113 ::: Streaker
“Now!” she said.
The pilot needed no urging. He had already been adding momentum. Now he applied full power. Streakers engines roared and she left the atmosphere on a crackling trail of ionization. The acceleration could be felt even through stasis, even inside the fluid-filled bridge.
The gray sea disappeared under a white blanket of clouds. The horizon became a curve, then an arc. Streaker fell outward into an ocean of stars.
“They’re following us. The skirmishers from up north.”
“How many?”
“About twenty.” Tsh’t listened to her neural link for a moment. “They’re strung out. Except for a fairly big group at the rear, hardly any two of them seem to be of the same race. I hear shooting. They’re fighting each other even as they chase us.”
“How many in that final bunch?”
“Um ... ssssix, I think.”
“Well, let’s see what we can do when we stretch our legs.” The planet fell behind them as Lucky Kaa sent Streaker accelerating in the direction Gillian had chosen.
Beyond Kithrup’s horizon, a great battle had begun. Her path kept her hidden by the planet’s bulk for several minutes. Then they came into view of the conflagration.
A million kilometers away, space was filled with bright explosions and hackle-raising shrieks that feebly penetrated the psi-screens.
Tsh’t commented. “The big boys are fighting over Takkata-Jim. We might even make it out of the system before the major fleets could catch up with usss.”
Gillian nodded. Toshio’s sacrifice had not been in vain.
“Then our problem is these little guys on our tail. Somehow we’ve got to shake them off. Maybe we can do a dodge behind the gas giant planet. How long until we can get to it?”
“It’s hard to judge, Gillian. Maybe an hour. We can’t use overdrive in system, and we’re carrying a lot of excess mass.”
Tsh’t listened to her link, concentrating. “The ones on our tail have mostly stopped beating on each other. They may be damaged, but I think at least two of the lead ships will catch up with us about the time we reach the gasss giant.”
Gillian looked at the holo tank. Kithrup had shrunk into a tiny ball in one corner, a sparkle of battle beyond it. On this side a chain of small dots showed Streaker’s pursuers.
In the forward tank a shining pastel-striped globe began to grow. A huge world of frigid gas, looking much like Jupiter, swelled slowly but perceptibly.
Gillian pursed her lips and whistled softly. “Well, if we can’t outrun them I guess we’ll have to try an ambush.”
Tsh’t stared at her. “Gillian, those are battleships! We’re only an overweight Snark-class survey ship!”
Gillian grinned. “This snark has become a boojum, girl. The Thennanin shell will do more than just slow us down. And we may be able to try something they’ll never expect.”
She didn’t mention that, given a chance, she wanted to hang around this system a while, in case of a miracle.
“Have all loose objects been secured?”
“Sstandard procedure. It’s been done.”
“Good. Please order all crew out of the central bay. They’re to strap themselves in wherever they can.”
Tsh’t gave the order, then turned back with a questioning look.
Gillian explained. “We’re slow because we’re overweight, right? They’ll be shooting at us before we reach the cover of the gas giant, let alone overdrive range. Tell me, Tsh’t, what’s making us overweight?”
“The Thennanin shell!”
“And? What else?”
Tsh’t looked puzzled.
Gillian hinted with a riddle.
Living touch
The substance of motion—
Like air, forgotten
Until it’s gone! *
Tsh’t stared blankly. Then she got it. Her eyes widened. “Pretty tricky, yesss. It just might work, at that. Still, I’m glad you told me. The crew are going to want to wear the right apparel.”
Gillian tried to snap her fingers in the water, and failed. “Spacesuits! You’re right! Tsh’t, what would I do without you!”