Crisis Of Empire - Crown Of Empire Part 7

In the rear seat Dov and Crisianne struggled to get free of the restraining harnesses.

Half a block away one a.s.sault boat had landed and a dozen men in Navy uniform came toward them, stunguns on their hips. From the hatch the long pointed beaks of laser-cannon pointed out at the four young roisterers.

"Come on, Bouriere," said one of the men as he reached Wiley. "Sony to do it this way, but we have to bring you in." He took a firm hold on Wiley's arm just above the elbow and began to lead Wiley toward the a.s.sault boat.

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Wiley blinked in disbelief at this treatment.

"I'm the High Secretary's son," he began, and heard his voice rise sharply. He tried again. "I'm the High Secretary's son."

'We know that," said another one of the Navy men brusquely, escorting the girl who had been sitting beside Wiley in the aircar.

Never before had Wiley had this announcement fail. He tried to draw himself up, but before he could get more than two words out, the man who held him said, "Look, son, that's all changing. It's chan^ng right now. You mi^it as well get used to ifThere was ahint of apology in the man's voice.

"Changing?" Wiley echoed, beginning to be deeply afraid.

Nika was oddly calm, taking in these announcements as if she had expected to hear them.

"What about Dov?" As Wiley spoke his friend's name he looked around. Dov and Crisianne were being taken to another a.s.sault boat, also accompanied by armed guards. "Where are you taking him? Why isn't he with us?"

"Look," said another of the men. "You let us do our job, everything'll be fine."

"But Dov -" Wiley protested.

"We have orders," said his escort. "Nothing personal."

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Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

They were almost at the a.s.sault boat, and the man leading the girl said, "Are we supposed to bring her, or leave her here?"

"I don't know," admitted Wiley's captor. 'They didn't say anything about her." He blinked once.

"We might as well bring her."

"What if they don't want her?" asked the man

guarding her.

"Let them decide. It's not up to us to figure them out." He nudged Wiley toward the low- ered steps. "Better get in. And nothing fancy.

You can't get out of here even if you want to."

Of that Wiley was absolutely certain. He thought for one heady moment of breaking away and running for safety. But there was no safety; if the Navy men didn't catch him, the locals would.

He made a gesture of acquiescence. "Sure." He started to climb, his legs feeling unsteady.

Behind him the girl started up the steps, her movements more graceful, more controlled than Wiley's. She looked hard at the man who had led her, as if she wanted to remember his face.

There were another twenty men in the a.s.sault boat, and they went about their ch.o.r.e of adjusting racks for Wiley and the girl, saying very litde as they did. Then the hatch was closed and secured.

Nika lost her footing as the straps were adjusted, and fell against Wiley.

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I.

As she did, Wiley felt the sting of an injection.

He stared at his arm where she had touched him, trying to convince himself he had imagined it. Why should she inject him? And what would she inject him with? The second question remained stuck in his mind like a splinter of ice refusing to melt

The engines bellowed and the a.s.sault car lifted into the air. Wiley could feel the back and forth movement as it maneuvered to avoid col- liding with the other boats.

Then there was a faintly pink fog filling the boat, smelling of rotting hay and unripe apples. Wiley could see that the fog came from something on the girl's bdt, from a strangely wrought cylinder Wiley had a.s.sumed was a piece of jewelry.

The Navy men noticed the fog about two sec- onds before they collapsed. One moment they were standing at their posts, and then they crum- pled like marionettes with cut strings.

Wiley held his breath, expecting to lose con- sciousness at any moment.

The a.s.sault boat began to yaw.

Nika unfastened the catches other rack and hurried toward the pilot's station. She dragged the pilot from his chair, dumping him on the deck before sliding into place. She grabbed the control bar with both hands, fighting to bring the

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Chelsea Quinn Varbro

a.s.sault boat back on course. Her eyes flicked over the instrument panel with the habit of

familiarity.

Staring at her, Wiley asked, "Who are you?"

"Get out of the rack and give me a hand," she

said. 'We've got to get clear of this place as

quickly as possible."

"What's going on?" Wiley fumbled with the

rack harness. "What did you do to them?"

"Poison gas. I gave you the antidote before,"

she said, watching the forward screen with