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〃Bunny didn't invite him；〃 Cecelia said smugly。 She had the authorization codes for Bunny's personal guestlist database； and had run them on the deskp。 〃Never has； according to this。 Let's see。。。 no； nor any of Bunny's relatives。 He's another crasher。〃
〃Here？ No； because Sirkin said that transmission went to a shuttle landing at Bandon。〃
〃Where nobody's supposed to be；〃 Cecelia reminded her。 〃Where I didn't know there was a landing zone equipped for shuttles。〃
〃Whose ship did he e on？〃 Heris asked。 Cecelia couldn't know； she realized； and asked Sirkin； who had stayed online。
〃All I know is it's a charter yacht out of Dismis； the Prairie Rose。 I'd have to have authorization to find out more。。。〃
〃We'll do that；〃 Heris said。 〃But post the orders to monitor that flitter beacon； and any and all traffic on that island or the ones next to it。 I'll want flitter IDs； transcripts； everything。〃
〃Yes； Captain。 Right away。〃
〃And be prepared to patch my signal from a flitter or other light craft。 Lady Cecelia and I will be checking on that beacon ourselves。〃 As she said it； she raised her brows at Cecelia； who nodded。 It was crazy； really。 At the least they ought to tell their host and let him assign his own security forces to it。 But the thought that she might e face to face with Lepescu； unwitnessed； slid sweet and poisonous into her mind。 With Cecelia's authorization； she could confront him … an uninvited gate…crasher … and demand the answers that had eluded her before。 She closed her eyes a moment； imagining his surprise； feeling her hands close around his throat。。。。 Her mouth flooded with the imagined taste of victory； and she had to swallow。
〃Heris？〃 Cecelia was looking at her strangely。 It was that expression； on the faces of her classmates at the Academy； that had first given her an inkling that she had inherited her parents' gift of mand； the essential ruthlessness of decision。
〃Just thinking；〃 Heris said； pulling her mind back onto the designated track。
It was crazy； she thought again； almost as crazy as the orders she had refused to obey。 She and Cecelia had no idea what was going on over there； she knew Lepescu was dangerous in any context； and yet they were preparing to fly off as if it were an afternoon picnic。 As if they were safe； protected by the social conventions of Bunny's crowd。 But Lepescu wasn't part of Bunny's crowd。
Why was he here？ What was he doing； and what would he do when he saw her？ How many unauthorized visitors were on this island； and why hadn't Ronnie and Bubbles called in？
〃At worst；〃 Cecelia said； interrupting her thoughts again； 〃I suppose we'll find the crashed flitter and they'll all be dead。 Otherwise they'd have called in； if they needed help。〃 She didn't sound certain of that。
〃Umm。〃 Heris dug through her daypouch for the notepad and stylus she carried out of habit。 〃We need to do a little planning here。 Worst case … all dead。
Next worst … injured； needing evacuation。 We really should bring some help。
The local security force； a medic or two …〃
Cecelia looked stubborn。 〃I don't want to。 It's my nephew； after all。 If I can get him out of this without Bunny's knowledge； keep it in the family …〃
〃Have you considered violence？〃 asked Heris。 At Cecelia's bewildered expression； she explained。 〃I told you about Lepescu。 If he's here； uninvited； I would expect some kind of nastiness going on。 There are stories about him and his cronies … 〃 She could feel her lip curling。
〃But what could he be doing？〃 asked Cecelia。 〃He doesn't have any troops to mand here … wait … you don't think he's trying to invade or something？
Take over Bunny's holdings？〃 She looked frightened。
〃No。。。 I don't think so。〃 It did not make sense that a mid…list admiral would alienate so powerful a family； besides； he could not invade without troops； and one shuttle load would hardly be enough。 Heris thought for a moment 〃Wait … remember that Kettlegrave woman？〃
〃The one blathering on about blood sports？〃
〃Yes。 She said something … about fox hunting leading to other things； those who would hunt innocent animals being just as willing to hunt people …〃
〃Ridiculous！〃 Cecelia sniffed。 〃Bunny's as gentle as his nickname …〃
〃Bunny is。 But Lepescu is most definitely not。 What if there's some kind of illicit hunting … no； not people of course； but something else； that Bunny wouldn't like； with the fox hunting season as cover … 〃 Even as she said it； she remembered that Lepescu belonged to a semi…secret officers' club。 She had not been invited to join； but Perin Sothanous had。 He'd refused； and kept his oath not to talk of what he'd learned。。。 but she had heard him say it was 〃…really sick … they think the only true blood…sport is war。〃
〃You have a wicked mind；〃 Cecelia said。
〃I know。 But it makes sense。 You told me that Bunny has some rare and valuable animals that are practically pets。 What if they're being hunted？ We'll go armed； and expect trouble： it's the only sensible way。〃
〃Armed？〃
〃Of course。 Lepescu is dangerous； and he's not alone。 We don't know what those youngsters have gotten into； and we have to be able to get them and ourselves out。〃 Even as she said it； she knew they couldn't possibly do this alone。 It was stupid。 Militarily； it was suicide。 A flitter held eight easily； ten if cramped … could they squeeze in some muscle on the way out？ No … she could not mand any of Bunny's staff； and she wouldn't trust them anyway。 She ached for her lost crew； for Oblo and Petris who would have stood behind her in anything。 Except the trial； her mind reminded her。 She argued back to her memory： They would have； but I wouldn't put them through it。
She shook herself physically； as well as mentally； and signed off with Sirkin； giving the few final orders。 She would have to do this alone； because there was no other way。 At least she could prepare Cecelia for what they might face。
〃Rifles；〃 she said。 〃At a minimum； and if you can use a bow …〃
〃Of course；〃 Cecelia said； still looking shocked。 〃But why …〃
〃It's quieter。〃 Heris had pulled out her notepad again； and was figuring on it。 Supplies： they'd have to assume they couldn't use Bandon； so they'd need food； medical supplies； ammunition for the weapons she intended to take； protective gear； whatever munications and electronic gear she could lay her hands on … she looked at the wall chronometer … in half a standard hour。
They'd need to leave before the day's hunt gathered。 It was crazy。 They should tell Bunny； they should use his staff for this。
〃Should we take something larger than a standard flitter？〃 Cecelia asked。
〃Hmm？ What else？〃 Heris puted cubage and mass on her notepad and entered the total。 They would have to change from hunting clothes； too； or take along something more suitable and change en route。
〃A supply flitter； I was thinking。 We could take more supplies； and if one of them is injured。。。〃
〃Good idea。 Will they sign one out to you？〃
Cecelia looked affronted。 〃I've been a family friend for years … of course they will。 Michaels will be glad someone's checking on the young people。〃
〃Fine。 Then get this list〃 … Heris handed it to her … 〃loaded as soon as you can。 I'll pack my