The Amtrack Wars - Earth Thunder Part 64

'These guys are on our side."

Fran gave him a look that was pure venom. 'When I need your input, I'll ask for it, Captain! I'm the head of this delegation!" She turned back to Skull-Face. 'I'll ask you once again, Major- what is going on?"

Fujiwara remained cool and inscrutable. 'The Shogun is dead - killed by his sister, the Lady Mishiko. Four hours after the crazed b.i.t.c.h put paid to our master."

'ieyasu? The Lord Chamberlain?! Jeeezuss! Both of 'em?" Steve turned to Fram She looked as stunned as he was. When Roz had come through on their private line, she had not revealed why she and Cadillac were in the Palace. Now he knew. Unbelievable ....

'The Major wasn't kidding when he said the s.h.i.t had hit the fan. This could split Ne-Issan right down the middle!" Fran gave Steve another withering look. 'Even I can see that. But why were we arrested?"

'Because it was the Lord Chamberlain who arranged for you to come here.

Everything was going according to plan until tonight when, without warning, Lady Mishiko- who had only recently arrived from the mainland - exposed my master's secret use of your communication devices. I cannot say how because none of us were there, but it must have been arranged with the help of our enemies. She was too stupid to have done it by herself. Lord Ieyasu knew the risks and -' He spread his hands.

'- has paid the price."

'And the Shogun ordered the arrest of everyone who owed their position to him,' concluded Fran.

Fujiwara bowed politely. 'Precisely."

Steve frowned. 'Yehh, but. if the Shogun is dead, why are people still being arrested?"

'The news has not yet been made public." Skull-Face extended a hand towards them. 'That is why we must hurry. We must reach the mainland before the island is sealed."

Fran didn't move. 'One last question, Major. Why are you doing this?

Why not just dump us and save your own necks?"

Fujiwara responded with a thin smile. 'Because, Commander, I and my colleagues here have just lost our employer and all prospect of a comfortable retirement."

Fran smiled. 'You're speaking my language, Major.

Get us home in one piece and you can write your own ticket."

'That's what we're counting on,' said Fujiwara. 'May we now proceed?"

'Sure. Let's go!'

What this arrogant b.i.t.c.h needs, thought Steve, is to have her tongue stapled to the roof of her mouth ....

Still smarting from the public put-downs, he beamed hate into Fran's back as Skull-Face ushered her towards the far corner of the room where his four colleagues were now gathered. A couple of them had flat iron bars inserted between two of the large flagstones. There were two clicks as the bars triggered concealed locks then a brief grinding noise as the cornerstone pivoted upwards against the rear wall of its own accord, revealing a narrow flight of stone steps.

Taking the lantern from one of his subordinates, Skull-Face led the way down into a small chamber with a tunnel leading off it. He paused for a moment while the counter-balanced cornerstone was pulled down and locked in place, then hurried forward with Steve, Fran and the soldiers following in single file.

Cadillac lifted up the lantern as he reached the four-way junction and saw the sc.r.a.pe-mark on the wall of the narrow tunnel running off to the right. He sank down on his heels with a sigh and looked up at Roz. 'I hate to tell you this, but I think we're lo st. I made that mark about half-an-hour ago."

He fished out the crude sketch map furnished by Lady Mishiko and tried to figure out where they'd gone wrong.

Roz sat down with her back to the opposite side of the tunnel and perched the lamp on top of her knees so that he could bring the map close to the dimming light.

'There's something I've been meaning to tell you as well."

Cadillac didn't look up. 'And what's that?"

'Steve's here - in the Palace."

Cadillac marked their estimated position with a fore finger and slowly raised his eyes to meet hers. 'He was

one of the envoys...?"

Roz braced herself for the inevitable blast. 'Yes. He was sent here with a member of the First Family to set up some kind of a deal for the Federation."

'And got himself arrested!'

Roz ignored the resigned sarcasm. 'You heard the

Shogun give the order."

Cadillac digested the full implications. 'And now I suppose you want me to rescue him ' Roz gave her voice a cutting edge. 'How strange.

I had the impression this was a joint enterprise. And now, at the mention of Steve's name, it's suddenly become a personal burden."

'You know what I mean!" 'Yes!

And I heard what you said! You're a wordsmith-aren't they supposed to know how to express themselves properly? I' 'And we're partners!"

cried Cadillac. 'Aren't they supposed to share everything- like secrets for example? I How long have you known he was going to come and screw everything up? From when we talked about him in the post-house? Or have you been stealing in and out of each other's minds since we left the wagon-train?!" 'No!" hissed Roz.

'It wasn't till we got here! And he's not s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g everything up!

What happened to the idea of grabbing the envoys and swapping them for Clearwater and her baby?

Remember how excited you were about that?"

."Roz, c'mon-be realistic.

The Federation are not going to exchange Clearwater for Brickman. What do they need him for?"

Forget Steve!

I'm talking about the woman he's with! She's someone close to the President-General! The feeling I got was of a very strong attachment."

'So what are you suggesting - that we free both, take her with us, and send Brickman back to break the good news?"

'Yes!" Cadillac's eyes narrowed as he thought it through. 'He's going to love that. When the Family find out you helped to capture her, they'll blow him out of the water!" 'True but he's not going to tell them. If we can keep my involvement here a secret, Steve will be in the clear."

'Yes, of course." Cadillac nodded admiringly. 'Not bad." 'Not bad?

C'mon, Caddy, it's brilliant! All he has to do is explain how he lost her, then tell them they can have her back in exchange for Clearwater and her baby."