The enthusiasm flowed across to Viki. Alequere and the other cobblie—Birbop?—were as nice as Rhapsa and Little Hrunk, but they weredifferent, too. Now finally they might know lots of other children. For Viki it was like opening a window, and seeing all the sunlight's colors.
They walked slowly down the videomancy hall, Gokna and Trenchet Suabisme discussing various possibilities. Gokna was all for having the house on the hill turned into a meeting place for oophase families. Somehow, Viki suspected that would not fly with either Dad or the General, though for different reasons. But overall...something could be worked out; it made strategic sense. Viki followed the others, not paying much attention. She was having a very interesting time jiggling little Alequere. Playing with the cobblie was far more fun than seeing the snow could have been.
Then behind all the chatting, she heard the distant ticking of many feet on marble. Four people? Five? They'd be coming through the same doorway that Viki had, just a few minutes before. Whoever it was would have an interesting surprise—the sight of six oophases, from babies to near-adults.
Four of the newcomers were current-generation adults, big as any of Mother's security people. They didn't pause or even act surprised when they saw all the children. Their clothes were the same nondescript commercial jackets that Viki was used to back in the house on the hill. The leader was a sharp, last-generation cobber with the look of a senior noncom. Viki should have felt relief; these must be the people Brent had seen following them. But she didn't recognize them—
The leader held them all in her gaze, then gestured familiarly at Trenchet Suabisme. "We can take it from here. General Smith wants all the children back inside the security perimeter."
"W-what? I don't understand?" Suabisme lifted her hands in confusion.
The five strangers walked steadily forward, the leader nodding pleasantly. But her explanations were nonsense: "Two guards just aren't enough for all the children. After you left, we got a tip there might be problems." Two of the security types stepped smoothly between the children and the Suabisme adults. Viki felt herself pushed un-gently toward Jirlib and Gokna. Mother's people had never behaved like this. "Sorry, this is an emergency—"
Several things happened at once, totally confused and nonsensical. Both Trenchet and Alendon were shouting, panic mixed with anger. The two biggest strangers were pushing them back from the children. One was reaching into his pannier.
"Hey, we've missed one!"Brent.
Very high up, something was moving. The videomancy exhibit consisted of towering racks of display tubes. With inexorable grace, the nearest came toppling down, its pictures flickering out in showers of sparks and the sound of crumpling metal. She had a glimpse of Brent sailing off the top, just ahead of the destruction.
The floor smashed up at her when the display rack hit. Everywhere was the bang of imploding video tubes, the buzz of uncontrolled high voltage. The rack had come down between her and the Suabismes—and right on top of two of the strangers. She had a glimpse of colored blood oozing across the marble. Two motionless forehands extended from under the rack; just beyond their grasp lay a snub-barreled shotgun.
Then time resumed. Viki was grabbed roughly round her midsection and hauled away from the wreckage. On the other side of her abductor, she could hear Gokna and Jirlib shouting. There was a dull crunch. Gokna shrieked and Jirlib went silent.
"Teamleader, what about—"
"Never mind! We bagged all six. Move it. Move it!"
As she was carried from the hall, Viki got one glance back. But the strangers were leaving their two dead pals—and she couldn't see beyond the fallen rack to where the Suabismes would be.
TWENTY-NINE
It was an afternoon that Hrunkner Unnerby would never forget. In all the years he had known Victory Smith, it was the first time he'd seen her come close to losing control. Just past noon the frantic call came over the microwave communications link, Sherkaner Underhill breaking through all military priorities with word of the kidnappings. General Smith dumped Sherkaner from the line and pulled her staff into emergency session. Suddenly Hrunkner Unnerby went from being a projects director to something like...like a sergeant. Hrunkner got her tri-prop on the flight line. He and lower staff checked background security. He wasn't going to let his General take chances. Emergencies like this were just the things that enemies like to create, and when you're thinking that nothing matters but that emergency,then they strike at their true targets.
