I gasped for breath. “Find them!”
“There’s no one left. The rest of the building’s empty.”
“You’re sure?”
“Mantiet says so.”
Frederick appeared, breathing heavily. “We’re alone. But we don’t have a heli.”
Alexi and Bezrel emerged from the cubicle. The boy’s face was buried in Alexi’s jacket. Alexi’s arm cradled his shoulder.
Tolliver said contemptuously, “Middies.” I stared at him and he flushed. “Sorry. I forget.”
Annie’s sobs became more frenzied.
“It’s all right, hon.” I stroked her head, calming her. “How’d you do that?”
“Dey was gonna dissya.”
“Where’d you learn...”
Her tone held scorn. “Two joeys ain’ nothin. Onna street, girl gotta defen’ herself. Even inna Cathedral I crunched one’s head.”
“My God. That was you?” I recalled the bashed-in skull, the thick puddles of blood.
“Coulda got othas, if I didn’ trip onna rock.” A pause, and her face clouded. “Rubies gone.”
“Annie, about what they did...”
“No one did nothin’.” Her voice had an edge of finality.
I cradled her anew. “It’s all right, hon.”
“Sir, we’d better leave.” Tolliver.
I tried to wrest Annie’s hand from my neck and succumbed to a fit of coughing. This time, I thought I’d never stop.
“We’ve got to get him to the clinic.” Tolliver.
Mantiet said, “Why not just wait for Laura to retake us?” At Tolliver’s puzzled stare he added, “Your Captain’s not exactly unknown. If we walk into the clinic, she’ll be told in minutes.”
My voice was thick. “I’m all right. See if you still have friends.”
“In half an hour I can have five men and a heli.”
I nodded. “Get your men. Hurry.” After he made the call I had Tolliver move us to the front room, past the charred corpses of our guards. Bezrel retched at the sight. I wanted to do the same. Annie hardly spared them a glance.
In the front room the daylight seemed overbright. “It’s so cold.” I huddled shivering in my chair. Mantiet and Tolliver exchanged glances.
Between us we had two charged pistols. I had Tolliver and Mantiet take them; I was past being any help. When the whap of blades beat the air we tensed. Mantiet peered cautiously through the window. “It’s our side,” he said. “But I’d better go first. They might be nervous.”
He went out. A moment later he beckoned to us. I gasped, “Tolliver, draw your pistol. Be ready for anything.” Why hadn’t I made Frederick leave his pistol behind? I wasn’t thinking well. Mantiet’s men walked toward the building.
Mantiet entered first. He pulled out his pistol. Instantly Tolliver was down on one knee, gun aimed. Mantiet handed me the weapon. “You need this. I’m armed now.”
“Thank you.” I tried to make my voice casual.
“We’d better get out. Where to?”
The room drifted from side to side, making it difficult to think. We needed to confront Laura Triforth. Arrest her, if we could. But she had the power, the guns.
“Well, sir?”
“I don’t know! Can’t you see I’m sick?” I was disgusted by the whine in my tone.
“Into the heli.” Mantiet.
Tolliver’s voice was tense. “The last person who offered us a ride was Triforth.”
“He’s not Laura,” I snapped. I tried to think. Best we retreat to the plantation zone, if someone there would help. Branstead, or perhaps Zack Hopewell. But within hours our escape would be known. Triforth would have time to mobilize.
No matter. We had no real choice. I asked, “Can we all fit in the heli?” It seemed too small.
“I doubt it. We’d be way over the weight limit.”
My teeth chattered. I drew my jacket tight. “Ring Harmon Branstead for me.” Mantiet’s men drifted inside. Their presence made the room seem crowded.
“The frequency may be monitored,” Mantiet warned as he handed me the caller.
I thought of calling through Admiralty House, relaying to Orbit Station and back. No, it would waste time, and Admiralty House was probably in enemy hands.
“Branstead.”
“This is, um, a friend.”
“Thank heavens.” His tone held an odd note of relief.
“We need help.”
“Are you...alone?”
“For the moment. Bring a large heli, as fast as you can.”
“Where should we meet you?”
We had to get clear of the haulers’ building. “Where I brought your son back from our trip. In front.”
