The Ascendant Stars - Michael Cobley [213]
There was the sound of descending steps and he looked up to see a tall grey-robed figure stroll leisurely towards him. A shadowy cowl was pushed back to reveal the features of Utavess Kuros.
‘My transponder tells me that a transport will be here quite shortly,’ the Sendrukan said. ‘There is a platform more adequate for embarkation further up, which means that I will have to carry you.’
Kuros was half a dozen paces away when a figure dropped onto him from the branches above. Small hands clawed at his face. Flailing at his assailant, he cried out and staggered back, tripped on a jutting board and fell full length on the planking. That was when Greg realised that the attacker was Catriona.
She held on like grim death as the Sendrukan landed, letting out a howl of rage. Greg heard her cry out but she kept one arm wrapped around Kuros’s neck, refusing to let go even when the big Sendrukan started grabbing her limbs and swinging wild punches.
Without warning a strange languour settled over Greg’s senses, and the struggle going on just a few yards away slowed down and down. Garments swirled and billowed while those savage movements became drawn-out graceful gestures, which he found curiously amusing, as if he were watching some piece of visual comedy on the vee. Until a bright flash cut through everything, and a stabbing sensation raced from his head down neck and shoulder into his arm and hand, the hand that was still half-curled about the smartgun. His body was his again. He snatched up the weapon and aimed, just as Kuros was drawing back one big fist to strike Cat. Greg yelled and Kuros looked up and round, providing an excellent target. Uttering a bellow of anger, Greg pressed and held down the firing stud, and a chain of bright barbs struck the Sendrukan full in the face.
A scream started but was cut off. Flame and blood burst up and out as the Sendrukan was flung backwards. Hands briefly clutched at empty air, and the limbs jerked for a few seconds before relaxing finally into motionlessness.
The brutal violence was followed by a frozen moment. Then there was movement next to the corpse: Catriona, edging away from the dead Sendrukan. Greg returned the smartgun to its holster then went over to help her to her feet. She seemed to be unhurt and hardly marked with their enemy’s blood.
‘I must say, Miss Macreadie, that you’re looking pretty good for a forest phantom … ’ He suddenly noticed that they were holding each other’s arms. ‘And feeling rather more substantial … ’
Her face lit up with an intense, wordless glee as she grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him in close enough for her to deliver a long passionate kiss. When they at last broke apart Greg drew in a deep breath and made a quiet whistling sound.
‘Well, that answers one of my questions … ’
‘And mine,’ said Catriona. ‘There were times when I was sure that I’d never get to do that again, or indeed with you … wait, can you hear that?’
‘Hear what?’
‘It’s like a wee voice … ’
They both fell into a hush and Greg could hear it, a faint tinny whisper. Realisation struck and when he raised a hand to his right ear the comm piece was gone. Patting his clothing, he found it in a fold and seconds later had it back in place.
‘ … repeating message, Mr Cameron, please reply … ’
‘Kao Chih, I hear you,’ he said. ‘Sorry, but the damned earpiece fell out.’
‘Understood, Mr Cameron, and I gather that Kuros is no longer a threat, but have you found the transponder? That shuttle is less than ten minutes from your position.’
Greg stared at Catriona in a kind of uncertain panic.
‘What?’ she said.
‘Kuros had a transponder and a Hegemony ship is on its way here!’ He looked upwards, gesturing at the dense veils of foliage. ‘But how can we find it in time?’
‘A transponder, eh?’
When Greg looked back Cat was crouching over the dead Sendrukan, fumbling and rummaging in the long grey robes. Then she made a satisfied sound,