Part 22 (1/2)

I reluctantly agree to follow, my fears for Margarita returning in an icy wave. My Pack can be brutal if they feel the need and these were the people who had kidnapped both me and Head Wolf, who had chased us from the Jungle. Would they see them as any better than Mowgli's wolves had seen the Red Dogs of the dekkan?

My feet cease to drag and I hurry after. Grey Brother and Abalone lead the way down the stairs to the ground floor, the recorded cry of the Pack beating at us from an open intercom we pa.s.s. I have never been here before and yet I hurry along without a glance as we pa.s.s various offices. The air smells of artificial scent and is without any trace of humidity. The corridor ends in a set of heavy fire doors, and when Grey Brother opens them, I hear many voices.

I hardly know whom to greet first and stand frozen with a stupid grin on my face. They are here-my people-Peep, seeming a foot taller since last time I saw him, a new grimness etched about his dark eyes; Midline, lean and arrogant, allowing himself the faintest smile. But two tear my heart: Professor Isabella, strangely militant in camouflage fatigues, and Head Wolf, paler, thinner still than he should be, but his dark eyes as mad as ever.

Unable to do anything, I pause, seeing them a.s.sess me, the shaved head, the strained, wild expression that I know remains for hours after any interchange session.

Abalone breaks the awkward reunion by being briskly businesslike.

”Sarah says the fellow who got us the message is a Dr. Kravis. She's afraid he's in trouble for doing it. We checked his rooms, but there wasn't an answer, so we need to find if the guards have a key.”

Professor Isabella nods. ”Are you sure we don't have him here? Chocolate and Edelweiss scared up a few people who weren't in uniform.”

My pulse leaps hopefully. Professor Isabella squeezes my shoulder.

”We've got them this way, Sarah. Come along.”

I take her hand and we go to another set of double doors, which are opened from within when Professor Isabella rhythmically knocks. The air in this room is even drier than without and smells heavily of herbs and spices.

From her seat on a stool by the door, Edelweiss grins tightly at me. ”We put 'em in the larder-nice and tidy. Wonder whether they'll take the seasoning?”

I try to smile back, but my eyes are busy searching the cl.u.s.ter of guards. I see neither Jersey nor Margarita and as my antic.i.p.ation is turning into dread, a sharp voice calls out.

”Sarah, amiga amiga, what is all this? These people your friends?”

I almost laugh in my relief, but cannot find an answer for all her questions. Settling for a nod, I look at Abalone.

”Yes,” she says. ”We've come for her. You're calling Sarah 'friend,' lady. You friend enough to give us some help?”

Several of the guards glower at her, but Margarita ignores them and nods. ”You get what you want, anyway. I see that, Blue Mouth. If I can get it, she can have it.”

”We want the key to Dr. Kravis's rooms.”

”Dr. Kravis?” Margarita looks genuinely puzzled. ”I don't know what you asking.”

”Don't screw around...” Abalone growls, but I grasp her arm and put my finger to her lips.

Looking at Margarita, I rub a hand over my bald scalp, then motion a taller, overweight figure, ending by holding my nose and grimacing.

Margarita watches my mime anxiously, her expression s.h.i.+fting from confusion to relief.

”Oh, Jersey-why didn't you say so? I don't have the key, but I can show you where one should be.”

Abalone studies her closely. ”Okay, but no funny stuff.”

Margarita nods and only squares her shoulders when there is a rumble of anger from the prisoners behind her. Edelweiss shuts them up by examining the clip in the tranq pistol she holds.

”Full. And I got another. Understand?”

Once we're out of the larder, Margarita turns to Abalone.

”Look, Boca Blue, you gotta get outta here fast. When they not get an answer, they be here p.r.o.nto. We keep near hundred-percent communications silence, but there are checks. When they not get an answer, they be here faster than a cheetah with a bee on his b.u.t.t, comprende comprende?”

”Got you,” Abalone replies, letting Margarita through to a room that smells of men's socks and is decorated with video monitors and a computer terminal. ”Why do you care?”

Margarita opens a panel by touching it with her thumbprint. ”Maybe I like her. Maybe I just don't like what I've learned about here. Maybe both. Don't worry about me ratting. If you let me, I'll take one of the gravs and get outta here when you do. If I stay, I'm gonna be dog meat, first by my 'chums' and then by the boss.”

”Okay,” Abalone says. ”If Head Wolf agrees.”

She takes the key card Margarita gives her. ”You come and wait with the Pack, lady. Sarah and I will go and get this Jersey.”

Head Wolf only gestures and Midline comes with us. Professor Isabella turns and joins us without requesting the permission which Head Wolf grants anyhow with a fond smile and a royal wave of his slender hand. Apparently, they have reached an agreement of sorts.

We run back to the third floor, Margarita's warning giving us new urgency. I send Athena soaring ahead, but the caution is unnecessary. No one meets us and once Abalone has cut off the intercom, only silence greets us.

s.n.a.t.c.hing the key card from Abalone, I unlock the door, but Midline shoves me back before I can open it, a low growling warning me not to cross him. But when he cautiously opens the door, nothing comes out after us but a wave of acrid body odor.

Midline enters first. I listen for Jersey's indignant cry at the invasion, but the only voice is Midline's.

”Sarah, come quick.”

I hurry in, knowing that the others follow. Midline motions me to a side door and steps back to let me pa.s.s him. When I cry out, a wordless, inarticulate thing, his hand is on my shoulder and somehow I find in it courage to advance.

Jersey lies sprawled on his bed, sheets and blankets neatly folded over a chest that no longer rises or falls. His eyes are closed, but I doubt that his death was peaceful, for his expression is twisted in a rictus of dismay.

On the bedside table are a few sheets of paper and a computer disk. As I bend to touch Jersey, as if somehow I can change what has happened, I see an ampule and an injector on the floor.

”C'mon, Sarah, you can't help him,” Midline says, then his hand leaves my shoulder. ”Hey, these got your name on them!”

I straighten then with a first and last kiss for Jersey. Midline has gathered the papers and disk and handed them to Abalone.

I look down. ”Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”

Then I leave, ignoring the others' comforting gestures, running as soon as I reach the hallway. When we reach the room the Pack is using as a command center, only Head Wolf, Margarita, and Edelweiss remain. A kit bag leans against Margarita's leg and she holds my aquarium clasped in her arms.

She shrugs. ”The Wolf let me get my stuff and I grabbed this from your room. Not even a carp deserves to starve to death.”

I motion as if to take that tank and she seems pleased. ”You want it? Good. Think of me sometime.”

”Naked I came into the world,” I answer. ”A friend in need is a friend indeed.”

When we get to the outer door, Margarita turns with a wave and climbs aboard a small grav cycle.

”Better than severance pay,” she says, then is gone.

The rest of us pile into a somewhat more c.u.mbersome van. Peep raises us and sets a course, then he turns to us.