Pliocene Exile - The Adversary Part 23

"This is livin'!"

"Jesus," said Vilkas softly.

Yosh was back inside the spotterscope, both hands manipulating the controls. "Last test. Plug in one of those zappers and let's see how she tracks on semiauto."

Jim went to pay out a thin cable from one of the weapons in the tower battery while Vilkas cleared the orifice and powered up. When the gun was mated to the scanning device, both grey torcs said: Ready Yos.h.i.+-sama.

Servos tilted the spotter, putting Yosh comfortably onto his back in the bucket seat. The electronically linked weapon tracked along in parallel as Yosh searched the sky. "Close range.

That's what we got and that's what we'll use. Gonna zap me a bird. Just one small bird. The Rocky Mountain Audubon Society'd ride me out of town on a rail if they knew, but I need a warm bod to target this sucker. And ... and ... ah-ha! We got us a falcon conformation coming up on CalCity at range one-one-six-seven-pip-oh-four ... chotto matte!

Dammit, he jinked! Definite falcon. Aureate. Male. Ready again"Chief-don't!" Jim cried. "Don't shoot!"

Yosh looked out of the scope, forehead furrowed in annoyance. "What the h.e.l.l?"

"Them gold falcons-it's bad luck to kill 'em! You shoot one, you get th' s.h.i.+t o' the worl' dump on you!"

"Oh, for G.o.d's sake," exclaimed Yosh.

"Please, chief," Jim begged.

Yosh gave him a disgusted grimace and returned to the scanner. He swivelled round to the south, down near the bank of the River Ybaar. "How about a G.o.ddam guinea hen in a G.o.ddam mudwallow?"

"Zap away," said Jim cheerfully.

The laser spoke a truncated sizzling yelp. Yosh relaxed in his seat and sighed. "So much for that. Unplug the gun, and we'll get downstairs-" He froze as his golden torc transmitted a hail.

Yos.h.i.+ do you hear?

(He did ... and he knew that mind-voice.) I hear High King!

I'm coming. You have spotterscope ready?

Just finished but unremote and unconnex gunsNevermind that. Won't need after all. Stay tower. Wait Me.

Tell NOONEI come.

Yes High King.

Vilkas and Jim had been gathering up the tool kits and testing gear. Neither had noticed Yosh's abstraction. The Lithuanian said, "If we're going to hook this eye to the brain-board, we'll have to cannibalize MP interfacers from something."

"Forget it," Yosh said. "The King's coming. There's a change in plan." He was frowning as he reoriented the spotter to scan the sky northeast of Calamosk. "He wants us to stay right here, and tell no one else that he's on the way."

"Hey-great!" Jim cried. "He bringin' the Flyin' Hunt t' roust out them oversea sumb.i.t.c.hes?"

Yosh kept silent as he studied the scope readout. "He can't be. I'd get a whacking body-read-and there's nothing out there.

Nothing!"

"A land force?" Vilkas ventured.

"How c'd he keep a lan' march secret?" scoffed Jim. "Course he'd fly!"

"Oh, my G.o.d," said Yosh. He lifted a drained face from the viewer and pressed the neutralization stud. Stiffly, he climbed from the seat. His samurai armour, discarded for the installation work, lay in a neat pile. A well-known telepathic signal set Jim and Vilkas scurrying to a.s.sist him in donning it. They were puzzled by the perspiration that had broken out on their master's brow and the faint tremor in his cheek muscles. Through their grey torcs they perceived a hint of the mental turmoil that Yosh was doing his best to hide.

Artless Jim was solicitous. "Gee, boss-you feelin' all right?"

"I'm fine. But listen ... do you remember Clarty Jock telling us how to hide our private thoughts if we were afraid some Tanu with redactive powers was snooping in our minds?"

"I remember," said Vilkas. "Not that I needed him to tell me."

" 'Think of a song, over 'n' over,' " Jim rehea.r.s.ed obediently.

"I alms think o' one Gran'daddy useta sing: We are the virgin mountaineers, With lots of hair upon our ears-"

Yosh interrupted him. "When the King arrives, hide your thoughts."

"But why, chief?"

Yosh settled his daisho and nodachi swords while Vilkas tied on the collarlike nodowa (cut low to show the prestigious golden torc) and Jim held out the elaborate helmet with its crescentmoon horns. "Never mind why. You'll know when the King gets here."

The three of them stood at attention, facing east. There was a tiny speck in the cloudless afternoon sky, obviously approaching, and Jim and Vilkas tensed. But then they saw that it was only a bird, perhaps some kind of hawk, with yellow and black feathers. It glided low over the tower and the long piece of straw it clutched in its talons was clearly visible.

Look out, Yosh whispered telepathically to his minions.

The bird floated down. It was not a hawk but an aureate falcon, and when it touched the parapet it changed into King Aiken-Lugonn holding his great golden-gla.s.s Spear in one gloved hand.

"Hi," said the King, pus.h.i.+ng up the face-s.h.i.+eld of his storm suit. "You boys got the spotterscope ready?"

Yosh saluted and gestured wordlessly at the device. Jim mumbled, "We are the virgin mountaineers!"

Aiken raised one quizzical eyebrow. "Never would have guessed it." He turned his back on them and climbed into the seat of the scanning device. "Don't bother with instructions.

I've used these things before." He looked south. "Yes ... here comes Ochal the Harper and his riders-and I presume the extra bodies are the coveted Basil's b.a.s.t.a.r.ds." One finger rapped the mode-select into ultimate range. "And zooming up behind them, clearing the hills, we have fifteen all-terrain vehicles driving flatout."

Vilkas and Jim were staring at one another in mingled shock and apprehension. Yosh stood calmly at the King's shoulder and said, "How can we a.s.sist you?"

Aiken climbed out of the spotterscope and motioned for Yosh to take his place. Jim was quick to catch the kabuto that his master whipped from his head and flung away.

"I'm going to entrust the three of you with a state secret,"

Aiken said. His eyes were burning coals in a paper-white countenance. "I won't threaten you-but if you tell anyone what kind of chicane I pull here this afternoon, there's a good chance my throne will fall. And you along with it, of course."

"We are your slaves," said Yosh. Even in the embrace of the big spotterscope, he managed a solemn bow. Vilkas and Jim shuffled their feet and licked their lips.

Aiken said, "The North American vehicles are certain to catch up with Ochal's group before they get within range of Calamosk's defences. I realized this as I fa.r.s.ensed them while flying in. So I'll have to do something."

"Hel-ever'body thought you'd bring the Flyin' Hunt!" Jim said. Vilkas kicked him in the ankle.