The Road of Danger-ARC (47 page)

“Roger,” he said with a smile. He stepped jauntily toward the indicated door, a vaguely pinkish panel of extruded plastic with ventilation slots in the bottom.

Not very long ago I was being shot at by people who had a good chance of killing me. I think I can accept insulting behavior from the likes of Admiral Cox with equanimity
.

Daniel rapped with his knuckles on the plastic door. It made a sort of not-quite-right sound that seemed to fit the color.
At least I’m not being asked to eat it
.

“Come in and close it behind you!” Ruffin said.

Daniel obeyed. He stood at parade rest and said, “I’m here to report to Admiral Cox about our mission, Commander.”

“We’ll, you’re not going to see the admiral,” said Ruffin, typing industriously. Her eyes were on the display of the portable console which had been installed on a desk of pressed metal. The only places to sit beside her chair were three stools low enough for an eight-year-old’s feet to touch the floor. “He’s far too busy, of course.”

She finally looked up at Daniel. He wished Adele were here. He suspected that the commander wasn’t actually working at the console but was simply making her disdain clear, and Adele would know whether he was right.

“It’s just as well for you that Admiral Cox
is
busy,” she said. “You were given clear instructions to leave for the Funnel region, but instead you turn up on Tattersall. I don’t suppose it’s really important since we’ve already sorted the business here, but I suggest you take yourself back to Cinnabar as quickly as your little yacht can manage. Otherwise, the Admiral’s mind may turn to questions of insubordination and disobedience to orders. Understood, Leary?”

“No, Commander, I don’t understand,” Daniel said. He wasn’t on the verge of losing his temper, but he was finding it increasingly difficult to keep an internal smile about the situation. “I have, my crew and I have, carried out the admiral’s instructions: we’ve removed from Sunbright the former rebel who called himself Freedom.”

Ruffin stared at him in blank anger for a moment. Then she said, “You
what
?”

“We carried out our instructions, Commander,” Daniel said, cheerful again. “In this instance the rumors were true: Freedom, so called, really is a Cinnabar citizen, though he’s been resident in the Alliance for most of his life. We’ll take him back to Cinnabar with us and repatriate him.”

“You’ll do nothing of the sort!” Ruffin said. “This is the business of the Macotta Region. I’m sure the admiral will want to take charge of the prisoner!”

Daniel stepped forward and placed his splayed fingertips on the desktop. He leaned his weight onto them.

“May I remind you,
Commander
Ruffin,” he said in a pointedly calm voice, “that I am here under the orders of the Navy Board? I was to cooperate with the Macotta regional command in the solution of the Tattersall situation. You have assured me that you’ve ‘sorted the business.’ I believe that was your phrasing?
Do
you understand?”

Ruffin was ten years Daniel’s senior, and she obviously spoke for Admiral Cox. That must have given her a presumption of power even when dealing with the senior captains of the Macotta Squadron.

Now she flushed, then grew pale and edged back in her chair. “Sorry, Captain, if I seemed to have spoken out of line,” she mumbled. “The fact is that Sunbright is in the Macotta Region, so it’s for the Macotta Squadron to deal with in the first instance.”

Daniel straightened, but he didn’t retreat from where he stood. Smiling, he said, “There are people on Pleasaunce who would argue about how much authority Admiral Cox has over Sunbright, don’t you think? In any case, that’s a matter for our External Affairs and their foreign ministry to argue about.”

He shrugged and turned to the door, then paused and looked over his shoulder. “Commander, I was perfectly willing to explain the situation to Admiral Cox. I came here to do so, in fact. But my main purpose in reporting was to inform Macotta headquarters that my mission here has been completed. The
Princess Cecile
will return to Cinnabar immediately, in obedience to my orders from the Navy Board.”

“Captain…” Ruffin said, rising from her chair with an anguished look. She had obviously been considering how her handling of the situation was going to look to Admiral Cox and those above him in the Navy House bureaucracy. “Please. What do you intend to do with this rebel leader?”

“Ex-rebel,” Daniel said. “But as for your question, Commander—I’ll do the same as I’d do for any distressed Cinnabar citizen if it was practical: I’ll take him home.”

