Quadrail Omnibus by Timothy Zahn

Author:Timothy Zahn
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: scifi, Quadrail, Fiction
Publisher: TOR
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Six

We said our final farewells on the platform as the next Terra-bound train worked its way down the Tube toward us. “Good luck,” I said to Stafford as we shook hands. “And watch yourself. If and when the Modhri decides to step up his operations on Earth, you’ll be an obvious target for him to go for.”

“I’ll be careful,” Stafford said grimly. “If he tries it, he’ll have a serious fight on his hands.”

“And not just from Mr. Stafford,” Morse added. “I’ll be with them the whole way.”

“I appreciate that,” I said. “Don’t forget your promise.”

“To keep all of this secret.” Morse hissed between his teeth. “I know. Still, galling though it is to let Earth stroll along in blissful ignorance, I can see your point. We’ll keep quiet.”

“But if the silent routine changes, you let us know,” Stafford said. “I still want justice for Uncle Rafael’s murder.”

“We all do, and we’re working on it,” I promised. I nudged my carrybag with my foot. “This should definitely help.”

“I still can’t believe the Spiders let you into the Tube with that thing in your bag,” Morse commented.

“We have a good working relationship with them,” I said, passing over the fact that with the weapon separated into its components again the Spiders couldn’t have spotted it even if they’d wanted to.

“And don’t forget your promise,” Stafford added. “Whenever your friends get done studying the thing, I’d appreciate it if they would let me have the Lynx back.”

“If they’ll allow it, I’ll deliver it to you personally,” I promised.

“Someday you’ll have to tell me the whole story of how you ended up in this war,” Morse said, glancing around the station. “You and your sniper friend. Be sure to thank him for me, by the way.”

“I’m sure he thanks you, too,” I said. “Your timing was perfect.”

“Actually, I could probably have shown up two minutes earlier and no one would have objected,” Morse said dryly. “How did you arrange for him to be up there, anyway?”

“I didn’t actually arrange anything,” I said. “I just told him where we were going and the day and approximate time I expected us to arrive. He worked out the rest of the details himself.”

“Except that you did know he’d be on the easternmost mesa,” Stafford said. “I assume that’s why you wanted us to come in via the southern one.”

“I didn’t know that was where he’d be,” I said. “But that was the most likely place for him to set up shop. He would want the sun at his back if he could manage it.”

With a squeal of brakes, the Quadrail came to a stop on the track in front of us. The conductors took their places outside the doors, and the exodus of passengers began. “You be careful,” Morse said. He hesitated, then held out his hand to me. “I’m sorry for—well, you know.”

“I understand,” I assured him, feeling an unpleasant tingle as I shook his hand. “Good-bye, Mr. Stafford; Ms. Auslander.”

“Good-bye,” Penny said, offering me her hand.

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