Sooner Dead (Gamma World) - Mel Odom [32]
“She’s my responsibility, and I’m not going to just—”
“Faust has made room for her in the camp bay. She’s going to be inside these walls, same as us. With those Sheldons running around out there, I don’t want Daisy to be any less protected than we are.”
That surprised Hella. “Faust agreed?” The gorilloid wasn’t a big fan of the mountain boomer even though Daisy tolerated him. Hella had sometimes wondered if adopting Daisy was one of the things that had split up the relationship between Stampede and Faust.
“Yeah. I told him if he didn’t let Daisy sleep inside the camp, you’d be out there sleeping with her.”
That was true.
“With the Sheldons in the area, he didn’t want you outside the walls.” Stampede grinned. “He even cut me a deal on the room. As long as you agree to sleep inside.”
“I don’t have to stay the whole night, right?”
Stampede sighed. “Your choice, Red, but if I was you, I’d take advantage of a quiet night, the bath, and a chance to get a warm meal that’s something other than whatever you just killed.”
“Daisy’s not going to like being penned up any more than I do.”
“She’ll be happy tonight. Faust also arranged for someone to haul all the butcher’s remnants to that lizard’s stall. She’s going to be eating good tonight. She’ll probably sink into a food coma and not wake up till morning.”
Hella looked out the window. From the height, she could see over the metal wall. Snipers manned the armored towers, and other camp guards strode the catwalks. “Have you ever been around anyone with espee abilities?”
“Sure.” Stampede started unpacking his bags. When things quieted down, he’d clean all his weapons. And he’d insist that she do the same with hers. Bottles of gun cleaner and oil sat on the small table in the room.
“Somebody that could talk into your mind?”
Stampede swiveled his full attention on her then. “Colleen?”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe you should tell me how this happened.”
Hella opened the window and sat on the ledge, partly out of the room so the wind could reach her. In terse sentences, she told Stampede what had happened.
Stampede rubbed his hairy chin when she finished. He frowned and his left ear twitched, a sure sign that he was uneasy. “Pardot doesn’t know she can do this?”
“She says no.”
“Pardot has a way of knowing things. She may think she has a way to talking to you—”
“I think she’s more interested in talking to us.”
Stampede grunted. “That may be but she’s mistaken if she thinks I’ll put her safety ahead of yours.”
“You’re not responsible for my safety.” Hella felt a little angry at that.
“You saying if I was outgunned, you wouldn’t help, Red?”
“That’s not what I’m saying.”
“Let me ask you this: If you had to choose between saving me and saving her, which way would it go?”
“I’d save you.” Hella answered without hesitation. “But I know that you can also save yourself.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence. Let’s say that we come to a fork in the trail. One way is safe and the other way is dangerous. Maybe I wouldn’t survive. Would you let me go down that dangerous path if I wanted to?”
“You’d have me. I wouldn’t let you go alone.”
Stampede laughed. “And that would make all the difference.”
“It always has before.”
“Some days it just means both of you get killed. You’ve still got a lot to learn about the world, Red.” Stampede was silent for a moment. “The thing I’m trying to get at is that we both have lost a little of our perspective here. You’re looking out for the woman, never mind Riley floating around—”
Hella started to object, but Stampede lifted a big hand and silenced her.
“And I’m interested in Pardot’s prize—whatever it is. Neither one of us is completely pure here. Our decision-making capabilities are compromised. Do you understand?”
“I’m not an idiot.”
“This talk is as much for me to hear as you. I just want it said. That’s all.”
“Okay.”
A ponderous knock sounded on the door. By the time Stampede had one of his pistols in his fist, Hella already had her right hand morphed and ready to fire.
“Who is it?” Stampede stood to one side of the door.
“Me.” The