Rissa and Tregare

by F. M. Busby

  "I see. Others may have their chance to persuade you, but if they do not-"

  "You've got it."

  "Yes." She thought, then nodded. "It was the same with Erika-and now with Liesel." Back to the cabin and inside, Tregare sat brooding. Finaly Rissa said, "Bran? Does this problem worry you so much?" He shook his head. "It's not that. Oh, some, sure. But what's got me down is the way Jimar has changed. I'd heard rumors-which is why I took the precautions-but I hadn't realy credited the stories." Looking up at her, he said, "He's always had ambition to burn, but back at the Slaughterhouse, Peralta was one of the fairest cadet officers we had. I never thought the day would come, when I couldn't trust that man behind my back."

  "He was your friend, then?"

  "Not quite that, maybe. But sure's hell he had my respect-and deserved it."

  She put her hand on his. "Then let us hope he still does."

  "Hope, yeah." But Tregare brightened up a little, and could talk of other matters. in the morning, Rissa proposed a schedule for her work on No Return. Tregare answered her. "Until I've settled with Peralta, you and I stay together at all times on that ship. I know it'l slow things down but-" He waved away her protest. "This is as much for my safety as for yours."

  And when they met with Limmer, before going to No Return, Tregare told him, "We do all the preparatory work first, before any weapons go aboard. Get them unpacked, but keep them groundside. Until I'm sure of Peralta one way or the other, that ship stays unarmed."

  Rissa spoke. "But you said-in this situation, all landed side by side-that ships' weapons are of no use." Tregare grinned, "Yes. But you see, I've thought of a way -given a couple of working turrets and maybe a missile-I could lift that ship with a good chance of getting free. And if / see it-maybe Jimar does, too. I wouldn't bet against it." Peralta, when they boarded No Return, was cool and polite. Inspecting the drawings, he demurred at Rissa's plan to remove half the forward beams and brace the remainder with a ring of girders. "Or at least," he said, "hold off until we know for sure that there'l be time for such extensive work and stil meet deadline-whenever that is." Rissa frowned-Peralta's objection was not logical and would make the work more difficult-but seeing Tregare's gaze on her, she did not speak. When the two went upship alone, she marked to her plan anyway. Tregare raised his eyebrows but did not object. And later, walking from Peral-ta's ship to Limmer's, he said to her, "Notice the bulkhead seals just below the open-hull area? Not standard, and al new. Sure as peace, he's thought of the same trick I did!" Peralta joined them and Limmer for lunch. He protested the delay in initial weapons installations. Tregare said, "It looks slower, but we get fewer mistakes with al crews working at the same stage of the job. We learned that on Carcharo-don." Rissa thought, When he wants to be, Tregare is a good liar.

  the next day, work proceeded smoothly. "Too damned smooth, in fact," Tregare said at dinner one evening. "I've got Limmer accidentally mislaying some parts and supplies, to stall the job until Peralta has to make up his mind." But Jimar Peralta showed no signs of doing so.

  The day before Tregare's ultimatum was to expire, he and Rissa stayed away from Base Two. He sent Deverel and Kenekke instead, and spent most of the day in the scoutship. At mid-morning Rissa joined him there; he sat at the control console, drumming one hand's fingers against its edge.

  He grinned up at her. "The only good thing is, I already know I can outwait him. But it's no fun."

  "Why do you think it best that we are not there today?"

  "Peralta's boiling with alternatives. If he could reach me directly-I've deactivated his scramble channel here-he couldn't help but try them on me. But he can't talk without Limmer's hearing what he says, so he can say only yes or no. For me, Rissa, that insult was a lucky thing."

  "You know the man better than I." They sat together, speaking occasionally but not often. At noon Rissa brought food from the cabin and they lunched; then she left him to his vigil and walked for a time to ease her own tensions. In late afternoon, as she approached the cabin again, she saw him emerge from the scoutship.

  He waved and shouted, "It's over." When she was in speaking range he said, "Peralta leaves the ship tomorrow; Hain and Anse are bringing his signed agreement. He didn't even ask much more than Ms share was worth-just enough so we could dicker a litle and both save face."

  She ran to him; his arms tightened around her and lifted her off the ground as they kissed. He set her back on her feet, and she said,

  "Now-tomorrow-we can do the work as it should be done!"

  "Sure, but right now let's celebrate!" They started toward the cabin; from above came thunder.

