Read Online Escape From Zulaire by Veronica Scott - Free Book Online
Authors: Veronica Scott
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agents keep up. She might not have the conditioning of the soldiers, but she could hold her own for now. ”So you’re telling me we have no destination in mind?”
Falling into step with her, Deverane pulled branches out of her path as she worked her way through a stand of large, fernlike bushes. “Too much likelihood of running into the rebels again if we try for the main transportway. I need another plan, but south is the right direction, no matter what.”
“What happened to the APC? Why can’t we just escape in it?” Andi tripped over a vine. His hand shot out to steady her.
“Remember the big explosion in the transport garage? That was when the APC slagged. It was sabotaged.” Even in the moonlight, Andi could see the captain’s grim expression.
“Not many ways to sabotage an APC.” Sergeant Wilson shifted Lysanda on his shoulders. “Terrorists on backwater planets normally wouldn’t even know how to try.”
“Yeah. Something doesn’t add up here.” Deverane was frowning again, head tilted. Rubbing his forehead with one hand, he sighed. “We don’t have the luxury of time right now to figure it out.”
Their ragged column emerged into a clear space in the forest.
“I’m going to check with Latvik.” Deverane broke into a quick trot and pulled ahead of Andi and the sergeant.
She watched him go. Which reminds me, where is everyone else? “Sergeant, can I ask you a question? Something’s been bothering me.”
“Yes, ma’am?” Wilson’s voice was neutral.
Not sure she wanted the answer, Andi hesitated a second. “Where are the other men? Are they meeting us somewhere?”
The sergeant spared a second to glance sideways at Andi. His eyes were narrowed, his lips tight. “They’re dead. Poisoned, I think. The Tonkilns’ snooty butler…”
“Iraku.” Uttering that murderer’s name filled her with revulsion and disbelief. Why did he turn on the Tonkilns? He’s Naranti, sworn to neutrality and service! She blotted out the chaotic thoughts running through her head to listen to Wilson’s answer.
“Well, he came around at dinnertime, all apologetic for the inconvenience we were suffering, bunking in a damn garage. As if it hadn’t been his idea in the first place. He offered to have the maids bring food so at least we wouldn’t have to eat field rations.” Wilson snorted. “I didn’t partake. Fancy stuff doesn’t agree with this boy’s stomach, not on any world, even my own.” He rubbed his flat abdomen, shaking his head, apparently remembering some unpleasant past experiences. Pushing past a stubborn bush, turning his body to shield Lysanda from the prickly branches as he walked, he went on with the story. Gesturing at the two soldiers trudging ahead of them, he said, “Rogers and Latvik were asleep on the second floor, catchin’ up on rack time. They pulled the all-night-drive duty after we were diverted here to find you.”
Wilson marched in silence for a few yards. “Abukawal was off hunting his own dinner. Said he couldn’t abide field rations or Obati food. My other three men took a break from working on the APC engine to eat. When I came back from squaring away some gear, I found them dead. Not a good way to go.”
Unsure what to say, Andi made herself keep walking. This whole night has been one long horror story.
Doggedly, Wilson continued to fulfill her request for information. “Next thing I know, we’re under attack. I go to the stairs to yell for Latvik and Rogers, which saves my life, because I’d been standing right next to the APC. If it had blown one minute sooner, I wouldn’t be here, carryin’ your little lady friend to safety.”
What small things make the difference between living and dying . Andi shivered. I was so lucky not to die myself tonight. “Then what?”
“Well, the three of us were trapped on the second floor of the garage, which was burning down around our ears, and the terrorists were waiting for us to pop out. We
Falling into step with her, Deverane pulled branches out of her path as she worked her way through a stand of large, fernlike bushes. “Too much likelihood of running into the rebels again if we try for the main transportway. I need another plan, but south is the right direction, no matter what.”
“What happened to the APC? Why can’t we just escape in it?” Andi tripped over a vine. His hand shot out to steady her.
“Remember the big explosion in the transport garage? That was when the APC slagged. It was sabotaged.” Even in the moonlight, Andi could see the captain’s grim expression.
“Not many ways to sabotage an APC.” Sergeant Wilson shifted Lysanda on his shoulders. “Terrorists on backwater planets normally wouldn’t even know how to try.”
“Yeah. Something doesn’t add up here.” Deverane was frowning again, head tilted. Rubbing his forehead with one hand, he sighed. “We don’t have the luxury of time right now to figure it out.”
Their ragged column emerged into a clear space in the forest.
“I’m going to check with Latvik.” Deverane broke into a quick trot and pulled ahead of Andi and the sergeant.
She watched him go. Which reminds me, where is everyone else? “Sergeant, can I ask you a question? Something’s been bothering me.”
“Yes, ma’am?” Wilson’s voice was neutral.
Not sure she wanted the answer, Andi hesitated a second. “Where are the other men? Are they meeting us somewhere?”
The sergeant spared a second to glance sideways at Andi. His eyes were narrowed, his lips tight. “They’re dead. Poisoned, I think. The Tonkilns’ snooty butler…”
“Iraku.” Uttering that murderer’s name filled her with revulsion and disbelief. Why did he turn on the Tonkilns? He’s Naranti, sworn to neutrality and service! She blotted out the chaotic thoughts running through her head to listen to Wilson’s answer.
“Well, he came around at dinnertime, all apologetic for the inconvenience we were suffering, bunking in a damn garage. As if it hadn’t been his idea in the first place. He offered to have the maids bring food so at least we wouldn’t have to eat field rations.” Wilson snorted. “I didn’t partake. Fancy stuff doesn’t agree with this boy’s stomach, not on any world, even my own.” He rubbed his flat abdomen, shaking his head, apparently remembering some unpleasant past experiences. Pushing past a stubborn bush, turning his body to shield Lysanda from the prickly branches as he walked, he went on with the story. Gesturing at the two soldiers trudging ahead of them, he said, “Rogers and Latvik were asleep on the second floor, catchin’ up on rack time. They pulled the all-night-drive duty after we were diverted here to find you.”
Wilson marched in silence for a few yards. “Abukawal was off hunting his own dinner. Said he couldn’t abide field rations or Obati food. My other three men took a break from working on the APC engine to eat. When I came back from squaring away some gear, I found them dead. Not a good way to go.”
Unsure what to say, Andi made herself keep walking. This whole night has been one long horror story.
Doggedly, Wilson continued to fulfill her request for information. “Next thing I know, we’re under attack. I go to the stairs to yell for Latvik and Rogers, which saves my life, because I’d been standing right next to the APC. If it had blown one minute sooner, I wouldn’t be here, carryin’ your little lady friend to safety.”
What small things make the difference between living and dying . Andi shivered. I was so lucky not to die myself tonight. “Then what?”
“Well, the three of us were trapped on the second floor of the garage, which was burning down around our ears, and the terrorists were waiting for us to pop out. We
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