the urban sprawl and the ember glow of the fires across the river by way of illumination. Andy could barely see his own shadow as he leapt from the truck. He almost walked into Tom as he came around the truck’s side. Cinqueda’s sudden, restraining hand on his shoulder was all that prevented a collision.
“I think it’s best I leave you here.” Tom said, addressing Kit and Cinqueda. He seemed to be making a point of not looking at Andy. “You should be able to get to Markowitz without trouble from here. This side of the building is dark, but there’s a convenience store open around the other side. There are telecoms. Okay?”
“Be fine.” Cinqueda said.
Andy was worried about what Tom was going to do next. “Won’t bringing us out here get you in trouble? I mean, you lied about taking Cinqueda in as a prisoner.”
“I wasn’t lying.” Tom said.
Andy was confused. “But Cinqueda’s not a prisoner.”
“I wasn’t talking about her.”
“You thinking about taking me in again?”
“No.”
Tom’s attitude was baffling. “I don’t understand.”
“I don’t expect you do. I’ve got to get goin
g.”
Andy offered the helmet. Tom took it with a tight smile and turned away to climb back into the truck. The engine revved and the vehicle lurched away. Dull red taillights glowered at Andy like a petulant demon until their light was overwhelmed as the truck splashed across the pooled light from the building’s lone spot. The truck turned the corner and was gone.
Andy felt like a kid as Cinqueda and Kit led him through the abyssal darkness. It was darker here than in the city proper. Though he was nearly blind here, they seemed to have no trouble at all. He wished he had the implants he’d been scheduled to receive before leaving Telestrian, or even just the military helmet with its augmentation visor. He didn’t like feeling so helpless, and Cinqueda’s cold chrome touch chilled him. Kit’s guiding touch, on the other hand, was warm, and not exactly motherly either. Andy contrived to stay nearer to her than to the other woman.
When they reached the telecoms, Cinqueda complained but did produce a credstick when neither Andy nor Kit had any. Once the system was open, Andy used a trick he’d read about on the nets to jigger the box’s calling code so it would misdirect any trace. They contacted Markowitz, who was, fortunately, still at Nell’s. He didn’t like being woken, or so he said. He didn’t sound sleepy when he demanded to speak to Kit, nor was he slow in cutting Andy off when Andy tried to explain the situation.
“Not on the line. It isn’t safe.” Markowitz said, proving it by telling them where they were calling from. “Kit, head for the place where we first met Yates. I’ll join you there.”
Andy didn’t know where Markowitz was talking about, but Kit did. It turned out to be an all-night Denny’s in the decaying sub-sprawl near the big Beltway-95 South interchange. Markowitz was waiting for them. Eagerly, Andy told him about Tom connecting General Trahn to Telestrian.
“It’s not evidence, kid, but it’s a link. The important part is that the public will buy it, and the bad public relations may be enough to get the goons off our backs. Corps get real shy when there’s a spotlight on what they do, especially when they’re messing with governments.”
Just Compensation Page 24