  "bran?" But he was running for the scout; she folowed. In-side she found him at the comm panel, grinning and talking rapidly.

  "Jargy, you old goat! Why didn't you call in sooner?"

  The picture wavered; the voice came quiet and deliberate. "Not sure who ran the place these days, Tregare-three ships at Two and none of them Inconnu. Thought I'd wait for a hail before putting down."

  Tregare nodded. "Sure. But shouldn't you go to the port first, and refuel?"

  "No need. I hijacked a fuel pod in space not long ago. Just topped off from it-emptied and jettisoned it a few hours ago."

  "Good enough. Hold a minute? And listen in." Leaving the circuit open he called Lefthand Thread and told Limmer where to place a landing marker.

  "All clear, Jargy?" The streaked image nodded. "Fine; set her down, then. I don't think you and Limmer know each other, but a bottle or two will take care of that."

  "I'm sure." Then; "You're not at Two, Tregare?"

  "No. At the cabin-remember? But we'll be down in the morning."

  "Good. Then-" Hoad paused, looking to one side before facing the screen again. "Hold it a minute. Got a passenger who wants to talk with you."

  "Passenger?" Another person moved into view. Almost, looking over Tregare's shoulder, Rissa could recognize the wavering face.

  The man spoke. "Tregare? In case you can't see me any bet-ter than I can see you, I'm Osallin, from Far Corner. And I'd like to ask how it's fared with Tari Obrigo who shipped with you from that planet." Before Tregare could answer, Rissa pushed beside him to the screen. "Osallin! We do meet again! But how-?" He laughed, and now she knew him. "If you're still with the alleged brigand, my concern was probably needless. Un-less ..."

  "Bran Tregare is now my husband, and his dark deeds have been somewhat exaggerated. Though for a time . . . " She gasped, then laughed at Tregare's gentle pinch below her ribs. "But you, Osallin-how is it that you are here?" She could see the shrug he made. "UET was nosing too close to me; time was short. So when Deuces Wild landed, I pulled the chain."

  "I do not understand."

  "Standard practice, Tari. For UET's benefit, my chief business rival-Kirchessel, his name is-pulled a coup and wiped me out, possibly killing me in the process. Did a lovely job of bombing my office to destroy the evidence-after my own boodle was safely out and packed for boarding, of course."

  "This Kirchessel is, then, your friend?"

  "And successor as Hulzein agent on Far Corner. As I said, Tari-standard practice, though of course with misleading variations. Now the codes you've been using to me are valid until you change to the new ones I've brought you. And-" Rissa leaned forward. "Is there word from Earth, from Erika?"

  Now he laughed again. "Ah, is there, though? You won't believe what she's been up to-no, I can't tel that over a cir-cuit. But I have it all here. It's true I shouldn't know about it myself, but I'm a code expert with incorrigible curiosity, so I do know. But you'l see-tomorrow you'l see."

  "I shall look forward to that. And to seeing you, Osallin."

  They ended their talk; Tregare and Jargy Hoad exchanged a few more remarks and signed off. Leaving the scout, Tregare said, "Five ships, Rissa! Only one to go, and Hawkman's dickering for Valkyriel Let's really celebrate-dinner with Hain and Anse when they get here, but wine and love before-hand!" She laughed and they went into the cabin. they were s
til in bed, he reaching across her to refil his wine-glass, when they heardthe aipcar. He sat up. "They're late. I'd forgotten the time-it's almost dark." Then; "Something's wrong with that car-it shouldn't be so noisy." He crawled over her, out of bed, and went to the door. As he opened it a few inches, she saw him reach under the leather flap and bring out the energy gun; then he dove flat to the floor. A hissing, tearing sound came-the door jounced partly open to slam against his head and shoulder, and smoke boiled from its center.

  From outside came more smoke; Tregare got to his knees and leaned his weight against the door, closing it. He threw the locking lever, then scuttled toward her on hands and knees. One hand stil held the gun; the other tugged at her arm.

  "Down out of there! Here-behind the bed-for now."

  She rolled out and joined him on the floor. "What is it?"

  "Peralta! Peace knows what he's done with my men, but he's got the aircar!" The sound came again; wood charred and fel away from the door, exposing red-hot metal.

  "But, Tregare-what does that?"