“Right. Figure about an hour.” He rang off.
Alexi asked, “Where is he meeting us?”
“At the spaceport terminal.” I stared at the heli. “We’ll have to fly two loads.”
“We’d better get you in the first one.” Mantiet. “If they catch you here...”
“If they catch any of us, we’re dead.” The room drifted. I tried to take a deep breath. “Is there a car?”
“Nothing.”
“The road’s a few hundred feet. Stop one.”
Mantiet gestured to two of his men. “Hurry.”
“No killing,” I said.
The farmhand spat. “They may not want to stop.”
“Don’t kill civilians.”
The two men loped off. Too much time passed. Finally, the distant hum of an electricar. Another wait. A car appeared at the end of the winding drive, lurched along the dirt road, pulled up in front of our building. I wobbled to my feet.
Mantiet’s field hand yanked open the car door. Inside, a young man cowered, hands held high.
I hadn’t thought of prisoners. We could lock him in to a room. No, Triforth’s men would find him and no telling what they’d do. Too complicated. “Bring him along.”
The farmhand muttered, “You’re crazy.”
Mantiet spun, his voice dangerous. “Show him the respect you’d show me. More than that.”
“But—”
“You heard me!”
The farmhand nodded grudgingly. “Sorry.” Mantiet shifted impatiently. “Let’s get moving.”
“Tolliver, Bezrel, and I will take the car. Send one of your men with us, in case there’s a fight. Alexi can go with you in the heli.” A long speech, that left me panting.
“Shouldn’t you be in—”
Tolliver said loudly, “Aye aye, sir.”
Interrupted, Mantiet reddened. “Right. Let’s go.”
We piled into the car. I fell into my seat, gasping from the effort. I said to the civilian, “Put your hands down. No one will hurt you.”
The young man quavered, “Please. Whatever you say.”
“Stay quiet. You might even get your car back.” On the edge of town the streets were mostly clear. Little damage was evident. The heli cruised above and behind us, circling. Despite the tension, I dozed. When I woke, the intense heat made me try to squirm out of my jacket, but after a moment I gave up, panting.
We pulled into the terminal lot. It looked deserted. It ought to be; there was no longer any traffic to the Station. “Check out the building.”
Tolliver got out and approached the terminal with one of Mantiet’s men. I kept my eye on the anxious civilian, hand on my pistol, until they returned. “Locked, sir.”
We clustered in the parking lot straining for the thump of Harmon’s heli. Heart pounding, I rested against the car. I’d needed Alexi and Tolliver to help me to my feet.
At last the heli came. As it swooped down I tapped the civilian on the shoulder. “Drive downtown. Don’t stop anywhere near.” He jumped into his car, sped to freedom.
Before the blades stopped Harmon Branstead jumped down, strode toward me, stopped. “God almighty, Seafort, what’s happened to you?”
“I’m not well.”
“You’re—” He broke off. “What do you want us
to do?”
“Who’d you bring?” One by one six men climbed out, laser rifles at the ready. Another man followed, more slowly.
“You?” My astonishment was obvious.
“Me. After all, it’s my heli.” Old Zack Hopewell’s stern face showed no hint of warmth. He walked slowly to me, took my shoulders in his hands. He stared into my face. “Lord God save you, how long have you been like this?”
I blinked away tears. “Triforth—did something. With my vapormeds.”
He turned to Harmon. “Get him to a doctor. Now.”
“No.” I began to cough. As the day faded to mist I hung on to Hopewell. Finally I caught my breath. “I can’t be seen. None of us can until Laura Triforth is taken.”
It was as if I hadn’t spoken. “Harmon, get him in the heli. Frederick, call Dr. Avery. Have him meet us at my house.”
I gasped, “Triforth first! Take the Manse.”
Hopewell’s tone was brutal. “That’s for us to decide.” In a moment we were aloft. I leaned on Alexi’s shoulder, wondering where they’d put Annie.
Mantiet said, “You’re wrong, Zack. Without him we’re nothing.”
“Look at him. We’ve got to get him to Avery.”
