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had been through aged them。
〃What happened to him？〃 she asked quietly。
〃Caught in crossfire；〃 one of the medics said； without looking up。 〃Small caliber in the abdomen； missed the big stuff。〃 Which didn't mean it felt good； or even that he would recover； just that he was likely to make it back to a hospital without dying on the way。 Caught in crossfire。。。 maybe； she thought； and maybe not。 Perhaps someone wanted to get rid of witnesses。 There must be more than one traitor in Bunny's pay。 Heris watched the medics； who seemed to go about their business as quickly and petently as any she'd seen； then met Georges gaze。
〃Captain。。。 where's Ronnie？〃
〃On the other island； I presume。 Militia went there； he'll be fine。〃 He might not be； but George needed to hear the best chance； not the worst。
〃Don't talk；〃 said a medic； and put a warning hand on George's shoulder。 〃You need to lie still。〃
〃Cave；〃 said George； struggling now； his eyes locked on Heris's。 〃Might be in the cave。。。 Bubbles said。。。〃 and then a groan he tried to bite back； as the medics did something that hurt even more。
〃I understand；〃 Heris said； as much to reassure him as because she did。
〃Bubbles knew about a cave； and they might be in it。 All of them？〃
〃No … Ronnie … hurt …〃
The medic's angry face looked up at Heris。 〃He shouldn't talk； don't bother him。 He's got other injuries； too。〃 Heris glanced down and saw that they'd cut George's shirt away now； revealing the deep bruises along his side； broken ribs； maybe。
〃He … shot me；〃 George said； struggling against the medic's hands。 〃He …〃
〃It's all right； George；〃 she said again。 Time enough later to find out which he George meant。 From the glazed look in his eyes； they had given him some drug； and he wouldn't be thinking clearly now。 She hoped he had been right about the cave。 〃Everything will be fine。〃 The medics lifted George onto a stretcher； and rolled him away。 He lay quiet； eyes already closed。 Her mind raced。 A cave … a cave Bubbles knew about。 Did Lepescu？ Ronnie hurt； and not in the cave。 What kind of hurt？ If Ronnie was hurt； why hadn't he been captured？ And again： did Lepescu know about the cave？ Did the others being hunted？ Did the militia captain know about that cave； and if so … She went back to Cecelia； who looked less pale than when she'd e in。
〃George has a gunshot wound he should survive； assuming Bunny's got a good trauma center in his hospital。〃
〃Very good；〃 Cecelia said。 〃Riding horses at speed is hardly a safe hobby。〃
Her voice was a shade brittle； but under control。
〃He hasn't lost anything vital yet；〃 Heris said。 〃Could you hear what he said？〃
〃No … not really。〃
〃There's a cave on the island where the others are； Bubbles knew about it； and George thinks the others might be hiding in it。〃 She waited to make sure Cecelia understood that。 Then she went on； 〃Would the militia captain know about it？ Did you ever hear of it？〃
〃A cave。。。 no。 I didn't。 I don't know if anyone else would； besides the children who camped there。 A big cave？〃
〃George didn't know； I suspect。 But the militia captain needs to。 If there's a cave； anyone might be in it： the youngsters； or the hunters； or whoever they're hunting。〃 Heris looked around。 Someone had dragged the corpse away； and the other wounded man； whoever he was； and one medic was stuffing medical trash in a sack。 〃We can't just call the militia mander； Lepescu would overhear it。 If that's where the youngsters are hiding …〃
〃We'll go tell him；〃 Cecelia said； and pushed away from the wall。
〃Yes； but … 〃 Heris stifled her doubts。 They'd been told to stay here； safely out of trouble； and she'd agreed to that。 She looked around for the person in charge。
The person in charge； busily arranging transport to a hospital for George and the other wounded man； was in no mood to listen。 Heris had no idea what the insignia on his collar meant but he was acting like a harried sergeant。
The captain said you were to stay here；〃 he said。 〃And here you'll stay。 You don't even know where this cave is； or if the kids are in it； or if anyone else knows about it。〃
〃That's why … 〃 Heris began； but he flapped a hand at her。
〃The captain's got good maps of the island； if there's a cave worth worrying about； he'll know。 He's got a bloody mess over there … 〃
Then the man shut his mouth and glared at her； as if she had extracted that information unfairly。 〃Just because you used to be a spaceship mander doesn't give you the right to throw your weight around here。 Captain Sigind said to keep you safe here； and that's exactly what I'll do。 Now if you'll get out of my way so I can do my job …〃
Heris swallowed more years of experience than this person had age； and said； 〃Excuse me；〃 very quietly。 No use arguing with this sort； she had seen them before。 The problem now was working around him； and that was most easily done out of his sight。
Chapter Eighteen
It had amused the prince to e hunting with the older men； political cronies of his father。 He knew they invited him to curry favor； but still … it was thrilling。 Illegal； but thrilling。 He had been on this planet before； of course； at the invitation of Lord Thornbuckle。 Everyone who was anyone had； at one time or another； spent interminable hours riding large stinking vicious beasts chasing after small stinking vicious beasts。 Silly work； on the whole； and he had heard others … including this group … snicker about it privately。
Lord Thornbuckle didn't care； he could afford to not care。
But this … this was different。 What can be the thrill of chasing a harmless small creature bioengineered to be chased and killed？ So the admiral had said； and so he had agreed。 Other game … even other animals； large and dangerous in themselves … offer more sporting chances。 No； my boy； the admiral had said （he had hated the admiral's arm on his shoulder； but he knew he must endure it）； there's only one game worth the trouble。 Show your stuff； prove yourself； and in the process finish off some useless criminals。 And besides； after that。。。 we'll have a party。 With lots of girls。
He hadn't expected to feel queasy about it。 He had felt queasy when he read the reports on the prison colonies； things his tutor had thought he ought to know。 That was cruelty； if you liked； confining someone to dirty； dangerous work and mean； ugly surroundings； for years on end。 Killing someone cleanly with a bullet in the head was merciful by parison。 He had agreed； in more than one not…so…casual conversation； that this was so； imagining himself a prisoner； he would rather have died in the open like that than slowly of boredom and overwork。 And hence； the invitation to this hunt； which had thrilled him as much with its illicit nature as with its prestige。 He was born to prestige； he didn't need it。。。 but he found himself craving the respect of Admiral Lepescu and Senator…at…Large Bodin。
Still； the first one he killed himself … that had startled him with his own reaction to it； the nausea and guilt； the feeling of shame for being ashamed； the reluctance of his fingers to touch the tattooed ear which he must hack off and turn in to get credit for his trophy。 He had done it； but he had made a privat