"Uh-oh, "the Marine corporal said, when brought to the bridge, "that's bad. Signal K means all units are to abandon their present positions for safer cover."

  That's it? "Boomer asked.

  "Well, I admit it is a bit vague, "Bonzo said, "but Red Sun must have meant all of us are in danger, or she wouldn't have sent it."

  "But we can't leave here, "Zorn said. "Vink has our drive components scattered all over the berth."

  That's true, but signal K still means there's a dire emergency. Imminent peril. ”

  "Maybe so, "Boomer said, "but Zorn is still our skipper. I'll wait for her orders before we abandon ship."

  As if by some magic of coincidence, that very order came through the corsair's radio just a moment later.

  "Boomer, this is Zorn, with Hornet's G-carrier. Listen up: I'm going to need you to abandon ship."

  "Abandon ship, sir? ”

  "That's right—get everybody into our two air-rafts as quickly as possible and lock the ship up against intrusion."

  "Any idea where we should go?"

  "Affirmative. Do you have a standard map available?"

  "Right here, "Boomer said, punching up Deep Six's world survey data on the adjacent navigation display.

  "Good, then listen close. I want you to load everybody into the ship's boat and proceed to map coordinates 3112-2526—but don't tell anyone outside the ship where you're going. ”

  "Understood. Will you be in touch later?"

  "Affirmative. But don't try to reach me; I'll meet you later at those coordinates."

  Boomer knew what that meant.

  Don't ask questions. Just follow your damn orders.

  "Roger, on our way."

  "Zorn out."

  ***

  Despite the urgency inherent in Coeur's signal, frustratingly little happened at first that suggested an impending crisis to the crew of Hornet. After returning the freighter to the back face of Elojo, Deep Six monitored the broadcasts of the resurrected Soledad Radio continuously, but nothing more dramatic than hourly news updates on agricultural production and various items of community news filler interrupted the patriotic mix of hymns and popular music.

  "Somehow, "Snapshot said to Deep Six, during their fifth shift-change since Coeur's signal, "It doesn't sound like a crisis atmosphere."

  "No, I should say not, "the navigator agreed, rolling back from his station. "It has been 18 hours since the transmission, and your satellite still hasn't detected any evidence of warfare or mass troop movements on the surface."

  Snapshot shrugged, sliding a human chair up in place of the Schalli's roller-chair and sitting down in it. Outside the panoramic bridge window, the jagged lip of an Elojo crater continued to look down on the landed Hornet—a lip that divided the visible horizon between the velvet sky and Elojo's lifeless sun-baked surface.

  "Of course, I am exaggerating to a degree, "Deep Six said, pausing in transit to the aft hatch. "The migration of the rebels may be of some significance."

  "I don't know about that, "Snapshot said, turning her chair around to face Deep Six. "Drop Kick made it sound more like a political tiff."

  Deep Six bobbed in his tank. Imitating a human shrug.

  "KoEE ir, po ka AK ir."

  "What's that mean?"

  "From small shocks, large waves grow."

  Just then, though, the comm panel behind Snapshot beeped, and she spun back around to respond to it.

  "A new transmission? "Deep Six asked.

  "No, a power increase. Soledad Radio has increased its transmission strength by 150 percent."

  "Why don't you put the transmission on audio."

  "Roger."

  Snapshot picked up the intensified transmission part way through a radio announcer's lead-in.

  "... People of Soledad, this is an important announcement No, check that—It is the most important message you wilt ever hear. I give you President Vazquez."

  A silent pause followed, pregnant with anticipation even aboard Hornet, during which time the president was probably collecting her thoughts.

  "People of Soledad, this is Miranda Vazquez, coming before you not as your president, nor even as your cardinal, but rather as an ordinary citizen of our world, prostrate before the glory and majesty of our Lord and Defender. Blessed be the saints, and the heralds and the prophets of the Palabra—St. Kilalt has risen!

  "All work and public celebrations are therefore canceled until further notice. Please stand by your radio for further announcements of consequence to this divine and holy miracle.

  "God be praised."

  The transmission then blasted into a triumphant choral hymn, underscoring Vazquez" theme.

