Nexus Point

by Jaleta Clegg

Chapter 37

  Bushes sprouted everywhere above the boulders. Trees covered the top of the hill. I paced off ten feet from the boulders, then dug under bushes. It took me some time to find Tayvis' pack. He had hidden it well. I shouldered the pack and turned down the hill. The monastery still smoldered, smoke pluming in a thin, gray trail. Poor Roland. His home was gone, burnt to the ground. I wondered if he'd made it out.

  Tayvis lay exposed near the boulders. Anyone could see him. His eyes were closed, his face pasty white.

  "Tayvis," I said quietly.

  He twitched once.

  "Tayvis, look at me." I patted his face insistently.

  He groaned and his eyes fluttered open.

  "We have to hide. I can't carry you. Do you want me to drag you?"

  "I just want to lie here," he mumbled.

  "You can't, unless you want Pardui or Clyvus to find us. There's a spot just up the hill that is much better than this."

  He managed to get to his feet with my help. We stumbled up the hill to a thick growth just below the trees. Tayvis tripped as we reached the edge. I couldn't hold him, he crashed into the bushes. I scrambled after him.

  The branches formed a covered space, just high enough I could sit. I shoved away the clutter of twigs and rocks, then cajoled him into crawling all the way in. He looked horrible, his face a strange gray color. I dumped out the pack, scattering packets of emergency rations and water pouches. The medkit was one of the more complete emergency kits. I hoped I knew enough.

  Tayvis lay on his back, breathing shallowly. His side looked worse the longer I studied it. The blaster hit wasn't direct or he would have been dead. He might still die from it. I ripped open a pouch of water, dribbling it over the wound. Tayvis' shirt stuck along the edges. I soaked it before trying to peel it from the wound.

  "Are you trying to kill me?" Tayvis gasped as I picked at a particularly stubborn bit of cloth.

  "Getting even," I said, trying to joke.

  Tayvis gritted his teeth, muscles bunching in his jaw.

  I picked at the burned cloth. It had to come off so I could clean the wound and bandage it. His side oozed. I poured more water over the wound, washing out what I could. I pulled his shirt open. His side looked like he had been dragged through gravel and torched. I ripped open a packet of disinfectant, then dabbed it over the wound.

  Tayvis drew in his breath with a hiss.

  "Sorry," I said.

  "I don't think you are." He winced.

  I covered the wound with bandages, then sprayed plas-seal over the top. It would keep out dirt and germs and hold the bandage in place. I sorted through the kit until I found a pain patch. I slapped it onto his arm.

  He passed out. His color was better, though he was too pale.

  I sorted his pack. We now had several days of food and water, as well as the medkit. I repacked that, keeping out several of the pain patches. I found a handlight with extra power packs tucked in the bottom. I grinned. The power packs should fit Tayvis' blaster. I pulled it from his waistband. The indicator didn't even flicker. I popped out the drained power pack, then shoved another one in. The indicator light blinked red and yellow, then settled on a steady green glow. I might have half a dozen shots. I flipped on the safety as I set the blaster aside.

  I opened one of the ration tubes. They tasted like paste, but they would keep us alive. I settled against his pack to wait for him to wake again.

  I jumped at the sound of blaster fire nearby. I peered through the branches. At least three groups of men fired at each other. Blaster shots sizzled from the trees, not very many, though. They must be running low on power. The group holed up in the boulders used arrows to deadly effect judging by the screams coming from the trees.

  Robin's men, their green and brown outfits ripped and filthy, charged down the hill, chasing the men out of the trees. Two of them crouched in front of my bushes.

  "Any sign of the Patrol spies?" one of them asked the other.

  "What does Robin want with them anyway?"

  "Some deal he worked out with the Baron. We're just supposed to find them for him."

  "Strange that he would join with the likes of Baron Molier. I thought Robin hated him."

  "He'll get the best of the deal, just you wait. There's the signal."

  They ran after the others. The sound of fighting faded into the distance.

  I shredded a twig. The Baron and Robin working together? Apparently, the price for the Baron's loyalty was two Patrol spies, namely me and Tayvis. I ripped the twig to tiny pieces and swore. Who else could I ask for help? Clyvus and Pardui would kill us, Ricard Blake would sell us to whoever bid highest, I had no idea where Roland might be, and Dysun was chancy at best. I doubted Sergeant Clay had survived the attack on the monastery. I'd seen nothing of the rest of the Patrol. I threw the twig into the bush and put my head on my knees. Tayvis was doomed. Unless I could find his beacon and bring in the Enforcers. I had to wake him to find out where to look.

  His eyes opened while I prodded his ribs.

