“Suppose they discover it….”
“They won’t.”
“But you’re supposed to go to their camp tomorrow. You’ll be in their midst.”
“That’s a chance 1 must take.”
“You’re playing a dangerous game,” Altai said.
“So are we all,” Merdon replied.
IV
Prisoners
The sun rose abruptly over the hills, and a wave of heat swept across the valley where the Mobile Force lay huddled.
Sergeant Mclntyre stood before a heavy cruiser, shaking his head. “I don’t like it one bit, if you’ll pardon me for saying so, sir.”
Vorgens turned to the sergeant and studied his face for a moment. It was a narrow-eyed, weather-seamed, professional soldier’s face: broad and rugged, set on a thick, solid frame. Mclntyre was built big, as were all the true Terrans.
“What don’t you like, sergeant?” the Star Watchman asked.
“The whole setup, sir. It’s goin’ to take a lot more’n one heavy cruiser and a detachment of leftovers from yesterday’s patrols to break through the Komani lines.”
“Would you rather report back to your company commander?”
Mclntyre’s eyes widened in surprise for just a flash of a second. Then he drew himself up as straight as he could stand. “No sir. I was asked to volunteer and I did. I’ll stick it out as long as you do, sir.”
Vorgens smiled. “Good. I don’t like the setup any more than you do, sergeant, but somebody’s got to try it, and I guess we’ve been nominated. Let’s start moving.”
They swung up the ladder and ducked into the turret hatch. The cruiser was air-conditioned to Terran standards; the sudden drop of temperature inside made Vorgens shudder involuntarily. He felt more comfortable in the hot sunshine.