  "Did you hear that down in engineering? "Snapshot asked afterward.

  "Oh yeah, "Crowbar said. "We heard it"

  "Any orders? "Snapshot asked.

  "No, "Gyro said, after a moment's reflection. "Continue to monitor the situation."

  "Do you think this could be Red Sun's emergency?"

  "I don't know about that, "Gyro said, "but I've never seen a saint come back from the dead, and I have heard about plenty of groundhogs pretending to be something they're not, so keep your ears open. Red Sun may just need our help before long."

  ***

  To call the entry of St. Kilalt merely majestic would be doing it a gross injustice. Obscenely lurid, Coeur believed, would be closer to the mark.

  With Physic, Coeur viewed the arrival in Soledad through a silt in the lower cargo level of Kilalt's two-level grav barge—an ignominious chamber into which they were locked during the entire two-hour transit from the depot. The barge itself was a 50-ton colossus, bedecked in gold and ivory appliques, and rather resembled a flying ark. The magic of projected holograms made it appear to ride in its own illuminated cloud, while simultaneously showering beams of multicolored light on the strangely silent crowd lining nighttime Enea Avenue before the Defense Ministry.

  Coeur's will to concentrate on that gaudy spectacle was limited, as she remembered a lesser spectacle at Mexit Depot The depot hospital.

  Concerned that the Arses were worrying unduly about the welfare of their absent comrades Fubar and Gremlin, Graylord took Coeur and Physic to an observation room near St. Kilalt's command room. This appeared to be a circular operating theater, but the transparent floor looked down not upon a surgical procedure, but upon the naked and manacled bodies of the two Marines, who lay on a pair of gurneys with curious black helmets over their heads and a profusion of needles leading into their bodies.

  " What the hell are you doing to them? "Coeur had a iked"I om proving to you that your men have not been harmed, "Graylord said. "Surety, you con see from the monitors that their metabolism, heart rate and respiration ore normal."

  "I can see that, "Physic said, "but their brain waves are oil distorted. What are you doing to them? ”

  "Only what must be done for their happiness here. Their brains ore being conditioned for insertion of prefrontal control modules next week."

  "Red, "Physic said, "I think I'm gang to be sick."

  "But you should be happy, "Graylord said, leading the women out of the theater. "Your friends will be serving the wondrous purposes of our beloved Defender. “

  "With mind control, "Coeur observed.

  "I assure you, it is only a temporary expedient. Most of our servants a re inherently awed by the honor of serving Kilalt. But for the rare off-worlder we recruit, more drastic measures ore temporarily employed—until the mind becomes accustomed to its new surroundings. “

  "I assume you 'recruited' our Marines because of their martial training, "Coeur said.

  "Yes, "Graylord answered. "It will have obvious usefulness here."

  "What about us? "Physic asked"Is that going to happen to us too?"

  "I should hope not. You seem like reasonable people, and I believe I con trust you to help me voluntarily in my next task."

  "Which is? "Coeur asked.

  "Ah, but that must wait, "Graylord said, "until we travel to Soledad."

  "Damn, but that is weird, "Physic exclaimed, bringing Coeur back to the present. "The crowd's not making any sound at all."

  "Well, it is the second coming, ” Coeur pointed out. "I guess I'd be awestruck too."

  The main street of Soledad was far from silent, though, as the holy barge descended from the sky. The squadron of nightjacks escorting Kilalt (Coeur counted at least eight) not only appeared in the guise of angels, but also produced an unearthly chorus of musical sound through their voders, voluminous enough to echo through all the side streets and avenues of the Federal District.

  "It's looks like we're landing now. I can see Vazquez. ”

  "Pretty happy-looking isn't she?"

  "Now, now, doctor, "Coeur soothed. "We still don't know her part in all this."

  And well they might not, but it was difficult to see how Vazquez couldn’t have known this would happen beforehand.

  Par from stupefied—as most of the people were in Soledad— Vazquez appeared supremely contented, with a benign smile on her face as she watched the barge settle to the ground and disgorge its holy passenger, St. Kilalt, before her.

  "I can't believe it, "Physic said. "He's got a halo!"