  "Do you have anything else that I need to bandage?" I asked.

  "I wouldn't tell you if I did. I'm glad you're not a real medic."

  "Robin's men came by. They've ganged up with Molier who wants us in exchange. We have to get help."

  "The beacon at the top of the hill. Trigger it and the Patrol Enforcers will be here within an hour." His eyes slid closed.

  "Where is it?" I grabbed a pouch of water and lifted his head, making him drink. "Where, Tayvis?"

  He choked on the water; his eyes stayed closed.

  I lowered his head gently, then dug through the medkit looking for a stimulant. I didn't find any. I put the kit away. I'd have to wait until he woke again.

  The day grew hot. Insects buzzed in the bush. The breeze shifted, bringing the smell of smoke. I sucked on a ration tube.

  A group of men charged up the hill. I snatched the blaster. They kept going over the hill. I lowered the blaster.

  I raised it again when I saw the man hiding by the boulders, Flago, the dirty little sneak who had sold me out to Clyvus. I slithered out of the bushes to crouch behind a rock.

  Men splashed across the stream into the woods on the other side. Flago relaxed, heaving a sigh as he turned. He stiffened when he caught sight of me with the business end of the blaster pointed at his face.

  "Dace," he said, trying to smile and failing. "Captain. I'm so glad you survived. I've been so worried about you."

  "Oh, stuff it somewhere, Flago. Don't try to bluff. I want answers from you. How much did Clyvus pay you for my ship?"

  "What answers, Dace? I know as much as you do. Who's Clyvus?"

  "Do I look stupid?" I pointed the blaster at his head, then thought better of it and lowered my aim. "Don't feed me any more crap or I'll shoot it off."

  Flago swallowed hard and nodded.

  "How much did Clyvus pay you to blow up my ship?"

  Flago stared at the blaster nervously before he answered. "He didn't want the ship blown. I was supposed to rig it to look like a malfunction of the nav computer and sneak off. The ship would leave before you realized I was gone."

  "Why?"

  "You were set to make good money; Clyvus wanted your route and contacts. You're such a naive idiot."

  I clicked the safety off.

  He paled visibly. "I didn't know you were Patrol. No one knew."

  "I wasn't, until I got mixed up with this horrid planet. Why blow the ship? Revenge for something?"

  "Jerith did it. He had some crazy scheme for selling out to a pirate. He tried to convince me to join him. He set the overrides."

  "I think you were working together. And I think you can die together."

  "You're crazy." He scooted towards the rocks.

  "Run, Flago, like the coward you are. Jerith is already dead. I watched him die."

  He scrambled to his feet. I fired off one quick shot, hitting him in the leg. He tumbled into the boulders, screaming as he clutched his leg. S
houts echoed from the top of the hill.

  I ran to the bushes, diving into their shelter. I landed next to Tayvis and lay still.

  "That wasn't exactly smart, Dace," he breathed.

  "No, but it sure felt good."

  He wheezed. About the time I figured out he was laughing, he stopped.

  The bushes around us crackled as men shoved through them, shouting to each other.

  I lay still, barely breathing. I squeezed Tayvis' hand. He squeezed back.

  The men beat their way down the hill.

  I waited for Flago to betray me, but he kept silent.

  "You still awake?" I whispered when the sounds of breaking greenery died away.

  "Unfortunately, yes. Is there another pain patch?"

  I replaced it, then offered him a drink. "Tayvis, where is the beacon? You need help."

  "Top of the hill." He stopped to cough, his face tight with pain.

  "Let me guess. There's a tree and some rocks and it's under a bush."

  "Close." He gave me a ghost of his grin. "Two trees, pines, with the spiky needles. Look north. Find a split rock." His eyelids fluttered.

  "Stay with me, Tayvis," I muttered, leaning close.

  "Under a big bush, halfway between. Alpha Zed, channel six. Message is code seven two, full reply urgent. Repeat it."

  "Seven two full reply urgent," I said dutifully.

  "Don't wait for an answer. Set it off and get out of there." His words came as a breathy whisper.

  I shifted, nodding.

  "Dace." He opened his eyes.

  "What?" I leaned over him.

  He lifted his right hand, stroking my cheek. I expected him to wish me luck. He pulled my head down. Our lips touched. His hand tangled in my hair, pulling me closer. I felt like I had taken hold of live wires, I tingled all over. His hand dropped across his chest. His eyes slid closed.

  I didn't know how to reply to that. I'd never been kissed before. I crawled out of the bushes before I could change my mind about finding the beacon.

  Flago saw me. He shouted obscenities.

  "You want me to blow a hole in your other leg?" I shouted back.

  He went silent.

