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he found he could not remember who might be southward on the ridge； or on the west side。。。。 He felt sick and sleepy both； and kept wanting to yawn。
〃We ought to go find out；〃 George said。 〃That's got to be somewhere near them。。。。〃
〃And if we go crashing up there we'll just lead the hunters to them。〃 Ronnie tried to sound soothing； but even to him his voice seemed lusterless and whiny。 〃Petris said stay here； and we should stay here。〃
〃He's not even an officer；〃 George said； but he didn't move。
Ronnie stiffened in the midst of a yawn。 A rhythmic noise flicked the edge of his hearing。 Like someone walking； but walking with an intentionally odd gait。
A few steps； a pause： a few more steps； a pause。 The sound of steps … the swish of leaves； the soft pad of foot … varied in number but not duration。
Despite his fear； Ronnie grinned to himself。 They'd been warned about that mistake。。。。 He'd done it himself； counting to himself as he tried to move stealthily； he'd put four or five or three steps into the same interval； thus making the sound as periodic as a pendulum。 This person varied his pause intervals； but not the walking ones。 Ronnie reached out to touch George in case he hadn't heard。 The walker might e within reach； if they were lucky。
Ronnie's mind drifted。 It had been； he thought； an impossibly bad day； and it had started far too early。 Yet he didn't feel as bad as he should； he knew that； and knew； in some distant corner of his mind； that it had something to do with the bump on his head。 He wasn't tracking right； he wasn't feeling what he should feel； whatever that was。 The long； hot afternoon after the girls left； when Petris tried to figure out what to do with them； where to put them； when the others tested Petris's mand； wanting to kill them； wanting to leave them anywhere and get away safely themselves。。。。 It had been hell； but a hell from which he felt somewhat remote。 As long as he didn't have to talk； as long as he didn't have to do anything； the others could do what they wanted。
Chapter Fifteen
〃We cannot do this alone。〃 Heris put into that all the mand voice she'd ever had。 Cecelia merely looked exasperated。
〃We've been over that。 I don't want to bother Bunny。〃
〃Lady Cecelia。〃 The formality got through； Cecelia actually focussed on her。
〃Do you remember why I lost my mission？〃
〃Yes； but what's that …〃
〃This is exactly the same thing。 If we go off； the two of us … you with no military experience whatever … with no proper intelligence； no backup； no plan … that is exactly as stupid； in the same way； as what Lepescu proposed。
It is frankly suicidal； and I will not cooperate。〃
Cecelia stared at her。 〃I thought we settled it； I thought you agreed。〃
〃In anger； yes。 At the thought of getting Lepescu's neck between my hands； yes。 But I have no right to risk you and your nephew and the others to serve my vengeance。 We don't know what we're facing； we don't know what shape they're in； we won't have backup or medical assistance … and if we get killed； what about the youngsters？〃
For a moment； Heris thought Cecelia would explode； she turned red； then pale； then stood rigidly still。 And finally shook herself slightly and let out a sharp huff of ear。 〃I suppose you're right。 That's why I came to you； you have the military background。 So … you want me to tell Bunny？〃
〃I think we should both go。 He may want confirmation from Sirkin up in Sweet Delight … and besides； I still want to be part of the row。〃
〃Fine。〃 With no more argument； Cecelia called Michaels over。 〃Michaels； Captain Serrano feels that we should not go alone on this。〃 Heris noticed that Michaels relaxed slightly； he had had more sense than either of them； but not the courage to say so。
〃Yes； milady？〃
〃I'm going to tell Lord Thornbuckle； this will mean telling him that you knew Bubbles took the flitter。〃 Heris had not thought about that … how much trouble would he be in？ Not much； she hoped。
〃I don't think you should tell anyone else about this；〃 Lady Cecelia went on； as if Michaels were a child to be lectured。 〃I'm sure you'll be hearing from his lordship very shortly。〃
〃Yes； milady。〃
〃All right；〃 Cecelia said。 〃Now we have to find Bunny before that damned hunt starts。 We're lucky Stone Lodge is at this end of the settlement。〃
The others were mounted； ready to set out； the hounds swirling around the horses' legs。 Heris was sure that only Cecelia could have gotten Bunny off his horse and into the hall of Stone Lodge so quietly and quickly。
〃What is it？〃 he asked； the moment the door had shut out the sound of milling hooves and human chatter。 Cecelia explained； giving as clear an account as Heris herself could have done： her discovery that the young people were missing； Michaels's report of where they had gone； and the beacon data and data from Sweet Delight which indicated that they were on an island near Bandon。 Then she mentioned the uninvited guests； the intruders that Heris suspected might be hunting illegally。 Lord Thornbuckle looked at Heris。
〃You know this person？〃 Heris thought she had not heard anyone pronounce 〃person〃 with that intonation before； just so did seniors at the Academy refer to ining cadets。
〃Yes； I do；〃 she said。 〃He cost me my mission； he has a bad reputation … but the relevant point is that he is here without your invitation。〃
〃Yes。。。 I see that。 Just a moment。〃 He went out the door； leaving Heris and Cecelia staring at one another。 In moments； he was back inside。 〃I told Clem to take over the hunt today； no sense in having them hounding us； as it were。
Buttons has already ridden out with the blue hunt； I'll have him brought back … 〃 As he spoke； his fingers tapped on his personal unit。 Heris had seen him only at the hunt； or at leisure after dinner； he had always seemed friendly enough； but not particularly decisive except when some fool rode too close to the hounds。 The nickname Bunny had fit him well enough； the long slightly foolish face； the quick movements of his head at dinner； on the lookout for unpleasantness。 Now； though； she saw someone used to mand responding to an emergency； someone for whom a title made more sense than a nickname。
〃Sir； the other thing … 〃 She interrupted him cautiously； he raised an eyebrow but nodded for her to speak。 〃There must be someone in this household working with them … whoever they are。 Someone to give warning if you're headed that way； at least。〃
He nodded。 〃And it can't be Michaels； because he knew about Bubbles and whoever was there didn't。〃
〃We hope。〃 Lady Cecelia looked grim。 〃They haven't called in； their flitter's not at a regular field …〃
〃Which island？〃 Lord Thornbuckle asked。 〃Could your ship make that out？〃 He called up a map which displayed on the hall wall as thin green lines。
〃That one；〃 Heris said； pointing。
〃Bubbles's favorite；〃 he said。 〃The children camped there many summers； she knows every meter of that island。 I wonder if she's just camping and hiding out。〃
〃If it weren't for the unauthorized shuttle； and the fact that Lepescu is on Bandon … 〃 Cecelia began。
〃We hope on Bandon； and not on this island；〃 Heris put in； tapping the map again。
〃Yes。 We must assume he is；