She hurried over to the hire desk and made her request.Thank the goddess.There was a free droid.Betrys tried not to think about the loss of currency as she handed over a large amount of shillars.
“What do you desire of me?”the silver droid asked on activation.
“I need you to come with me, lift some luggage then pilot a shuttle to Ione Island on Tiraq.I will write you a note.Deliver this to the owners of the Middlemarch Resort and they will organize your return to Dalcon.Do you understand?”
“Your orders are clear,” the droid said in a high-pitched voice.
Betrys shivered.The droid’s squeaks reminded her of Iseult’s exultant singing.She gathered her wits.“This way.”
Leo was still unconscious on her return.Concern had her sinking to her knees to check his pulse.His lashes fluttered at her touch, his lids lifting extra slow as if they were heavy and cumbersome.
“Not dead yet,” he muttered.
“You’re not going to die,” she said in a fierce tone.“Help me take him to the shuttle.”
“I will carry him,” the droid replied.“Lead and I shall follow.”
Betrys hurried to the shuttle door and pressed a button to open the door.It refused to budge.She tried again.Nothing.
“The door won’t open.Do you have a key?”
Leo’s head lolled against the droid’s silver shoulder.
“Leo,” she said sharply.“Leo.The door?”
He mumbled something intelligible.
“Handprint pad,” the droid said.“Press his hand against the pad.”The droid shifted position and Betrys seized Leo’s hand.To her relief the door opened with a quiet whisper.
She stood aside and let the droid enter.“Wait while I write the note, then you can leave for Tiraq.”
“As you order.”The droid set Leo in the seat and secured the harness.
At least he is an advanced model, capable of basic thinking,Betrys thought as she trotted off to procure a disposable genic mini-tab with which to send a message.
She arrived back at the shuttle, puffing and out of breath.“Give this mini-tab to Leo’s family.I believe you will find them at Middlemarch Resort.”
“It will be done,” the droid said, accepting the mini-tab.“Thank you for choosing Zionible Transport for your travel requirements.”
Betrys took one last look at Leo.He was slumped in a passenger seat, only the harness holding him upright.Or at least that was the way it appeared to her.His eyes were closed again, and his chin rested on his chest.Intermittent spasms danced along his muscles, making him cry out.
Betrys bolted from the shuttle, but guilt followed like a tail.The door whispered shut after her and she hurried back to the fly-mo, regret chasing swiftly on her heels.But with remorse came a hint of satisfaction.If Iseult had realized Leo still lived she would have requested him for a fourth session and been within her rights.It was the way the contract was worded.And Leo would never survive another session with Iseult.Never.
Betrys imagined the intrigue Iseult would have felt.Yes, she’d done the right thing.She prayed Iseult never discovered her disloyalty.
Chapter Five
“Sir.Sir.Wehavearrived.”A high-pitched voice spoke, inches from his ear.
Leo tried to lean away from the irritating squeak, but it droned on and on and on until Leo growled in self-defense.He cursed at the blast of light that seared his pupils.
“Sir?”
“Who the devil are you?”Leo asked.
“I am droid 765432, hired to deliver you and your shuttle to the Middlemarch Resort.We have arrived, sir.”
Leo struggled to rise.
