Something had set Vira off. She seemed angry, and she hadn’t started the trip that way.
“Off.” Vira had held the shockgun on her the whole way, and she pressed it hard against Fee’s upper arm.
Fee swung down, her boots sinking a little into the soft sand, and kept her eyes on the Balcoan.
Her hand went automatically to the silver rod hanging around her neck and closed around it.
“Back up a little.”
She didn’t like the look in Vira’s eyes. Like the brakes had come all the way off.
“I got a message a couple of minutes ago,” Vira said, touching her ear. “Did you think we wouldn’t have ways of protectingourselves? That we wouldn’t have inside information about who might be coming here from Distani to get you?”
Damn. They must have picked up the rescue party Hoke was sending her.
So much for waiting for her ride.
She rolled her eyes. “How the hell was I supposed to know about that? Seriously? And how do you know they aren’t coming because Halarian Bost spilled the beans?” She lifted her hands, palms up. “We both know Baruke’s here. Why do you assume they’re coming for me when they could easily be coming for him.”
“No. They’re coming for you.” Vira sounded very sure. “Anyway, Bost wouldn’t talk and Baruke’s not here.”
“Right. Just like the Garmman won’t plough you under when you’ve served your purpose. But either way, what are you saying here? That you think I somehow contacted Distani and got them to send someone to fetch me? Is that actually what you’re saying, if you’re so sure they’re coming for me?” She put her hands on her hips.
She was still wearing her bracelet. She hoped she could antagonize Vira into taking a shot at her. That would be more foolproof than a strike with the rod.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Vira suddenly shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Even if you didn’t have anything to do with it, Grihan soldiers showing up are a sign that things are really going downhill, and I can’t have you rescued and talking. If the Garmman don’t get this right, we’re going to need to run, and I’d rather not have someone around who can describe me as well as you can. At least we have the thinking system as a bargaining chip if the worst comes to the worst, but it’s not really something I want to have to give up.”
“That’s if Kilmar or Nukolo haven’t decided to take the crystal and run while they sent you off on this little sidemission.” Fee gave a condescending smile, as if she thought Vira was a dupe.
Vira glanced back at the base, and then turned, teeth bared. “You are a real stirrer.”
“So shoot.” Fee patted her chest. “Go ahead. It’s a better way to die anyway than of thirst or a frien bite.”
Vira gave a little smile. “I’ve disliked you since I first set eyes on you. Have fun in whatever afterlife you believe in.”
She shot, straight at Fee’s chest, and the bracelet deflected it straight back.
It hit the Balcoan, flinging her off the mover and over onto the desert floor.
Fee walked around, finding it difficult to move in the soft sand.
Vira lay on her back, arms splayed. Fee crouched beside her, felt her pulse, and then picked up her shockgun.
“You really did try to kill me.” She swung onto the mover and looked down at the body. It was karma, but it was also so unnecessary. “What’s new, Eazi?” She gripped the handlebars.
“The two runners from Grih HQ have been shot at, and they’ve had to take cover. No one’s dead, but they’re pinned down by a really serious military heavy cannon.” Eazi sounded unimpressed. “They weren’t expecting any resistance that far out.”
“Okay, so they’re not coming, I assume.” Fee shielded her eyes to look up at theUnhil. “What about lifting the frame? Is that still going ahead?”
“Bunny is trying to make sure it won’t.” Eazi said. “But he’s only one little drone.”
“Baruke is back at the base, I’m sure of it. But there’s something wrong there. Maybe he’s injured, maybe he’s dead, but Vira and Kilmar were very sensitive about discussing him at all.” She wiped her forehead with her sleeve.
The sun was lower on the horizon and it would be dark in a couple of hours, but the radiation coming off the sand in waves of dry, moisture-sucking heat was making her feel sick.
She glanced down at Vira and then hopped off the vehicle and carefully removed the scarf Vira had donned to protect her hair and face on the ride, and wound it around her own head.
This wasn’t just going to help keep the sand out of her face, but hopefully she could pass for Vira when she returned, as well.
