“Yeah. Now the little bugger’ll be in here with me.”
“Correct. But you sleep like a rock so it doesn’t matter how much he whines and complains.” I waved and made my way out. I found Moorsheen huddled in the darkness. “You’re relieved.”
He jumped. “I was listening.”
“Sure,” I said. “Hush your voice. Give me the binoculars.”
“Okay. My shift’s over?” The marketing ‘expert’ looked around. “Good. It’s cold out here tonight.”
I watched my misting breath in the starlight. “I’ve endured worse.”
He knew better than to challenge me on that. “Why do you carry your shotgun and the laser carbine?” asked the marketing analyst. “Kind of heavy and awkward.”
“I’ve been caught with too little firepower too many times. This time I know bad guys will be coming.”
“I wouldn’t bother. They’ll bomb us to oblivion first.”
“Maybe. If they don’t, I’ll be ready. If they do...” I shrugged. “You should clean your rifle.” A suggestion he was sure to ignore.
“O’Vorley just left for the Rock Mole boundary. Good night,” he said before trudging away.
I extended the binoculars so that they periscoped over the top of the trench. I didn’t bother looking before I pulled them down and moved a dozen yards to the left. Then I scanned. Nothing, even with the light intensifiers. Slogging footsteps approached. I drew my revolver.
“Six chambers,” whispered O’Vorley.
“Falling rocks,” I replied before Kent’s silhouette approached. I rubbed my hands together. “Snuck up on Moorsheen again. I’m becoming convinced he’s worse than useless.”
“Tell me I wasn’t that bad,” said O’Vorley.
“I’m not saying either of us is that good. But at least we try.”
O’Vorley sighed. “Not like those Groundhogs out there.”
“They must be good,” I said. “Haven’t seen one since I’ve been here.”
“Doubt if you will, unless one is relieved. They hide out there for ten days at a time. No electronics. Just an optical scope and a .50 caliber sniper rifle.”
“And their job is to pick off the enemy when they attack? Doesn’t sound like retirement benefits in their future.”
“Individuals, or their combat-bots,” O’Vorley said. “Whatever they think their AP rounds can take out.” We moved and surveyed. “Think we’ll make retirement age?”
“So they’ll die first,” I said. “We’ll be second.”
“Unless they succeed in bombing the city. Then they’ll be second and we’ll be third.”
“Or the lucky last.”
“You’re so cheery tonight, Keesay. Think it might rain some more?”
“You want me to get Moorsheen back out here?”
“Keesay!” boomed Pillar’s voice. “You’ve got company.” His hulking form sauntered down the steps. Only he could accomplish that hunched over.
I was up and buckling on my equipment belt. “Corporal?”
“He’s decent, ladies,” Pillar called over his shoulder. “Might try a mint, Keesay.”
A small figure slid past him, then a second, taller one. I was tired and the light filtering down made it difficult. They were in civilian camouflage uniforms. One with a dull orange armband and the other with a dark blue.
“Specialist Keesay,” said McAllister. “Living in a cave. Right at home.”
“Unless you’re planning on moving in,” I said. “Tahgs?” I didn’t recognize her at first. She’d cut her hair short. McAllister carried a satchel with computer equipment plus a laser carbine. Tahgs had a satchel and an MP sidearm.
Tahgs stepped forward. “Remember you promised me dinner some time?”
“Keesay,” Pillar said, shaking his head. “How do you attract them?”
“Charm,” voiced a bedroll. “Something they apparently don’t teach Colonial Marines.”
“You get up too, O’Vorley,” Pillar said. “Engineer McAllister is here to check our equipment and update our tank-bot. You’ll assist her.”
“What about Potts or Moorsheen?”
“Farmer Potts? Salesman Moorsheen? The engineer would appreciate real assistance.”
O’Vorley managed to slip into his coveralls under his blankets. He tugged on his boots and grabbed a canteen.
“You’re young,” Pillar said. “Keesay might want some privacy.”
O’Vorley grabbed his helmet and carbine. “Sorry, Keesay.”
McAllister said to O’Vorley, “I’ll catch up with you in a minute.”
