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blood running over my hands, Terran. As I enjoyed the taste of her flesh, in the
victory feast.
The words hammered at him on a level below conscious thought, and blind
rage threatened to claim him. The carrier was looming large ahead of his fighter,
but Blair hardly saw it through the red haze that clouded his eyes. He wanted to
turn around, accept the Kilrathi s challenge, batter through Thrakhath s defenses
and silence his taunts once and for all. That thing, that animal, had killed Angel
and served her up at one of the barbaric Kilrathi ritual feasts.
 Almost in the beams, Colonel. Rollins said.  Keep her steady . . . steady . . .
Reduce your speed! If you don t cut your speed you ll overshoot!
 For Gods sake, skipper, don t let him get to you! That was Flint s voice.  If
you take his challenge, you re stuck out there! Thrakhath ll wait . . . you ll get
another chance at him!
The words penetrated his fog, and Blair killed his forward momentum with a
hard braking thrust, like a kick from a horse. Almost sobbing, he stabbed at the
landing gear controls as the beams took hold. Slowly gently, the fighter dropped
toward the deck and touched down.
He hardly noticed as the fighter was drawn into the hangar area. A pair of
spacesuited figures released his cockpit, urging him to get out even before gravity
or pressure were restored, and Blair neither helped nor resisted them. They
guided him across the open space in long, low-G bounds. Pressure was restored
as they reached the door, and one of them-Blair vaguely realized it was Flint, still
clad in flight suit and combat helmet × helped him remove his own helmet as
they guided him into the corridor. His other helper fumbled with helmet releases
and finally freed the bulky headgear. It was Rachel Coriolis.
 JUMP SEQUENCE ENGAGED, the computer announced blandly. ONE
MINUTE TO JUMP.
 You gave us a scare, skipper, Rachel said.  Thought you were gonna pull a
bolter and miss the landing.
 I should have, Blair said.  I should have stayed out there and nailed that
damned furball.
 That s exactly what he wanted, Flint told him.  If you had let him draw you
into a fight, you d never have made it back before we jumped. I thought you were
the one who never let it get to you? Isn t that what you said when you were
chewing me out?
He looked at her and slowly shook his head.  Maybe so. And maybe I was
wrong when I said it. Blair looked away.  I guess I ll never know, now.
Blair brushed away their offered help as the elevator doors opened and he
stepped into the cab. They followed, but he ignored them both, staring rigidly
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ahead at the keypad controls, unwilling to talk. Inside he felt drained, empty of
everything except the knowledge that he had failed.
The knowledge that Angel remained unavenged.
Flight Deck, KIS Hvar kann Delius System
An honor guard greeted Thrakhath as he disembarked from his fighter, but he
ignored them all in his anger. He glared as Melek approached, bowing.
 Lord Prince, the Terran carrier has jumped. The captain of the Toor vaas
reports that the asteroid base has been breached, and Assault Marines are
penetrating the station. There is no sign of further resistance anywhere.
Thrakhath gave him a dismissive gesture.  I expected none, he said, not
bothering to hide the angry growl in his voice.  See to it there are no apes left
alive once their base has been secured.
 But, Lord Prince, there will be many suitable slaves there. Melek looked
shocked.  Surely you would not deny the Clans their right to take back captives ×

 No survivors, I said! Thrakhath snapped.
Melek stepped back as if physically stricken.  As you wish, Lord Prince, he
said, bowing again.
 We have been at war with these apes for more than a generation, Melek. But I
still cannot understand them. How could any sentient creature, however lacking
in honor, fail to respond to a chance for vengeance? Thrakhath studied his
retainer for a long moment.  You are sure that this Blair was truly lair-mate to the
one we killed?
 Intelligence reports claimed so, Lord Prince. Based on many interrogations of
captured human pilots. The knowledge was evidently widely known in their
warrior community.
Thrakhath took a moment to chain his anger and speak calmly, as befitted a
Prince.  Clearly the animal humans are even less civilized than we thought. They
do not even respect their lair-mates enough to fight for them. He paused.  But
even if the Heart of the Tiger survives, the rest of the plan shall move forward. He
cannot deflect the fate that pursues the Terrans now.
 Yes, Lord Prince.
 Order a carrier to follow the Terran ship, but wait until it has had time to get
well clear of the jump point before sending it Sar hrai would be a good choice.
Give his new captain a chance to prove his worth. They are to mount a close
surveillance on the enemy carrier, using stealth craft. When our agent makes his
move, we must be ready. Thrakhath showed his fangs for a moment.  Our claws
are at their throats, Melek. They will not escape the hunt.
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CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
Flight Deck, TCS Victory Tamayo System
Once again the flight deck was crowded with officers and crewmen gathered to
bid farewell to one of their own. The neat ranks of pilots, technicians, and ship s
crew . . . the honor guard with weapons held in a stiff rifle salute . . . the
chaplain s service, and the empty coffin waiting by the launch tube × only the
names changed, but never the trappings or the emotion.
Christopher Blair slowly stepped forward to the temporary podium. He never
relished this duty, but today he hated everything about it.
 Major Jace Dillon was a reluctant warrior in the Confederation s battle
against the Empire, Blair said slowly. He raised his eyes to study the front ranks,
especially the pilots of Gold Squadron. For a fleeting moment he wondered what
Ralgha was thinking. Did the Kilrathi renegade regret letting the young Terran
pilot down in that last battle? Hobbes had certainly been withdrawn ever since. It
was a feeling Blair understood entirely.  Nevertheless, Flash never turned back [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]