Guerilla: The Makaum War: Book Two by Mel Odom

Author:Mel Odom [Odom, Mel]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2015-08-25T04:00:00+00:00

TWENTY

The Home of Quass Leghef

“Old” Makaum

2150 Hours Zulu Time

Let me assure you that we’re not here to make things worse for your ­people, Quass Leghef,” Colonel Halladay said. “We’re trying to bring some balance in these troubled times.”

Halladay’s words sounded weak even to Sage, but he didn’t know any other way to state their reasons for being there. Fort York had been built on Makaum with the intention of helping the local populace. Also to potentially keep the Phrenorians at bay. But they were there to help.

“Perhaps you’d like to point out where I have erred in my summation,” the Quass countered.

Halladay reddened a little. Despite all the maneuvering he was used to in the Army, this one little woman was throwing his game off. Sage was impressed, and equally grateful he wasn’t the one under fire.

“Before we get to that,” the Quass said, “perhaps it might be better if we got to know each other a little more. After all, you are in my home as my guests. I would be remiss were I not to extend some courtesy.”

“Yes, Quass,” Halladay said, looking like he’d just been granted a stay of execution. “That sounds like a good idea.”

Except that they didn’t have time for playing games, Sage thought. They needed to be moving now. The ­people who attacked the fort could be disappearing as they spoke. Besides that, he didn’t trust the old woman to lighten up. More like she had a whole minefield planned for the colonel.

“Where were you born?” Leghef asked.

The question caught Halladay by surprise. “I was born in London, Quass, but my father was an officer in the Terran Army. I grew up in a lot of places. Mostly military bases on different worlds.”

“So change has always been a part of your life.”

“Yes. We moved every two or three years. My mother got used to it and looked forward to decorating our new home each time we moved.”

“Then you might not know what it means to put down roots.” The Quass switched her attention to Sage. “What about you, Sergeant?”

“I grew up in a village, ma’am. A little place called Sombra de la Montána. The name is Spanish, a Terran language.”

Interest glimmered in Leghef’s eyes. “What was growing up in Sombra de la Montána like, if I may ask?” The Spanish words came out twisted but she made it through them okay.

“Life was simple there. The ­people hunted for food in the jungle. Game and fruits and nuts. Other things. They gardened. They built their own homes near a stream that provided fresh water.”

“No technology?”

“No, ma’am. It wasn’t needed and it was too expensive. Some of the ­people had a few things, but life was hard there. Everybody had to work to get by.”

“You two came from the same world, but you lived such different lives.”

Halladay let Sage answer since the Quass was focusing on him.

“Yes, ma’am, I guess so. Despite everything you might see on holo ads on the comm, Terra is not one huge world filled with technology.

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