Balbao thought he had a lean likeness to Farr, though his colouring was darker, his eyes brown, not grey. It was possible the shape of his face resembled the Commanders, but that could have been his imagination.
"This is not a time for lies, Labile, said Ra.
The geneer straightened and glared back at them. "Then I shouldnt be the only one to tell. We all have secrets. Especially you, Ra. How do you know Lasper? What have you done? What was the device you asked about? Have you been working with him?
Ra stepped closer, his paper-thin skin pale and taut.
Balbao noticed the slight peeling around his hairline. He had little enough hair to hide it.
"Are you accusing me of something, Connit?
"All I know is that any collusion with Lasper Farr would be suspicious. Without warning, Connit leapt at Ra, his hands grasping the Lostolians throat. "What is it? What did you build for my father?
Balbao and Hob both intervened. Hob knocked Connit back with a well-placed punch. The old fellow had been around, thought Balbao as he pulled Ra away.
"Enough, he bellowed with full Balol ferocity. "If any violence is to occur, it will be from me. For the first time since any of them had known him, he bared his warriors teeth. For good measure he let loose a growl.
Neither Sammy nor Hob batted an eyelid, but Miranda shrieked and clung tighter to Jise.
"What is happening to us? she wailed.
"Miranda! Balbao growled again.
She curtailed her wail to a whimper.
"Now, he said, "it is time we talked. All of us. And quickly. It may be the only-the last-chance we get. Labile?
The geneer scowled at Ra as he spoke. "He is my biological father. But he didnt raise me or have anything to do with me. I dont acknowledge him.
"Have you met him before? asked Balbao, Connit closed his eyes and nodded. "Once. He came to visit my mother when I was younger. To look me over, no doubt. He didnt like what he found, and we never saw him again. Though he did help my mother to pay the studium costs.
"So its thanks to him youre a geneer? said Ra. "Thats hardly uninvolved.
"The important thing from our perspective is that you arent one of his people, said Balbao.
Jise nodded agreement.
"You mean, was I his spy on Belle-Monde? No. And I take offence at anyone who would suggest it, Connit said hotly.
Ra made a disparaging noise and turned away.
Soles favoured G.o.dhead was beginning to annoy Balbao beyond comfortable tolerance. "Ra?
"What of you two? Ra asked the cells original occupants. "Who are you? Other than old.
Sammy opened her mouth to retort but Hob put a calming hand on her arm. "You heard of Consilience?
"Are you members? asked Miranda.
Hob smiled, somewhat proudly, thought Balbao. "Sammys one of the leaders.
Ra froze.
"And I, continued Hob, "was Commander Farrs pilot during the war. And more recently. Until I happened to let Tekkie sneak off with some real important device that belonged to the Commander.
"Tekkie? shrilled Miranda.
"Device? chimed in Ra.
Hob grinned at them. "Yeah, Tekkie. Tekton. He pinched the Commanders future-readin machine.
JO-JO RASTEROVICH.
Jo-Jo set the coordinates for the first of the most likely islands. Randall had taken control of the AiV, and he sat next to her, watching intently in case he needed to fly it. Catchut lay across the back seats, exhausted from the climb to the villa.
Theyd encountered no Saqr on the way, which made Jo-Jo uneasy.
"Where are they all? hed whispered to Randall as they entered the abandoned villa from a bas.e.m.e.nt door.
Randall didnt reply till they reached the catoplasma landing pad on the top of the building. Then she tilted her head to the sky. "You noticed anything up there?
Jo-Jo took a moment to catch his breath and take in the glittering vista. Neither of the moons was up yet, and the sky was studded with the lights of alien craft. Less of them, though, than there had been.
"Theyre leaving, said Jo-Jo.
"Yeah, said Randall. "Seems so. Gotta real bad feeling about this.
Jo-Jo had to agree. "Lets get out of here.
The AiV lifted into the air without incident. Randall kept the landing lights off, concentrating on the flight panel, watching the alt.i.tude and infrared sensors.
Jo-Jo stared out into the darkness, wondering what stretched below them, besides the desert. What a Crux-forsaken world to have been born into. He felt a pang of sympathy for Mira Fedor. Dust and repression had been her life while his had been so free.
"You plannin your funeral? said Randall.
"Nope, he said. "Shoulda pa.s.sed the Extro ship by now. Cant see nothin down there, though. Unless its sunk into the sand.
Randall checked her map. "Youre right. No sign. Wonder when that moved?
Jo-Jo glanced out at the sky. "Mebbe its got something to do with things shifting around up there. He kept staring until his attention was caught by something lower on the horizon.
"Looks like a fire, he said eventually.
As they drew closer, the glow cast a dim light and moving shadows across sand dunes. "That a town?
"Was Loisa, said Randall, consulting the flyers map again. "Fedors hometown. She had a villa there with her sister. Thought itd be all burned out by now, But this d.a.m.n atmospheres lethal. Keeps stuff smoulderin for ever.
Jo-Jo felt Miras presence keenly again, as though she was in the cabin with them. He clenched his fists.
"Funeral again? asked Randall.
"How far, Capo? asked Catchut from the back seat.
"Day and a night, mebbe. Depending on whether we luck upon them. Thats all the fuel we got, anyway.
"Maybe we can pick up some extra fuel cells on the way.
She nodded. "If we see anything. If its safe to put down.
