Page 11 of Freedom Fighters
“They can hack into highly secure university exam servers these days. You think that was a private message?”
Carmen could feel her anger stirring and put the laptop down and turned to glare at Garrett, ready to drop on him from a great height. He was treating her as if she was stupid again and she didn’t likeit.
The cellphone buzzed in her hand and she stared at it, puzzled.
“Give it to me,” Garrett said, holding out his hand. “You don’t sound anything like Hernandez.”
She looked at the caller ID. It was a handful of symbols and unpronounceable.
Garrett took it from her and answered it. “Hernandez,” he said shortly.
Carmen could hear the voice at the other end. The sound was crystal clear. “Thisis Mr. Intensity. My brother is a big opera fan. You two should meet.”
“That sounds good,” Garrett said. “Tell your brother to bring his records.”
“I’ll get back to you.”
The call disconnected.
Garrett looked thoughtful as he handed the phone back to Carmen.
“Would you like to explain all the opera references?” Carmen asked.
“Later,” he told her and walked away.
Carmen watched him leave,her anger stirring yet again. He might have at least thanked her for putting them in touch with the Loyalist army, yet it seemed even that simple kindness was beyond him.
Asshole.
* * * * *
Calli rarely intruded upon the army’s setup on the beach. Most of them slept under open canvas, while a few lucky ones shared roughly built billets.
There were caves in the cliffs that could have housedeven more. Duardo had vetoed the idea because to be caught in a place with only one exit was a bad idea. The stretched canvases were the next best idea.
The poor conditions would not be helping with morale. Yet as Calli walked along the pathways marked with rocks, between billets and tents toward the big white tent in the middle of the group, she noted that discipline was not slipping. Everyonewas washed and shaved. Their uniforms were neat and clean. Belongings under the awnings were stowed away properly.
She wondered if theft was an issue, although if it was, it was the army’s problem. She had too many problems of her own to worry about something outside her control.
There were guards on either side of the big tent’s opening. They both straightened to attention as she approachedbut didn’t salute. Calli was still getting used to the army acknowledgement of her position. “Thank you,” she murmured as she ducked under the flap and stepped inside.
They had laid wooden flooring down inside the tent, although beach sand scattered across the surface. A big table sat at the end of the tent and battered second-hand filing cabinets lined the short walls. A junior officer flippedthrough files in one of the drawers.
Four officers stood around the table. General Flores sat on the only chair in the tent, staring down at something on the table. So were the officers. One of them was Duardo.
“Excuse me, General Flores,” Calli said.
They all turned to her and Flores jumped to his feet. “Señora Calli,” he acknowledged.
“I’m sorry to interrupt. A message came from Pascuallitathat Téra cannot decode. I was wondering if I might borrow Colonel Peña for a moment, as he might be able to.”
Duardo pointed to the table. “We already have. Come and see.”
Calli stepped up to the edge of the table and bent to study the sheet of paper Flores had been staring at.
“Do not read it aloud, or speak aloud about what it says,” Duardo warned. “These walls are far too thin.”
She glancedat him, startled, then bent to read the sheet.
