and run as soon as we’re discovered.”
“We may have more time than you think,” Aelric put in from where he stood.
“Our enemies seek something toward the middle of the island. I do not
think they will come this far south.”
“How do you know that?” Danny asked. Aelric shrugged elegantly.
“Anyway, we need to be ready to bug out if they do find us,” Wiz said.
“We can put together some really righteous defenses,” Danny said brightly.
“I’ve been working on some ideas.”
Moira shook her head. “Not as many as you might think. Defenses attract
attention. Powerful ones are likely to shine like a beacon to anyone who
can sense magic.”
“We discussed this once before, Danny,” Wiz said. “The logic still holds.
Stealth is better than weapons.”
“Shit,” said Danny and scowled down at the table top.
“One thing we ought to do is to get as many people off the island as we
can,” Jerry said. “If we can’t defend this place we don’t need guardsmen
and there is no reason to have as many support people as we have.”
“We can all do our share of the cooking and laundry,” Wiz agreed.
“Or do it by magic,” Moira said to her husband. “Forgive me, Lord, but no
one but a goat could stomach your cooking.”
“Hey, I lived on it for years.”
Moira leaned over and kissed him lightly. “I rest my case.”
“In any event,” Jerry said, “it’s getting too dangerous to keep anyone
here who isn’t absolutely necessary.”
He carefully avoided looking at Danny and so did everyone else in the
room.
The brownies hadn’t attended the council, so as soon as the meeting broke
up, Wiz went to tell them. He found Lannach in the computer room, crouched
on his haunches at the rear of the console and apparently talking to
someone inside the computer.
“Lannach, we’re going to have to pull your people out.”
The little man stood up and dusted his knees. “Why, Lord? Are you
dissatisfied with our work?”
“No, nothing like that. But Mikey and Craig are getting close to finding
this place. We’re sending everyone we can spare back.”
Lannach frowned. “Forgive me, Lord, but you cannot spare us if you want
your computer to work.”
“We can’t protect you if they find us and attack.”
“Lord, we will not leave. Not just for our own safety.”
“I don’t want that on my conscience.”
“It is not upon your head, Lord. It is our decision.”
“Thanks, Lannach.” Wiz held out his hand. Gravely Lannach took his first
two fingers in both his tiny hands and pumped them up and down.
“Look, you’ve got to go.”
It was late and the hall lights had long since dimmed, but Danny and June
were still at it.
Again June shook her head so hard her mouse-colored curls beat against her
forehead. “You come,” she said with undiminished firmness.
“I told you, I can’t. I’ve got to keep working.”
June planted herself on the edge of the bed and crossed her arms. “You
will not be rid of me,” she said fiercely.
He pulled her up off the bed and held her in his arms. “Honey, I don’t
want to get rid of you, I want to save your life.”
Ian stirred restlessly in his crib and started to whimper again. He wasn’t
used to hearing his parents argue and he had been crying off and on all
evening.
June turned her back on her husband and scooped Ian out of the crib. For a
moment all her attention was concentrated on soothing him while Danny
tried to think of something more to say.
“Just this once,” he promised. “Just this once you’ve got to leave me.”
June shook her head wildly and clung to Ian.
“Dammit, you can’t stay here,” Danny said desperately. “If not for you
think about Ian.”
June looked down at the child and her eyes filled with tears but she shook
her head again.
Wiz was trying to find a way to squeeze more speed out of the algorithm
when Danny came into the lab the next morning. His eyes were red, his skin
was pale and blotchy, as if he’d been crying. Even his hair was a worse