They fell silent again, Catchut dozing while Jo-Jo scoured the murky landscape for wreckage or landmarks. Randall set the AiV on auto and sat almost motionless.
Maybe Jo-Jo slept for a while. He must have, because Randalls nudge to his shoulder and curt "Crux! jerked him to awareness.
He rolled his tongue over his teeth. They felt coated with neglect. He blinked a few times and stared out into the dark-by now, the not so dark. Far off to Randalls side of the AiV was a fiery glare: not the orange glow of fire but the stark white of electricity.
"Wha.s.sat? he slurred sleepily.
Randall checked her settings and fingered the location map to take them closer. They executed a wide sweep of the area, keeping their distance from the light.
"Saqr there. Plenty of them, by looks, said Catchut. "But whatre they doing?
Jo-Jo strained already tired eyes across Randalls shoulder. "Looks like theyre all over the Extro ship.
"Well, least we know where it went, said Randall.
"And where they went. Where are we?
"AiVs map says its a mine called Juanita, between the Pablo tunnels.
"Means squat to me, said Jo-Jo.
"Lost two of my original crew in there. Tunnel collapse. Still aint convinced it was accident. Always had an inklin I knew who did it.
"Tough, said Jo-Jo. "But so what?
"Juanita mine had somethin goin on. Namely, quixite. The Pablo mine next door has the longest tunnels on the continent. We had a tour down into one of them where thered been some trouble. Fedor said she left Pellegrini and the survivors inside the Pablo shafts. She thought hed follow the tunnels south, get as close to the coast as he could.
Jo-Jo stared at the eerie sight of Saqr crawling all over Extro ship. "Can we get closer?
Randall was obligingly conversational for once. "Im figurin they already know were here. If we keep on movin, chances are theyll be too caught up in what theyre doin to come chasm us. We go in close, who knows? They might just blow us out of the sky.
She was probably right. Their curiosity wasnt worth the risk of attracting attention. Yet something itched at Jo-Jo. Something important was happening there. He knew it.
Randall reset their direction, and within a short time Medium had faded into the distance and the dark.
Sunrise came a few hours later, a gradual lightening then a blinding raw incision of light into the scorching world. The cabin windows automatically dimmed, and the AiVs environmental struggled to keep them cool. Despite wearing the fellalo hed stripped from the dead Latino, Jo-Jo was hot. The flowing robe with the interior webbing of cooling nanites felt like a shroud.
They discussed the water situation and agreed how best to stretch out their supply.
"They reckon these robes can recycle your p.i.s.s into something palatable, if you need it, Randall remarked.
"Got none to spare, said Jo-Jo. "Havent p.i.s.sed since we left.
She shrugged and stared out across the endless red desert.
By the time they saw the first glint of water, Jo-Jos tongue felt twice its normal size. None of them had spoken for several hours.
Randall tapped the map, changing direction.
"What you doin?
"We left an AiV on the Principes island. Its how we got to the biozoon. Mebbe the fuel cells got some life in it.
Jo-Jo nodded and blinked away the stinging sweat that ran from his hair into his eyes. The AiV turned on a northerly bearing and followed the coast. The islands beyond were dots of grey relief in a brilliant stretch of ocean. Somehow, it soothed Jo-Jo to see so much water.
"Most of them are nuthin more than spits of sand, said Randall, nodding towards the islands.
"You think they made it this far, Capo? asked Catchut.
The mercenarys ankle injury from being stuck in the Extro goo was festering. Jo-Jo could smell it. Hopefully, Catchuts Health Watch was enough to overcome the infection. He seemed lucid enough, and without fever.
"Here? Yes. But how theyd get over to the islands? Randall shrugged. "Maybe the palazzoll give us some ideas.
On the back of that statement, she sent the AiV into a descent. Ahead of them and to the left Jo-Jo saw an island marked with wide-arched buildings, incongruous on the scantly vegetated tract of sand.
"They like things to look like home, commented Randall, as if reading his mind. "You been to Latino Crux?
Jo-Jo nodded. "Once. The women were too quiet for my liking.
Randall laughed and gave him a sideways glance. "Funny how things work out, huh? She stopped short of saying, funny that you fell for one of them anyway, but the implication was loud and clear.
Jo-Jo bit back a retort. Things had been amicable enough between them on the flight, and he didnt need to fan any flames. He craned forward over the dashboard. "Any life signs?
"Dont seem so, said Randall. "If there were, theyre gone now. Ill land as close to the hangar as I can.
In descent, Jo-Jo got a clear view of the extent of the Pellegrini holiday chalet, a main building with numerous outhouses connected by covered walkways. The largest of the outhouses had a partially open roof. He took this to be the hangar Randall had mentioned. Wide sand beaches were segmented by empty jetties, and paths wound through the low brush. On the beach closest to the chalet sat another AiV, partially covered in sand.
"Its still there, said Randall with relief. "Theres a half-a.r.s.ed infirmary in the chalet. Or there was. Lat used it. She glanced over her shoulder at Catchut, her face grim.
"He knew the risks, Capo. We all do.
It was the first time Jo-Jo had ever heard Catchut attempt to rea.s.sure Randall.
Losing your crew was a disturbing thing-even Jo-Jo, whod spent most of his life working alone, scouting for minerals in the far reaches, understood that. And Rast Randall had lost all of them, apart from Catchut.
"Lets check the infirmary out first, said Randall. "See if theres somethin thatll help yer ankle.