“It’s a trap all right, to reverse out of. By the time we get out of here, even Maggots will have figured this out.”
“Hey Chip. Methinks you could just go forward and turn around,” said Fal.
“No space,” said Chip shortly, putting the tractor into first. He was trying to get into a better position to reverse from.
Fal chuckled. “Just keep going forward. There’s a sort of chamber, a bit ahead, that Doll and I, um, found.”
“The candy store no doubt,” snorted Chip.
Even the rats had the grace to look embarrassed. “Well. It might have been our last chance.”
Chip noticed Virginia was looking at him very speculatively.
* * *
Chip eyed the chamber. It might have looked big to the rats. “I can go in. But then I can’t turn around.”
“Go past. Back the trailer in and then go out again forwards. Or go in forwards and then come out backing the trailer the other way,” said Ginny.
“You know a hell of a lot about it for someone who can’t drive,” said Chip sourly.
“Just do it!” snapped Bronstein. “And be quick about it.”
So he drove the tractor in cautiously, dropped the blade—with some skill by now—and started cranking the wheel over.
“No,” said Ginny. “The other way—if you want to reverse.”
He kept turning his way. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“It does mathematically. Please, Chip.”
He shrugged, and tried it her way. “Holy Mackerel! So that’s how it works! Why didn’t you tell me before?” They were around! He pushed the throttle out a bit fast for the last bit, before they could drive back down. And the trailer jackknifed in earnest. Shaft-snapping earnest.
Fortunately, the drive shaft snapped at the link. If it had snapped at the pump it would have killed the Korozhet. The piece of ricocheting steel just touched across Ginny’s high forehead. Even a quarter-inch closer and she’d have been dead. A sudden line of red appeared, and then beaded with blood.
Chip stared at her in open-mouthed horror. “Oh, shit! Are you all right! I didn’t mean . . .”
“I’m fine,” she said faintly. “Just drive.” This time, when she put an arm around him, he did not pull away.
Chapter 32: Orders.
When Conrad and Ariel checked in to the headquarters-parking-precinct, Corporal Simms was waiting for them. Hopping with impatience.
“You’d better get home, Johnny. Be sure you sign out.” Fitz spoke before the car had even fully stopped. This was a good man. No point in dragging him down into what was going to be a hell of a mess.
Simms simply ignored the comment. “I’ve got the G23-A signed and waiting. I’ve got current troop deployments up on screen for you. I think the division at Cressy could be mobilized within the hour. The only problem is that Brigadier Charlesworth is in charge of it. Still, they’re the nearest. I took the liberty of going ahead and organizing transport vehicles. They’ve got farther to go. The dispatch riders have gone with that one, and I’ve got three others on standby.”
For a moment Fitz could only stare at him. Swallow. How the hell? “Johnny, you go and get yourself signed out of that gate, now. PDQ! You’ve a wife, and a kid on the way, you fool. I want you out of this.”
The corporal twitched a grin. There was no humor in it. “Let’s get to the office, sir. There are lots of other men with wives and families. Sometimes, a man just does what he has to do.”
They hurried down the passage. “How the hell did you know what I was going to do . . . and where the hell did you get redeployment orders?”
“Yeah. Well done, Johnny,” said Ariel. “Saved us some trouble.”
Simms sighed. “I’m a Vat, Major. I don’t have delusions about Shareholders. I knew Carrot-up wouldn’t do a thing, even if he believed you. The Kreutzler family has the main artillery-shell contract. Not in the family interest to do anything to disturb cost-plus. I know you. I knew what you’d decide to do.”
Fitz stopped, removed his cap, and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m a Shareholder too, Johnny.”