“She has to be here.” The woman who spoke held her weapon in both hands. “Every other door that was opened has been accounted for. Spread out and look properly.”
She had a decision to make, Velda realized. Because the likelihood of being found this time was high. If they were convinced she was here, they would start to look up.
Get them to touch you, the silver balls said.
She could do that.
She slid backward, easing off the high stack, but leaving the laz the Caruso had given her at the top, and only taking the two weapons they knew she had with her.
When she reached the ground, she lay herself down and arranged herself so that she looked as if she’d fallen. She placed a laz on either side of her, as if she’d dropped them, and then closed her eyes.
It seemed to take a long time for a guard to stumble across her.
He made a sound of surprise and called out, then knelt beside her and pushed the hood of her coat off her face.
As soon as his fingers touched her skin, he paused, pressing down with his fingertips a little.
Then he leaned back on his heels.
“Grede, what is it—?” The woman who seemed to be in charge rounded the stacks and then stopped short. “What’s wrong with her?”
“I don’t know.” Grede shuffled out of the way and the woman joined him, flipping back her coat to get a better look at her.
“Maybe she fell.” The woman put a hand to her neck as if to check her pulse, and again, stilled, and then pressed a little harder. “Kilber and Vine, come here.” She raised her voice to call the other two.
They were obviously already on their way, because it was seconds before they crowded in behind the stacks as well.
“Let’s carry her together.” The woman’s hand was still pressed into her neck, as if she didn’t want to lose contact. “We need to get her to the med bay.”
They lifted her together, leaving the weapons lying on the ground, which Velda almost couldn’t believe.
What are we doing here?she asked the silver balls as she was carried like precious cargo out of the bay.
They need to feel protective, the voices in her head told her.We are making sure they will be on your side going forward.
They reached the med bay quickly, and Velda could hear someone moving around inside.
She also knew, suddenly and with certainty, Ethan was here. Lying somewhere close by.
“The prisoner?” a voice asked.
“We don’t know what’s happened to her,” the woman said. “We think she may have fallen off a high stack of boxes.”
She was laid down on a bed, and someone lifted her wrist to check her pulse.
Like the others, he paused, then pressed a little harder. “Pulse is a little thready,” he said. “I’ll need to do a few tests. Any contusions on the back of the head?”
“I didn’t think to check,” the woman said, stricken.
“That’s fine,” the medic soothed. “I’ll look now.” He gently lifted her head and felt for bumps. “Nothing. That’s good.”
The door opened, and from the sudden stillness in the people around her, Velda guessed it was someone they feared.
“You found her.” Sylvester’s voice was neutral.
“She was collapsed behind a stack of crates,” the woman said.
“She didn’t give you any trouble?” Sylvester sounded surprised.
