Part 88 (1/2)

Side-Winder nodded. 'A couple of Sky-Riders are comin' in at first light. They'll take one of us up front and two in the cargo bay. If we don't power-down on the way home, you'll be tucked up safe and sound in one of the Deeps by midnight.”

It suddenly seemed a daunting prospect. Steve

grimaced. 'I promised Jodi and Kelso they'd get a square deal.

Y'know - for helping out.” He paused, his eyes searching the mexican's face. 'I couldn't have pulled this off without them.”

'Then they've got nothing to worry about,' said Side-Winder. 'The Federation looks after its own.” He glanced towards Cadillac and Clearwater. 'What about the gra.s.s-monkeys?”

'Could be a problem. Once they see those Sky-Riders...”

'Yeah, well, there'll be you, me and the two pilots.

But there's no reason for things to get heavy. I believe one of your friends has developed a liking for the o” joy-juice.”

'The other one doesn't drink.”

'There's always a first time, amigo. h.e.l.l, when we reach the other side, we're gonna have something to celebrate - right?”

'Right.”

'So we have a little drink, maybe smoke a little gra.s.s.

Then we call in the air force.”

'Gotcha.”

Side-Winder wrinkled his nose. 'Boy, this place really stinks, doesn't it?”

'A little.”

'How's that leg of yours holding up?”

Steve shrugged. 'It's better than no leg at all.”

'Okay.” Side-Winder winked. 'Check you later.”

Steve rejoined Jodi and Kelso. Clearwater and Cadillac were sitting cross-legged on the straw at the other end of the lean-to.

Kelso stared thoughtfully at the place where Side-Winder had been standing. 'There's something about that guy that worries me.”

Steve sat down alongside him. 'It shouldn't. He's one of uS.”

'Jack me,' breathed Kelso. 'A Fed.”

Jodi looked at them both but didn't say anything.

'In cahoots with these d.i.n.ks...”