  "Yeah, sure does. I guess modesty isn't in Kilalt's vocabulary."

  The last thing Coeur and Physic got to see was an embrace between Vazquez and Kilalt. for the barge began to rise again almost as soon as it set down. Uncertain what to make of this, the Arses exchanged curious glances, but soon enough they saw where they were going—toward the dark berths and warehouses of the starport—well away from the thronging crowds a kilometer away. There, the barge came to a stop inside the very berth where Vi El Armis was parked.

  "Damn, "Physic said, "that's Zorn's ship! Do you suppose her people got your signal and got out?"

  "Dunno, "Coeur answered. "I hope so, for their sake."

  The top hatch then slid back, revealing the form of Graylord staring down at them.

  "You can come out now, "he said.

  " Gee, thanks, "Coeur answered, letting Physic climb out of the hold before her. Coeur followed behind, up into the sumptuous parlor that had carried Kilalt just moments before. Doubtless, the big picture windows that formed the walls of the parlor had afforded a spectacular in-flight view of the city, but now they only revealed the lonely, unlit hulk of the pirate cruiser, her drive section in disarray from her interrupted repairs.

  "So, "Coeur said, resisting the urge to appear over-anxious about Zorn's ship, "I suppose your master will be installed now as ruler of Soledad."

  "No, not vet. More than likely, that will come some time in the future."

  "I don't suppose we'll be allowed to meet Vazquez, then, will we? "Physic asked.

  "Of course you will, as soon as it is convenient for her."

  "But what if we told her what we know?"

  "What you know about what? "Graylord asked.

  "About the depot, Graylord, "Coeur said, "and the kind of crass, self-serving jerk your so-called saint is."

  Graylord chuckled.

  "Oh, Captain, how little you understand. St. Kilalt is not God, but rather an agent of God. Cardinal Vazquez knows that if he treats you roughly, it is to test both your faith and hers."

  "You gotta admit, "Physic said to Coeur, "he's got all the angles covered."

  "Well, "Coeur said to Graylord, "maybe now you can tell us why you brought us here with you, instead of leaving us at the depot."

  "Yes, the time has come for that. Rather awkwardly, I have learned that all your personnel have abandoned Soledad."

  "Pity, "Coeur said.

  "Yes, doubtless an effect of your warning signal. However, It is my belief that you and the doctor can help me accomplish our next mission for St. Kilalt."

  "Which, "Coeur said, "I assume, is helping you get Vi Et Armis ready for space."

  "Precisely. As soon as that is accomplished, the word of our beloved Defender will know no limits in the universe."

  "I can't wait. And if we refuse?"

  "I'm afraid that won't be acceptable, "Graylord said, opening the side boarding hatch, and revealing the hovering forms of two demonic nightjacks. "Martillo and Yunque would certainly take it as a personal affront to them."

  "I see your point, "Coeur admitted, remembering the deadly grip of Yunque as she stepped down the boarding ramp beside Physic.

  "Good, "Graylord said, following behind the Arses and then waving to the barge's human slave pilot to let him lift off. It did so—reengaging its special effects holograms lest any common citizen should happen to see it from afar—then rose up into the starry night as the all-weather tarp began to retract over the berth.

  "Yes, good, "Graylord repeated, "for Vi Et Armis awaits and will be your home until she is repaired."

  Chapter Twenty

  While Coeur and Physic could hardly call their situation ideal, they did have one factor in their favor: Vink's inarguable capacity to make a mess. Though it was doubtless ordered in the engineer's mind, the scattered parts of Vi Et Armis drive section— damaged parts removed from the ship and salvaged parts intended for installation—would take days to sort out, let alone the time it would take to set the heavier components into place.

  "You may leave the manhandling to me, "Graylord said, addressing the Arses under the retracted tarp of Vi Et Armis1 berth. "Your immediate purpose shall be to catalog these parti in and around the vessel."

  Pursuant to which, the android handed over computer notepads to each woman.

  "Are you sure you trust us? "Coeur asked.

  "No. However, I have a fair degree of experience with starship engineering and will probably detect any subterfuge."

  Graylord paused a moment, presumably thinking to himself, before continuing.

