A reduction in the sound level made Aufors turn toward the ramp once more. On one side the remaining attackers were floundering up the nearest dunes, in full retreat. Whatever their plan had been, it had gone awry, for they surely hadn’t meant to leave all those charred bodies upon the sand. Those attacking from the other side were not yet convinced, and the bow gunner swung his weapon in that direction.
“Didn’t they know we had cannon?” the doctor asked in a frantic voice. “Should I go out and see to the wounded?”
“Do nothing of the kind,” snapped Aufors, on his way to the control room. “Stay where you are. There’s still battle going on out there.”
As it did, for some time, though with decreasing violence. Finally, though the tech went on twisting dials and tapping buttons, the Captain, hovering behind him, could see only a few shadows remaining behind dunes, moving little if at all. Wounded, most likely. Or dying.
“Can you spare half a dozen men?” Aufors demanded. “If it is your aim to bring the Prince safely to the ship, yes.”
“By the deepsea!” cried Aufors. “It’s my aim to bring whoever’s left at the residence!”
“Go! Go!” grated the Captain. “We’re here at the Prince’s command. We shouldn’t leave unless commanded by the Prince, but he cannot command if he cannot reach us!”
“Message those at the residence to come out by the desert door, and have your cannoneers cover their retreat. . . .” Aufors’s voice trailed off as he went out again, picking half a dozen men with weapons from those muttering in the way and leading them down the ramp, where he put them into rough formation, well spread out and with the calmest of them guarding the rear.
They trudged toward the city, those at the rear walking mostly backwards. It was both impossible and foolish to run on the shifting surface, but the slow trudge gave them entirely too much time to think. Or, so Aufors felt. Why had they heard nothing from the Prince? From Genevieve’s father? Why had no one said anything about Dovidi? Genevieve wouldn’t have left him! Therefore . . . what?
It did no good to wonder. He would find them orhe would not. The thought was one he often resorted to in battle. This time it did no good. A distant shout brought his eyes up, and he saw a man plunging outward from the guard post outside the residence doorway. He was immediately followed by others, and in a moment Aufors could identify them all: three household servants, one steward-cum-guard, the cook, the cook’s helper, and lastly the communications man who had kept them in touch with the ship.
When this man came abreast of Aufors he stopped for a moment, gasping, “The place is empty, Colonel. No point in going any nearer. I’ve followed the protocol and triggered the devices in the com-room. All the off-world stuff’ll go up in a few moments . . .”
Aufors grasped him by the arm. “By the deepsea, man! My son! Where’s my son?”
“Be easy, Colonel. He’s out of there. The old woman took him, that malghaste. She showed him to me as she went by. She said he’d be safe, no one would look among them so long as you didn’t mention who took him, not to anyone.”
Aufors turned, and they trotted toward the ship. “To anyone?” He gave the man a piercing look.
“I’m safe, sir. If anyone asks, anyone at all, I’ll say your wife took him when she went. I owe her that much and more. We’d have been dead meat if she hadn’t warned us as she went out . . .”
“Went where?” Aufors demanded. “Where could she go?”
“Down, sir. She went down into the cellars and away. That’s the way the old woman went, as well. I don’t know how she knew there was a way out down there, your wife, I mean. . . .”
“I know how she knew. What I don’t know is where I’m to find her. Or Dovidi.”
“I can’t tell you, sir. All the old woman said was, tell the Colonel to be patient, keep his mouth shut—pardon me, sir, but I’m just quoting what she said—for his son is safe with the malghaste.” He turned to look over his shoulder. “Hadn’t we better get a move on, sir?”