In tandem, we could wreak havoc on Terrex Ltd.
But the trannies couldn’t find me a ski lift. They barely knew what a puter was. Besides, they wanted more than a few days annoyance for Terrex. Bring down the towers, Halber said.
Now that would be something.
If I could crack a tower access ...
Arno lived in a tower; in fact his father was a member of its owning syndicate. He’d shown me the puter rooms. In the towers, everything was on-line. Power, water consumption, locks, financial accounts ...
I wondered what kind of power surge it would take to blow the generators.
Could it be done?
And did I want to?
I must have dozed. When I woke, Allie was swinging her feet restlessly, and I felt oddly alive, as if in my mind some switch had clicked open.
“Allie.”
“Hah.” She yawned.
“Find Halber.”
She snickered. “Halber callya when he ready, Uppie.”
“I can do what he wants. Bring it all down.”
She appraised me, her look curious. “Cool. But gotta wait ’til Parka rumb finish.”
I searched my new vocabulary. Pook had spoken of a rumb, a fight. Why was Halber picking a fight now, and what were Parkas?
“Your rumb doesn’t matter,” I told her, but she wouldn’t see the point.
I tried to contain my frustration. Whatever his motive, Halber had offered me a chance to count, to make a difference. If I succeeded, I’d be famous forever.
I paced the station, hardly aware of the cold concrete under my bare feet. Allie was a just dumb trannie bitch, and Krand was half asleep. I wondered if I could slip out and find Halber on my own.
Not without shoes.
I padded over to Krand. “Where am I supposed to piss?”
He yawned. “Roun’ coma.”
Obediently, I went. As I assumed, he followed to keep an eye on me. I fumbled with my pants, stepped back. Suddenly I whirled and swung with all my might. I caught him in the throat.
His eyes bulged; his mouth flew open but no sound came. He clawed at his neck. His face grew red, then purple.
I eased him back, slammed his head against the wall. Something gave, and he slid to the ground.
Frazzin’ trannies. That’ll teach them to treat me like dirt. I slipped his sandals onto my feet. A far cry from my boots, but they’d do.
Now, to find Halber.
Chapter 33
POOK
AIN’ MY FAUL’ SUBS decide ta diss Peetee. In tunnel, when Uppiekit run fo’ his life, I stay real still, skin pricklin’, ’til cries of hunt fade distant. Nobody lef’ ’xcept me, Swee, an Sub Raulie.
“C’mon, Pookboy. Halber bettah be ’xpectin’ ya.” Raulie shove me through long tunnel to distant staysh.
Ordinary, I bristle an’ go proud. But we be in dark Sub place, an’ today everyone’s nerves be spook. Even walkin’ ta Sub stair, somethin’ wrong wid way Mids an’ Broads trayfo passby, like they heart ain’ in it. Like lissenin’. Make me chill.
So I go quiet, an’ don’ even care when Swee stay real close. Latah be time ta settle us. Now, we two Midboys togetha in dark.
“Where dey takin’ us, Pook?”
I go scorny. “Ta Halber, stupe.” Or maybe ta quiet coma, ta cut new mouth ’cross neck. I try not ta think ’bout.
Subboy lead us offa track ta open staysh. Big place, wid lotsa ligh’. Immediate, I feel reassure.
Long time pass while we wait. Prolly nigh’ by now, but can’ tell, unnergroun’.
Afta hearin’ Changman talk, I ain’ too surprise when grumblin’ inna tunnel grow loud like ta shake down walls. Figga, gotta be unnercar like allatime dey whispa ’bout.
Swee look fo’ place ta run. So of course I go proud. I stan’ roun’ nonchalant, like unnercar hissin’ along track be most ornary thing in world.
Wid shudder, car stop. Subs pour out. Halber catch my eye. “Wonnered if ya’d comealong.”
I go red. “Prollem. Okay now.” I look pas’ him. “Where my Jared Uppie?”
“Took ’im uppa wes’side, fo’ safe. Got coupla joeykits watchin’.”
I nod, like we be two growed Mids talkin’ biz.
“Whomped him some, ’til he ’greed ta help.”
I go indignan’; Jared mine ta whomp. ’Sides, afta help him sleep in elevate, I don’ wanna whomp him much as I use ta. But I don’ let thought show on face.
As Swee watch us talk, his eyes grow roun’. ’Bout time he realize Pook ain’ one ta fuckroun’ wid. Too late fo’ him, though, ’less I decide go easy.
“Well?”
