Part 42 (1/2)

There's tissue cement in the first aid Idts in Cousin Helga's room,” she said decisively and walked up to the closed door. She bent down and pressed one of the sections of parquetry, clearing the genescan,

The door swung open, revealing Cousin Helga's bedroom. Where lira's room was rich silkeen and tapestries. Cousin Helga's was all lace and chintz. A plethora of doilies littered every available surface and the two vanity mir- rors were held in place by burnished gold cupids.

Helga came bustling out of the closet, a Ridly pistol in her shaking hands. ”You can't - ” she began, then realized who she was talking to. She dropped the pistol and rushed to lira's side. ”Oh, my dear, thank goodness you're all right. I was so frightened. The noise alone was enough to make one crazed.” She looked from Tira to Chaney then back again. ”Gracious, what are you doing in those masks?”

”The Logistics men are going to be back,” said Chaney. ”You can bet on it.”

”But surely -” Helga protested, and then her expression changed. ”You mean it still isn't over?”

”Not yet,” said Tira grimly. ”I need the first aid

216.

Idt, Cousin Helga. Will you fetch it for me? And bring an air pack for yourself. They might try using gas on us next time, or there could be a fire. Let's get ready to hold them off.”

”The double brace still works,” said Cousin Helga as she turned to get the first aid kit from the closet. ”I didn't have time to put it in place, but we can do it now.”

”Good,” said Tira, slamming the door closed and coding in the command for the eight steel bars within the door to lock them in. There was a satisfying thunk as the bars slid into place and were anch.o.r.ed. The first aid kit?”

”Right here,” trilled Cousin Helga as she offered it as if it were a tray of sweetmeats. ”But I don't see - ” And then she caught sight of Chaney's arm. ”Oh. Gracious!” The kit slid from her nerveless fingers as she tottered toward her bed, one hand to her brow.

lira picked up the kit and set to work tending to Chaney s wound. She spoke to Cousin Helga as she worked. ”Don't let this bother you,” she said, feeling a little queasy herself.

”How did they know where to come?” Cousin Helga wailed.

”I've been thinking about that,” said Chaney.

”I'm afraid I did it. I think they traced my AID code when I used the communications console.

217.

Ckelsea Quinn Yarforo

It's what I'd expect Sclerida to do. It makes sense.”

”Yes,” said lira grimly. ”It makes sense.”

”That means he knows you're here, Tira,”

Chaney added. He touched lira's face with his good hand. ”I'm sorry.”

She did her best to smile. ”I know.”

”I should have thought - ”he began.

There was a sound from the warning beacon near the door.

”They're coming back,” said Cousin Helga, reaching for the air pack and putting her mask into place. She gathered up the first aid kit, half a dozen pillows, lira's discarded reticule, and her antique jewelry box and shoved them all into the closet. ”They'll be protected in there,” she announced.

Chaney and Tira were already shoving furni- ture around to increase their protection. The bed was upended and leaned against the door, two of the settees were turned on their sides to provide cover for the three of them.

”It'll take heavy fire to get through the door,”

said lira.

”We'd better be ready for it, anyway,” said Chaney. ”They know what they're up against.”