Razor's Edge
Page 74
Davis grabbed at Tirak. “Better do as she says. She’s going to start up the shuttle.”
“What?” Then a grin lit his face. “I like this female,” he said, swinging round to yell to his crew.
“Ashay,” she said, throwing herself into the seat beside him. “How’d you like to end this fight?” She scanned the area ahead carefully. None of their people were in the line of fire.
Ashay looked expectantly at her. “Start her up, move her round, and open fire on Bradogan’s men,” she said.
Ashay’s mouth opened slowly, lips curling back in a grin. “We fire on enemy?” His tone was hopeful.
“I’m afraid so,” she said. “Try to only take them out, don’t use anything too heavy. No missiles, okay? And for God’s sake, don’t hit the Hkariyash!”
“Definitely no hitting Hkariyash,” Ashay agreed with a shudder as he lifted the shuttle into the air and swung her about.
Seeing that Jo had matters well under control, Tirak regrouped his crew. Davies and Kris joined them as the sound of the shuttle’s bursts of rapid fire almost deafened them. Pointing to the far end, they headed off at a run, ducking behind the landing bays and out of sight. From the corner of his eye, Tirak saw a shape, like a shadow, pacing them. He risked a glance sideways and blinked. Nothing. Dismissing it from his mind, he focused on the threat to the small group of Sholans ahead of them.
They stopped at the Profit, easing their way down between it and the adjacent craft. Ahead of them they could see Bradogan and his men, hiding behind an abandoned grav sled.
“We’ll pick a few off first,” Tirak said, “then see if Bradogan will surrender.”
“We’ve got friendly cross fire,” said Kusac, looking to his right as the second volley of shots came in.
“I noticed,” said Kaid. “Hold fire. Let’s see what they can do. We’re running low on power. Better save it just in case.”
A yell of pain rang out from Bradogan’s direction.
“Sounds like they got one.”
T’Chebbi bent down to Carrie, taking her knife out. “I check that wound now,” she said.
“Wound?” said Kusac, swinging round to look at her. “You’re wounded?”
“Doesn’t hurt,” she said, pushing T’Chebbi away even as she continued to block the pain off behind her mental shield. “It’s nothing, honestly. Just winged me.”
Firmly, T’Chebbi pushed her hands aside and began cutting the bloodstained entry hole to her coveralls to get a better look at her wound.
Shots were still being fired, but they were sporadic and none were coming in their direction.
Torn between concern for his Leska and the knowledge of the danger they still faced, Kusac forced himself to turn away. Why didn’t I know? I should have felt it!
Kusac, it doesn’t hurt now, and didn’t when it happened. It was Bradogan. Bastard aimed at me on purpose. Then she yelped as T’Chebbi touched the hole in her side.
“Kaid, is small entry wound, no exit. Bullet still inside,” said T’Chebbi.
“Take over,” he said. He waited till she’d relieved him then bent down to check for himself.
“What is it, Kaid?” demanded Kusac, glancing down.
“Bullet’s still inside her,” Kaid said, gently probing the wound as Carrie tried not to moan.
Voices could be heard shouting to each other.
“Is over, now,” said T’Chebbi. “Tirak was one helping us! With Davies and Kris.” She bent down to hand something to him. “Is what Bradogan used.”
Kusac joined them, the fight, Bradogan, all forgotten in his concern for Carrie. “Show me,” he said, holding out his hand.
Kaid nodded and T’Chebbi leaned over to place a deformed bullet in his hand. “Soft tipped bullets,” she said. “Not good.”
Kusac’s hand closed around the projectile.
“She’ll be fine, with the right treatment,” said Kaid, looking him straight in the eye. Need to know exactly where it is before it can be removed by surgery. We don’t have those facilities. The nearest ones will be at our rendezvous.
They heard footsteps and looked up to find Tirak standing there.
“Got this habit of following us,” said T’Chebbi, getting to her feet.
“Be glad I do,” said Tirak with a grin. It faded swiftly as he saw Carrie. “Injured?” he asked.
