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14
I watchedwith satisfaction as the log disappeared around a bend, the tracker tied to the top with a shoelace. Technically a bootlace, but the result was the same.
I gave it a finger wave. "Bye bye. I hope you draw all the Iri to you."
J'avet watched me, but he seemed amused for once. "It should slow them down," he said. "We still need to hurry."
Without another word, he stepped back into the cover of the trees. We all followed close behind.
As fun as sending out a decoy was, I felt vulnerable out from under the cover of the canopy.
Every so often, we heard the sound of distant engines and stopped cold. If they got any closer, only the trees would hide our location.
"We'll get as close as we can, then rest for a few hours," J'avet said. He looked frustrated. "The forest will slow us down, but it's safer."
"Haven't we done this before?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light. On Calig, we'd had Slek and Danec with us. And Humar, who complained all the way. We also hadn't known what we were up against. If I had, I might have run the other way.
"Let's not make a habit of it," J'avet growled. "All this nature. Give me a ship any day."
I smiled. "Really? I had you pegged as the outdoorsy type." Not.
"I prefer my outdoors on a plate," he replied. "Even then, the synthetic version is better."
I made a gagging sound. "Let me guess, you've never had real cheese?" Synthcheese was barely edible, but better than nothing.
Just.
"No, should I?" He looked slightly disgusted at the idea.
"Absolutely. When this is over, I'm finding us some real food. Even if I have to take you all to Earth to get it. And before you say it," I held up a hand, "I'm not staying there."
He stepped over a log and scowled as his boots sank into mud on the other side. "If it's anything like this, I see why you prefer to be on ships."
"I don't prefer ships," I said. "I prefer cities. Cities don't tend to get torpedoed into oblivion."
I looked skyward, remembering the ship that was destroyed as we entered the atmosphere. The blueish expanse couldn't tell me if it was the Gamma, or an Iritauri ship which was now space junk. Neither option was a great scenario. The Iri themselves were mostly innocent. Presumably some chose the life of a host, but I suspected those weren't many.
"Cities are less muddy," J'avet agreed. He pulled his boot free and found some solid ground to put it back down.
"Do you hear that?" Brinley asked. She stopped behind us. E'rel and Rayax, who walked on either side of her, froze.
I cocked my head and listened. "Sounds like another engine," I said finally.
"Heading in this direction," Navor said from the back of the pack.
"Everyone down," J'avet ordered.
I ducked to a crouch beside him and pressed myself against the trunk of a tree. Our dark clothing and packs would make us harder to see from above.
At least in theory.
The vessel drew closer. It sounded small, like a pod.
I wondered about those on board. Specifically, were any of my guys on there? It was possible, as far as I knew. They might be up there, looking, searching, ready to kill.
Okay, I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure they would all be pissed off if they found out later they killed me. And Brinley. And the others. And, well, anyone.
I squeezed my eyes shut, as though somehow that would stop the pod from seeing me. To my surprise, I felt a warm hand slip into mine. I opened my eyes to see J'avet's face right in front of me.