I yank mind back to what Halber jus’ say. Somethin’ ’bout Jared need lotsa persuade, an’ keep eye on.
“No prollem,” I say. “Jared Washinton Uppie don’ give no trouble ta Pook.”
Halber grimace, like Changman when tea too hot. “Joeykit say he need nets. Even when I whomp him, kep’ repeatin’ it.” He fix me wid warnin’ eye. “Ya tol’ me he do anythin’ wid puters.”
“Course,” I say positive, tryin’ hard ta believe.
“Din’ say nothin ’bout no nets. Whassit mean?”
“Special kinda puter,” I guess. “Don’ rev jets, Halber. When I haddim inna elevate, all Jared do is complain. Don’ mean nothin’. When ya wan’ him ta start?”
“’Morra, day afta, maybe. Gotta finish settle wid Parkas.”
I say, casual, “Lemme talk ta him tonigh’.”
“’Kay. But now I busy wid unnercar.” He point ta Swee. “Who ya brung?”
I ’ready ta tell ’im Swee be nobody, allri’ ta dissim, but realize I look real stupe ta bring Midboy unner, who I don’ even know. “Frien’,” I say, reluctant. “Help me wid Jared Uppie.” I ignore Swee’s grateful look.
“Raulie’ll take ya ta wait fa unnercar. You kits stay outa way ’til afta rumb.” He tell joey where we spose ta go, an’ stalk off.
We walk long way in dark tunnel, wid nothin’ but Valdez perma fo’ light. Afta while shadows make me dizzy. Finally, we come out inta ’notha’ staysh. Sub guides tell us sit onna bench ’til one a’ unnercars free ta take us. An’ we betta shaddup, cause Subs sleepin’ alla roun’ us.
Swee twis’ roun’. “Where dey got us?”
I shrug. “Safe place. Dunno.”
“Why special place, Pook? Ain’ whole Sub safe? Who go down inna Sub ta rumb?”
I glower in dim ligh’. “Who ask you ta comealong? Think I don’ ’member who bonk me on head wid board, in Pook lair?”
He blush. “I hadda, Pook. Peetee made me.”
“Ri’ some Uppie joeykit scare ya enough ta bash Men’. Think I so stupe ...” My voice fadeout, ’cause I remember how yestaday Peetee whomp me on roof, an’ do it ’gain today outside elevate. Still dunno how it happen. But when his eyes go fury, I wanna promise any thin’ ta make it stop.
“Ya shouldn’a took him ta lair.” I make my voice accuse.
“I hadda,” Swee say again. Inside, I believe. But I still try ta look pissoff.
Few min later, unnercar come ’long wid usual screech. I relieve ta see Halber ain’t on it. Don’ wan questions ’bout Jared ’til I kick sense in him. Uppie gotta realize Halber ain’ one ta fool wid; could get diss.
Fac’ is, Pookboy feelin’ bit nervous hisself. Maybe promise Halber bit too quick ’bout Jared an’ puters. Dunno what Uppie means ’bout nets; one time Karlo use net on toppa roof ta catch birds fo’ stewpot, but can’t figga how Jared use one in puter.
“Comin’, Midboy?” Sub driver only one in unnercar.
I go proud, jump in car like ’luminum beast in scary tunnel is mos’ natural thing in worl’. “C’mon, Swee,” I say, scorny. “Won’ hurt ya.”
Couple min later, unnercar screech ta stop. Staysh got Valdez light hangin’ from roof. “G’wan,” driver say. “Out.”
I ask, “Where be Jared?”
“Sittin’ wid Allie’n Krand.”
“Dey comin’ wid us?
”
“Naw. Ya wait wid em, ’til Halber say.”
Gettin’ use ta Sub, little bit, but don’ like way dey ride us roun’ one staysh ta ’notha, so Pook got no idea where he be if wanna go outside.
I get out, Swee stayin’ close like usual. Make me laugh; first’ Midboy ’fraid I diss ’im, den he ’fraid ta leave me.
Unnercar rush off wid screech. I look roun’.
No Allie.
“Yo! Jared!” My voice echo louder ’n I ’xpect, an’ Swee flinch. “Allie!”
Nothin’. Then, cautious, head peer roun’ coma, see her, duck back.
Time fo’ fun. I wait a sec, shout “AARRGGHH!”
Allie shriek.
I duck roun corna, grinnin’.
Subgirl ain’ laughin’. Her eyes frantic. “Halber be wid ya?”
“Nah.”
“Crise onna crutch!” Her han’s clutch at jumpsuit, twistin’ an’ scrabblin’. “Ohgod ohgod!”
