"Wake up!"
He felt his awareness snap into focus. He sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Is everything okay?"
What? Hunter replied sleepily.
They were alone.
He threw off the light blanket he'd slept under. "Hunter!" Wake up! he added mentally.
Hunter raised his head, blinking his large eyes in the morning sun. What?
Something's wrong. Get up. Tebrey pulled out his caseless pistol, and checked the clip. He was running low on ammunition. "Ana was here."
What? Hunter sat up and looked around. I don't smell her.
"She was here." Tebrey patrolled around the small campsite, but they were alone.
I think you were dreaming, Hunter thought grumpily. You miss her, that's all.
Hunter, something strange is going on. If I was going to dream about her, it wouldn't be about her waking me up like that.
Hmm, that's true. You usually dream about fu–
Never mind that. I think she's in trouble.
Tebrey had been packing up their gear. "Come on, we can't be far from the chateau at this point. We rode through Paridor yesterday afternoon, and Jeroen said it was only a day's ride from there."
He untied and mounted the horse smoothly after he'd attached the small pack to the saddle. He'd gotten used riding in the last few months. The horse had even made peace with Hunter. They had a healthy respect for each other. Hunter didn't mess with the horse, and the horse didn't kick him.
I still think you were just dreaming, but we may as well continue on. Like you said, it can't be far. I'd like to see her again, too, you know.
Chapter Sixty-Six
The chateau was in a state of controlled panic when they arrived.
"Tebrey!" Mason shouted to him. "Thank god you're here."
"What's going on?" A groomsman took his horse as he leapt off. "Where's Ana?"
"We don't know."
"What?'
"McGee found Christopher this morning. We thought she was dead."
"Is Christopher okay? Take me to her." Hunter, look for Ana.
On it. Hunter began a search by spiraling out away from the house.
Mason led him inside the chateau to where Christopher was laid out on a bed. McGee stood watch over her. He wondered where everyone else was, and asked.
"We don't know, sir," McGee answered. "We woke up this morning, and everyone was gone. I found Christopher here face down in the grass."
"What do you mean, everyone is gone?"
"Two of the wagons and the rest of the horses are gone, too, sir."
Tebrey checked Christopher; her head was bandaged well. Her pupils were dilated. She looked like she had a concussion. His questing fingers didn't feel any cracks in her skull, but she had a large lump. Whoever had hit her, hadn't taken it easy. She could have been killed. She stirred at his touch.
"Who's left?"
"Christopher, Cook, French, myself, Mason, Seshadri, and Bauval," McGee said. "Oh, and Jane and Douglas. The other students are all gone. So is Anderson. Sir, I couldn't find Ana."
"She wouldn't have left with them willingly," Tebrey said coldly.
"I didn't think so, sir. I was just about to go looking for her when you came in."
"Sir," Christopher whispered. "Is that you, Commander?" She blinked her eyes, trying to get them to focus.
"Easy, Lieutenant," Tebrey said. "Can you tell me how this happened?"
"No, sir. I was investigating a noise, and then I got hit. I don't remember anything else. Did you say Ana was missing?"
"Yes, but don't worry about it."
She struggled to sit up in bed. "Do you think Anderson took her?'
"I can't think of anyone else," he replied. "Bandits wouldn't have left you alive and only taken some of the people."
I don't think this was an attack from the outside, Hunter said. I smell Anderson here, and on the trail to the east. I didn't sense anything foreign. Ana must have been taken in one of the wagons.
If he has hurt her, I'll kill him.
If you get there before I do, Hunter replied.
"The gear that's missing is just what you'd expect," McGee said. "The personal items and equipment of Anderson's people, and some food. I'm not sure what happened to the drivers, though. They are gone and left all of their personal items sitting in their camp. I can't imagine anything that could have scared them all away."
"So what now, sir?" Christopher asked, carefully swinging her legs over the edge of the bed.
"As soon as you're up to it, we'll go after Anderson."
