Spears of the Sun (Star Sojourner Book 3) (12 page)

The Vermakts went to all fours, for all the world like huge rats in uniforms, and loped after the chugging forklift. I realized they were the same two I had encountered at the harbor. They'd been following me!

I unholstered my stingler and aimed. Then I remembered. No charge…no burn.

Dammit!

They had nothing to fear from me as they leaped onboard the lift. One shut off the key.

“All right!” I said as they pushed me down into the seat and held me there. Damn, they smelled bad, like sweaty armpits. “Let go. I give up!” I lied. The prospect of facing that lunatic Rowdinth again made me wish for a can of rat poison.

They let me go and I sat up and brushed myself off. “I almost made it, you sewer rats,” I told them, just to be irritating.

“Not even close, Terran,” the male said. “We followed you from the woods and waited for you to make contact with W-CIA. We wanted to catch your accomplices too. But don't worry.” His smile was snide. “General Rowdinth will have ways to squeeze their names out of your shapeless body.”

“There are no contacts,” I said sullenly. “I work alone.”

A wanton sense of isolation settled inside me like the void between stars as the shuttle lifted into the night sky. My ride out. How could I contact Joe now?

I closed my eyes as the male steered the forklift back to their vehicle. When we reached it, the female worked the fork and bounced their stalled car onto its wheels.

I closed my eyes, gathered my tel powers and imaged a giant Earth tiger emerging from the blackness of night, head low, mouth agape and slavering, eyes like glowing yellow coals as he prowled toward the two Vermakts.
I've come to rip open your throats and bleed you out,
my
ancient enemies,
I sent,
before I feast on your beating hearts. Run and I will rip razor
claws down your trembling backs.

“Did you hear that?” the female squeaked. She rolled beady eyes that showed white. “I think it's a cat!”

“The cats on Fartherland have all been killed,” the male told her. But his eyes, too, were wide. “It's an Earth rat-killer. Now control yourself, Cirzma, before you lose this litter too!”

I came from Earth to rid this world of its rats,
I sent.
Run, rodents, if you can, and feel my hot breath on your necks as I crush your bones between my fangs

“It's him!” The male pointed at me. “He's sending these images.” He raised his fist to hit me. “You snake in the burrow!”

I shoved him hard. Vermakts are difficult to knock over with their low center of gravity. I grabbed his stingler from its holster as he staggered back and swept them both with a beam.

I was relieved that the weapon was only set on stun as they slid to the floor of the vehicle in two bulgy heaps. I shoved the stingler inside my holster strap, grabbed the female's weapon too, and climbed off the forklift, now sporting three stinglers. I limped to their patrol vehicle, got inside and drove toward the gate.

I had to smile. I had learned a valuable lesson. No matter how smart and/or civilized your opponent is, he retains, as we all do, the fears of his early heritage in the proverbial primal ooze. Being eaten alive was a link right at the top of the food chain. Latch onto that one with a tel message, and you activate the core of the survival kit, past reason, past all the so-called technological advances and scientific knowledge of civilized beings. With rats it's cats. And snakes. What was it with Terrans? Oh yeah, saber-tooths and short-faced bears would do nicely.

I had taken a step forward in my tel lessons, and my powers would never revert to previous dimensions. “You might have suggested that, Spirit, my Halcyon mentor and antagonist.” I knew he could easily reach Fartherland with his incredible tel powers. “Or did you assume that when the student was ready, the lesson would appear? As usual, thanks for all your help.”

I glanced back at the empty tarmac. The port's second shuttle sat in its open hangar. For me to board another shuttle would be suicidal. The port would be swarming with Rowdinth's police in a short while, and his Elite Guards.

On the other hand, Huff could board with a ticket for his Vegan homeworld. Then, he could disembark on Alpha with a coded message from me to Joe. He owed me. And he had honor. But was he alive? And if so, where in hell –

“Jules!”

In the lights of the patrol car, I saw Huff standing in front of the gate. I came to a screeching halt and opened the driver's door. “Huff?” It couldn't be Huff. Coincidences like this only happened in poorly written fiction. “Huff?” I got out, my stingler drawn. Did Rowdinth have other Vegans on the payroll? Could they disguise themselves as Huff with his slouchy stance and his golden eyes?

Wait! Wrong stingler. I pulled out a charged weapon.