I snicka; she sound like Jared wailin’ inna elevate. “Whassamatta, seen a ghos’?”
Her lip curl like cry, but ’stead, she leap at me, claw my face good ’fore I grab han’. “Don’ fun me, Midboy asshole! I gonna get diss, soon as Halber see!”
Should knock out her frazzin’ teeth fo’ claw me, but she so scare I go pity. “Why?”
“Jared gone!”
I go cold, can’ breathe. “Jesus, whatcha done?”
“Look!” She pull me roun’ corna. “He diss Krand!”
Subboy lay on flo’, head all bus’.
Swee say, “Jeez, he ack like Peetee!” Tug at my sleeve. “See, Pook? Dat’s why I hadda tell.”
My mad come out all at once. I whomp Swee ova an’ ova ’til he hunch down cryin’. “Shut frazzin’ face ’til I tell ya!”
Allie pull at my arm. “What’ll I do, Pook? Halber diss me fa sure when he fin’ out!”
I growl, “I be one gonna diss ya, stupid bitchgirl!” ’Cause alla sudden I realize, not only I lose what Halber promise me in trayfo, but lucky if Sub Boss don’ start blood rumb ’til he venge on me. “Stop bawlin! Where he go?”
“Krand took him here ta piss.”
“Jared run upstair ta outside?”
“Nah, I was ’tween him an’ stair. Couldn’t.”
“Fo’ sure?”
She flare, “Tolya, I sittin’ ’tween! He musta run in tunnel. Took Krand’s shoes.”
I rub scratches on face, thinkin’ furious. “Which way?”
“How I know, Pook? Din’ see him.”
“Obvious, he tryin’ ta escape. Which way closest?”
She go calm unner my questions. Feels good, be in charge. Swee quiet an’ respec’ful. Allie look ta Pook like he growed.
Now all we gotta do is fin’ Jared.
She say, “Next staysh eight block north. Got stair up, but—”
“Les’ go, den!”
“I don’t think he tryin’ ta escape, Pook!” Dat got my full ’tention. “He wanted me call Halber, like Halb come runnin’ when joeykit call.”
“Why?”
“Said he could do what Halb want wid puter. Hadda tell Halb rightaway.”
Made no sense. “Fo’ dat, he diss Krand? What he think Halber do when he fin’ out?”
“He gotta be glitch, Pook.”
I sigh. “Don’ matta. We still gotta fin’ him. Okay, which way he go ta look fo’ Halber?”
She say tentative, “Unnercar brung him from south.”
Guess right, Pook, cause else ya get shiv stuck in ya.
“South. Hurry.”
“Neva catch him in dark,” Allie say. “Pull down light an’ take. Halber already pissoff as he can get.”
We all three dash down tunnel, light swayin’ wild, throwin’ shadows every way.
I pant, “Jared got light?”
“Naw.”
Good. Mean he go slower.
We don’ go fas’, ’cause we gotta look in every alcove, case Jared hidin’. But all of us realize how ’portant it is ta catch ’im, and by spreadin’ out we cover ground.
I ask Allie, “What if unnercar come? Smash us flat?”
She go scorny. “We see lights an’ hear far away. Get off track is all.”
Make me feel stupe, and I go red. Too dark for her ta see, so I don’ gotta whomp her for respec’.
But already I plannin’ how I gonna stomp Uppie. Ol’ Jared Washinton gonna see lights, even in dark. Spit a few teeth ’fore I done. Yes, Pook, he gonna whimpa. I do watcha say.
If I don’ fin’ him, I head for stair and run nor’. Take my chances in Harl turf ’fore I face Halber widout my Jared.
Ahead, tunnel wall get wider.
Allie pant, “Staysh.”
“Stair ta outside?”
“Yeah, but Subs guard it good, cause a Parka rumb.”
“What dey think, see us runnin’ through?”
She shrug. “Whassit matta? I diss widout Jared.” Den, “Turn off permalight.”
We run through staysh, stayin’ low in tunnel.
No Subs down unner. We safe.
I glad when safe to turn light on ’gain. Not sure somethin’ mean lickin’ its lips in dark, breathin’ down Pookboy’s neck, but not sure it ain’t, neitha.
Swee grab my arm tigh’, and I squawk. “Don’ do dat!”
“Saw somethin move.” He point ahead.
I swallow, not sure I wanna know. “What it be?”
“Joey. Maybe Jared.”
I go relieve. “Gettim!”