"What are you going to do when you find him?"
"Kill him," Tebrey said without rancor.
"Doctor," Hanna asked, "are you sure we're doing the right thing?" The trail they were following led upward into the rocky hills. The archaeologist was setting a brisk pace at odds with his apparent physical weakness. The students were already tired and winded. The wagons were loaded with supplies and the unconscious girl.
"I'm positive," Anderson replied. "Those military types are always interfering. We are here on Cedeforthy to explore, not find weapons for the Fleet. Those idiots would have ruined everything."
Hanna thought that Dr. Anderson was acting peculiarly. There was a strange gleam in his eyes that she had never seen before, and she had seen him in some quite odd moods. "The lieutenant will be okay, though, right? She wasn't really hurt?" The image of the young woman lying face down in the grass was haunting her. She could still see the disturbing smile on Anderson's face, the cudgel held lightly in his hand.
Anderson sighed and glared at her. "The lieutenant will be fine. It was only a little tap on the head. I'm just glad that none of the other soldiers woke up. Now get moving. We want to reach the site before dark."
"I didn't think we knew exactly how far it was," Pirro complained. He was the most out of shape of the group, and he was gasping for breath. Anderson had told him he couldn't ride in the wagon, and he resented it.
"I know exactly where it is!" Anderson said angrily. "Do you think I let those idiots know everything?"
"Don't you think the commander is going to be angry?" Hanna asked. She was thinking about the girl in the wagon, the commander's girlfriend. He was going to be pissed when he found out that Anderson had kidnapped her, even if it was essential to have her along to be able to get through the door into the installation. Hanna didn't really understand that part, either.
"Why do you think I'm setting such a pace for us? We need to get as far away as we can. Hopefully, he'll take a few more days to arrive. If he does track us down, we'll have the girl to bargain with."
The students glanced at each other in concern. They hadn't ever seen Anderson acting like this.
Tebrey was itemizing the gear they would need when Hunter contacted him to tell him that the drivers were coming back with the horses. He climbed into the bed of the wagon and watched them approach. "What happened?" he called out.
"Hoy, sir. These bloody horses got loose, spent the better part of the morning tracking them down. Not good country for that."
Tebrey nodded. "I want you to wait here at the chateau. You'll answer to Bauval, clear?"
"Aye, sir. We can do that," the man said easily. He was the man the marquess had appointed to lead the drivers. "Did that other lot leave without permission, then?"
"I'm afraid so," Tebrey said. "We plan to intercept them. We'll be leaving within the hour. I'll try to bring your other wagons back."
"As you say, sir. We'll just settle the horses and have a bite to eat."
"Fine." Tebrey jumped down from the wagon and strode over to where McGee and Christopher were sitting, sorting through their gear. "How's the head, Lieutenant?"
"Better, sir. Was that the drivers coming back?"
"Yes. Anderson must have loosed the horses when he took off this morning. If he is still alive when I find him..." He left the threat unfinished.
"Understood. Do you think we have a chance of finding them?"
H
unter snorted from where he was lying sprawled in the sun.
Christopher grinned. "I guess that was cat for what do you think, right?"
"Something like that," Tebrey said. "Yon bundle of fur thinks he has a sense of humor."
Christopher smiled at the byplay. She had been worried about going after the scientist. Now she was worried that Tebrey was going to tell her to stay at the camp. She wanted to go with him.
"Christopher," Tebrey asked, sitting down, "how much ammunition do you have left for your pistol?"
The lieutenant frowned. "Only five rounds, sir. I've got extra packs for the rifles, though."
"Not anymore, you don't."
"Anderson?"
"Of course," Tebrey replied. "He couldn't do anything to the pistols; we keep those with us. But the rifles and power packs have been smashed."
"Damn," Christopher said. "How much ammunition do you have?"
"Three rounds."