He closed the door gently behind him. Commander Ruffin didn’t try to call him back. Maybe she had realized that she would be wasting her breath.

CHAPTER 27: Leelburg on Tattersall

Tovera drove the vehicle Hogg had found for them. It was a clumsy thing whose wheels were splayed out from the body on long struts. It was suitable for the broken terrain they had to cross along the bay to where the
Feursnot
was berthed, but that considerably increased the jouncing unpleasantness.

Adele had never learned to drive: she had been born in Xenos and her tastes were entirely urban. Occasionally, as now, it occurred to her that the bucket seat for the driver would be less uncomfortable than the bin in back in which she rode; but learning to drive would require effort which she preferred to spend on other forms of education. Besides, comfort had never been a high priority with her.

“The boat’s coming over,” Tovera said as she wrenched hard on the steering wheel. “It’s about time. They’ve probably been watching us ever since we started.”

Tovera was in a bad mood. She had originally tried to drive through patches of a local beach plant with thick, glossy leaves. After backing out when they had almost bogged on the sticky coating, she had circled onto outcrops where the plants’ roots didn’t find purchase. Despite her slim, colorless appearance, Tovera had nothing of subtlety in her nature; it frustrated her to be unable to tear through whatever was in front of her.

“I certainly hope Master Storn is competent enough to keep us under observation, Tovera,” Adele said as she took out her data unit. Using it while the vehicle was moving had its problems, but the practice could be useful in the future. “And to time his arrival to match ours is simply common sense.”

She began searching for information on the beach plant. It interested her only as a scrap of information—but that was sufficient.

Normally Adele would be looking up something like this for Daniel. Doing so now brought Daniel closer, which was also an inducement to her search.

The vehicle which left the
Feursnot
operated as a boat at present, but it had large tires as well. It didn’t openly mount weapons, but it certainly seemed more military than civilian in appearance. It was painted the gray-green of Fleet uniforms.

The difficult ground cover was called Gray Plantain. It required iodine and therefore was rarely found at any distance from the sea. The sticky covering was a tool of predation rather than defense, and it was responsible for the plantain’s remarkable success anywhere the conditions were favorable. The leaves not only caught and absorbed insectoids which landed on them, it also smothered plants which tried to share the same territory.

Daniel will be interested. I must remember to tell him
.

Tovera pulled around in a half turn on the shoreline before she stopped, so that the vehicle was positioned to drive away without hesitation. Adele’s smile barely touched her lips: there was very little chance that the
Feursnot
did not carry marksmen as skillful as Hogg with a stocked impeller. Nonetheless, the principle was sound.

The Alliance vehicle rolled up beyond the surf line on its broad tires and stopped twenty feet from Adele and Tovera. A man of about fifty got out of the cab. As soon as he was clear, the driver—his only visible companion, though the body of the vehicle would hold a squad of twelve—began backing around also. Adele wondered if the fellow had been in the same class as Tovera during 5th Bureau training.

Adele climbed out of the borrowed car. The bin where she rode was generally used to haul a surf fisherman’s catch, but Adele’s present drab black clothing—cut like RCN utilities but without the mottled pattern—was intended for hard service. She walked toward the Alliance official with Tovera—unexpectedly—following a pace behind and to the left.

“Lady Mundy?” the official said. His civilian suit was a single shade of brown, but a subtle pattern of gloss and matte varied the surface. “I am Adolf Storn, who left the message for you. I’m glad you could meet me at this short notice.”

“I’m Mundy,” Adele said, letting her fingertips rest on the data unit in its thigh pocket. “How do you wish to proceed?”

She consciously kept her left hand at the small of her back lest it absently stroke her pistol. Reflexes had saved her life a number of times, but there were times that they could be fatal because they sent the wrong signal.

“The briefing materials told me not to expect small-talk,” Storn said with a faint smile. “I’m glad to see that our information is accurate.”

Without any change in tone, he continued, “There are various ways of handling this matter, Lady Mundy. I would prefer to do so informally, avoiding discussions between Pleasaunce and Xenos. Is that possible?”

“It should be,” said Adele. “Go on.”