“Find Triforth. You’re wasting—” I began to cough. Some time after, I woke from a fitful doze, Alexi’s shoulder damp from my perspiration. The heli door swung open.
“Help him inside.”
I brushed away their hands. “I can walk.” It was true, after a fashion. By the time I reached Zack Hopewell’s porch scarce twenty yards away, I was glad of the hands offering support.
While we walked, Dr. Avery thrust a fresh vapormask over my head. Inside, he helped pull off my shirt. He listened. “Christ. Lay back, boy.”
“We have to...”
“Give my meds a chance.”
I obeyed. Avery examined my old canister, sniffed at the vapor. “That’s not right. Lord God knows what mix she used.”
Old Zack Hopewell raised an eyebrow. “What’s been done?”
“I thought I’d seen everything. Laura’s a zealot, that’s no surprise. But this...” He shook his head. “Anticars, most likely. And bacteria.”
“Explain.” My words slurred through the mask.
“Anticarcinomals have been standard cancer treatment for a century. They work, but they can’t be used with transplants. Period.”
“Am I rejecting my lung?”
“We may have caught it in time. The pneumonia’s worse. I’ve loaded you with meds. Lie still.” To the others, “I can’t believe she’d do it.”
“I can.” Harmon’s voice was hard. “Zack, this settles it. We have to act.”
“On whose behalf?”
Frederick Mantiet cleared his throat. “His.”
“Nonsense.” Hopewell.
“Zack, I’ve changed sides. I’m not with Laura. Nor you. I’m with him.”
I giggled. Perhaps the meds were making me giddy. “A side of two.”
A long silence.
“Three.” Everyone looked to Harmon. He blushed. “The city’s been bombed. A few years ago the fish sprayed a virus. Laura represents a cohesive power, one that’s recognized. The Navy’s another. Would you proclaim a third? Under what authority? Shall we risk civil war, with fish overhead?”
I breathed deeply. The new canister seemed to help.
Hopewell radiated his disapproval. “We’ll discuss it privately, Harmon.”
The door opened. Annie flew to my side. “Don’ leave me ’lone again!”
Tolliver peered in after her. “Is he alive?”
I growled, “Yes.”
Dr. Avery bared my arm. I felt a mild sting.
“No surprise. You’re too ornery to...” He shook his head. “Midshipman Tolliver reporting for duty, sir.”
“Take Annie and Alexi. And, whatshisname, Bezrel.” It was hard to concentrate. “Get them decent food. And a bath...”
I fell into sleep.
I sat bolt upright. “What time is it?”
Tolliver leapt half out of his seat. “Christ, don’t do that. It’s like a visitation from the dead.”
“Don’t blaspheme.” The vapormask muffled my voice.
“It’s four in the morning.”
I was in a bed. The lights were low. “What are you doing here?”
“Someone had to keep an eye on you. Everyone else is asleep.”
“We’re at Hopewell’s?”
“Yes, sir. Dr. Avery knocked you out for your own good.”
I said hopefully, “I feel better.”
“You don’t look it.” Tolliver stretched. “Do you need anything?”
“Bring me up to date.”
“No news of late. Last evening Ms. Triforth’s joeys were swarming about Centraltown like disturbed bees.”
“What’s Hopewell doing?”
“Sleeping.” Tolliver turned down the light. “As you’ll be, in another moment.”
Thereafter, he refused to answer my questions. Eventually I dozed, to pleasant fantasies of his court-martial.
In the morning I overrode Tolliver’s objections and got out of bed to find a bathroom. Once there, I sat clawing for breath. Getting up had been a mistake.
When I tottered back, my breakfast was waiting, along with the committee of the whole. I glanced around at the somber faces. Frederick Mantiet. Zack Hopewell and his wife; Harmon and Sarah Branstead. Dr. Avery. Tolliver and Alexi. Even poor Bezrel, attempting manfully not to look overwhelmed.
I forced myself to sit casually, rather than fall panting on the bed. “A ceremonial occasion, I gather?” No one spoke. I demanded, “Are you handing me back?”
Mantiet snorted. “No, worse. We want you to lead us.” He held up his hand to forestall my reply. “In a ceremonial capacity, of course.”
