Page 71 of Salvation
Chapter Twenty-two
Sakura gripped the back of Storo’s insulated coat. When the huge Anferthian had first suggested ‘slinging’ her, a vision of being hurdled through the air by a man three times her size had flashed through her mind. The reality was not nearly so terrifying. He had simply strapped her to his back with a sling, allowing her to ride piggy-back so her smaller stride would not slow them down. Of course, she had expected the ride to be bumpy, but Storo’s smooth, long-legged gait made for a surprisingly comfortable ride. Even through the snow.
This just went to show that she would do anything to not be left behind this time, including riding on someone else’s back like an infant. Maybe it was selfish, but the last time she had let Nick out of her sight, he had almost died.
Storo cantered to a stop and scented the air. “Your sister is near.”
“What about Kelly?” Nick asked, stopping next to them, panting. He met her gaze and raised his eyebrow. The unspoken question was clear, was she all right? She gave him a nod.
“I know not her scent,” Storo replied, “but there are several strangers about. The Profeta is the closest, I recommend we join her.”
Nick nodded. “Lead on.”
It took less than three minutes for Storo to find Alex crouched behind a large wall of grey rock. She didn’t seem surprised by their appearance, which probably meant they had been seen by Gryf and he had alerted her. Their telepathy did give them a decided advantage over Kelly’s group.
“They are in the gully arguing,” Alex whispered. “Everyone else is almost in position.”
Nick’s hand patted a gun-shaped lump in his coat pocket. “We only have onetelum, courtesy of the stooge who tried to kill me, and Storo’s barb bow.”
Sakura slid out of the sling and peeked around the rock. Alex was right; a group of people stood in the ravine below and they were definitely arguing about something. She moved back before anyone spotted her. “I do not think one’s going to be enough, Nick. There are at least twenty people down there.”
“We have two.” Alex held up anothertelum.
Nick’s eyebrows raised. “Of course. I should have known you’d have yourtelum.”
Alex’s sidelong look was full of mock-contempt. “Do you know who the hell I am?”
He rolled his eyes. “Whatever, Princess.”
Their comfortable banter even under these circumstances proved that the preceding years apart had not destroyed their relationship. A small twinge of regret tweaked Sakura’s heart. She would never have that relationship with her little brothers now, but it was good Nick had his sister. She gave his arm a light punch. “You two are talking more than a double patrol of Anferthians. Maybe you can talk up a plan to get those people down there in handcuffs.”
A wide grin split Nick’s face and a warm, fuzzy feeling invaded her core.
“There is a plan, actually,” Alex said. “I’m just waiting for the signal from Gryf.”
“Too bad you’ll never get it.”
Sakura’s heart jumped in her chest at the sound of an unfamiliar man’s voice from above. She squinted at the stranger standing at the crest of the rock wall. In his hands was a compact machine gun.
“Toss those alien contraptions out in the snow or I put a bullet in your Geisha doll’s head.”
Her mouth popped open. He did not just say that, did he?
Nick stood up slowly, his hands out to his side. That one movement placed him between her and the promised bullet.
“Do it now, Bock,” the man warned
“Which Bock?” Nick asked.
The man scowled. “Bothof you.”
In her peripheral vision, Sakura sensed a barely perceptible motion. Storo’s barb bow crept upward.
Nick glanced at Alex. “You’re the eldest. You first.”
“I don’t think so. You toss yours, then I’ll toss mine.”
Were they really arguing over who would toss their weapon away first?
