Read Online Planet of Pain by B. A. Bradbury - Free Book Online

with fear, positive she was about to faint again and almost welcoming the prospect. She thought he would take the gown off, but he unfastened it only as far as her waist. He slipped his hands inside and took hold of her nipples, pinching them between thumb and forefinger. He squeezed hard, watching her face, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. Long seconds passed, and finally he released her.
    â€˜No more sensitive than any other woman’s,’ he said, sounding disappointed. ‘I did wonder.’ He stared at her a few moments longer, and then moved on. Linda was standing next to Jo, and he stopped in front of her, too.
    â€˜Generosity and sacrifice do have their limits, however,’ he muttered. ‘Linda Kepler; captain; NWA-722-JA-1127. Current posting First Reconnaissance Group, Dragonfly squadron. Previous posting Second Attack Group, Panther squadron. Do I have the details correct?’
    â€˜Yes, sir,’ Linda said anxiously.
    â€˜Second Attack Group provided fighter cover during the raid on the League base at Zeta, of course; that is common knowledge. I assume you took part in that operation?’
    There was no trace of humour now, only a terrible stillness and a dreadful sense of malice. Linda hesitated before answering, and Jo remembered Sergeant Vaughan’s warning about never lying to this man. Perhaps Linda remembered it too, for she nodded jerkily.
    â€˜I… yes, sir.’
    As soon as the words were spoken the admiral seemed to lose interest in her, and indeed the others in the line.
    â€˜Colonel Ferris,’ he said briskly, ‘I’d like a word with you about your proposed route. Walk me to my launch and we’ll discuss it along the way.’
    He headed for the door with the other officers in tow – and the expression on Linda’s face was one of immense relief. It was premature, however; the young lieutenant said something to the guards and two of them took hold of Linda’s arms and led her out. She cast a final desperate look at her squad mates, and then she was gone.
    The departure of Talmann’s party left a stunned silence in their wake. Bel picked her gown up off the floor and put it on, her demeanour troubled. Jo instinctively felt the two of them had been given a huge reprieve, though she didn’t understand how or why.
    Sergeant Vaughan dismissed them, and in ones and twos the women began to disperse. Bel and Jo went back to their game of chess, but neither seemed able to concentrate.
    â€˜He knew all about us, didn’t he?’ Jo said. ‘The admiral, he knew about the interrogation and everything.’
    â€˜It seems so,’ Bel said quietly.
    â€˜But why?’ Jo said. ‘Why would an admiral be interested in a pair of nobodies like us? It doesn’t make any sense, does it; unless he thought we really did know something important.’
    Bel started to speak, then changed her mind, and something about her demeanour started warning bells ringing in Jo’s head.
    â€˜We don’t know anything, do we?’ she asked.
    â€˜All I know,’ Bel said quietly, ‘is that I’m glad we’re aboard this ship and not his. I just hope to God Linda’s all right.’
    So did Jo, but she feared the worst. She could think of a number of reasons why Talmann might take her away, and none of them were good.
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Chapter 7
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    Soon after the ship started a slow burn. Simgrav compensated for it, and the only thing they felt was a slight shifting of the deck beneath their feet as the field adjusted. The sensation lasted for a second or two only, but there wasn’t a woman present who failed to understand the significance. The ship was separating from the fleet, working up speed for a jump, destination unknown.
    Despite the uncertainty Jo managed to catch a few hours’ sleep. She slept right through the jump, in fact, being woken by Sergeant Vaughan with yet another