Gabriel grabbed her arm and jerked her toward him. "What the drek do you think you're doing?"
She made an attempt to free herself but the crowd held her captive as much as Gabriel. "I'm trying to save lives! Zeus got them all so stirred up, they're ready to commit suicide for this cause of theirs."
"That's right," Gabriel murmured sternly next to her ear. "And you can't stop them."
"At least I can try!"
He quickly looked around and was relieved to see that no one seemed to be paying attention to them. With her in tow, he elbowed a path through the crowd to an empty corner.
"You're manhandling me again!" Shara glared at him as he blocked her escape with his body.
"You wouldn't have come with me if I'd asked nicely."
She opened her mouth to contradict him but she knew he was right. "I was only trying to get someone to listen to reason before they—"
He cut her off by giving her shoulders a slight shake. "It's you who has to listen to reason, not them. This is the way it happened then and you weren't here to stop anyone. You can't interfere with what's already done."
"But you told me people were killed, children were maimed. We could spare some of them if we just—"
"No! We can't take that chance. What if you spare one who should have died and another dies who shouldn't have? Think, Shara. Use that analytical mind of yours. By interfering with what actually occurred, you could cause the elimination of someone whose descendant was important to our history. Without that rebel's survival, the descendant would never be born."
She could hardly argue with that theory, since she had returned to this time to prevent Khameira from being born on Terra in the future. "I don't like this one bit."
"Are you ready to go back?"
She straightened her shoulders and shook her head. "No. Not yet. I have to run tests on all the samples I collected this morning and check the names against the list. I'm sure I'm missing some."
"Then at least get the tempometer belt and put it on. Everyone's too busy to notice it. I'd like to be able to make a fast exit if—"
Before Gabriel could complete his sentence, Zeus walked up to them with a curious look on his face. "Is there a problem?"
As Gabriel had feared, Shara had been observed. He shook his head and gave Shara a hug. "Just a case of nerves, I'm afraid."
Zeus nodded as if he understood and patted them each on their shoulders but his eyes revealed a continued wariness. "Do not worry, friends, your oath to postpone your joining in support of our cause was a worthy one and you will be well rewarded for your sacrifice very soon now. Since you have no loyalties to a particular sect, I would be delighted to have you march alongside me."
Chapter 12
Gabriel's instincts told him this was a test. He tried to think of a reason to decline that wouldn't raise Zeus's suspicions about them even further but Shara spoke before he could come up with one.
"It would be our extreme pleasure," she said with a shaky smile. "I'll just get my bag and we'll be right with you."
Zeus waved a hand at her. "Not necessary. Arrangements have already been made to provide everything we might need. Come. Time is wasting."
As they followed Zeus outside, Gabriel whispered to Shara, "Why did you agree?"
"I had a queer feeling about the way he was looking at us."
"Me too. According to history, the Tribunal received advance notice of the attack from someone who had been at the Summit. Undoubtedly Zeus would have been on the lookout for an informer. He might think we're spies for the Tribunal, since we're not connected with any known sect. In which case, it would make sense for him to keep us close, or at least make sure someone is watching us at all times. But I certainly would have felt a lot better if we had the tempometer with us."
Shara didn't like leaving her microputer behind, either, but Zeus hadn't left them any choice. Thank the stars she had decided to stow her supplies and hair samples in her bag or he might have noticed the bulge in her tunic and questioned it. She looked around at the people separating into groups. If there was such a spy, he or she probably would have slipped away during the commotion at the end of Zeus's speech.
Athena called Zeus over to her group to ask a question and Gabriel and Shara took the opportunity to move out of anyone's hearing range. Still, Gabriel kept his voice lowered as he said, "Shara, I'm very serious now. Please keep in mind what I said about interfering and stick by me. We're marching into one of the most violent situations in Noronian history, and even though we weren't around at this time, our lives can be ended all the same."
"Terrific," she said with a grimace. "Well, I suppose we could look on the bright side. You'll be going back with recordings that will have the academic community standing on its head for priority viewing."
"True, but I'm accustomed to taking risks to get to the facts. You aren't. Perhaps my going would be enough to calm Zeus's suspicions. He might accept an excuse of jangled nerves or cowardice from you and you could stay here. That way at least one of us would be able to get back to our own time."
"Cowardice! No, thank you. That would probably convince him that I am a spy and he'd leave one of his henchmen behind to eliminate me. Besides, not knowing whether you were safe would drive me insane."
He lifted her face to his for a quick kiss. "How nice. You do care."
"I don't... well, I do, but not..." She paused to control her fumbling. "I was thinking about the fever."
Gabriel winked. "Of course you were." He locked his fingers through hers and guided her back to Zeus. When she tried to free her hand, he held it more tightly. "We're supposed to be madly in love with each other, remember? I think it would be a good idea to act as if we really are... for Zeus's sake, if nothing else. He might decide to make sure we're two of the casualties today if we're not convincing in our roles."
Suddenly Shara felt as though a needle had been inserted in her brain. She instantly blocked the intrusion, but the unexpected pain caused her to stumble.