He extended a furry paw. “I would not attempt harm on you, Jules. I thought you and I be friends. See.” He raised both paws. “I have no arms but these.”

It sure sounded like Huff.

I kept the stingler raised, but set only to stun. “What are you doing here?”

“Attempting to allay your fears.”

This had to be Huff. I holstered the charged stingler and stuffed mine into the holster strap, along with the third one. “Where are Chancey and Carmen? Are they alive?” I held my breath as I waited for his answer.

“You mean Shelley?” he said. “Why needs your waist so many weapons?”

“I'm opening a gun shop! I need answers, Huff. Where are Chancey and Shelley, if that's her real name?”

“If that's her real name, they are in the building with Joe Hatch, who says he is a friend of yours.”

“Joe? Joe's here?”

“No.”

“You just said….”

“In the building.”

“Get in the car, Huff!”

He did, and I drove to the terminal. “Why didn't you tags come to my aid when those two police cruds attacked me? I could've used some help!”

“Joe wanted them to capture you. He said they would not exterminate you.”

“Brave of him to take that chance. Did he say why? Wait. Let me rephrase that. Why did Joe want them to capture me?” I asked carefully.

“He believed they would take you to General Rowdinth's citadel and we would follow and locate it.”

“But you've been there.”

“Yes, I have.”

“Huff, don't you know where the citadel is located?”

“No. General Rowdinth keeps it holo-shielded so that the entrance appears to be just one more barren sand among more barren sand.”

“And when his own people approach?”

“They cannot find it.”

I sighed and shut off the motor. We were at the terminal.

I tried again. “How do his people get inside, dammit?”

“Oh. They must wear blindfolds and then an automated vehicle greets them and brings them inside.”

Thank you, Huff.”

“You're welcome, Jules.”

“Like pulling eye teeth!” I muttered as he led me into a back entrance of the building.

“What?”

“Eye teeth!”
Oh, no,
I thought.
Don't go there with Huff. That way madness lies.
“Never mind.”

Huff led me through a warehouse stacked with boxes for delivery and export. He opened a shabby inner door and nodded for me to enter. I walked into an employee's lounge with the smell of coffee. He followed.

Joe, Chancey and Shelley sat at a long table in the center of the room. Shelley wore little makeup, a demure outfit of blue pants and a white blouse, and a perceptive expression. No love child here, but a capable woman. Perhaps a W-CIA operative? Could be. Chancey nodded at me as I entered the room. He folded his bare arms, thick as a woman's waist, and sat back with a broad grin.

I shook my head and smiled. “It's good to see you tags alive and well. You too, Joe. Sorry I couldn't accommodate you and stay captured, but you know me, unpredictable as a bull moose in rut.”

“Sit down,” Joe said.

“How's Lisa?”

“She's fine.”

I took a ham and cheese sandwich from the refrigerator, unwrapped it and studied the contents. “And Althea and Abby.”

“Just fine too. Sit down.”

I poured myself a cup of coffee and strolled to the table. “How Charles what's-his-name? You know, Althea's new tag.”

“They're all
fine,”
Joe said. “Sit down.”

Shelley threw me a glance that held a wisp of humor.

I stirred the coffee. “Chancey? Is that your real name, or just a cover, too?”

He smirked “Who would name their kid Chancey?”

“So what do I call you?”

“My real name's African,” he said. “Call me Bhekizitha. It means 'He who watches for the enemy'.”

“Appropriate,” I said, “but unpronounceable, I'm afraid.”

“That's why they call me Chancey.”

“Are you going to sit down sometime today?” Joe asked me.

I pushed aside a platter with one doughnut and crumbs, rolled away an empty soda bottle that rattled to the floor, put down my dinner and leaned on the table with my hands. “The next time you want to use me for the sacrificial lamb, Hatch, let me in on the plan!”

Joe took out his pipe, stared at it and put it away. “There was no way to contact you. You know the stakes we're playing for.”

“Where
were
you,” Chancey asked me, “between the landing on the beach and boarding the shuttle?”

I thought of Shannon and the little people as I sat down and sipped coffee. God! It was awful. “This stuff tastes like battery acid.”

“I have an ant-acid.” Huff dug into a pouch in his belly fur. Were Vegans marsupials? If so, wasn't it only the females of the species?

