Flandry scrambled back into the overclothes he had shucked while
working. He stuffed some cord in a pocket. A chronodial said close to an
hour had fled. It stopped when he fired a blaster bolt at the main radio
transmitter. On his way out, he sabotaged the engine too, by lifting a
shield plate and shooting up the computer that regulated the grav
projectors. He hoped not to kill anyone in his escape, but he didn’t
want them sharing the news before he was long gone. Of course, if he
must kill he would, and lose no sleep afterward, if there was an
afterward.
The air stung his injury. He loped over creaking snow to Rrinn’s house.
Closer, he moved cautiously, and stopped at the entrance to squeeze his
eyes shut while raising his goggles. Charging indoors without
dark-adapted pupils would be sheer tomfoolishness. Also dickfoolishness,
harryfoolishness, and–Stunner in right hand, blaster in left, he pushed
by the curtain. It rustled stiffly into place behind him.
Merseians and Ruadrath swiveled about where they tail-sat. They were at
the far end of the single chamber, their parties on opposite daises. A
fleeting part of Flandry noticed how vivid the murals were at their
backs and regretted that he was about to lose the friendship of the
artist.
Djana cried out Rrinn hissed. Ydwyr uttered a sentence in no language
the man had heard before. Several males of either species started off
the platforms. Flandry brandished his blaster and shouted in Eriau:
“Stay where you are! This thing’s set to wide beam! I can cook the lot
of you in two shots!”
Tensed and snarling, they returned to their places. Djana remained
standing, reaching toward Flandry, mouth open and working but no sound
coming forth. Ydwyr snapped into his vocalizer. Rrinn snapped back. The
Terran could guess: “What is this treachery?”
“Indeed we had him alive; yet I know not what he would seize.”
He interrupted: “I regret I must stun you. No harm will be done, aside
from possible headaches when you awaken. If anyone tries to attack me,
I’ll blast him. The blast will likely kill others. Rrinn, I give you a
few breaths to tell your followers this.”
“You wouldn’t!” Djana protested wildly.
“Not to you, sweetheart,” Flandry said, while Ruadrath words spat around
him. “Come over here by me.”
She gulped, clenched fists, straightened and regarded him squarely.
“No.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t turn my coat like you.”
“I wasn’t aware I had.” Flandry glared at Ydwyr. “What have you done to
her?”
“I showed her truth,” the Merseian answered. He had regained his calm.
“What do you expect to accomplish?”
“You’ll see,” Flandry told him. To Rrinn: “Are you finished?”
“Ssnaga. ” No matter the Ruad was of another species; you could not
mistake unutterable hatred.
Flandry sighed. “I grieve. We traveled well together. Good hunting be
yours for always.”
The guide ray struck and struck. The Ruadrath scuttled for shelter, but
found nothing high enough. The Merseians took their medicine with iron
dignity. After a minute, none among them was conscious save Ydwyr and
Djana.
“Now.” Flandry tossed her the loop of cord. “Tie his wrists at his back,
run his tail up there and make it fast, then pass down the end and
hobble him.”
“No!” she shrieked.
“Girl,” said the gaunt, sun-darkened, wounded visage with the frost in
its beard, “more’s involved than my life, and I’m fond of living to
start with. I need a hostage. I’d prefer not to drag him. If I have to,
though, I’ll knock you both out.”
“Obey,” Ydwyr told her. He considered Flandry. “Well done,” he said.
“What is the next stage of your plan?”
“No comment,” the man replied. “I don’t wish to be discourteous, but
what you don’t know you can’t arrange to counteract.”
“Correct. It becomes clear that your prior achievements were no result
of luck. My compliments, Dominic Flandry.”
“I thank the datholch. Get cracking, woman!”
Djana’s gaze went bewildered between them. She struggled not to cry.
Her job of tying was less than expert; but Flandry, who supervised, felt
Ydwyr couldn’t work out of it fast. When she was through, he beckoned
her to him. “I want our playmate beyond your reach,” he said. Looking