Gabriel braced her as she swayed. "What's the matter?"
"Someone just tried to probe me again. And none too gently, I might add." She glanced at the group around Zeus and noted the curious expression on Athena's face. The first time Shara had felt a sharp prick of mental invasion like that, Athena had been present. "I think this time it's Athena. She's probably been planting suspicions in Zeus's head because she can't get a reading from either one of us."
Gabriel pretended to be checking Shara's temperature and peered into her eyes. "Can you make her believe she got through to you and that we're loyal Friends?"
Shara angled her head at him. "Probably, but I thought—"
"Just do it," he ordered tersely.
Shara forced the suggestion into Athena's mind and a second later Athena nodded to Zeus. The relaxed smile he gave them as they approached confirmed Shara's suspicions.
"Athena needs two more soldiers for her team," Zeus said. "She will be taking control of one of the councilors' residences. It is larger than the others and he has a staff of employees there with his mate and children who will need to be guarded. At any rate, you will see more action marching with her. My team will be the last to arrive in the city, since I have to see everyone else off to the right posts first. Good luck to all of you."
He strode off before Shara or Gabriel could protest. She wanted no part of anything in which children might be hurt. Regardless of the warnings Gabriel had given her, she could never stand by and do nothing but watch.
Shouted orders caused everyone to look toward the barn. Four large horses plodded out pulling a long wagonload of wheat tied in bundles. An adolescent boy controlled the reins and next to him on the seat was a younger girl. Hades jogged along beside the wagon until it was in the midst of the teams of people. He then told the boy to halt and pounded on the side of the wagon.
Shara was completely surprised as one side of the layer of wheat lifted like a hinged door. The wheat, adhered to a thin layer of wood, f
ormed the lid for a box beneath it, and a group of men and women were opening it from inside. Everyone cheered as Hades' team propped the lid open and began passing out weapons.
"Don't be concerned," Athena said, noting Shara's expression. "The arms are to give an illusion of force only. There will be no need to resort to actual violence."
Gabriel pulled Shara away as her mouth opened to protest. In a hushed voice, he issued a stern reminder. "Unless you're anxious to turn all this negative energy against us, you'd better start controlling your reactions."
He was right. It was just so difficult knowing what the future held. She reluctantly nodded and turned her attention to the activity around Hades' wagon. Somehow Shara had imagined that with their objection to technology the Friends would have used something rather primitive. The arms being distributed weren't as sophisticated as Gabriel's paralyzer rod, but they were considerably more advanced than bows and arrows.
Gabriel identified the weapons for Shara. Most of them were shooters that used caustic ammunition and could be tucked into the rebels' belts, but there were also larger armaments, such as the pipe guns that ejected balls of fire. To his knowledge, the only people permitted to own weapons of any kind were those employed in the Security Services. Thus, these must have been illegally obtained.
When everyone who wanted a weapon had one, Hades joined the team inside the wagon, the lid was lowered, and the children drove it off toward the city.
As promised, precisely two hours after the Summit ended, Zeus gave the signal for the march to begin. The plan was that by the time the various sects neared their destinations, Hades' group would have a distraction of explosions and fireworks ready to blow. Gabriel told Shara it sounded as though he would be detonating incendiary devices by remote control—another odd concession to technology.
The four-kilometer walk was going much too quickly for Shara's peace of mind. With Athena walking beside them, she and Gabriel refrained from discussing anything more important than the beautiful weather the Friends had been granted for their strike. It took a superhuman effort for her to act as excited as everyone around her when the truth was she was terrified.
The only thing that kept her from taking off in a panic was the way Gabriel held on to her hand the whole time—giving it an occasional squeeze, stroking the back of it with his thumb or bringing it to his lips for a light kiss. The adoring way he looked at her when their eyes met almost made her wish it wasn't just a role he was playing for Athena's sake.
But he'd made it abundantly clear that she would be the last female he could ever fall in love with. She had mental abilities that he resented, she wasn't a seasoned journeyer, she lacked the mild disposition and good sense of humor he preferred and she had convinced him she wasn't interested in coupling with him.
Of course, the last negative quality wasn't true but he didn't know that. And she'd only lost her normally mild disposition after she met him. The fact remained however, even if she could change all of those things to please him, he still didn't want a mate in his life and so he would never willingly accept a soulmate, who would take up residence in his mind.
Gabriel squeezed her hand. "Are you all right?"
She forced a smile. "Yes, why?"
He shrugged. "For some reason I just got the impression you were sad about something. It felt strange, as if I were feeling it for you."
She turned her eyes away from his. "I'm worried about what's coming, that's all." Shara told herself Gabriel had probably not picked up an actual emotion from her. More than likely he was reading her facial expression or eye color. After all, he wasn't empathic or telepathic, and they weren't joined, so he shouldn't be able to sense what she was feeling.
Then again, they shouldn't be suffering the symptoms of the mating fever either.
The closer they got to the city, the faster the army marched. At the first sight of their goal, one team broke into a run and had to be threatened with injury by Zeus to prevent a stampede.