“What does that mean?”
“Lend us your name,” Frederick’s gesture included the group. “If we strike suddenly, we might bring Laura down. We want to do it in the name of a legitimate government. Hopefully, it would reduce the bloodshed.”
“And then?”
“Independence, as before. What would change is the morality of the government. We wouldn’t—”
“Not in my name.” I sounded bitter. “But why even ask? Who’d know on whose behalf you act, with me sick in bed?”
“I’d know.” Zack Hopewell, his voice like flint. “I will not found a regime on a lie.”
“I’m sorry, then. But, no.”
Frederick glanced at his companions. “I told you.”
Harmon said, “Nick, what will you do if we defeat Laura on our own?”
“Do? I’m not sure. But revolution isn’t the answer. It is an affront to Lord God. It’s my duty to prevent that.” I stopped, panting. “If you succeed you will be damned, and every soul on your planet will writhe in Lord God’s hell. I’ve condemned myself, and I know nothing in the universe is worth that.” I realized I spoke through tears.
Mantiet said carefully, “Suppose we ask you to reestablish the Government. Some of us need assurance our past acts won’t be deemed treason. We’ve all had some knowledge of the underground.”
Uncaring of the consequences, I flung aside my vapor-mask. “You’d bargain with Lord God’s covenant? Treason is treason! Don’t ask me to condone—”
Tolliver said, “Sir, don’t you see they’re trying to submit—”
I rounded on him, my nails clawing at the sheets. “How dare you! What is your rank?”
“I only—”
“Answer!”
“Midshipman, sir.”
I struggled to my feet. “Do middies make policy? Do they question their Captains?” My pulse pounded. “Out of the room!”
“I’m sorry if—”
“At once!” I waited until the door closed before sitting shakily. “Where’s my wife?”
Avery said, “She had a panic attack in the night. She’s under sedation.”
“Lord Christ.” If it was a plea,
it wouldn’t be blasphemy. For a moment I closed my eyes. Back to the business at hand. “Knowledge of their plots is not itself treason. But no deals; that’s for politicians. The subject is closed.”
Another silence. Zack Hopewell said to the others, “I told you.”
“Stop that! If you all knew what I’d say, why hound me?”
“You leave us few choices, boy. Submit to Laura, follow you to Lord knows what disgrace, or act on our own with no color of authority.”
I waited. Casually my hand stole to the vapormask. I slipped it on. Lord God, my chest ached.
Harmon said, “Tell him what we decided, Zack.”
“He knows.” Zack Hopewell sat by my side. “What now, Captain?” His steady eyes met mine. “We commit to you.”
I swallowed. Yesterday I was a prisoner, and now...” Does Triforth have an army?”
“About fifty men, as best I can judge. Far more than we have. Some are at Governor’s Manse, where she’s set up command. She has others running errands around town. She’s set up a governing council; they’ve commandeered the public warehouses and taken over food distribution. Volksteader and Palabee are with her.”
Harmon added, “They’re well armed. They found plenty of firearms in the arsenals your people left behind.”
I said, “Our best chance would be a direct attack on the Manse. If we take her, the revolution may collapse.” I sat up warily, reached for my clothes.
Sarah Branstead stirred. “Where do you think you’re going? You need quiet, and meds.”
“To the Manse.”
Dr. Avery shook his head. “Don’t leave that bed. Not if you want to live.” I ignored him. How could I send these men to do my work? Avery flared, “Damn it, the meds were just taking hold! Look at your face; I’ll bet your temp is up three points in the last half hour!”
Frederick said, “In any event we’re not all that well armed, and we won’t risk your life.”
I thought of Annie, and Triforth’s casual contempt. “I’m going to the Manse, if I have only Bezrel to drive me. Come if you will, or remain behind.” Ignoring the women’s presence, I threw on my clothes. The effort left me weak.
Hopewell said, “Leave him, Frederick. It’s his life to spend.” For a moment I saw Father’s dim presence. “We’ll take both helis, Captain. There’s room for all of us.”
Alexi cleared his throat. “May I go too, Mr. Seafort?”
Prisoner's Hope (The Seafort Saga Book 3) Page 30