“If you need any assistance, Keesay,” leered Pillar.
I glared up at the marine. “Get lost, Corporal.”
“Come on,” said O’Vorley. “Remember what happened last time you messed with Keesay?”
Pillar turned. “Sure do. Laid you flat and sent him to the infirmary.”
“How’s that knee?” asked O’Vorley as he led the marine out. “Didn’t you spend more time there than Keesay?”
“You want a transfer to Rock Mole?”
“Keesay,” said McAllister. “Who in the galaxy haven’t you gotten in a fight with?”
“How many have you had a civil conversation with?”
“You owe me, Keesay.” She rested a hand on Tahgs’ shoulder. “He’s all yours. Half hour,” she said before grumbling up the steps.
I ran a comb through my hair. “Sorry. I look like crap. This place is a mess.”
“No, Keesay. This is a bunker. You look like a soldier in the field.”
I activated another light and tied up bedrolls. “I really don’t have much to offer for dinner but bread, cal-packs, and water.”
“That’s okay, Keesay,” she said. “One thing this planet has is food. I think I’ve found most of it. Can’t you tell?”
Her face did look fuller, but I’d attributed it to the haircut. Maybe her hips. “No.”
She unshouldered a satchel. “Just as well it’s dark in here. Anyway, I brought the meal.”
I cleared the salvaged half pallet. “Our table.”
She grabbed a crate. “Chair?” We sat. She began to pull food from her satchel.
“Potts told me you made it,” I said. “How have you been?”
She averted her eyes. “The meds help. Let’s not talk about it.”
I changed topics. “What’d you bring?”
“Goat,” she said. “Pretty basic this time.”
“Overpaid last time, but it was worth it for your company. Then and now.”
“McAllister said she fixed your account, whatever that means? Hope it’s good.”
I shrugged. “McAllister and I’ve been through a lot together. I wouldn’t say we’ve bonded. But until the Crax are driven off, we have a common enemy.”
“She said you saved her and almost saved Gudkov.”
“You see her much?”
“A little. Her apartment is in the same building. It’s almost like a ghost town. They spread out everybody who’s left.”
I nodded. “What assignment has Negral given you?” I began to arrange the food.
“Emergency med-unit records. Saw your name. McAllister mentioned she had an idea where you were posted. I asked if she could take me if she visited your platoon.” Tahgs looked down and noticed everything was set. “Sorry.”
“You brought it. Least I could do is help serve it.”
“And eat it,” she said. “I was surprised when McAllister agreed, even pulled some strings to get me out here.”
“She’s not as self-centered as she once was. What’s in the bottle?”
“Some type of whiskey.”
“One cup.” I held up the chipped ceramic mug. “We’ll have to share.”
“No thanks.” Tahgs pulled out a plastic pillbox. I handed her my canteen. “Can’t mix this and alcohol.” She swallowed. “My dosage is down to one quarter.”
I pulled my bayonet and sliced the bread and made goat chop sandwiches. “They
do make good bread.”
“I saw Colonist Potts. Did he tell you what happened on the Kalavar?”
“Yes, Janice, he did.”
She bit her lip. “It was horrible.”
I slid over and put my arm around her. “Sure you don’t want to talk about it?”
“It was terrible, Kra. They killed Benny, then Mer. The bodies. Even after we jettisoned them, the smell of blood.” Her face twisted. “Rotting decay.” She started to heave, but held it down.
I took her hands. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. Look at you. You saved us.” Shaking while tears welled, she stared into my eyes. “I saw those Crax warriors. They came at you and you knew what to do. You didn’t flinch.” She looked away. “Nobody confirmed it to me, until McAllister, that Chief Brold ordered you to escort some cargo off the Kalavar. She said you and her did some bloody work. Wouldn’t tell more.” Janice clenched her fists. “Death all around and you moved on. I can’t.”
“I haven’t moved on. I’ve tread water. Kept just ahead of it.” I debated what route to take before gently squeezing her hands. “Besides the fact that I’m an R-Tech, and have such a radiant personality, ever wonder why McAllister took to me so well?”