"What about your other pistol?" she asked hesitantly. She hoped he wouldn't tell her that Anderson had taken it. The idea of an antimatter weapon in the hands of a man that mentally unstable frightened her badly.
"The pistol is fine," Tebrey said. "I had it with me. Unfortunately, I've had to use it a lot recently – don't ask. I don't have many shots left."
Christopher nodded. "Well, at least Anderson doesn't have it. I was worried."
"I've got our gear together," Tebrey said. "Christopher..." He paused and smiled at her.
She looked at him apprehensively, worried about what he was going to say.
"You'll need to ride a horse."
"I can do that."
"McGee?"
"I can't ride a horse, sir."
"I wasn't going to ask you to. Stay here and keep everyone safe. We'll be back as soon as we can."
"You got it, sir."
It was late afternoon when Anderson led the students to the concealed door in the rock face. The students welcomed the end of the journey and the chance to rest as the archaeologist tried to open the door.
The door was a plain slab of silvery metal set seamlessly into the smooth, dark cliff face. Anderson searched desperately for a way to open it. He even kicked it.
Amusing as his antics were for the students, there was some concern about them being so exposed. They had only brought a few items of gear with them. If they had to camp outside the door that night, they might not be able to protect themselves from animals. Also, a fire would guide the commander to them. They really didn't want that.
"Bring the girl to me," Anderson said.
It took two of them bring her over as she struggled. None of the students were happy with the situation.
"Open the door," Anderson demanded.
Ana spit in his face.
He slapped her. "Open the door."
"What makes you think I would, even if I could?"
"Your ancestors built this place. Your genetic signature should open the door. It's why I brought you along. As for why you would..." He stepped up close to her. "You'll do it eventually. The only question is what I do to you before you agree. Go ahead and resist. I'll enjoy it."
Ana saw the madness in his eyes and nodded. He'd do horrible things to her, and he'd certainly enjoy it. "I need my hands free," she said. "Please don't hurt me."
"Better." He untied her. "Now open the door before I decide to have a little fun first."
When the first rock clacked against the cliff, they thought it had simply fallen from above. With the extreme temperature variation the rocks were subjected to, spalling was to be expected.
Then a rock stuck Wren in the side of the head.
The student uttered a strangled cry and fell, blood flowing freely. Hanna screamed and ran to Anderson. Akira and Valerian struggled to lift Wren. The others stood and stared in confusion.
"What's going on?" Anderson shouted. "This can't be happening!"
Ana smashed her elbow into his face and ran for the woods. She didn't know who was attacking them, but she'd rather take her chances with them than Anderson.
More rocks fell among the students, some hitting flesh with a sound like fruit being dropped. Most of the students were screaming. Several curled on the ground, hoping to stay out of the path of a slung stone.
Anderson grabbed for the girl as she ran away from him. His nose was bleeding. He'd make her regret hurting him. Something tickled the side of his face. He swatted at it, and his hand came away smeared with blood. A rock had just grazed his temple.
They could see small, pale figures, their bodies streaked with dark mud, darting through the trees. One lifted an arm, and a rock sailed through the air to hit Hanna in the left arm with bone-snapping force. That galvanized the rest of the students into action. They ran to the meager shelter of the cliff.
There were too many of the savages in the woods for him to try to run. He belatedly remembered hearing that tribes of the Taelantae lived in the area. But I haven't done anything to them, he thought desperately, Ana forgotten.
Why are they attacking me?
Chapter Sixty-Seven
The screaming came from just ahead of Tebrey. He forced his legs to move faster as he ran through the trees. They'd had to leave the horses behind when the trail got too rough for them. Tebrey had been pushing the horses harder than he should have, and they were exhausted, stumbling. It was safer on foot.
You have about half a kilometer, Hunter thought to him. I'm almost there.
Be careful, Tebrey thought fiercely. I don't want you getting hurt. Wait for me.
"Just ahead, Christopher!"
