Somewhere in the darkness is what we are here for . . . Unless the U/Free have it wrong? I consider that for a moment then reject it. If the U/Free say their observer is here, then he’s here. But if he is here why can’t I find him?
Sucking my teeth, I dig into my pockets for a smoke.
Cigars are illegal in Letogratz. You can change sex, kill yourself repeatedly, have four tits, knock a hundred years off your age and become someone else, but you can’t light up . . .
Weird people the U/Free.
I fold my fingers round my lighter to hide its flame. Sucking deep, I release smoke into the coldness of the night. The wind’s switched directions, the stars are high and the temperature up here is still dropping.
It’s the silence I like.
The silence and the night noises. I knew them all in the desert. The scuttle of lizards and the rattle of snakes. The high call of raptors, the almost hidden padding of wildcats as they creep towards sand hoppers.
When a twig breaks on a path, I free the catch on my holster.
I know where Franc is. She’s a hundred paces below, to the right of my rocky outcrop. The others are sleeping in a hut so close I could walk three paces and drop spit on its roof. A ruined vegetable garden slopes up to the hut. A wall encloses the garden and Franc stands watch by its gate.
Neen chose the position earlier. It’s his job to do stuff like that.
‘Show yourself . . .’ When no one answers, I say it again, louder.
A few seconds later Colonel Vijay stumbles out of the darkness. And stands blinking in the moonlight. Sleepy, I think, until I realize he’s embarrassed. Seems he heard Franc yowling. Although he is far too polite to mention it.
‘Sven . . .’
‘Yes, sir?’
‘I wanted . . .’ He stops, gazes at my cigar.
‘You like one, sir?’
Colonel Vijay takes my last cigar, folds his fingers round the flame of my lighter. A second later, he’s coughing his guts out. ‘Sorry,’ he says, although I’m not sure why he’s apologizing. ‘They’re . . .’
‘Cheap, sir.’
‘I was going to say, stronger than I’m used to.’
‘Also cheap.’
His smile is uncertain. ‘Thought I might stand watch in your place,’ he says. ‘If you think that’s a good idea.’
It’s a bloody stupid idea. Colonel Vijay standing watch means we’ll need two guards, Vijay himself, and someone to watch over him.
‘That’s a kind offer, sir.’
‘But a useless one?’
‘Not exactly. More . . .’
He sighs.
We walk downhill together.
My temper holds as long as it takes us to reach the gate.
Franc’s there all right, a knife in the dirt at her feet for easy reach, her rifle ported across her chest. She’s crouched low and watching the treeline intently. Hearing steps, she spins round to see me. It’s not Colonel Vijay’s presence that knocks the grin from her face. My scowl is enough.
‘What’s that?’
I know what it is. It’s a fucking Kemzin 19 pulse rifle leaning against a wall.
A pair of boots sits below it. They are rotten with sweat and bloody round the ankle. But all our boots are rotten with sweat and bloody round the ankle. What gives these ones away is the fact they’re clean. Only Shil washes her boots each evening.
‘Tell me she didn’t . . .’
‘Sir,’ says Franc. I take that to mean she did.
‘How long ago?’ asks Colonel Vijay.
Don’t know why he’s asking. Each watch lasts two hours. If we’re here and her rifle’s there, then it’s two hours exactly. Unless she hung around first talking to Franc. And there are reasons why that is unlikely.
‘Why?’ I demand.
Franc doesn’t answer. Perhaps she can’t?
‘You quarrelled?’
‘Yes,’ says Franc, before changing it to, ‘No, sir.’
Other ranks loyalty. The army runs on it.
‘About . . . ?’ demands Colonel Vijay, and then shuts up. It’s obvious.
‘Sir,’ says Franc. ‘Shil’s only been gone a few minutes. She wanted a walk and the only thing out there is foxes, sir. I’m sure . . .’
‘You’ve seen them?’ asks Colonel Vijay.
‘Sir?’
‘You saw these foxes?’
‘No, sir,’ she says. ‘But I’ve heard them.’
‘Where?’ I say.
She points to three different places in the treeline below.
The SIG-37 is out of my holster before I realize it. Jacking the slide, I engage night vision and pick flechette. The tightness to my gut has nothing to do with fear and everything to do with what is about to happen.
‘Wake everyone,’ I tell Franc. To Colonel Vijay, I say, ‘I need you to hold this position, sir. Stay back, keep low . . .’
He nods, already setting the sights on his own pistol.
When Franc hesitates, words still unspoken, I drag her from her crouch and push her in the direction of the hut. A second later, she’s gone.