  "And, of course, there is the motivation of self-interest. Both you and I shall be part of this ship's crew when she is reassembled."

  "What was that you were saying. Physic? "Coeur asked the doctor, "about his having all the angles covered?"

  "Please cease your procrastination and begin your work, "Graylord ordered. "I shall go inside the vessel and begin the cataloguing there. ”

  "Well, "Physic said, wary of Martillo and Yunque standing nearby, "I wouldn't know a zuchai crystal if you threw one at me. What say t take the electronic parts, and you take the heavy machinery."

  "Sounds like a plan, "Coeur agreed, resignedly.

  As their work day began, the women realized they had become accustomed to sleeping during the daytime. Like native Mexitans, they saw the day as a time to refrain from work, and could not help but feel forlorn as the distant hum of massed humanity died off with the coming of the morning light filtering through the canvas fabric of the overhead tarp.

  Crowd noise was the last thing on the minds of the women, though, as they went about their assigned task. Trying not to look to obvious about it, they found their way to every hangar door and maintenance hatch they could, testing these while the nightjacks weren't watching. Unfortunately, none of them were unlocked, and no convenient handholds offered the prospect of climbing up the steep walls of the berth to escape under the loose edges of the covering tarp, but that didn't keep either woman from visualizing ways they might arrange to escape.

  Six hours into their 12-hour day, therefore, the women contrived to meet alone and unsupervised, after the half-hour break they were given for lunch in Amis' galley. Hoping Graylord wasn't as briefed on human restroom habits as he was on seemingly every other subject. Physic contrived to flush the toilet in the head—so that it would sound as if she was done—and then waited for Coeur to come in and join her.

  Here, at very close quarters, the limitations of Anslan for complex conversation diminished substantially. Though neither Arse possessed great skill in the gestural language, at a meter apart, they could easily use lip reading to fill in the blanks. They quickly launched into a silent conversation almost as fast as regular speech.

  " Think he's suspicious? " Physic asked.

  "Ol course he's suspicious, "Coeur answered.

  "I think I might have found a way out. The ventilation shaft by the starboard wing is only held on by a couple of screws. “

  "I know. We'll have to delay our escape attempts, though."

  "What? Why?"

  "Because I need to reach Drop Kick and the others, and the meson communicator to do that with is hidden on this ship."

  "Contact them? Why?"

  "I know the coordinates of the depot meson gun sensor, and I have to get it to them. If they want to get into the depot, they'll have to destroy that sensor."

  "Understood. “

  "Just don't try anything stupid, "Coeur advised, "at least until I send the message."

  "You know where the communicator is?"

  "You forget—I spent two months on this ship. But I can't be too obvious about it, or Graylord will know hr sure."

  "Understood. “

  Coeur then flushed the toilet as well and opened the stall door to find Cray lord waiting outside.

  "Interesting, "he said. "Do you often relieve yourselves together?"

  "Oh, no, of course not, "Coeur extemporized, "I was just asking Physic about my... ah... tan."

  "That's right, "the dark-complected Physic said. "I was concerned about that, since Mexit has such a thin atmosphere."

  "But you're working inside."

  "You can never be too cautious where malignant melanomas are concerned, "the doctor said. "But then, I suppose, being a machine, you wouldn't know much about that."

  "No, I don't suppose I would. Carry on, ladies."

  ***

  True to his word, Graylord obliged the Arses to sleep aboard Vi Et Armis that night, though their separate rooms were locked to prevent nighttime wanderings.

  Accustomed to the Mexit cycle of nighttime activity and daytime rest, they found it difficult to get to sleep and even harder to get up the next morning, though Coeur believed she understood why the change in work pattern had been instituted.

  So we'll be up when Soledad is asleep, and our friends will be up when we’re asleep.

  Yet Coeur could not let herself dwell on what she couldn't control. The hidden communicator was her singular objective, and she would be patient awaiting the opportunity to use it. " Captain, doctor, "Graylord greeted them, at that morning's breakfast. "I find that your efficiency diminished substantially toward the end of yesterday's work period. Today, therefore, I shall have Radio Soledad piped into the berth to make you more relaxed and productive."

 

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