"We got a lot from the two civilians, General: the story these fellows used when they walked in, some turns of phrase after things blew up...The kidnappers didn't intend to leave any witnesses. The Suabismes are the luckiest people in Princeton tonight, even if they don't see it that way. The two that your son killed were pushing the Suabismes away from the children. One of them had unholstered an automatic shotgun, and all its safeties were off. Colonel Underville figures the original mission was to grab all your children and leave no witnesses. In fact, dead civilians and lots of blood was fine with their scenario, since it would all be blamed on our trad factions."
"In that case, why not leave a couple of dead children, too? That would also have made the getaway easier." Victory's question was calm, but it had a distanced quality about it.
"We don't know, ma'am. But Colonel Underville thinks they're still in-country, maybe even in Princeton."
"Oh?" Skepticism seemed to war with hope. "I know Belga clamped down awfully fast—and the other side had its problems, too. Okay. This will be your first big in-country operation, Rachner, but I want it done arm-in-arm with Domestic Intelligence. And you'll have to involve the city and commercial police." The classic anonymity of Accord Intelligence was going to get badly bent in the next few days. "Try to be nice to the city and commercial people. We don't have a state of war. They can cause the Crown a world of trouble."
"Yes, ma'am. Colonel Underville and I are running patrols with the city police. When the phones are set up, we'll have some kind of joint command post with them here at Hill House."
"Very good....I think you were ahead of me all the time, Rachner."
Thract gave a little smile as he came to his feet. "We'll get your cobblies back, Chief."
Smith started to reply, then noticed two small heads peeping around the doorjamb. "I know you will, Rachner. Thank you."
Thract stepped back from the table, and a brief stillness spread through the room. The two youngest of Underhill's children—maybe all who were left alive—walked shyly into the room, followed by the head of their guard team and three troopers. Captain Downing carried a furled umbrella, but it was clear that Rhapsa and Little Hrunk had not taken advantage of it. Their jackets were soaked and drops of rain stood on their glassy black chitin.
Victory had no smile for the children. Her gaze took in their soaked clothes and the umbrella. "Were you running around?"
Rhapsa answered, more subdued than Hrunkner had ever heard the little hellion. "No, Mother. We were with Daddy, but now he is busy. We stayed right by Captain Downing, between him and the others... ." She stopped, tilted her head shyly at her guard.
The young captain snapped to attention, but he had the terrible look of a soldier who has just seen combat and defeat. "Sorry, ma'am. I decided not to use the umbrella. I wanted to be able to see in all directions."
"Quite right, Daram. And...it's right that you brought them here." She stopped, just staring at her children for a quiet second. Rhapsa and Little Hrunk were motionless, staring back. Then, as if some central switch had been tripped, the two swarmed across the room, their voices raised in a wordless keen. For a moment they were all arms and legs, scrambling up Smith, hugging her like a father. Now that the dam of their reserve was broken, their crying was loud—and the questions, too. Was there any news about Gokna and Viki and Jirlib and Brent? What would happen now? And they didn't want to be by themselves.
After a few moments things settled down. Smith tilted her head at the children, and Unnerby wondered what was going through her mind. She still had two children. Whatever the bad luck or incompetence of this day, it was two other young children who were stolen instead of these. She raised a hand in Unnerby's direction. "Hrunkner. I have a request. Find the Suabismes. Ask them...offer them my hospitality. If they would like to wait this out here at Hill House...I would be honored."
They were high up, in some kind of vertical ventilator shaft.
"No, it's not a ventilator shaft!" said Gokna. "Real ones have all sorts of extra piping and utility cabling."