He had his pistol and combat knife in his hands as he ran. Somewhere behind him, Christopher was following as fast as she could. The lieutenant wasn't up to running with her head injury.
How much farther? he thought. His lungs felt like they would burst, and the muscles in his legs were throbbing. It had been a long time since he had to run like that. The only thing he could think of was that a pack of kasirs had found the students, and that Ana was there, helpless.
I'm here! Hunter thought triumphantly. They're little people! he added. Die! His roar echoed off the cliffs and through the woods.
More screams propelled Tebrey forward. He saw Hunter leap several meters to crush a small, pale figure and realized that a tribe of Taelantae must have found Anderson before him. He could see the crumpled bodies of the students by the cliff face. He couldn't see Ana.
Hunter had already cut a bloody path through the attackers. Tebrey called Hunter off the chase and broke the neck of a man who was crawling through a pool of his own blood and torn intestines. There were was nothing that could be done for the man except to administer a final mercy, considering the primitive medical aid they had available. Other figures fled through the trees in terror from Hunter.
There was another scream from his right. Tebrey had been heading toward the students, but he looked over just as Hunter dragged a mud-covered man out from under a bush and disemboweled him with a bloody sweep of claws.
"Hunter!" he shouted over the screams. Tebrey ran to where Hunter was snuffling at the ground, looking for another victim. He grabbed Hunter's tail as the cat turned; he had to get the panther's attention.
Hunter jerked his tail out of Tebrey's hand and spun in place, claws out and teeth bared. The giant cat was covered in the blood of the people he had killed. He growled deep in his throat and gathered himself to leap.
Tebrey raised his pistol and pointed it between Hunter's eyes.
Come back to me, he thought desperately. Calm down and come back to me, please. Don't make me do this.
Christopher stumbled with fatigue.
She had struggled to keep up with the pace that Tebrey set, but fell further and further behind. The man was a machine. Each new scream from ahead pulled her along faster, but she was unprepared for the charnel scene that awaited her. Dead and dying people were strewn among the trees. Blood was soaking into the ground, making gory mud. She couldn't tell who was dead, and w
ho was just wounded, or even what had happened.
Anderson was leaning back against the cliff, blood running down his face. He looked dazed.
"No!" Ana screamed suddenly, running out of the trees.
Christopher called out to her, wondering what she was screaming about but happy to see her alive. She hadn't been sure what Anderson would do to the girl.
Then she saw the tableau with the commander and his companion.
"No!" Ana screamed
Tebrey's attention never wavered from Hunter. "Ana, stay back! He's not himself right now!" he shouted. He was glad to know she was unharmed, but he was exerting all his will toward the cat, trying to get through the red rage that blanketed his thoughts. If he were to be distracted, Hunter would leap.
He felt Ana try to reach out with her mind and soothe Hunter, but all she could reach was the seething turmoil.
Brother, be one with me, Tebrey thought to him. Remember who you are!
Hunter shuddered, jerking his eyes away from Tebrey's to look at Ana. His claws slipped back into their sheaths, and he sat back, blinking. Brother? he thought to Tebrey weakly.
Tebrey hesitantly lowered his pistol and walked forward. He ran his hand along Hunter's head. What happened, my friend?
Hunter ducked his head and pressed it against Tebrey's chest. I don't know, he replied miserably. I saw our people hurt, and these others hurting them. I just lost control. I couldn't stop killing.
Ana stumbled over to them and fell to her knees. "Hrothgar?" She met his eyes. "Hunter?"
"It's okay now," Tebrey said, a sob catching in his throat. It had been too close. "He just got caught up in a blood rage. It happens sometimes with neo-panthers. He'll be fine."
She moved close and embraced them both. She had been so scared when she saw Hrothgar standing there with his gun pointed at Hunter. It had been like something out of a nightmare. She caressed Hunter's head, ignoring the gore. She tried to think soothing thoughts at him.
I wish I could cry, Hunter thought to them softly. I don't want to be just an animal.
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