“There’s another reason? I thought she disliked you just a little more than everybody else. Because she couldn’t intimidate you.”
“Let me tell you a few things.” She turned her head and waited for me to continue. I almost didn’t start. “Janice, between you and me only. Some is classified, and I’ll deny ever saying it. Understood?”
She nodded, curiosity rising.
“No sense wasting good food with good company,” I said. “Let’s eat while we talk.”
I told her about the Colonization Riots and how I killed McAllister’s fiancé. I told her about the shootout on the Mavinrom Dock. How a woman died because of me, and how I survived by crushing another man’s skull. She, of course, knew about the time she was abducted by rogue security on the dock, but I mentioned it. I described how Mr. Habbuk and his marine escort died. I told her about how I slit Mr. B’down’s throat, and how Ms. Jazarine died screaming. About Gudkov’s death, those I killed on the quarantine planet, and the all friends I lost, especially the Chicher diplomat.
“How do you go on?” she asked. “How do you manage?”
“Faith. Prayer. It helps. Friends. But the memories haunt me, usually nightmares.” I hadn’t noticed my grip on her hands had tightened. “Morning always comes. Learn from the past. Work toward the future.”
“Kra, I think I know where your cart might be. A warehouse in the ninth district. I think Chief Brold put your Bible in it before locking it.”
“Really? My equipment?”
“I’m sorry, I meant to tell you right away.”
“No,” I said. “That’s’ okay.” I reached into a pocket. “Here’s the key. It’s rigged otherwise.” I smiled. “I think the chief had Club make duplicates.”
“I know. Chief Brold said. He was laughing when he packed everything. He missed you. I know I did.”
“I missed you, too.” We held each other for a moment. “My equipment. The Bible’s yours. Read some of it. Ecclesiastes, third chapter. It’s good. Helped me in some tight situations.”
“I can’t take your equipment. The chief said some of it’s pretty valuable. Wood on this planet is like—”
I cut her off. “Like a good friend. Being able to unload. To talk to you, and you listening. I’ve never told anyone like that.”
“Thank you for confiding,” she said. “I’m so happy. I thought you might not want to see me after.” She stammered. “Well, when I...”
“How could I blame you? War changes things. Doesn’t it?” Her hair bounced as she nodded. “Janice, tell you what. You harbor my equipment, and I’ll carve you something.”
“I’ve seen your work. How about a bust of yourself?”
“How about one of us?”
“Would you?”
A shadow darkened in the entrance. “You’ve got ten seconds to get decent,” bellowed Pillar.
That let the air out of us. She slid the remaining food back into the satchel. “Keep it.”
I helped Janice to her feet but tugged her down before her head hit the rock ceiling. She grimaced, and then grinned.
“Even I have to duck in here.” I grinned back. “Thanks. A better lunch than I ever expected,” I said before yelling. “Corporal, ever hear of military discipline? The Crax can hear you from high orbit.”
“They’re not coming today.” He swaggered down and looked around. “I’m disappointed in you, Keesay.”
I stared at Janice and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m not disappointed. I’m glad you came.”
She hugged me and placed a quick kiss on my lips. “I’ll try to visit again.”
Pillar said, “You’d better because Keesay ain’t due for leave.”
“I still have my brass knuckles, Corporal.”
He shook his head. “Don’t know how you hooked a keeper.”
I escorted Janice past the grinning marine. “She doesn’t have any sisters on Tallavaster.” McAllister leaned against a trench wall, talking to O’Vorley. “Thanks, McAllister.”
She shrugged. “My good deed for the year.”
Squeezing Janice’s hand one last time, I said, “McAllister, don’t let Tahgs hang around you too much.”
After the two women passed the first bend in the trench line, O’Vorley spoke up. “Corporal Ringsar, got about ten minutes? You, too, Keesay.”
We followed him into the bunker. “McAllister conveyed some information I thought you should know. She’d probably have told you, Corporal, but she had more work to do. Engineer McAllister altered the programming in our communications equipment as well as the tank. The Copper Mink’s and the Rock Mole’s equipment, too. The captain is meeting with Colonel Rakeshaw, so I was the next best thing.”
