The others nodded agreement.
“I hope that none of us has to die,” Merdon said quietly, “but I expect us all to fight until we win.”
He turned the group over to one of his lieutenants and walked off toward the far end of the compound. He did not have to look over his shoulder to know that Altai was walking behind him. He slowed down and let her come abreast of him.
“You spoke to your father again?” she asked.
He nodded.
“Do the others know?”
He turned and faced her. “What if they do? He’s my father.”
She smiled. “So touchy tonight! You get angry and argumentative every time you speak with him. Did you know that?”
“No, I didn’t realize it.”
Altai put her hand to his cheek”You mustn’t let anyone or anything upset you. Your mind must be clear at all times. You hold our lives in your hands.. ..”
“Your life too?”
“Yes.”
“And your heart?”
“Of course.”
“That’s all I care about.”
She shook her head and answered gravely, “You have much more to worry about than me.”
“I wish I didn’t,” he said impulsively. He frowned for a moment, then said:
“Listen. Romal has just made up a tally of the weapons we took from the arsenal last night. I want you to divide that list in half—and tell no one except Romal about it. Then, quietly, with as few men as possible, have half the weapons stored here, and the other half sent along with the new recruits to the Komani camp tomorrow.”
“You’re keeping half the weapons from the Komani?”
He nodded. “Hide them in the buildings here. Half the ammunition, too.”
“But why?”
“I’m not sure. The Komani may be our allies, but I’d feel safer if we had some weapons available that they didn’t know about. I don’t want to find out some day that we’ve driven off the Terrans, only to have the barbarians ruling over us.”