Kusac held out his hand, opening it to show him the bullet.
“I got a medic on my ship, good facilities,” he said. “Your injured Sholan female is already there.”
“Bullet’s still inside her,” said Kaid, bending to pick Carrie up.
She pushed him away and began to struggle to her feet before he could stop her. “I’m fine. You’re all making a fuss about nothing,” she said. Then the blood drained from her face and she began to crumple.
Kaid caught her, sweeping her up in his arms as he looked at Kusac, who had collapsed against the wagon. “Hkariyash hasn’t the facilities,” he said. “I don’t know what Tirak has, but without surgery soon, she’ll die.”
“Cryo,” said Tirak, grasping Kaid by the arm. “I have cryo units. Can put her—him, too, if necessary—in cryo till we reach your ship.”
“Cryo units are free, Captain,” said Mrowbay. “I started bringing the young pair out when I took the Sholan female to sick bay.”
“Take her there,” said Kusac, pushing himself upright with an effort of willpower. “I want to see Bradogan.”
He pushed T’Chebbi aside as she tried to stop him, rounding the wagon till he faced the captive Lord.
“You I will kill with my bare hands,” he snarled, advancing slowly on him.
Out from between the ships, a dark shape came running, uttering an unearthly howl that stopped even Kusac in his tracks. Straight as an arrow it headed for Bradogan. Launching itself, it sprang, landing full on the Jalnian’s chest, its weight wrenching him from the guards and bearing him to the ground.
The two U’Churians sprang back, watching in horror as the screaming man was savagely attacked.
A shot rang out and the creature stiffened, then fell limply across Bradogan’s equally still form.
Jeran moved forward. “Miroshi?” he said. “Oh, Gods, it’s Miroshi!”
“Miroshi?” demanded T’Chebbi. “Why she do this to Bradogan?”
“Because of what he did to her,” said Jeran, bending down to touch the dead female. “She was ill,” he said, looking up at Kaid. “I told you that. He gave her to his men one night because he was angry with her. There was nothing we could have done to help.”
The sound of an approaching shuttle drowned out any hope of further conversation. It stopped to let Jo descend, then turned and headed back down to the other end of the spaceport.
She rushed over to Kaid. “Not Carrie,” she said, touching her face. “Oh, God, not Carrie!”
“Bradogan’s dead,” said Jeran, standing up. “She got her revenge.”
Tirak decided enough time had been wasted. “We need to get Carrie to sick bay,” he said, taking hold of Kusac’s arm. “Are you done here? Have you got all your people?”
Kusac looked at Jo.
“Yes, all accounted for,” she said, looking over to him. “Rezac and Zashou are on the Profit, the rest of us are here or on the Hkariyash.”
“Including Tallis?”
“Yes, he made his break while Bradogan was after you, and managed to reach the Hkariyash.”
“You said you need to reach a rendezvous. Where?” asked Tirak.
“Chemerian home world,” said Kaid.
“We can get you there in two weeks. Is that fast enough? Let’s go, now, before any more fighting starts. You can talk to your ship from mine while we see to the injured.”
“We’re coming,” said Kusac, leaning on Davies for support.
“I’ll go on the Hkariyash,” said Kris. “We don’t need to get back quickly.”
“Same with me,” said Davies as he helped Kusac toward the Profit. “We’ll kee
p you posted on what happens. Next few days could be quite interesting as Railin takes over from Bradogan.”
As Mrowbay prepared to seal the cryo units, Kaid reached out to touch Kusac’s hand. Already the premed had taken effect and his friend was drifting into unconsciousness.
“Two weeks, Kaid,” he said, his voice barely audible. “Find out what Tirak was up to in that time. I’ll want to know.”
“I’ll find out,” he reassured him, standing back for the unit to be sealed. He turned away, moving to Carrie’s.
“She never came round,” said Mrowbay, joining him.
Kaid touched her cheek. “Sleep well,” he whispered.