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every chance。 His sudden grasp on her arm was vindication； even as the feel of his weapon prodding her side made her face the next likely oute。 She wondered if her armor would hold against a point…blank shot； but he slid the muzzle of the weapon up； as if he knew she wore it。 Of course … he had seen Lady Cecelia's； and guessed that she had armor too。 Her mind insisted on showing her； in vivid detail； what would happen if he fired now； with the muzzle where it was at the back of her neck。
〃Stop here； ladies；〃 he said； this time in a voice unlike the deferential； pleasant tone he'd used so far。 〃I think Admiral Lepescu might have something to say to Captain Serrano。〃
Cecelia let out a terrified squeak； and Heris's heart sank。 So much for civilians。 Dussahral smirked。
〃You're not going to give me any trouble； are you？〃 he asked。 〃I know you ladies don't go around with loaded weapons； so don't try to pretend you'll shoot me。〃
〃I won't；〃 said Cecelia； eyes wide。 〃I … I … don't hurt her。〃
〃Drop the gun；〃 Dussahral said。 Heris wondered whether she could reach her bootknife and decided she couldn't。 Cecelia stood there； gawky and gray…haired； clinging to the rifle as if it were a child。 She probably hadn't chambered a round； Heris thought； so it wasn't really dangerous to be standing here with the bore pointing at her。。。。 It shifted a little； and Dussahral sighed。 She could feel his disgust； she felt it herself。 〃Listen； lady；〃 the man said； 〃you can't shoot me with an unloaded rifle； and I'm not going to be fooled。 Either drop it； now； or I'll shoot you； not just your friend。〃 Cecelia said nothing； and looked as if she couldn't； Heris had never seen a better picture of frozen panic。 Dussahral shifted his weight； Heris tried to shift her own to take advantage； but his blow to her head came too fast。 She didn't quite lose consciousness； but she stumbled； unable to move fast when he let go of her and swung his weapon toward Cecelia。
Then the crack of Cecelia's rifle and the ugly sound of a round hitting bone came together； and Dussahral was flung away from her。 Heris stared。 Her employer stared back。 〃You said to pick the right moment；〃 Cecelia said。
Bright color patched her cheeks。 〃I think I did。〃 She held the rifle steady； as if she were perfectly calm。
〃Damn。〃 Heris felt her head。 It hurt； but she was alive； not a scratch； and Dussahral lay dead； the back of his skull and its contents splattered for a meter or more on the forest floor。 〃Yes … you did。 But I thought for a moment … 〃
〃I wanted him away from you … at least his weapon。〃 Cecelia shivered suddenly。 〃I never … did that before。 Not a person。〃
〃You did it perfectly。〃 Heris picked up her own rifle； and walked back to Cecelia。 〃You saved my life； is what you did。〃 It occurred to her now just how stupid it had been to give Dussahral a chance。 If she made the same mistake with Lepescu。。。 well； she wouldn't。
〃That's what I meant to do … but he's so。。。 so ugly。〃
〃They are。〃 Heris turned Cecelia away from it； but Cecelia twisted back。
〃No。 If I do it； I should see what I did。〃 She walked deliberately up to the body； already a few tiny flies buzzed near it。 〃So little time between life and death。 We think we have years。。。〃 Heris did not tell her how long it often took men to die of wounds。 Not now。 Now they had other prey。
〃It's amazing；〃 Cecelia went on； 〃how young men like this think we old people are frail； emotional； likely to fall apart at any emergency。〃 When her eyes met Heris's； it gave Heris a chill； they were the cold gray of frozen oysters。
〃Because of course；〃 Cecelia continued； 〃we've done everything they imagine they might do。 One time or another。〃
〃But that's crazy；〃 the prince said。 He had said it before； and Ronnie thought he would go on saying it until he died。 〃No one would kill you … not like this。 Let me call Admiral Lepescu and get you back to civilization。〃 After he'd dropped the rifle； the girls had grudgingly lowered theirs； and let him sit down。 He had refused to believe they were really in danger； and continued to defend the hunters。
Had he listened at all？ Ronnie thought not。 〃What about the others？〃 he asked。
〃Serrano's crew。〃
〃There's some kind of mistake；〃 the prince said firmly。 〃Those men are criminals； condemned to life at hard labor； they have this option； risking death against a chance for a lesser sentence on a colony world。 This is easier； for some people； than life in prison。〃
It occurred to Ronnie that he himself would have made that argument not long before。 The topic of life sentences versus the death penalty had been a favorite debate in the mess。 Of course； none of those debating ever expected to face either alternative。
〃They're not criminals；〃 Raffa said hotly。 〃They're decent people your admiral has a grudge against。〃
〃I know it's fashionable for some people to argue against the justice system；〃
the prince said。 〃But these people have all been tried and convicted and sentenced； do you think I'd be here if they weren't？〃
A long silence。 Finally Bubbles said； 〃I am frankly surprised that you're here even though they are。 Does your father condone hunting people for sport？ The last time I heard； he was scolding my father for hunting foxes。〃
Another long silence。 〃Well。。。 he doesn't exactly know；〃 the prince said； staring at his boots。 He looked younger than Ronnie remembered； more the schoolboy he had known。 〃I'm supposed to be at the Royal Aero…Space depot on Naverrn。 Admiral Lepescu fixed that for me。〃
〃Mmm。 And do you think he'll approve； even if they are convicted criminals？
Which they aren't； but just to argue the point。〃 Bubbles； on the other hand； looked older； tougher。 She had laid aside her weapon； as if the prince were no longer a threat。 Except for his stubbornness； Ronnie thought； he wasn't。
The prince scuffed his boot along the wall。 〃Probably not。 But he doesn't need to know everything I do； and he certainly approved of my association with people like the other men in the club。 Men of stature； men with。。。 with。。。〃
〃Influence；〃 Bubbles said。 She made the word sound like something with little legs scuttling along the floor。
〃The thing is；〃 Ronnie said； 〃we've got to get out of here and rescue George。〃
〃George？ The odious George Starbridge Mahoney is here too？ How fitting。〃 The prince chuckled； leaning back against the stone。 〃Don't worry … no one will hurt George once they realize who his father is。〃
〃They know who my father is； and they've tried to shoot me；〃 Bubbles said。
Ronnie glanced at her。 She had changed as much as any of them； he realized； and in away he could not have predicted。 She looked like someone it would be dangerous to cross。
〃Of course；〃 the prince went on； ignoring that； 〃as soon as we do get back to civilization； I've a bone to pick with you； Ronnie。 We simply can't ignore it； we must duel。〃
Ronnie stared at him。 〃A duel？ You mean … formally？〃
〃Yes； of course； formally。 It wouldn't have been necessary had we not met； but we did。 And I had told them； if I saw you again anytime in the next twelve months； I would insist on it。 It's a matter of honor。〃 The prince drew himself up； glanced around at the two girl