Intrepid

The afternoon sun slanted into the cave, filtered by green leaves. To the left dangled the roots of a tree. Over all was the smell of fresh, clean dirt. Kris doubted the rifle standing against the wall had been fired even once.

The girl was getting a hug from her mother and, in an avalanche of words, reporting how she'd brought the princess just like she was told. The mother, an attractive woman in her late thirties, saw Kris's glance at the rifle and seemed to harden a bit. ''I haven't seen anything that I thought needed shooting at, not with the slugs that thing shoots.''

''I doubt if the armored infantry that came down that gully a while back would have noticed if you'd hit them.''

The woman brightened. ''My thinking exactly. But I'm going to be needing it real soon. Come see what's happening.''

Kris looked, and didn't see much. Across the narrow valley, say a thousand meters, was the ridge Gunny defended, but not all that much of it was visible through the tunnel opening.

''You need to stick your head out to see anything,'' the woman said, and did. No helmet, no armor, the mother didn't seem to realize she risked a stray bullet. Or maybe she did.

Kris tapped the woman on the shoulder, pulled her back in, and took her place. The tree and bushes provided some cover but little protection. And if anyone got serious about shooting up this little grove, even that would be gone in one heavy volley.

Off to Kris's right, Gunny and his platoon were dug in near the crest of the next hill. The grove of trees they were behind now stood bare, denuded of leaves and most branches.

In the valley, another orchard provided some protection to the survivors of Cortez's heavy infantry probe. No fire came from them; they seemed pretty suppressed.

Kris turned and looked up the valley.

And felt a sudden chill.

A good two klicks out, a loose column of soldiers moved in single file. These were the white-smocked ones; even their hats were white. Not good camouflage. Their outfits must mean something really important to them. Kris corralled her brain and concentrated. Some troops were already slogging their way up the next ridge, so their objective might be farther over.

Or maybe not. If they were going to sweep this valley, they'd want to stretch from here to there, wouldn't they?

Kris turned back to Gunny's disposition. Then stuck her head out a bit more and looked at what she could see of whatever defense this ridge offered.

The word ''broadside'' came to mind. Sailing ships with all their guns pointed to the left or right. Starboard or port, wasn't it? If you got across their bow …

Kris shook her head and ducked back in. ''Is this the farthest-out OP we've got?'' she asked the woman.

She nodded silently.

Kris stuck her head out again. Gunny had been adding to his position, digging more zigzags down from the crest position. He'd be able to bring guns from those to bear up the valley, but he'd be taking fire from the orchard … assuming those people had any fire left in them.

That was not a bet Kris would take.

Blast it. Drago might well have Thorpe driven out of the sky in another hour, hour and a half. What were the odds this attack would still be developing come Drago's next pass?

Kris risked another look up valley.

The lead troopers had reached the top of the next ridge. They stopped there.

The whole line came to a halt.

Down in the valley, someone not in the line, so likely an officer, stepped forward. Binoculars came up. Yep, an officer.

Kris pulled out her own glasses and studied the man.

Armor. Good armor. Only weapon was a pistol that he wore at his belt. Old-fashioned. Maybe.

He looked right at her. The two of them studied each other for a long moment. Was she looking at Colonel Cortez?

If she was, she was looking at a man drawing up his last reserves for a final throw of the dice.

What was he after?

Kris hardly had to ask. The answer was all around her. This observation post was also an entrance to her subterranean defenses. Colonel Cortez stood a good two kilometers farther up the valley. Scattered riflemen had advanced to about two, three hundred meters from where Kris stood. Gunny and his platoon were a good four hundred meters farther down the valley.

Could his riflemen keep those light infantry out of her mountain? Did Gunny know he needed to?

Kris ducked back inside, took the rifle from where it leaned against the wall, and handed it to the woman. ''You are standing on the most valuable piece of real estate on this planet.''

''I kind of thought so.''

''I'm going to get you reinforcements. Until they get here, you have got to keep all comers out of this place.''

''I know.''

''Can I take your daughter?''

''Please. She knows caves. I've never seen her get lost.''

''I'm counting on her to get me back to the main caves, then to get reinforcements up to replace you. You hear me? As soon as the Marines get here, you get out.''

''I'll be back and running.''

''Momma, are you going to be all right?''