Zeus ordered everyone to halt when they neared the top of the last hill on their march.
Shara looked out over a city that contrasted drastically with the commune they'd left behind, yet bore little resemblance to the First Province Administration Building of her time. Now it was only a small fraction of its future size. Rather than sparkling crystal prisms, the buildings were constructed of white and gray stone. Vehicles moved along on overhead rails instead of cushions of air.
Though different in physical ways, this city still exuded the aura of great power that Shara had sensed on previous visits in her own time. She wondered how the Friends could believe they were capable of overcoming that power with armaments.
Zeus moved from team to team, issuing final orders and wishes for success. The groups assigned to take over the councilors' residences departed first, since they needed to secure the hostages before the main body of Friends surrounded the Administration Building. As Athena's team made its way down the slope, Shara looked up at Gabriel, hoping he would read the fear in her eyes and say something to reassure her.
Gabriel pulled Shara to a stop and told Athena, "We'll catch up in a minute." Athena narrowed her eyes at him, but continued on with her team.
"What's the matter?" Shara whispered. "She's already suspicious of us."
"She won't question lovers sharing one last kiss before going into battle."
Shara's breath caught in her throat at the mere mention of a kiss and her gaze held to the lips she knew could make her forget the rest of the universe existed. Without waiting for his lead, she stepped closer and placed her hands on his shoulders. One of his kisses was exactly what she needed.
However, as his arms brought her snugly against him, his mouth moved to her ear. "I'm going on," he murmured, hugging her affectionately. "This is too rare for me to miss. But you could still go back or wait here."
The sharp disappointment she felt at not being kissed was distracting but she made herself reply to his comment. "Zeus is behind us. He'd just drag me along with him, and if I have to go, I'd feel safer with you."
"I appreciate your confidence. I'll make sure you don't regret it." He moved his head back and tipped up her chin. "I'm going to kiss you now. For the benefit of any observers, try to look as if you're enjoying yourself."
He may not have meant the direction as an insult but she took it as one and determined to repay him instantly. The moment his mouth pressed to hers, she concentrated on giving him the most intense kiss she knew how to give. As her lips moved over his, her body joined the assault. Shifting her hips into his, she received an immediate response.
She nipped his lower lip and gained access for her tongue to play inside. He met her thrust and parried, and returned her efforts with equal enthusiasm.
It was no longer clear who was the aggressor, nor did it matter in the slightest. All that mattered was that they were together, kissing, holding, touching. As Shara had desired, the rest of the world fell away until there was only Gabriel. Wanting to express her need more clearly, she slid her hand down his side and was about to ease it beneath his short tunic when the sound of laughter nearby jolted her back to reality.
Gabriel ended the kiss but continued to hold her tightly as he struggled to regain control of his body. He was disoriented and gasping for breath but she was trembling, and somehow he knew the reason without having to ask. "It's all right, sweetling. They aren't laughing at you."
She glanced up at him in surprise then hid her face in his neck. He had guessed what she was thinking. Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment and her stomach was twisted in a knot.
For a second she had been a young girl again and the other children were all laughing at her... the tall, clumsy mixed-breed.
And Gabriel had understood.
"Gabriel! Shara! Come along!" The shout was from Athena. She had stopped her team part of the way down the hill to await the stragglers.
Shara began to move away but Gabriel held her in place.
"Wait,"
he said softly. "I want you to know something before we go on." He combed his fingers through her hair. "That was real just now. Not the fever. Not an act for anyone else. I wasn't thinking about who your parents are or what either of us is doing here. The only thing on my mind was how much I wanted you."
His sincere words were another kind of caress—warmer, steadier—and she stopped trembling. "It was real to me also," she admitted. "I won't deny it anymore."
"Good," he said with a smile, and took her hand in his to catch up with their team. "Now let's try to stay in one piece today so we can finish what we started in a more romantic setting."
Shara met his gaze and smiled back. A few days ago she would have considered his remark arrogant. Now she thought it was logical... and provocative. Changes were being forced on her and she was no longer sure they were all bad... even if it was only temporary.
As they neared the section of the city where most of the councilors resided, their march took on the appearance of a leisurely stroll, but there was no one to perform for. It was almost midday. There should have been a number of residents moving about, but the only people in view were the Friends, getting into position.
Athena posted a soldier at the side and back door of the home she was responsible for then led the rest of the team straight to the front entrance. Having no reason to expect treachery, someone inside opened the door. Athena and the others carrying shooters pulled them out as they all charged into the large receiving room of the residence. Shara and Gabriel found themselves swept along in the rush.
Before the Friends had a chance to establish themselves however, they were surrounded by black-uniformed security officers, all of whom had shooters pointed at the trespassers. Every exit from the room was effectively blocked.
"Hold position!" ordered one officer. "Drop your weapons and surrender peaceably."
Instead of obeying, one of Athena's soldiers raised his shooter and the officer instantly fired at him. The shock of being trapped had momentarily frozen the group but seeing their friend fall with a smoking hole in his chest inflamed them to act.
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