The Leelburg Docks could service no more than ten moderate-sized ships at a time. The Macotta Squadron frequently operated from harbors no more developed than those here, so they were prepared. A construction crew had laid mooring buoys and floating quays along the bayfront to the south of the permanent facilities. The seafront in that direction was sloping and easily accessible.

The
Feursnot
had landed a mile to the north. The beach wasn’t a great deal worse than that in the other direction, but there was a steep escarpment just north of the docks and settlement, making it inaccessible at high tide—except by sea or to vehicles like the one Hogg had found for Tovera.

There could be no privacy in Leelburg, packed with outsiders as it was, and Storn didn’t want Adele and her data unit within his ship any more than she wanted to be there. Their beach was a good location for the meeting, as well as being the only location possible.

“If you don’t mind handling the matter quietly,” Storn said, “then…can we expect your republic’s navy to remain neutral?”

“This is in the interests of both nations,” Adele said. “The RCN will provide support if you request it.”

She considered for moment, then added, “It will take me a little time to make arrangements. A few hours, perhaps.”

“Thank you, your Ladyship,” Storn said, with a smile as faint as Adele’s own when she considered the sort of matter which he was probably planning now. “I don’t believe additional personnel will be necessary except for traffic control, but I appreciate the thought.”

“Very well,” said Adele. “I’ll get back to the
Princess Cecile
and change uniform, then take care of the RCN part of the arrangements.”

Storn dipped his head to her in acknowledgment, then looked at Tovera. “Did you know,” he said lightly, “that there’s a price on your head?”

“Do you plan to collect it?” Tovera said. Her tone was politely interested.

Storn chuckled. “Not now,” he said. “Another time, perhaps.”

Tovera followed Adele to the vehicle at the same proper distance, then got into the saddle. She closed and latched her attaché case, then hooked it to the steering column at her feet.

The Alliance vehicle was already snorting into the water. Adele watched it for a moment and said, “I’m glad Hogg didn’t put us in a boat. Things are working out rather well, I believe.”

***

“
My brother’s a poor missionary
…” Hogg croaked. “
He saves fallen women from sin
.”

His voice was a sort of bass growl, even though he’d had enough of the local brandy to really lubricate it. Daniel had drunk a tumbler or two as well. He probably shouldn’t have, and he certainly shouldn’t have while still wearing his Whites, but it had worked out all right.

“
He’ll save you a blonde for a florin
…” Hogg sang.

As Daniel left squadron headquarters, he had run into his Academy classmate Pennyroyal—now Lieutenant Pennyroyal, First Officer of the destroyer
Montrose
. Because her ship was part of the flotilla based on Tattersall, she had her own car and had offered to carry Daniel and Hogg back to the
Sissie
.

Since the ride would save them so much time over what they would have spent waiting for the Fleet-commandeered trucks acting as trams, she suggested they stop at a club where Lieutenant Ames, a mutual friend, was already waiting. Hogg had really wanted a drink—

And Hogg’s master had felt like celebrating too, since he’d delivered his report and thus ended his association with the Macotta Squadron. Daniel didn’t hold grudges, and Admiral Cox appeared to have handled his duties on Tattersall well. Nonetheless, Daniel would be very pleased to see the last of the region and of the commander of its RCN squadron.

“
My god how the money rolls in!
”

“Steady on, Hogg,” Daniel said, pausing at the base of the floating gangplank. Hogg swam like a fish and indeed, a bath in the chilly harbor might do him some good; but the splash was likely to wet Daniel’s only 1st Class uniform.

“Want us to give him a hand, sir?” asked Riley, the senior spacer of the entry watch. He was smiling indulgently.

“I could walk up that gangplank on my hands if I chose to!” said Hogg, striking a regal pose. He relaxed and continued, “However, I do not choose to do so. You may assist me, Technician Three Riley!”

“
Captain Leary
,” called the
Sissie
’s external speakers in what sounded like Adele’s voice. “
Report to the bridge at once, if you please
.”

The tone caused Daniel to brace to attention and sobered him more effectively than any of the cures he had attempted at one time or another. “Roger!” he muttered, though of course Adele couldn’t hear him.