  I realized I'd forgotten the blaster. All I could think about was the feel of Tayvis kissing me. I crawled into the bush. Tayvis looked awful. I snatched the blaster, holding it ready.

  "Be back soon," I whispered. I thought I saw his lips twitch. If he was faking sleep, I would slap him when I returned. I tried to gather my wits as I scrambled out of the bushes. I crept up the hill, through the trees, watching for armed men lurking in their shade. I didn't run into any all the way up the side of the hill.

  I reached the top, keeping low. I couldn't remember what he said. All I could remember were the way his lips felt against mine. No one had ever kissed me. No one had ever wanted to before. I crouched in the shade of a pair of trees.

  "Not now," I muttered. "Think, Dace, or you're both dead." I suppressed a sudden urge to run back and kiss him again. I wondered if it would feel the same.

  I glanced at the trees. Two pine trees, growing next to each other, the first sign he said to look for and I sat under them like an idiot, thinking about kissing. Now I had to figure out which way was north.

  I used guesswork. The trees left a gap in one of two directions. I peered through the trunks, looking for a rock that might fit his description. I didn't see anything so I moved to the other side of the trees.

  I saw the big boulder right away. Half a dozen scrawny bushes grew along the line between the trees and the rock. Several men with guns crossed the ridge, right between the bushes. I crouched, ducking into the scant shelter the trees offered. The men argued, gesturing down different sides of the hill. I played with the idea of shooting over their heads to get them to move. Someone else saved me the trouble.

  A volley of blaster shots and arrows arced up from the far side of the hill. The men returned fire. A tree exploded into flames. The men on the ridge ran down the hill, firing as they went. The sounds of fighting moved off into the trees.

  I sprinted for the biggest bush. I dove into its shelter, digging through the thick accumulation of leaves around its base. I broke several nails and scratched my hands. I found nothing. I sucked my bleeding thumb. Tayvis said two trees, a split rock, and a big bush between. I risked a quick peek. This was the only large bush here. Or was it? I peered towards the rock. Another bush lay tucked into a hollow. I scrambled to my feet and ran for it.

  Someone shouted. A shot ricocheted off the rock. I rolled under the bush. Men thrashed through the trees lower down the hill.

  I waited until the noise died, then eased myself up, watching through the bush's lower branches. The hill looked deceptively peaceful. I set the blaster down, then dug through the mulch under the bush. I found the beacon under a drift of leaves. I flipped the power switch. The beacon hummed. A light on top glowed yellow before fading to green. I stared at the keys. What code had Tayvis said? All I could remember was the soft touch of his lips on mine.

  Something simple, that much I remembered. Alpha? I pushed the button. My finger hovered over the keys at the other end. I shut my eyes and punched one. The machine clicked and hummed. The tiny screen blinked yellow. I hoped I'd gotten it right. I twisted the dial to select the channel. Why did they have to make emergency beacons so complicated? This one was different from the ones I'd trained with; I wondered exactly how it differed. Maybe it was booby-trapped. I wiped suddenly sweaty hands on the torn skirt of my shift.

  Channel six, I remembered that distinctly. I twirled the dial, then flipped the switch for repeating call. I typed code seven two.

  Men approached, beating bushes as they came.

  The machine beeped. "Voice activation initiated. Enter message now."

  "Um," I wondered if I'd remembered correctly. "Code seven two reply urgent." It didn't sound quite right, but I was fast running out of time.

  The machine clicked and buzzed. "Message encoded for transfer. Please enter authorization code."

  "I don't have the blasted authorization code," I said through clenched teeth. "This is an emergency. Agent down. Broadcast that, you overgrown silicon twit."

  The machine crackled static. A new voice came through, this one definitely human; it was too angry to be a machine. "Who is this? What is your authorization to be on this channel?"

  "I have a message from Malcolm Tayvis."

  The men quit searching under the bushes before they torched them.

  "Who are you and where did you hear that name?" the voice demanded.

  "He's hurt badly and he's going to be dead if you don't send help."

  "What authorization do you have?"

  "He told me to say code seven two, full reply urgent. I have to go now." I snapped the power switch to beacon mode before scrambling out of the bush.

  A blast of fire flared over my head. I ran down the opposite side of the hill. They chased me, their guns barking blasts of fire into the trees. I dodged to the left, trying to keep them away from Tayvis. The trees gave me some shelter. I twisted through them, dodging blaster fire. My shift caught on branches and tore again, but I didn't care. All I wanted was to get out alive. The men crashed through the woods, shouting to each other. I turned farther uphill, running through a relatively clear space. I jumped through a screen of bushes.

  Right into Shomies Pardui's camp.