Codename: Night Witch by Caffrey Cary

Author:Caffrey, Cary [Caffrey, Cary]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Tags: Science Fiction, Fiction
Publisher: Alcyone Studio
Published: 2015-11-18T05:00:00+00:00

~ - ~

Standing outside the freighter, Sigrid waited until the last of the indentured crew was allowed to disembark. They were a sorry lot. Thirty-four crew and seven of the comfort girls. The comfort girls remained clustered together, huddled and shivering, though more from the drugs than the cold. Their journey would be the most difficult of all.

Thuan Lai was standing on the cargo ramp, overseeing the exodus.

"Those people won't make it three kilometers let alone three hundred. I won't need to stop you, Ms. Novak, the terrain will take care of that."

Sigrid had to agree, but she was hardly going to abandon these people to the Merchantmen.

"Just worry about your ship, Thuan. I'll worry about the rest."

"And how do I know you'll keep your end of the bargain? That you'll transmit the termination codes?"

"You don't. Sorry, Mr. Lai, but you'll just have to trust me. Once we're safely away, I'll transmit the codes and shut down the countdown. If we're safe, then your ship will be safe."

"Those people are of value to me. You, Ms. Novak, are of value. You can't think I will let you walk out of here.

"Yes, Mr. Lai, that's exactly what I think. Kill me, and you lose your ship. Without your ship, what are you? Just another aging grifter looking for the next mark."

"You think you'll find safe haven out there? Word has already spread about you. The Merchantmen aren't the only ones who know you're working for the Consortium. They'll come for you, Ms. Novak. For a chance at one-point-eight-five billion, they'll all come for you."

"Then I suppose I better get moving." Sigrid turned, ready to march into the forest.

"We're not done, Ms. Novak!" Lai shouted after her. He was red in the face and shaking his thin fist. "You've not seen the last of the Merchantmen."

Sigrid glanced back over her shoulder. "For your sake, you best hope you're wrong. Goodbye, Mr. Lai."

Leaving the merchantmen behind, Sigrid approached the cluster of freed slaves. Most of them were quite thin and suffering from malnutrition. This was probably the first time they'd been outside in months. Perhaps years. How on Earth was she going to get them to safety?

"Where will we go?" Nuria asked. She was dressed now in pants and boots stolen from the pirate traders. She still had the eSMG in her hands, and Sigrid thought she looked quite brave, standing there and watching over the escapees, like a shepherd overlooking her flock.

"We'll make for the Crossroads," Sigrid said. "It's our best hope."

"How far is it?" Nuria said, and then she looked about her. "And where is it?"

Sigrid pointed south, beyond the hills. The terrain looked rough and heavily treed. "There, Nuria. A little less than three hundred kilometers."

"Three hundred…?"

"Don't worry, Nuria. We'll make it." They had to.

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