Crisis Of Empire - Crown Of Empire Part 42

There's tissue cement in the first aid Idts in Cousin Helga's room," she said decisively and walked up to the closed door. She bent down and pressed one of the sections of parquetry, clearing the genescan,

The door swung open, revealing Cousin Helga's bedroom. Where lira's room was rich silkeen and tapestries. Cousin Helga's was all lace and chintz. A plethora of doilies littered every available surface and the two vanity mir- rors were held in place by burnished gold cupids.

Helga came bustling out of the closet, a Ridly pistol in her shaking hands. "You can't - " she began, then realized who she was talking to. She dropped the pistol and rushed to lira's side. "Oh, my dear, thank goodness you're all right. I was so frightened. The noise alone was enough to make one crazed." She looked from Tira to Chaney then back again. "Gracious, what are you doing in those masks?"

"The Logistics men are going to be back," said Chaney. "You can bet on it."

"But surely -" Helga protested, and then her expression changed. "You mean it still isn't over?"

"Not yet," said Tira grimly. "I need the first aid

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Idt, Cousin Helga. Will you fetch it for me? And bring an air pack for yourself. They might try using gas on us next time, or there could be a fire. Let's get ready to hold them off."

"The double brace still works," said Cousin Helga as she turned to get the first aid kit from the closet. "I didn't have time to put it in place, but we can do it now."

"Good," said Tira, slamming the door closed and coding in the command for the eight steel bars within the door to lock them in. There was a satisfying thunk as the bars slid into place and were anch.o.r.ed. The first aid kit?"

"Right here," trilled Cousin Helga as she offered it as if it were a tray of sweetmeats. "But I don't see - " And then she caught sight of Chaney's arm. "Oh. Gracious!" The kit slid from her nerveless fingers as she tottered toward her bed, one hand to her brow.

lira picked up the kit and set to work tending to Chaney s wound. She spoke to Cousin Helga as she worked. "Don't let this bother you," she said, feeling a little queasy herself.

"How did they know where to come?" Cousin Helga wailed.

"I've been thinking about that," said Chaney.

"I'm afraid I did it. I think they traced my AID code when I used the communications console.

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Ckelsea Quinn Yarforo

It's what I'd expect Sclerida to do. It makes sense."

"Yes," said lira grimly. "It makes sense."

"That means he knows you're here, Tira,"

Chaney added. He touched lira's face with his good hand. "I'm sorry."

She did her best to smile. "I know."

"I should have thought - "he began.

There was a sound from the warning beacon near the door.

"They're coming back," said Cousin Helga, reaching for the air pack and putting her mask into place. She gathered up the first aid kit, half a dozen pillows, lira's discarded reticule, and her antique jewelry box and shoved them all into the closet. "They'll be protected in there," she announced.

Chaney and Tira were already shoving furni- ture around to increase their protection. The bed was upended and leaned against the door, two of the settees were turned on their sides to provide cover for the three of them.

"It'll take heavy fire to get through the door,"

said lira.

"We'd better be ready for it, anyway," said Chaney. "They know what they're up against."

"Not quite. The bars weren't in place before,"

said lira, wanting to be more hopeful.

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"No. But they may antic.i.p.ate something of the sort," said Chaney thoughtfully as he set about reloading his Meinhauser. "I would."

"How much warning will we have?" Cousin Helga asked with a quiver in her voice. "I'm not sure I'm up to all this disturbance,"

"Who knows?" said Chaney. "I don't think they intend to kill us. Or not Tu-a, anyway. That's something.'* He had taken his position behind one of the settees and was trying to find the least uncomfortable position to hold his arm in.

"Do you think they'll use - " She broke off.

"Gas."

"That's it," said Chaney, adjusting the flow of oxygen to his mask. "Be careful. Don't take off the goggles, don't rub anything, don't scratch your skin if it itches."

Tira was already rolling down her sleeves and reaching for something to put over her hair. She had been drilled throughout her youth for just such an eventuality and now went about her preparations with rote-learned skills.

Cousin Helga dragged her most elaborate ne^i- gee off its hanger and wrapped herself in its vast filmy folds of georgine and lace, all the while whi&- pering imprecations at the attacking troops.

"Immune, storming the private quarters of the Hi^i Secretaiys family. There's no excuse for it. none."

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Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

The gas grew thicker, and even with the masks in place and the oxygen flow on full the rotten-eggs- and-seaweed stench was almost overwhelming.

Everything in the bedroom was covered with a fine, acrid mist of unwholesome greyish-green.

"Come out with your hands up. You will not be harmed. Come out with your hands up." This was not the voice they had heard earlier, but a deeper one, more used to command. "Give yourselves up."

"How dare they!" fumed Cousin Helga.

"lira Bouriere. Yon Chaney. Come out." The voice was growing impatient. "If you don't come out, we'll come in and get you."

lira looked over at Cousin Helga. "Get in the closet," she ordered the old lady- 'They don't know you're in here. You heard them. They didn't call your name. Get in the closet,"

"But whatever for?" demanded Cousin Helga.

"In case they break through. We need some- one who can ... rescue us, if it comes to that."

Tira glanced at Chaney and saw him nod.

"Come out before we open fire. We warn you, we have two laser-cannon trained on that door.

We will fire on a count often."

Cousin Helga hesitated. "How can I - "

"If you don't hide in the doset, we won't have a chance," said Chaney very seriously.