Part 7 (1/2)

In the rear seat Dov and Crisianne struggled to get free of the restraining harnesses.

Half a block away one a.s.sault boat had landed and a dozen men in Navy uniform came toward them, stunguns on their hips. From the hatch the long pointed beaks of laser-cannon pointed out at the four young roisterers.

”Come on, Bouriere,” said one of the men as he reached Wiley. ”Sony to do it this way, but we have to bring you in.” He took a firm hold on Wiley's arm just above the elbow and began to lead Wiley toward the a.s.sault boat.

38.

Wiley blinked in disbelief at this treatment.

”I'm the High Secretary's son,” he began, and heard his voice rise sharply. He tried again. ”I'm the High Secretary's son.”

'We know that,” said another one of the Navy men brusquely, escorting the girl who had been sitting beside Wiley in the aircar.

Never before had Wiley had this announcement fail. He tried to draw himself up, but before he could get more than two words out, the man who held him said, ”Look, son, that's all changing. It's chan^ng right now. You mi^it as well get used to ifThere was ahint of apology in the man's voice.

”Changing?” Wiley echoed, beginning to be deeply afraid.

Nika was oddly calm, taking in these announcements as if she had expected to hear them.

”What about Dov?” As Wiley spoke his friend's name he looked around. Dov and Crisianne were being taken to another a.s.sault boat, also accompanied by armed guards. ”Where are you taking him? Why isn't he with us?”

”Look,” said another of the men. ”You let us do our job, everything'll be fine.”

”But Dov -” Wiley protested.

”We have orders,” said his escort. ”Nothing personal.”

39.

Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

They were almost at the a.s.sault boat, and the man leading the girl said, ”Are we supposed to bring her, or leave her here?”

”I don't know,” admitted Wiley's captor. 'They didn't say anything about her.” He blinked once.

”We might as well bring her.”

”What if they don't want her?” asked the man

guarding her.

”Let them decide. It's not up to us to figure them out.” He nudged Wiley toward the low- ered steps. ”Better get in. And nothing fancy.

You can't get out of here even if you want to.”

Of that Wiley was absolutely certain. He thought for one heady moment of breaking away and running for safety. But there was no safety; if the Navy men didn't catch him, the locals would.

He made a gesture of acquiescence. ”Sure.” He started to climb, his legs feeling unsteady.

Behind him the girl started up the steps, her movements more graceful, more controlled than Wiley's. She looked hard at the man who had led her, as if she wanted to remember his face.