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Obvious。 Get out。 I stepped back； raised the gun； shielded my face； and blew the window out。 And part of the wall around it and some of the street outside until my gun clicked empty。 I dropped it； slung my box over my shoulder and used my free hand to help me scrabble up the slope of rubble and out into the street。
To start running again。 Someone saw me and shouted but I did not shout back。 I ran harder even though I was getting winded and more than a little fatigued by the effort。 It is one thing to escape； it is another thing altogether to stay free once out。 Barefooted； dressed in totally transparent clothes with a collar and some meters of wire about my neck； not to mention the control box； I must have presented a rather unusual and unmistakable sight。 I needed to hide； hole up； change； get rid of the collar； a lot of things。 And I was getting very tired。
I went around a corner as fast as I could and slammed into someone ing in the opposite direction。 We both went down and I rolled on my back like a bug； near exhaustion； gasping for air。 Then I saw the face of the man I had run into and had a last little burst of hope。
〃Otrov。〃 I gasped。 〃0ld friend； old roommate； old copilot。 I am in trouble and need your help。 The locals； you see 。 。 。〃
I saw Otrov； a mild man at the worst of times； turn into a very angry animal。 Twisted face； bulging eyes； the works。 He dived on me and pinned me to the cold ground。
〃Locals nothing；〃 he shouted。 〃Kraj has been asking after you； Kraj wants you。 What have you done？〃
Chapter 15
I struggled a bit； but it did me no good。 My heart wasn't in it and I was close to exhaustion。 Though I did manage to catch my ex…friend Otrov a good one on the side of the head with my torture box。 His eyes crossed but he didn't let go and by that time a small squad of gray men were upon us； peeling him off and plodding me to my feet with their rifle barrels。 I prodded slowly。 Sunk in dark despair and limp with fatigue I was certainly in no hurry。
There were six of them and Otrov； who had a look on his face of wishing to be elsewhere。
〃Kraj talked to me； you see。 About Vaska here； said he wanted him 。。。 〃 His voice ran down and expired when the stony faced men pletely ignored him。 I didn't。
〃What did you expectgratitude？ You rat。 Starting your own bomb…your…buddy week； aren't you？〃 I tried to sneer but it turned to a gurgle when one of my captors jerked on my cable。 One of my five captors。 I blinked and looked again because I could swear there had been six there a moment ago。
While I was still counting a pair of hands reached up and closed around the neck of number five。 His eyeballs bulged and his mouth gaped and I worked to keep my expression calm and not to bulge my own eyes in the same manner。 The hands scrunched； the eyes closed； and number five vanished from sight。 I struggled a bit so the survivors would keep their attention on me； even lashing out a foot and getting Otrov in the ankle to keep him occupied as well。
〃You didn't have to do that；〃 he plained。 I smiled as number four went the way of the others。
There was something to be admired in the efficient and quiet disposal of the enemy。 It reminded me of a hunter I once worked with on a planet whose name I forget。 He was a professional and very good at his job。 He would go out at dawn when a flock of birds was going over and shoot the last bird in the flight。 Then the next one and the next one。 He could get four or five sometimes without the other birds even knowing what was happening。 The same principle was being applied here in an equally professional way。
The system broke down with number four who thrashed a bit and drew the attention of one of the others； human beings being slightly smarter than birds after all。 I waited until they had turned towards the disturbance then let the nearest gray man have it in the side of the neck with the edge of my hand。 Fatigue weakened the blow so that he didn't drop at once and I had to let him have a few more to quiet him。 And while I worked I was aware of thuds and cut…off screams from the others。
When I straightened up I saw that Otrov and all but one of the gray men were dozing happily in a heap； while my rescuers put down the final one。 He was a big bruiser and fought well； but he was outclassed and soon unconscious。 Which was interesting because both of his attackers were womendressed in skimpy and colorful Burada shifts and the high…heeled local shoes。 The nearest one turned and I recognized Sergeant Taze and some of the pieces began to fall into place。
The other woman was smaller and quite neatly formed； with a figure I remembered and a face I could not forget。 My wife。
〃There； there；〃 Angelina said； patting me on one cheek and giving me a quick kiss on the other。 〃I hope you can run a bit； darling； because more of these thugs are on the way。〃 A projectile of some kind whined by to punctuate the statement。
〃Run 。 。 。 〃 I said hoarsely and staggered off； still not quite sure what had happened but at least still bright enough to not ask any questions。 Taze put her arm around me； getting me going in the right direction and pulling me along； while my Angelina relieved me of the weight of box and cable。 We rushed away like that and I'm sure we made a charming sight； me in my transparent coveralls and the girls in their neat little frocks； except no one was on the street to appreciate the scene。
〃Keep going！〃 Taze shouted as she dragged me around a corner。 There were explosions close behind us。 I ignored everything except putting one foot in front of the other as fast as I could and wondered just how long I would last。
Taze seemed to know what she was doing。 Before we had gone very far in this new direction she turned； half carried me up a few steps and into a building。 She threw the bolts on the heavy door and we staggered on； a little slower now； through deserted offices of some kind； to the rear where the windows faced on a courtyard。 There was a good sized drop here and Taze went first； lithe as a big cat； then helped me down with Angelina lowering from above。 I was as putty in their hands； and a very nice sensation it was too。 Taze ran ahead to open a large door。 Inside was a Cliaand mand car with a general's flag still flying from the antenna。
〃That's more like it；〃 I said； walking over on rubbery legs。
〃In the back you two；〃 Taze ordered； pulling on a military jacket and pushing her hair up under a Cliaand helmet。 I did not ask what had happened to the original owner。 Angelina was right behind me when I crawled into the back and collapsed on the floor； snuggling her warm round curves up against me。 I felt very fortable as the car bounced forward。 I enjoyed a good hug and a kiss before I could get in any questions。
〃Your figure has improved；〃 I managed to gasp when I came up for air。
〃You'll be so happy to know that you are now the proud father of twins。 Both boys。 With big mouths and hearty appetites like their father。 I've named them James and Bolivar after you。〃
〃Anything you say； my sweet。 I suppose you would not mind telling me how you came to be here at this most opportune moment？