"Probably more than you," she said. She walked beside him, but several steps away, as if repelled by him.
"If you know more than I do, I'd appreciate the information," he said.
"We've got plenty of time. Let me get used to the situation, will you? When he had me read up on
Tran, he didn't tell me it was because he was leaving me here."
"When did he tell you-"
"That he was ditching me? About five minutes ago."
"That was-" He tried to think of something to say, but couldn't.
"A rotten thing to do?" she asked. "Sure was. You see, I thought I was in love with him." She walked on for a few steps. "Do I sound like you?" she asked.
"How?"
"Scared and trying to be calm about it when what you really want to do is run in circles flapping your arms."
"Do I sound that way?" Rick asked.
"Yes."
"I guess I do," he said.
Parsons had assembled the troops on the hilltop. He seemed as surprised to see Rick as he was to see Gwen. "I thought they'd taken you on to wherever the saucer was going," Parsons said.
Rick didn't like the edge to Parsons's voice. He didn't much care for the way Parsons held the M-16 rifle, either. "They didn't," he said. "I guess he wanted an escort for Miss Tremaine." Rick explained who she was.
"I see. And now what do we do?"
"There are about a thousand things to do," Rick said. "When there's more light, we can go down to that village. The first thing is to start learning the local language. And figure out which side to take in that war we saw. Then-"
"There's one thing a bit more urgent," Parsons said.
"What's that?"
"I think it time we restructure the command," he said. The rifle swung around until it almost pointed at Rick.
"What the hell do you mean?"
"You are not an experienced officer," Parsons said. "An ROTC boy, with almost no combat experience. Under the circumstances, do you really feel qualified to lead?"
"As qualified as you-"
"No. This is my career. For you it was an accident," Parsons said.
"So you're taking over."
"Yes." Parsons shrugged. "If you like, I'll fight you for it."
"Isn't that a little barbaric?" Rick demanded.
Parsons smiled broadly. "Of course. We are on a barbarous planet. In fact, that is one major objection to you, Rick. You are unlikely to have the proper instincts for survival here. I have long noticed a regrettable tendency toward softheartedness in you. That was bad enough in Africa, Here it is likely to be fatal."
A circle of men had gathered around them. Rick looked at them. "Elliot-"
"Cap'n, I'm truly sorry. I thought about this a lot when Mr. Parsons first brought it up, back aboard ship. He's right. You just don't have the experience."
And he sounds really sorry about it, Rick thought. And probably is. One thing was certain. If Elliot and the NCOs accepted Parsons's takeover, there was nothing Rick could do about it. At best he'd cripple the command. They were all staring at him.
He had to say something, and quickly, before Parsons decided to shoot and be done with it. "Maybe you're right. Andrй, you do have more experience than me. All right, you command." As he said it, he felt a wave of relief. Someone else could do the worrying.
"Glad you understand," Parsons said. "Sergeant Elliot, get our perimeter defense set up."
"Sir.''
"And the rest of you clear out," Parsons said. He waited until the other troops were gone. "Rick, there is another problem. Surely you can understand that you can't stay with us."
"Why not?"
"You were in command. Some of the men would look to you every time I gave an order. It wouldn't work," Parsons said. His voice was low and urgent, almost pleading. "I ought to shoot you out of hand," he said. "That would be the intelligent thing to do."
"Bull crap. The troops wouldn't stand for it," Rick said.
"You see?" Parsons said. "Some of them do admire you. And there can be only one commander."
"So you're sending me off alone."
Parsons shrugged. "What else can I do? Look, I don't want to kill you. You can take your personal weapons-"
"Damn generous of you," Rick said.
"It is generous, and you know it. Also dangerous for me. Fair warning, Rick. I offered to fight you for the command. You refused, which was intelligent. But the next time I see you, I'll assume you've changed your mind. And I'll kill you, Rick. Make no mistake about that."
"You mean that, don't you, Andrй?"
"Yes." He used his foot to indicate a backpack lying near them. "I've made you up a kit. A rifle. Two hundred rounds, which is more than your share of the ammunition. First-aid packet. A week's rations. You may keep your binoculars. You have your pistol, and I've included a box of cartridges for it. I haven't been ungenerous-"
"Damn you-"
"Please," Parsons protested. "Do not make me regret my generosity." He pointed. "The road is that way. Do not go toward the castle. Go east."
"I'm going with him." Gwen's voice was tightly controlled.
Parsons looked startled. Like Rick, he had forgotten that she was listening to them. "Surely you do not mean that," Parsons said.
"Surely I do," she said. She shook her head. "You're crazy. I've listened to both of you for weeks. Between the two of you, I'll take Galloway."
"Why?" Parsons asked.
"I just will. Or do you intend to keep me here?" Parsons frowned deeply. "No, I suppose not. Very well. But get moving. I have a lot to do."
"You certainly do," Gwen said. Her voice was sugary sweet. "And you're less likely to manage it than you think. Let's go, Captain Galloway."
Lower down, near the road, there were trees. They looked like gnarled evergreens, but the leaves were too broad, and like the chaparral they had a strange odor. Rick moved into the trees before he spoke.
"Are you out of your mind?" he asked.
"No." The girl's voice was strong, almost too loud.
"You didn't even act surprised…"
"I wasn't. I told you, I've been listening to both of you for weeks. Before we went up the hill I knew what was going to happen."
"You might have warned me-"
"To what purpose?" she asked. "There wasn't anything you could have done about it. He'd have beaten you in a fair fight, and you wouldn't shoot him without warning. Would you?"
"No. I guess not. So you knew they were going to mutiny. Did the pilot?"
"Yes. He predicted that you'd go your way and they'd go theirs."
"And you decided to come with me. Why?- careful, it's slippery here-" He put out his hand.
She moved away from him. "Let's get something straight," she said. "I've had one lover boy, and I don't need another."
"I wasn't-"
"No, I guess you weren't," she said. "But I did want to make it clear. And maybe that will give you some idea of why you. I get the impression that you're a little more human than some of those animals back there."
"They're not animals, they're soldiers. Pretty good ones. Gwen, this is silly. If you're scared of getting raped, you'd better stay with Parsons. Not that I'm going to leap at you, but I'm not likely to live very long."
"Neither are they."
"What the hell do you mean by that?" Rick demanded.