“Never mind, Huff.” Joe said and stared at me. “Chancey asked you a question, Jules.”

I shrugged. “Just rooting around, so to speak.” The sandwich was days old, by the taste of it. I stared into the coffee cup. “You know something, Joe, you're damn lucky I escaped from Rowdinth's police.”

Joe stared at me and waited.

“Because if they had dragged me off to Rowdinth's den, I might have lost the opportunity to lead you to the lab.” I forgot and drank the coffee again. “God! This is terrible.”

“Then maybe stop drinking it?” Huff offered.

I heard Shelley gasp. “The lab?”

Joe's expression didn't change, but the look in his eyes grew intense.

“Where, Jules?” Shelley asked. “Where's the lab?”

“Well, the only entrance I know of is a hatch between tree roots that leads to a warren of little people disguised as Leprechauns, and a dead end at a wall of the lab.”

She glanced at Joe and frowned.

Joe closed his eyes and shook his head.

“You've been there?” Chancey asked. “It's not holo-veiled?”

“Rowdinth doesn't know about the tunnel to the lab.” I shrugged. “I couldn't tell you where the surface entrance is located, but if we blast the lab from that tunnel, we should be able to – “

“You were personally at the dead end?” Joe asked with an intensity that was unusual for him.

“Yes. Personally, Joe, that's how I know – “

“And that's how
they
know.” Joe rubbed his forehead. “Goddammit!”

I glanced from one solemn face to the other.

Joe sat back with a sigh. “They're tracking you,” he told me.

“Who's…Rowdinth?” I glanced around. “How?”

Joe stared at me, his lips pressed, and seemed older.

“I'll tell him, Joe,” Chancey said. “They're tracking you with a device that was implanted under your scalp while you were anesthetized in the parking lot.”

“What?” I asked numbly.

“I said – “Chancey started.

“I heard what you said. All this time?” I looked around the table. “And none of you had the balls to tell me?”

“It's not that simple, Jules,” Shelley said. “It's more than just a tracking device. It's….” She glanced at Joe.

The miserable coffee, the stale sandwich, played tag in my stomach. I wasn't certain I wanted to hear the rest. I touched the scab behind my ear. “What more?”

“It's a nuclear device,” Joe said.

Suddenly I felt nauseated. I couldn't find the breath to form words. “How…how will it…I mean, when will it go off?”

Huff sobbed and wiped his eyes. “When Rowdinth pushes the red button.”

I gripped the table edge and felt too weak to stand up and smash Huff across his face. “Why didn't one of you tell me? Is this another calculated move in your chess game, Joe? I had a right to know.” I stood up unsteadily.

“Where are you going?” Joe asked and nodded at Chancey.

Chancey kicked back his chair and stood up.

“The medical center,” I said. “They'll cut it out for me.” I put a hand to my throat and swayed. I can't remember ever feeling so vulnerable. “Why didn't you tell me?” I asked them again, feeling more betrayed than angry. I turned to leave.

Chancey came around the table and gripped my arm. “Sit down, Jules. The surgeons can't help you.” He pushed me into the chair.

I stared up at him.

“I'm sorry,” Joe said. “If they try to remove it….” He rubbed his lips, as though he didn't want to say the words. “It will detonate.”

I stared at nothing and attempted to slow my breathing, but I couldn't stop trembling. “You helped them do this to me,
didn't
you, Huff?”

“I,” he whined. “I. Yes!”

“I'll kill you!” I leaped at him, but Chancey got between us and held me back.

“Leave the tag alone,” Chancey said. “He didn't know what they were up to.”

I slumped back into the chair.

“Listen to me, Jules,” I heard Joe say. But it was as though they were all in another room, and I were alone.

A lunatic held my life in his hands.

“Jules!” Joe demanded. “Stay with me and listen.”

“What am I going to do?” I whispered. “Joe? Get me on a starship to Alpha. Rowdinth can't reach me from Alpha.”

“You can't do that.” Shelley leaned forward. “You see, if you had boarded that starship you planned to take, the device would have detected the change in air pressure and, it would have detonated.”

I tried to lick my lips but they were too dry. “Joe? C'mon, Joe, you always have the answers.”

He shook his head. “Not this time, kid.”

His words echoed down the halls of my mind. Not this time.