Part 47 (1/2)
”What resources?” resources?”
”Do you think you could loan us a rifle?”
”I think we can do better than that. Listen, Alex, we are not going to be driven from our homes by this lunatic. It wouldn't help us if we did clear out. If she destroys the compound, we're dead in the long run anyhow. Let's concentrate on finding a way to bring her down.”
”All right.”
”Good. Finally, we agree. I wonder if you can predict what she's likely to do when she gets here?”
Alex explained: She would expect that we might hide snipers in the woods. ”So she'll take Chase and me across the river.”
”Then what?”
”She'll demand to see our links. They're important to her. She'll take those, then I expect she'll pull the trigger on us.”
”Then we need to put a few rifles across the river.”
”Downstream a bit. Around the curve. I'd expect her to want to stay as clear of the compound as she can.”
”It's a wide river,” said Turam.
”It would be safer around the curve.”
”Okay,” said Viscenda, ”Turam, you'll take care of it. Meanwhile, I have an errand to perform. We'll meet back here in fifteen minutes.”
Viscenda returned with an attractive young woman. She had black hair and dark eyes, but she looked a bit nervous. ”Rikki,” said the director, ”you know Chase and Alex.” She sat down behind her desk. ”Rikki Brant helps prepare our food.” Her methodical, unrushed manner suggested she was simply arranging for a set of repairs on the roof.
I guess I was staring, wondering what Rikki was doing there. She returned a smile.
”There's something else, Alex,” Viscenda said. ”We are-the community is-a.s.suming a risk no matter how we try to handle this. Salyeva knows what you look like?”
”Yes.”
”Both of you?”
”That is correct.”
”There's a reality to our situation that we can't avoid. You're already aware that we're hanging on here by a thread. Your appearance last week, the two of you, was a G.o.dsend. You are our hope for the future. Whether we survive, whether our children survive, depends on our ability to protect you. Without you-” She held up her hands. ”Well, you see why we cannot take a chance on losing you. Either of you. But especially we cannot afford to lose both both.” She smiled uncomfortably. ”We wouldn't survive that. Who, then, would bring the a.s.sistance you've promised? Your rescue vessel would arrive, look around, fail to locate you, and eventually go home. Have you notified them that we are here?”
”Friends of ours know.”
”Do the authorities authorities know?” know?”
”They do not.”
”Do your friends know where where we are?” we are?”
”No.”
”All right. I a.s.sume you can't communicate any longer with the authorities, or with anyone other than this Salyeva.”
”That's correct.”
”That means we must ensure that at least one of you stays alive. In case things don't go well.” For whatever reason, we all looked at Rikki.
”How are you going to do that?” Alex asked.
”By keeping one of you out of harm's way. No one would mistake Rikki for you, Chase. At least not up close. But at a distance, and in a pressure situation, we should be able to get away with it. Alex, when you go out there this afternoon, Chase will stay with us. Rikki has volunteered to accompany you.”
I got to my feet. ”Now wait a minute-”
”You've no say in the matter, Chase. Please sit down.”
All right. Now, I'll confess I would have been glad to be in a safe place when the shooting started. But I couldn't sit there and allow it to happen. ”No,” I said. I was still out of my chair. ”Absolutely not.”
Viscenda cranked up that laser stare. ”If I must, Chase, I'll have you restrained. Now please sit and be quiet. We haven't time for theatrics. Rikki understands what is at stake, and she's under no pressure to do this.”
How could she not not be? But Rikki looked at me and nodded. It was okay. Don't worry about me. ”I won't allow it,” I said. be? But Rikki looked at me and nodded. It was okay. Don't worry about me. ”I won't allow it,” I said.
”Chase,” said Alex. ”She's right.”
I wasn't going to accept it. ”Let them put somebody in for you you, Alex.”
”We don't have anyone who will pa.s.s for him as easily as Rikki will for you.”
We did a stare-down. Rikki said, ”Please, Chase.” And I sat.
”All right.” Alex went over to the window and looked at the sky. ”We've got one break, anyhow.”
I knew what that was. But Viscenda asked.
”We have some clouds. It'll be difficult for her to see what we're doing until she actually gets close enough where we can see her her.”
”Good. I'm glad for any favorable news.”
”Viscenda, if you're going to get into this, you might as well go all the way.”
”What do you recommend?”
”Put Chase in the woods with the rifle team. And I know what you're thinking, but she's the only one here who's familiar with the lander. If we have to try to shoot the lander down, you'll want her there to tell them where to point the guns.”
Viscenda frowned. ”I don't want to send Chase out there.”
”I know that. But if we don't succeed, there may not be anything left here to rescue. Your alternative is to give Salyeva what she wants.”
”I do not like it.”