Page 28 of Tracking the Alpha
“Interesting.”
“Interesting how?”
“Why would he bother masking the odor of his soldiers unless he worried about you finding out actual numbers? It makes me think he might be running that place with a skeleton crew.”
“No way. Davidson’s got the prime minister herself bankrolling his project and access to all the resources he wants or needs.”
“So he claims. Let’s say the PM is aware of his actions, even condones them, it doesn’t mean she can just pull troops to give Davidson without justification. What the general is doing, medical experiments on people, is illegal. As in, the whole world would condemn Canada. It’s drag-our-government-to-trial kind of illegal. Seems more likely they’d be trying to use as few people as possible to avoid an accidental leak.”
“I don’t know…” He didn’t hide his skepticism. “Davidson didn’t have a problem sending soldiers to die trying to capture me. He wouldn’t do that if he had a limited number.”
“According to you, he sent troops at first but then switched to civilians.”
“Because his soldiers weren’t able to track me, so he hired pros.”
“Conscripted,” she corrected. “I have to wonder if the hunters he nabbed were considered expendable, as in, no one would care if they didn’t come back. Look at me, for example. Only one left of my line since my family is dead. My tribe chief wouldn’t give a hoot if I came back or not, especially if the general threw some cash his way.”
“What you’re saying makes sense,” he mulled aloud. “But I’m not sure how we can test your theory that he’s got only a few soldiers to guard the place. Even if I get close enough, I can’t smell shit because of what he’s done.”
“There is another option. I count them.”
“You’re going to spy on the facility? Pretty sure the sentries will notice you.” He pointed out the flaw.
“Why would I skulk outdoors when I can get inside?”
“What?” He couldn’t stop the exclamation. “You can’t go in there. Have you not listened to anything I’ve said? Davidson will kill you.”
“Only once he thinks I’ve failed. Keep in mind, the general has no idea we’ve met and I know what’s going on. Technically, I can show up and say I need to refill my food rations. Add in a bit of grumbling about how you’re the trickiest wolf I’ve ever met and he’ll never suspect.”
“I don’t know. Davidson is an asshole, but he’s also pretty astute.”
“You got a better idea?”
While it pained him to admit, he muttered, “No.”
“Then, it’s settled. Tomorrow, I’m going to return to the facility and give a report.”
“AKA, tell Davidson you failed, which he might take badly.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Out of curiosity, how long did those other hunters last in the woods?”’
“Two days max.”
“Meaning I’m already doing better than all of them. Surely the general will be impressed that you’ve not managed to eat me like you ate the others.”
He winced. “I didn’t eat them. It was self-defense.”
“Self-defense implies they managed to find you.”
“Okay, so maybe I went after them. Your point being?”
“My point is, unlike them, I’ve survived, so why would the general get rid of me when I’ve already done better than the rest?”
“You’ll still be returning empty-handed.”
“True, but having now encountered you, I can advise the general of a new plan of action.”
“The plan being?”
