Ailyss sat in the Solar Wind’s infirmary, curled up on the second bunk hugging her knees to her, following Captain’s orders to keep Wolf company. High stress drew its lines all around her green eyes.
The Solar Wind had not sunk. Despite being without a radar and riding a storm, through reefs and heads and shallows, she had not sunk. Captain Radomir Lascek, with his huge mystic power over the ship, the sea and the raw elements, had tamed the situation and brought them through it in one piece. And now –
They would find her aboard still, if she didn’t jump off the ship through a porthole or something. For that, she had to find the place from where to do it. The bathrooms perhaps? Or the galley. But if she did too early, she would be lost at sea. And if she waited too late, she’d go down with the ship. And that would be good and well, she thought. But then, who’d look after little Keenan?
There was the off-chance that she’d be executed even before the Solar Wind was trapped. Could they trace the sabotage back to her? Would little Shawn Donegal keep his trap shut? It had all failed. Her entire tack had failed. And now it was her little brother’s life.
Shawn’s offer of the Donegals and Federi helping her cut at her. She knew if someone were capable of such a feat, it would be the gypsy. Would he be prepared to do it? If Shawn and Paean worked on him, perhaps. If he knew what else she had done, certainly not.
She had set things irreversibly in motion, sending the Rebels the signals by which they could trace the Solar Wind. It wouldn’t be long now; the Solar Wind would be torpedoed down and then she’d have her brother back – if only for a short while. Ailyss had not much hope for tender mercy from the Rebels. But even if she survived – if the Unicate ever got hold of her, after her association with the Rebellion… She shuddered.
Wolf was watching her thoughtfully.
“You are quite a one for secrets,” he stated.
She glared at him.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask,” said Wolf. “Only know, Ailyss, no matter what is working on your mind, count me a friend.”
Ailyss laughed shortly. “What do you know!”
Oh, he was a nice guy, despite the correctional schooling written all over him and his unpolished ways. If she’d only been a technician, she’d have fancied him. There was no space for such friends in the life of an agent, though. Couldn’t afford such attachments. He was going down with the rest of the crew. Oh, hell!
She shook her head. Wolf looked hurt. Well, he’d be more than hurt in another hour or so! He’d be dead! That pesky knee that little Paean had made such a mess of, would never give him trouble again! Ailyss sighed.
And would Paean get away? There was no chance! They had already found her, had already overtaken the Silver Bullet, by Ailyss’ calculations. Poor Paean! Some help the damned gypsy was when his little friend needed him most!
The only chance the Solar Wind had now was to flee – to run like the wind before the storm, and head straight to Hawaii, to the harbour. How they’d get away from the military there was an open question, but by now she thought that Radomir Lascek might, somehow. And the Unicate would take great delight in shooting the Rebel Fleet to shrapnel, and with it, Keenan…
But the Solar Wind wasn’t running. She lay stationary, lifted and tossed by the storm and stabilized by directional bursts from the various drives in the machine room. Waiting for the Silver Bullet! There was no getting away.
Ailyss lifted her head very slightly. Something subtle reached her fine-tunes senses. Immediately the confirmation came in Shawney’s scream, carrying down to them over the com. The dance had begun.