Federi had lied when he had made light of Lascek’s mood to the Captain’s daughter. In truth his loyal heart was breaking. He steered into the shifting veils of drizzle, waiting for that signal.
The surreal sense clung, just under the surface, as though they had drifted into the Alb World. It was quiet; the only sounds the splash of the prow wave, the nearly inaudible electric buzz of the engine, the whisper of the rain on the sea, and the subdued, unintelligible soft talk going on behind him. Blast, but Rushka couldn’t have picked a worse moment, politically.
Federi found himself smiling on her behalf. Lucky little Rushka. Och! Hells, was he selfish! Sure, Captain would be livid. His revered, deified Captain who thought nothing of calling him a mutineer. Who was he, Federi, to take away a few moments of pure happiness from Rushka? And from Ronan? It was only borrowed anyway! Who knew what they would find on the Silver Bullet? Who knew how badly the two would need each other in the nearest future?
Och! Captain could be livid all he liked. And if Captain got it into his head to fly the second half of the storm too – then he’d have to find another victim to send up there. Fact – he was now in a position where he couldn’t fly. Not enough crew. Federi laughed voicelessly.
Where to now, Tzigan?
He had been following the direction in which he sensed Paean. But now he was listening to another signal coming in. Ye Gods, Juan! Steering the phantom ship, chasing Federi. It wasn’t a phantom ship at all. It was a projection. There were at least six of them, or he could call himself gypsy no longer!
He had sunk a Rebellion Schooner. The Rebellion was a solid organ. He couldn’t hope to get away with that. The Rebellion, Lords of the Pacific, were closing the net on the Solar Wind just like the Unicate had done on the civilized hemisphere. Earth only had two hemispheres! Where could they escape? And he, Federi, had brought it down on their heads! Yes, he deserved every kind of insult the Captain could heap on him.
It was hopelessly too late. He could try to rescue the little sunbird, try to salvage the Solar Wind’s crew one more time. In the big picture, he was only buying time. Two, three more weeks perhaps. Panic framed his dark eyes.
He glanced back over his shoulder at the beautiful young couple. He had to send them both back and work this one alone. Just as well. Stealth was his best modus. His middle name. Time for action.
“Now, you two,” he said, turning. “Atenţie!” He was ignored. He raised his voice. “I said, Atenţie!”
Now he did have their atenţie.
“Federi’s going to jump. Take the boat back to the Solar Wind as fast as you can make her go. Tell the Captain of the Rebel Fleet hunting us, Ronan. Rushka, you back him up, capîche?”
“Rebel fleet -?” Ronan’s eyes widened.
“I’m going to rescue your sister, and Sherman,” said Federi. “Don’t be heroes, you hear? Don’t the hell come after me. They’ll shoot you kids to bits! Go straight back to the Solar Wind, come hell or high water. Hai shala?”
“Understood,” said Rushka. “Be careful, Federi!”
He glinted her a grin.
“Tell the Captain,” said Federi, tying a rope around his middle in frantic haste and opening a little red glass bead from his scarf, pouring the contents over the other end of the rope. His fingers were trembling as he worked. “I’ll return to the Solar Wind when I’m done with my mission. Dead or alive. Federi’s no renegade.”
He kept the radar screen in the corner of his eye. If the fleet registered, they’d have to run like hell. A gust of rain blew over them. His gypsy radar’s fuse cut out. He glanced at the surrounding shoals. Regardless. He couldn’t wait any longer.
“Rushka, take her back to the Solar Wind right now! Start turning!”
“Federi, you don’t have a life vest! You gave yours to Shawn!”
“Just turn! Don’t argue!”
“Take one from the boat,” she urged.
He shook his head. “Life vest would get me killed this time.”
Rushka cocked her head and gazed at him, worried.
“Princess,” implored Federi, “I know your father can’t trust me. But Federi knows what he’s doing! Can you?”
She went wordlessly to the controls and performed a beautiful U-turn. Federi double-checked the boat’s course, latched the Stormrider’s signal onto the Solar Wind’s ship com and jumped into the treacherous waves. The boat sped away, back to the Mother Ship.