The Hero by Ringo John & Williamson Michael Z

Author:Ringo, John & Williamson, Michael Z. [Ringo, John & Williamson, Michael Z.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Speculative Fiction
ISBN: 9781416509141
Publisher: Baen
Published: 2004-01-01T07:00:00+00:00

Posleen War 5 - The Hero

Chapter 12

Ferret's legs weren't hurting as much. He figured that was good, tactically. He was almost back to a reasonable pace, and had tossed the crutch. He was still limping as he moved, but he was moving by himself. Medically, he figured the lessening pain presaged massive tissue damage from gangrene or something similar. He actually might survive if he could get these two beaten and call the pod. There were good AI medical facilities aboard. He still considered that tantalizing chance, now far behind him, of using Doll's transmitter for backup. He really, personally, didn't care if a war started, instead of all this back and forth. But command would not be happy with his sorry ass, even if he survived. Anyway, it was only a chance, and he'd abandoned that for this track. Fretting wasn't going to help.

The voice in his earphones surprised him. “So, Ferret, how are you doing?”

He clamped his mouth tightly shut, lips thin. The longer he could wait before speaking to Dagger, the more of a threat he'd appear. Let Dagger get scared. That was a weapon all by itself.

“Ferret? I know you're there, you half-​assed moron.”

Nothing. And Dagger was sounding a bit distressed.

“Okay, Ferret, I'll play your game. Just wait until I see a glimpse of you again. It'll be the last. Goodbye.”

Dagger had definitely been disturbed. Good.

The signs on his tracker were not making sense. They still showed Tirdal to be several minutes, almost half an hour, ahead of Dagger. Dagger was about a half hour ahead of Ferret. So why hadn't Tirdal stopped to let Dagger catch up? They'd still have plenty of lead.

Of course, they didn't know how far ahead of Ferret they were. Dagger was likely playing for time, hoping Ferret's wounds would do him in.

Unless they planned to spread out and make Ferret choose, so they could envelope him. If so, it was even more important that he keep silent. He was the best tracker of the three.

He wished he knew what they were planning though. And that he had someone to talk to. And that it would stop hurting.

* * *

Tirdal left Dagger to fret. What was the human expression? “Stew in his own juices.” That was it. And it was doubly appropriate. This level of exertion caused tremendous metabolic stress and perspiration. From what he knew of human physiology and medical treatment, it had to be about as unpleasant for Dagger. Which was good. Dagger might handle the heat better, but Tirdal had greater stamina and resistance, he was sure. The worse things got here, the more advantageous it would be.

There was danger, he admitted. Dagger could track better, and had a weapon with much greater range. He also sounded completely insane at this point. Had he been already, and it was simply surfacing now? Had it been hidden by a social fa�ade? Or was it something latent, triggered by his impulsive actions? Did being alone emphasize human emotions? That was always true to some extent, but was it worse in this instance?

No time for that now, he thought.

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