We pulled up crates and listened.
“Volsar City’s been destroyed. A hundred-megaton ground burst.”
“That should put a crimp in the lizard’s plans,” Ringsar said. “A last-ditch gift from the resistance fighters. Reports said the lizards were staging a lot of troops and equipment there.”
“They’ve broken the plague in Sola Two,” O’Vorley said, looking at me. “About a day after Keesay’s shuttle landed, intel uncovered a cell of collaborators. They sent medical information on the virus to the Crax. Any or all of our codes could be compromised. The Crax have been alerted to the inoculations against chemical weapons.”
Ringsar ground his teeth. It took me longer to piece it together. “So they’ll be protected?”
O’Vorley nodded. “Engineer McAllister says the glass and plastics plants just started producing, phosgene?”
I recalled the name from my study of WW I, but Corporal Ringsar spoke up. “That’s an old one the Reptiles might not expect. Smells like mowed hay. Perfect for the fields.” He rolled his eyes in thought. “Gets in the lungs, contacts moisture and produces hydrochloric acid and carbon monoxide. Not an immediate effect.”
“That,” said O’Vorley, “and if they get the chance.” He stumbled over the name. “Dichlorethylsulphide.”
Ringsar nodded. “Mustard gas. Blistering agent.”
“Doesn’t it accumulate in low areas, like trenches?” I asked. “We don’t have any protections.”
“There’s an iodine-based solution for the mustard gas,” said Ringsar. “If they have it. And a proper air filtration system will work against the phosgene.”
“May explain a mentioned equipment delivery,” O’Vorley said. “Anyhow, Engineer McAllister said they intend to launch on distant troop formations through artillery and missiles. Said the delayed onset would make it useless once they close.”
“Unlike the specialized nerve agents we’d planned,” said Corporal Ringsar. “Does the enemy know their informants have been compromised?”
O’Vorley nodded.
; Ringsar frowned and shook his head. “I was wrong, Keesay. They’ll be coming soon, maybe today.” He stood. “I’ll pass the word. Make sure you’ve got your shit together.”
The night was cold and still. A beam of golden light flashed in the cloudless sky. Then three more. There, for an instant, arcing only a few degrees.
O’Vorley asked, “What was that?”
“Umbelgarri energy beams,” I said. “Seen their likes around Zeta Aquarius.”
The rumble of artillery began. Friendly, low flying missiles, streaked overhead. Distant sirens wailed.
“It’s starting.” O’Vorley took a steadying breath. “Nothing on my receiver.”
“Wait,” I said, adjusting my settings. “Crax are launching ballistic missiles. Some from orbit. Take cover.” I switched to Channel B. “White Mule Command, Keesay reporting. Enemy jamming affecting some equipment.”
“Acknowledged,” replied Corporal Ringsar. “Command is getting through. They’re launching nukes. Hold.” Three seconds later he ordered, “Send a runner, Potts, to Rock Mole. Inform them to button up in their bunkers. Defense screens will be activated in two minutes. Yours will be kept off-line until he returns.”
“Potts,” I called. “Run to Rock Mole and order them to bunker. Nukes incoming. Then get back here yesterday!”
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” he said, already in a hunched sprint.
I watched the staccato Umbelgarri beams. A second wave of missiles raced not twenty feet overhead.
“Shouldn’t we get under cover?” said O’Vorley. “Something’s bound to get through.”
“I feel guilty sheltering after sending Potts. Besides, our screen won’t be up until I call.”
“Orders,” he said, taking my arm. “Better to be alive with a little guilt. Cover from above and some protection from radiation even without the Phib screen.”
“Easy for you to say,” I said, following his lead. I picked up the rock wedge that protected the screen device.
Moorsheen lay huddled in his bedroll. We waited. Potts scrambled in on all fours, gasping for air. “Mission accomplished.”
“Command, this is Keesay. Activate our screen.”
We sat in darkness. After a half hour the artillery’s rumbling stopped. Two hours later we counted two deafening detonations.
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