Dragon and Herdsman

But no. Neverlin's allies had had plenty of opportunity at Brum-a-drum to record the Essenay's description and parameters. They knew they had the right ship.

And that voice wasn't showing a single scrap of doubt. Lying about it would just be a waste of effort. "Uncle's not here at the moment," Jack said instead. "Can I take a message?"

"Ah," the voice said. "So you're the boy who's been causing my friend Mr. Neverlin such trouble."

"Mr. Neverlin hasn't exactly been giving me a free ride, either," Jack countered. "And you are . . .?"

"Colonel Maximus Frost of the Malison Rang," the voice said. "And I'm very much looking forward to meeting you."

CHAPTER 7

The comm clip went silent. Jack found himself staring down at nothing, his throat tight, his stomach twisting into a knot of fear and anger.

It couldn't be. How could the mercenaries possibly have tracked the Essenay across the Orion Arm to this fifth-rate planet? How could they possibly have known where to find him and Alison?

Alison.

Alison, who'd been so conveniently on the scene to spring him from their trap. Alison, who'd noted and even commented on the Essenay's InterWorld transmitter.

Alison, who'd talked him into coming to this nice little out-of-the-way system in the first place. A place where he and Draycos and the Essenay could quietly disappear.

Jack turned to look at her, expecting to see her Corvine pistol leveled at his stomach, a triumphant smile on her face.

But the gun wasn't pointed at him. And her face was as taut and horrified as he'd ever seen it. "Alison?" he asked carefully.

She twitched; and as if a mask had suddenly dropped into place, the fear vanished from her expression. "I think we've got trouble," she said.

"No kidding," Jack growled, scrambling to his feet. Dodging between and around the strolling Erassvas, he sprinted back down the path to the edge of the forest.

It was as bad as he'd expected. In the distance over the mountains he could see the Essenay swooping and dodging through groups of wispy clouds. The two Djinn-90s were right on its tail, their lasers flashing as they tried to bring it down. "Uncle Virge?" he called. "How are you doing?"

"I'm open to suggestions," the computer's voice came back.

"Try a mirm preah maneuver," Draycos said, his head rising from Jack's skin and pressing against his shirt as the dragon gazed out at the distant battle. "Break to your right. . . now."

The Essenay twisted sideways, dipping lower toward the mountains below. The two pursuit fighters shifted course to stay on it, and then suddenly the Essenay's nose dropped and the ship dived straight down.

Jack caught his breath. But even as the Djinn-90s dived after him, Uncle Virge brought the nose sharply up again and spun the ship nearly a hundred eighty degrees around to point straight back at his attackers.

They reacted instantly, wrenching away to either side to avoid ramming at full speed into the larger ship. But for one of them it was too late. A double burst from the Essenay's meteor-defense lasers caught it squarely in the nose as it maneuvered, shattering it into a ball of flame. The other fighter was luckier, managing to dodge away from the short-range missile Uncle Virge fired at it. The Essenay's lasers flashed at it as it fled, but before they could get a good target-lock the Djinn-90 vanished out of sight behind one of the mountain peaks.

"One down," Uncle Virge said as the Essenay's path curved around toward the forest. "Let's see if I can get back there and pick you up before he comes around the other side."

"We're ready," Jack said. There was the rustling of bushes behind him, and he glanced over his shoulder to see Alison jog into view. "Make it fast."

But Uncle Virge didn't make it fast. In fact, he didn't make it at all.

It happened all at once, with perfect timing and coordination. From high in the sky the Kapstan transport Uncle Virge had mentioned earlier suddenly dropped into view through the clouds, the sun glinting off its stubby wings, its belly weapons raining laser and particle-beam fire down on the Essenay At the same time, the remaining Djinn-90 reappeared from behind the mountains, zigzagging through the peaks as it charged toward the Essenay's right flank.

Two armed ships. . . and the Essenay was caught between them.

Jack clenched his hands into fists, vaguely aware of Draycos's claws tightening reflexively against his skin. Uncle Virge was trapped like a rat in a cage. If he didn't surrender, and fast, the two attackers would cut the ship in half.

"The Saga of Fristra," Draycos said suddenly, his head melting back onto Jack's skin. "Min kly, then the Saga of Fristra."

Jack blinked. "What—?"

"Jack?" Alison demanded as she came up beside him. She peered up at the mountains, shading her eyes with her hand. "Uh-oh."

"Min kly, then Fristra," Uncle Virge acknowledged, his voice tight. "See you, Jack lad."