He’d been stuffing leaves into his converter as he walked, and eating the patties it put out. Sure, you could adjust them for flavor, but they lacked real texture and weren’t the highest protein food. In fact, the leaves hereabout were almost worthless. Vitamins typically were unique to a planet, he didn’t really need minerals except potassium for this short a time frame, and fat and protein came from roots and seeds. What he was eating was going to come out about the same way it went in, which would hurt like hell. Still, it kept the edge off the hunger, even if he was craving rat pack tuna with noodles.
Something came to him and he paused in thought. Something about the signs he followed was bugging him. Just to double check, he raised the tracker.
Oh, shit. He was still following Tirdal. Dagger, however, was not leaving any sign. Not ahead, anyway. So assume he’d peeled off to outflank one or the other. Icy adrenaline rippled through him yet again, though it didn’t jolt his tired body, simply made him flush.
He thought back for a few moments. He’d seen sign of Dagger recently. Say, five minutes ago. The sign had been about fifteen to twenty-five minutes old, as he’d been gaining during the dark, which was more evidence of his greater competence over them. Still, no Dagger at present. Dagger several minutes away.
That was potentially very good if Dagger was after Tirdal, and potentially deadly if Ferret was the target. Suddenly, he felt very exposed, and his neck and head tickled in fear. His scalp had gone itchy-numb from the helmet’s harness, and he’d been planning to take it off for a bit, but thought now he would wait. Not that the helmet would do a damned bit of good against a gauss bead, but it might slow down fragments or a very long-range shot. Or deflect a bead enough to keep him alive. Anyway, it made him feel less naked.
He decided it would be good to make contact again. He might as well let those two know he was still here. And there were a few answers he wanted. Or at least questions he would ask. The answers might not be forthcoming, but that would be useful, too. And he might find out why Dagger had pulled off.
“Tirdal,” he called.
It was only a moment before Tirdal replied, “Yes, Ferret?”
“I’m still following you, Tirdal,” he said.
“Of course you are,” was the response. “There’s not much else to do until we reach the pod’s extraction points, is there?”
“True enough,” he agreed. “Tirdal, you asked why I didn’t contact you when Dagger fragged everybody. I could ask you that same question, couldn’t I? Your silence then says a lot.”
“It says either I thought everyone was dead, or that I wanted to be alone and unbothered. You have to decide, of course, though it’s rather moot. None of us can trust the others.”
“And why should I, Tirdal?” he asked. “You took the box. Why do you have it?”
“I took it to keep it from Dagger,” Tirdal replied.
“Fair enough,” Ferret said. “But why do you still have it? You could hide it, and ambush Dagger if he came for it.”
“That would be silly,” Tirdal replied. “We all know I’m not skilled at tracking.”
“True,” Ferret said. “But Dagger seems to be following you just fine. So why not try the ambush? Or, since he can’t get off the planet without you, just leave him the damned box. He’d have to carry it as well, and you could just stalk him as he neared the ship.”
“I can’t take that risk, Ferret,” Tirdal replied. “I have to keep the artifact.”
“Why?”
“I have told you.”
“Those are pretty thin reasons. You’re inconveniencing yourself, and helping Dagger.” Ferret was arguing. Something was wrong here, and he didn’t know what it was. But the situation didn’t make sense.
“There are reasons I think are valid for this,” Tirdal said.
“Like what?” Ferret asked too quickly. He really wanted to know.
There was silence. “Yeah, I thought so,” Ferret continued. “You want that artifact as much as Dagger does. You’re both scum.”
“Ferret,” Tirdal replied, “I can’t convince you what I’m doing is for your own good.”
“ ‘For my own good.’ Sure. Humans are happiest as slaves, right?” he retorted.
Tirdal said, “I really am sorry, Ferret.” Then there was silence.
Well, if he wouldn’t talk, perhaps Dagger would. Ferret also knew something Dagger wanted kept secret.
“So, Dagger, was that dark night scary and creepy?”
“Ferret, you’re still alive. I told Tirdal he should circle back and bag you, but he’s too nice.”
“Oh, stuff it, Dagger. We all know you two are just avoiding each other. That’s why you’re attempting a flank.” That was a dangerous comment, though he didn’t specify who Dagger might be flanking. But if he was forced to reconsider it, he’d likely wait on Ferret and bag Tirdal first. At least Ferret hoped that was how it would play out.
Continuing, he said, “He wants that billion as bad as you do. In fact, I’m planning to help him kill you first, because he’s the easier one.”
Dagger replied, “So, you recognize me as a threat. That’s good, Ferret. I’ll make sure you get a nice, clean shot through the head. Will that make you feel any better?”
Ferret ignored the implication. “I’m coming for you, Dagger. You’re between me and Tirdal, so it’s tactically smart. And it’ll be fun, too. I never realized killing could be fun. Thanks for that.”
“Of course it’s fun, Ferret. That’s the point of it. Usually, they have no idea they’re about to die. You stare through the scope and watch them go straight to hell. It’s kicky. But sometimes, they know it’s coming, and they know when they’ve made a critical mistake. That’s going to be you. And I’m going to enjoy the expression on your face as I blow it to jelly.”
“You really need help, you know that, Dagger?” Ferret replied. Still, the threat had bothered him. He felt vulnerable again. Was Dagger watching him? No, not from that range in the trees. Still. He’d have to watch for Dagger to circle back and stalk him. The rules were changing in this new war.
Dagger laughed. “They picked the right man for each job. You’re the skulker and sneaker. I’m the killer. And the Darhel is just a number.”
“You haven’t managed to catch that number yet, pal. Looks like he’s making good time. Of course, he might just make it to the pod before we do, and leave us here. Hmm?”
There was a moment’s pause. Dagger apparently was reconsidering his position. “I don’t think so, Ferret. I know something you two don’t. He’s not leaving with the box.”
That had worked, Ferret realized. Dagger was more thoughtful and less reactive. Could he push him more? Perhaps. “You do realize I’ve been talking to him, Dagger?” he prodded. “And we both know what your intent is. We can sit down and talk, but first we have to kill you. Luckily, with you at an oblique, that won’t be hard when we reach the right spot. We’ll both have clear fields of fire, and good approaches.”
“Why wait, Ferret?” Dagger asked. “I’ll kill you as soon as I get a shot. So will Tirdal. Then we’ll settle things mano a Elf. But you won’t be around to see it.”
“Nice theory, Dagger. You could tell that to a shrink, if you were going to be alive to go home.” He closed the circuit. Dagger was a bit distressed, but so was he. He didn’t need to rile himself up in front of a soulless sociopath, even by audio.
Instead, he threw himself forward, forcing his feet to carry him. After so many hours of limping, he had it down. His ambling gait was at least as fast as a brisk stride. First he’d kill Dagger, then he’d kill that Darhel. If he couldn’t get out of this alive, he could certainly keep them from doing so.