Part 23 (1/2)

”This is livin'!”

”Jesus,” said Vilkas softly.

Yosh was back inside the spotterscope, both hands manipulating the controls. ”Last test. Plug in one of those zappers and let's see how she tracks on semiauto.”

Jim went to pay out a thin cable from one of the weapons in the tower battery while Vilkas cleared the orifice and powered up. When the gun was mated to the scanning device, both grey torcs said: Ready Yos.h.i.+-sama.

Servos tilted the spotter, putting Yosh comfortably onto his back in the bucket seat. The electronically linked weapon tracked along in parallel as Yosh searched the sky. ”Close range.

That's what we got and that's what we'll use. Gonna zap me a bird. Just one small bird. The Rocky Mountain Audubon Society'd ride me out of town on a rail if they knew, but I need a warm bod to target this sucker. And ... and ... ah-ha! We got us a falcon conformation coming up on CalCity at range one-one-six-seven-pip-oh-four ... chotto matte!

Dammit, he jinked! Definite falcon. Aureate. Male. Ready again”Chief-don't!” Jim cried. ”Don't shoot!”

Yosh looked out of the scope, forehead furrowed in annoyance. ”What the h.e.l.l?”

”Them gold falcons-it's bad luck to kill 'em! You shoot one, you get th' s.h.i.+t o' the worl' dump on you!”

”Oh, for G.o.d's sake,” exclaimed Yosh.

”Please, chief,” Jim begged.

Yosh gave him a disgusted grimace and returned to the scanner. He swivelled round to the south, down near the bank of the River Ybaar. ”How about a G.o.ddam guinea hen in a G.o.ddam mudwallow?”

”Zap away,” said Jim cheerfully.

The laser spoke a truncated sizzling yelp. Yosh relaxed in his seat and sighed. ”So much for that. Unplug the gun, and we'll get downstairs-” He froze as his golden torc transmitted a hail.

Yos.h.i.+ do you hear?

(He did ... and he knew that mind-voice.) I hear High King!

I'm coming. You have spotterscope ready?

Just finished but unremote and unconnex gunsNevermind that. Won't need after all. Stay tower. Wait Me.

Tell NOONEI come.

Yes High King.

Vilkas and Jim had been gathering up the tool kits and testing gear. Neither had noticed Yosh's abstraction. The Lithuanian said, ”If we're going to hook this eye to the brain-board, we'll have to cannibalize MP interfacers from something.”

”Forget it,” Yosh said. ”The King's coming. There's a change in plan.” He was frowning as he reoriented the spotter to scan the sky northeast of Calamosk. ”He wants us to stay right here, and tell no one else that he's on the way.”

”Hey-great!” Jim cried. ”He bringin' the Flyin' Hunt t' roust out them oversea sumb.i.t.c.hes?”

Yosh kept silent as he studied the scope readout. ”He can't be. I'd get a whacking body-read-and there's nothing out there.

Nothing!”

”A land force?” Vilkas ventured.