“You just don’t trust anyone but yourself,” finished Hughes with a grin. “I understand.”
“When we get to the cave, I’ll seal your wounds and dress them properly,” she said as the groundcar took off to rendezvous at the gate with the others.
Anders banked sharply to the right, sending them sliding toward the port side hull.
“Hey, watch it,” Vanna complained.
“Sorry,” he said.
As soon as they touched down, the others scrambled on board. Of the giant spotlights at the gate, only blind metal struts remained. The Base was now lit by the glow of many fires, the largest being the groundcar pool.
Anders managed to do a head count as they boarded and as the last man was hauled in, he sealed the hatch and took off, flying high over the fence and into the swamplands.
Remarkably, no one else had been injured.
“Did you send the signal?” demanded Garras, asking the question on all their minds.
Kusac nodded. “We sent it,” he said.
Garras settled back, relieved. “Then it’s only a matter of time.”
“What now?” asked Richard. “What happens while we wait?”
“We lay the groundwork for a Sholan/Terran treaty,” replied Garras.
“We get the basis laid for the diplomats so that they can’t screw it up,” added Skinner, with a rare smile. “Your father will already be on his way to join us, along with the leaders from the nearest towns.”
“I’m not looking forward to that meeting,” murmured Carrie uneasily.
Vanna leaned forward to pat her arm encouragingly.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “You’re with us now, and you’ll stay with us—more than that, you belong with us.”
Kusac put his arm round her and hugged her close to his side.
“He daren’t risk an incident by demanding you stay with him on Keiss,” he said.
Besides, he continued mentally, I have a feeling Skinner will convince him you are an ideal spy in our camp!
“Do I truly belong with you, or will I be just another Alien to your people?” Carrie asked Kusac, turning a tired and bloodstained face to him.
“We belong together,” he said gently, licking her ear.
Turning Point Page 31