Chapter 34
ROBERT
THE SUB CAVERN STANK of smoke and bodies and Lord God knew what else. Chang, the old trannie, sat unmoving in a rickety chair they’d provided. Behind him, the Captain waited against the grimy wall, arms folded. Adam and Arlene stood together, as if for mutual protection. From time to time I glanced at Arlene. Her mouth was set in a grim line.
Halber, the tribal leader, hadn’t yet made an appearance. Our chamber looked to be a gathering place, but was virtually deserted except for the nervous trannie who’d followed Chang here, and who remained with us, half guide, half guard. I waited with mounting impatience. We had little enough time to find Philip before the Unies began sweeping the streets.
I caught my breath. Did the Captain know they were coming? Arlene had taken him aside and spoken privately when he’d swooped down on us in his heli. But would he wait with such stolid patience, if he realized war was about to erupt?
Someone should tell him, if Arlene hadn’t. I considered it, but put aside the thought. An hour ago, the Captain’s temper had ignited when he learned I’d helped Arlene wander the streets. He’d rebuked me as I hadn’t been since I was a cadet, and I didn’t care to undergo the experience again. Uneasily, I wondered if Arlene would take responsibility for calling in the Unies, or tell him of my prompting. It was I, after all, who’d had the connections to contact the SecGen.
No, better I said nothing. An inner voice chided my cowardice. I sighed; I’d been too long a politician, far removed from the ideals of Nick Seafort’s beloved Navy. I was out of my element.
Unies aside, it was pointless to wait in this fetid cave hoping to bargain with a savage, if indeed he ever appeared. Philip was nowhere to be seen; if he’d ventured underground, he was long gone, or dead.
I said tentatively, “Arlene?”
“I know.” She turned to her husband. “Nick, why wait?”
Unexpectedly, it was Chang who answered. “Without they cooperate, ya won’t find joeykit.”
“We can search on our—”
“Won’t fin’ nothin’ they don’ let ya fin’.” Chang spoke softly. “This their turf. Go in with force, you’ll have to kill ’em by dozens. That what you want?”
“I want my son,” she said.
“Our son.” The Captain cleared his throat. “Mr. Chang’s right, hon.”
Despite myself I said, “Perhaps we should go home to the hotel, and try again later.” I risked a glance at my watch. “It’s already d
ark.”
Adam said, “Jared’s been gone for days, and this is as close as we’ve gotten to either boy.”
“All right.” Almost, I added, “sir.”
By the time fifteen minutes dragged past, I could barely contain my impatience. What if our heli was damaged? What if the Unie troops didn’t recognize us as civilized folk? What—
At the far end of the hall, a commotion. Subs poured into the tunnel, carrying injured comrades.
“Set ’im down gentle, Kass!”
“Don’ make no diff, he be dead inna min.”
“Bring in othas. Look wha frazzin Parkas done ta—”
“GODINHEAVEN, LOOK! UPPIES!”
In an instant, all eyes were upon us.
“Cool, joeys.” Our guide’s tone was cautious. “Changman brung ’em. Waitin’ ta see Halber.”
“Inna Sub? Raulie, ya let Uppies inna Sub?”
“Hadda, or dissem. Dey wouldn’ stop. An’ dey got stunners an’ lasers.”
An iron bar whistled across the room, clanged against the wall inches from the Captain’s head. “Get ’em!”
Arlene snapped, “Nick, stay down. Adam, in front with me. Aim to kill, but don’t fire until—”
In response, the Subs spread to all sides. Clubs appeared, and knives, and spears. Word spread to the end of the tunnel, where ever more tribesmen crowded in.
The one called Kass growled. “Get outa Sub!” His eyes blazed. “Ain’ fo’ Uppies!”
Chang said, “We here to see Halber.”
“Shaddup, ol’ man! No one lissen afta ya bring Uppies unner.”
Raulie glanced between us, as if to placate both sides. “Subs rumb wid Parkas. Bad day. Winnin’, finally, but lotsa hurt.”
Arlene’s voice was flint. “Damn your hurt. I want my son.”
A spear flew. Adam ducked, stumbled on a mattress, fell with a crash.
“Gettem!” The mob surged.
“NO!” Shouldering us aside, the Captain strode through our ranks. “Subs, looka me.”
“Nick, get back!” Arlene’s cry was urgent.
“We won’t do murder here.” He turned back to the Subs, set hands on hips. “I be Fisherman Cap’n. Come unnergroun’ wayback ta see Alwyn. Frien’s we was, willbe.”
Voices of Hope (The Seafort Saga Book 5) Page 30
