Scattered Suns - Kevin J. Anderson [182]
Rlinda chuckled. “I’d sure like to see the expression on his face when he figures it out.”
“I’d rather escape, if you don’t mind,” BeBob said. “I’ve seen enough of the General’s expressions.”
The lunar docking bay was as deserted as Davlin promised. Rlinda was amazed at how much he’d arranged so quickly, but after spending time with the “specialist in obscure details” at the archaeological site on Rheindic Co and helping him rescue the settlers from frozen-over Crenna, she knew not to underestimate what the man could pull off.
In the crater landing zone, the Voracious Curiosity had been left unmolested. BeBob’s Blind Faith sat in a separate area, cordoned off. The EDF had given it an overhaul, removing records and scraps of evidence, but the vessel still looked spaceworthy. It would have to be.
“As soon as we fly away, the EDF will come after us,” Rlinda said.
“Probably. That’s why we need an adequate head start.”
“We don’t have a way to open the docking bay,” BeBob said in dismay. “You need EDF authorization. We’ll never get—”
Davlin silenced him with a glance. “Already taken care of.” He nudged Rlinda ahead. “You two get aboard the Curiosity and prepare for takeoff. I’ll take the Blind Faith. It’s been impounded, and I might have to pull some unusual tricks.”
“I don’t want to give up the Faith. She’s my ship. Shouldn’t I be flying her?”
Rlinda yanked the still-unsteady BeBob toward her waiting vessel. “Let’s have a little priority reassessment here. If anyone can fly the Faith away, it’s Davlin. Let’s go.”
Standing at the cordons around BeBob’s ship, Davlin tossed Rlinda a datapack. In the low lunar gravity it sailed in a graceful arc, and she deftly caught it. “Run those codes through your navigation systems. Your departure authorizations have already been issued.”
Rlinda and BeBob raced toward the Curiosity. When she reached the open hatch and the ramp, she looked back at the spy. “Davlin...thanks.”
He regarded her for a brief moment. “You waited for me on Rheindic Co when anyone else would have given me up for lost.” He shrugged before turning to board the Blind Faith. “This is the least I could do for you.”
Chapter 90—SULLIVAN GOLD
The limping evacuation modules used most of their thrust to escape the hydrogue-infested gas giant. Sullivan clung to hope and determination, though he had little logical reason to believe they would make it to nearby Ildira. The odds were against them, and it was easy to lose faith.
To Sullivan’s horror, one of the sluggish modules had encountered a small space rock, which punctured the hull. Air gushed out, killing everyone inside before they could patch the leak. Even if Sullivan had had a chance to do something, none of the evac modules had the room or resources to save anybody aboard. For the remaining twelve, time and life support were running out.
Until they unexpectedly bumped into the Solar Navy rushing toward Qronha 3.
If the air hadn’t been so stagnant inside their evac modules, and if they hadn’t been standing shoulder-to-shoulder, the passengers would have jumped and cheered. As it was, the survivors sighed with relief. Several had already passed out and needed to be shaken awake.
Sensing the presence of fellow minds and a stronger thism bond, the blunt-featured Ildiran miners looked instantly reassured. Kolker remained stunned and disoriented, as if he’d been blinded; without his treeling, he felt isolated. Sullivan himself had never needed a constant flow of people around him, yet he did remember the sad emptiness that always set in immediately after a major holiday, when all the children and grandchildren had gone home and his and Lydia’s household was suddenly empty.
Sullivan touched his friend’s arm. “It’s not permanent. The Mage-Imperator is sure to reward us for saving all these people. He’ll see that we’re sent back home, and you’ll get another treeling. Don’t worry about it.”
Kolker drew a deep breath and seemed to be steeling himself. “I can endure being without telink...for a short while.”
Tabitha worked their emergency comm systems.