Intrepid

''We took them in, arranged places for them to work,'' the old woman went on. ''I didn't much like the story they told. Told Bobby Joe that times must be getting raw back inside the Rim, its violence was starting to leak out to us. Some folks listened and spent their spare time digging. Others, city slickers, figured they knew better. I hope they're enjoying the hobnailed boots on their backsides.'' At that, she spat. Was it just coincidence that it went Kris's way?

''You planning on staying down here until they leave?'' Gunny asked. He'd come up beside Kris after the talking started.

''You some kind of sergeant?'' the elder asked right back.

''I work for my living,'' Gunny admitted.

''Back in the war, I had some good commanders. Some bad ones, too. Some men. A few women. This one any good?'' the local man asked, nodding toward Kris.

''I've only been with her a couple of months, but I've seen her shoot her way into a few fights. Shoot her way out with most of her own right behind her. She's not half-bad.''

Kris tried to show no reaction to the low level of praise Gunny passed her way. But then, laying it on thick would hardly have impressed this crew.

''Not half-bad, you say. Kind of hard to believe that of a Longknife,'' the old man said.

''Ain't they usually all bad?'' the old woman beside him chipped in.

''That depends on what you want them for, ma'am,'' Gunny fired right back. ''I've seen her come to the aid of folks that sure needed it but had no claim for it. Hostages on a pirate ship once, a whole planet another time. I asked what you were planning to do down here. Sit them out?''

''I kind of hoped we could,'' the elder admitted.

''They brought a boatload of troops in on a ship that don't have much range. I'm no sailor, but the scuttlebutt among them was that nobody brings a short-legged boat to someplace they plan to strip clean. I think your bug infestation is not going away anytime soon. Me and my Marines, we're good at getting rid of unwanted bugs.

''This here woman,'' Gunny said, with a nod Kris's way, ''she knows her stuff. She's just who you want in a mess like this.''

The old fellow—Bobby Joe, hadn't the other woman called him—eyed Kris. ''I never thought I'd be glad to see a Longknife,'' he finally said.

''And I can't believe you're glad to see one now,'' Hilda said. She said not a word more, but gathered up her self and stormed out. There was a quiet in the dimly lit room for a long moment after her exit. Kris listened to the clomping of her booted feet slowly grow softer as she got more distant. No one said a word until her steps were lost in the dark.

''Her husband died on Hamdan II,'' Bobby Joe said softly. ''My sister never remarried. Never forgot or forgave.''

''I'm sorry,'' Kris said, wondering if some of those who died under her command would be remembered so long. So bitterly. Was it an unavoidable legacy of her career choice? If she ever had time, she'd have to think about it.

Bobby Joe shook himself, as if to break loose of a memory that would never let go. ''Tell me, young Longknife, what would you have us do? Grab our squirrel rifles and charge that bunch?''

Kris stifled a frown … and swallowed a question. What did my great-grampa do to you? Instead, she switched her face to the cold, steely battle one, and said, ''Let's see what Thorpe does. His ship should be coming over the horizon just about now.''

That got a raised eyebrow from Grampa Bobby Joe. And silence from the kibitzers sitting along the walls.

Gunny smiled. Like a tiger catching his first glimpse of his next meal.

18

Captain Thorpe waited a full ten seconds after the Golden Hind rose above the horizon of Presley's Pride's settled area. He considered himself the epitome of patience as he gave his subordinates that sufficiency to gather data and analyze it.

No, it wasn't much time, but we won't be in sight of that Longknife brat all that long.

Still, the moment the allotted seconds expired, he turned to them. ''What have you got?'' he said, honing his voice to smooth, supportive, but eager for the kill.

''Several things,'' the young sensor lieutenant said.

''Give me your best.''

''We hit something when we lased that lake. The steam coming off of it still shows signs of composites and heat shields.''

''Good, but I doubt Miss Longknife was planning on using them to withdraw.'' Then the full implications of the data hit Thorpe. ''She sank her ships! Damn, have you passed that along to Colonel Cortez?''

''Yes, sir,'' Weapons replied. ''He had a good laugh.''

Thorpe would enjoy a laugh, too, later, when Longknife was finally dead and they had time for drinks. ''Tell me more.''

''The most solid datum we have is this trail, leading south from that homestead we lased, sir.''

''Most solid, huh.'' Thorpe shook his head. ''Ignore it. She put it there to distract you.''