“But China is politics right now. All of Asia is. Resistance isn’t going to come from anywhere else. Not on any organized scale.”
“Okay, so I don’t care about China. Right now, I—”
At that moment, a commotion broke out among the people outside the fence, where Tevlak was. Marie and Cade turned to see what was going on. Some were gesturing toward the sky. Aircraft of some kind had appeared to the north and were approaching low and fast. They resolved themselves rapidly into three flattened oval shapes, black in color, flared at the tail, spreading out to make a circuit of the town. As Cade wheeled to follow them, a second flight of three came into sight, following the first.
Nyarl appeared from inside the house. “What’s happening?” he asked, then followed their gaze.
“Hyadean troop carriers,” Marie said tightly. “Their security forces use them. I can only think of one reason that would bring them here.”
“There’s some kind of problem inside too. Luodine is trying to send the file out to Chryse. The system won’t accept. It’s been blocked.”
“Bad news,” Marie muttered.
The first three carriers came out of their turn on a direct course for the house. Two descended toward points a short distance upstream and downstream along the creek bank, while the third passed overhead to the opposite side, presumably to cut off escape in that direction. The second three carriers were heading directly in for the house to complete its encirclement.
“The phone!” Marie said suddenly. “Hyadean communications might be blocked, but ours could still work. We’ve got to get that file out!”
Nyarl turned and stumbled back into the house, Marie following. Cade stopped to look back the other way. Figures in combat gear were leaping from the carriers that had landed, spreading out and advancing. It looked like a mixed force of Hyadeans and Terrans. The people around Tevlak were drawing back, alarmed, some already running instinctively toward the gate as if the house offered protection. Tevlak was standing, bewildered. The house guard drew his gun and ran forward to stop them. Tevlak waved him aside to let them through. As the second wave of carriers touched down, an amplified voice boomed, “YOU ARE SURROUNDED. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RESIST, AND NO ONE WILL BE HARMED.” Cade turned away and hastened inside after Marie and Nyarl. Marie was handing a phone to Nyarl, who plugged in a data lead, then frantically connected that to an adaptor hooked to a piece of the Hyadean equipment. Luodine was watching one of the screens with an agonized expression. “I have to reformat,” she told Cade. “Our codes won’t work with the Terran system.”
“Where do we send it?” Nyarl asked. Marie seemed at a loss.
Cade thought furiously. “Vrel’s got a clean phone. Send it to him. He’ll figure out a way to forward it.”
“You know the number?” Nyarl asked. Cade nodded. Nyarl passed him the phone. The housekeeper came in, jabbering in Spanish; at the same moment, the other house guard appeared at the opposite end of the room. The guard yelled something. They disappeared toward the rear. Screams punctuated by shouted commands were coming from outside, getting nearer.
“Done!” Luodine exclaimed. Cade hammered in the number.
A musical tone sounded. “Acceso inválido. Servicio negado,” an impartial voice enunciated.
“Shit!” Tevlak’s phone was being blocked too.
“What is it?” Marie asked tensely. Cade didn’t answer. For several seconds he stood glaring from side to side like a trapped animal. Then he threw the phone down and rushed back out of the house. The yard was filled with milling figures. Tevlak was inside the gate, uniformed Terrans restraining him on both sides, a Hyadean calling orders to others moving forward. More Hyadeans had taken up positions around the perimeter. Some genius ordered a burst of warning shots to be fired. The milling and shouting turned into panic. Cade grabbed a fleeing Indian, wide-eyed with fear, by the shirt front.
“Do you have a phone?”
“Eh? No comprendo.”
“Jesus. . . . Teléfono. ¿Tiene un teléfono?”
“No.”
Cade pushed him aside. A woman in a straw hat and red wrap was screaming and waving her arms aimlessly. Cade saw a phone attached by a loop to her shoulder purse. He pointed at it. “I need that phone!” The woman wasn’t listening. He tore the phone from the purse and rushed back inside. Nyarl ripped the data lead out of the useless phone and jammed it into the one Cade thrust in front of him. Cade tried the number again.