  "Ship's projector-it's got to be! Lucky he doesn't have ship's power-this whole place would be vapor and us with it. How he ever got the car off the ground-that's what sounded wrong-he's overloaded past al safe limits."

  Once more the ear-rending noise. The door's center blazed white; molten metal erupted, and for seconds a blinding beam charred wood beside the kitchen entrance. Tregare leaped to the door and gave a piercing scream; over his shoulder he said, "Let him think he hit somebody!" Then; "Rissa! The pilbox-get there fast-and get Peral-ta!" He ducked and moved to the side window. "I can see him here, at an angle." He fired, blowing the double panes out. "Now maybe I can keep him in the car until you get there. Then I'll try to lure him out. But if I can't, the car's expen-dable." He moved toward the rear of the window, aimed, and fired. "Get back in there, Jimar!

  Wait until you're invited!" And to Rissa; "Move! If I give three quick shots or he gets out of the car, hit him with both barrels." She was already moving, time-sense slowed to agonizing pace. Swing the tub, push the release-she ignored the ladder and dropped to land with knees bent, catching balance with hands to ground. The jar hurt her feet but she ran-blinded by darkness, one hand brushing the wal for guidance. When the hand lost contact, she stopped and felt for the access shaft and climbed to the dimly lit pilbox. She swung the twin projectors, still locked together, to cover the aircar, then looked to see her target better. The car's front was torn away; the projector jutted from a ragged open-ing. It shot a flare of ionization-Peralta was still inside. Melted plastic splashed from the car-Tregare held stalemate. The cabin wal smoldered in several places-Peralta looking for a weak point?

  Cabin and aircar exchanged shots. Peralta's flare seemed slightly weaker-power running low? Still the man did not leave the aircar, nor did Tregare give her the signal.

  The firing ceased. She held her aim on the shadow, dimly seen through blackened plastic, that was Peralta. Nothing moved. Then the aircar inched forward; she tracked the motion. It turned slightly toward her, then away again, approaching the cabin from a changed angle. As it turned, Peralta fired.

  He has Tregare pinned against the wall!

  Only when the smoking corpse, haloed with blobs of molten plastic, toppled from the aircar, did she realize she had fired. without conscious thought she jumped-slid-down the lad-der. Which way to turn? Yes. She ran along the tunnel and climbed, breathless, up the shaft. Memory found the latch for her; the trapdoor lifted and she pulled herself up. She saw Tregare- he is alive!- rubbing something onto his right side. She ran to him but he turned sidewise, his left hand half holding her and half fending her off. They kissed; she pulled back to look at him, but had to wipe tears away to see him clearly.

  "Oh, Bran! I was afraid I was not in time!"

  He handed her an open jar of orange salve. "Here-you can reach it better," and she saw the angry burns on his right arm and side. He smiled at her grimace of concern. "It's not serious-just painful as hell until we get the gloop on it. Hey-gently, now!"

  She smoothed the odd-smelling stuff over and around the burns. He said, "This is just from side flash-the beam dis-sipates in air and I caught the losses." His left hand touched her cheek. "You caught on that he was swinging to pin me, didn't you? I fired the three shots, all right, but his heavier beam drowned them so you couldn't see. Anyway, you got him in time-and I was moving up to the corner, beside the door, so he couldn't have got a direct hit without backing and turning some more."

  She stood holding the jar; he look it and gave her a towel for her hands. "Come on-let's get to the scout and find out what happened at Base Two."

  the smoking projector effectively blocked the doorway; they could not pass without burning themselves. Tregare went to the blasted window and dropped to the ground; Rissa fol-lowed. She said, "I am afraid I ruined your aircar." Tregare barely glanced at the smoldering remains. "We can get another. And except for the wiring, maybe salvage the pro-jector." He led the way into the scoutship and caled Limmer on scramble. On the screen, the man's scarred face appeared.

  "Tregare? Thank peace, you're all right! Peralta-?"

  "Medium well done, I'd guess." He motioned toward Rissa. "She got him for me. Now what in hell's name hap-pened 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 land-ing 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 pro-jector 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 sup-plies 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, con-cluding, "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,

  " 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 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?"

  Rissa shook her head. "No-we speak of what has hap-pened where y
ou 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 said, "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 hils below. "Tregare! When the lights come on suddenly, we wil 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 briliant ilumination, it swung to one side and al orienta-tion 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 disorgan-ized; 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.