The Snipe’s Flight

At lock of the ship people crowded. But it were not dockers and not technicians. Six. In gray, functional form of planetary guards Herpix, with stripes «Special Department». On hips – heavy blasters, in hands at two – portable scanners. They on something argued with the officer who, judging by its impatient gestures, demanded immediate opening of lock.

– Power pincers do not take, this can, the sir! – one of policemen has reported. – Ship AI has blocked all external protocols. Physical breaking is necessary.

– Then crack! – the officer has cried out. – We have order! The ship and all crew to detain for interrogation. Especially Mironov’s equipment navigator and pilot Korshunova. Dead or alive – it is indifferent.

At me in breast has grown cold. «Dead or alive» is the most unloved me point in any situations. Especially when it is applied to me personally.

Kim, keeping the eyes glued on group, has whispered to me:

– The plan «And», probably, is cancelled. They are six, plus, perhaps, in the district to steam of people. Chances to break are insignificant. If we break will give the alarm on all port. – It was rational opinion. It is not necessary to make noise to us.

– He agrees, – I have whispered in reply, feeling as on back the acquaintance runs, almost forgotten chill. – Means, the plan of «B». Quickly we recede.

We have crawled away back, for garbage heap, and, without getting up in all growth, have hurried back on labyrinth of office tunnels. My new body worked faultlessly: lungs swallowed caustic air, muscles carried me easily and quickly, and the head, worked at reckless speed.

– Somehow quickly they have begun our search, – Kim when we have curtailed into rather deserted corridor has told and have stopped to take breath. – Means, or Alice was already found and contacted all of us. Or … Herpix from the very beginning watched «Scythian». Also waited for occasion that all of us to tie.

– Or waited until freight is delivered, there will come time of «X», and witnesses will become unnecessary, – I have gloomy added. – Good old tactics: to use blindly, and then to liquidate and none will be the wiser. Only we, were prompter and cleverer. We it too hard, Kim. Believe.

He for the first time for all this mad day has slightly smiled. It was the bad, wolf smile.

– So it is even more interesting, the Snipe. – He has answered me, and we have returned to the hotel room the first. In twenty minutes Lavrov, Alice and Ki were. On their persons it was visible – they had news not from pleasant too.

– The Old Mine bar is surrounded by guards, – without prefaces the captain has blurted out. – Fortunately, we have approached from outside and have seen cordon in advance. Have caught one smuggler who has poked into bar. For bottle of good moonshine he has told us that on all port look for crew of «Scythian». Accuse of arms trafficking for insurgents and of communications with … by extragalactic forces. – Lavrov has spat. – The complete nonsense, but for arrest will descend. What at you?

– Waited for us, – I have looked at the captain. – We were waited by six or more people about the shuttle. They tried to get in the shuttle, but so far nothing is impossible to them. We managed to hear their negotiations. The order to take from them me and Alice at any cost. Dead or alive. So we have decided to come back.

– Here means how, – he has gloomy looked at me. – And me and Kim means in expense, so it turns out? – I have nodded. – Well has also put …

– Have you the conductor found? – I have asked.

– There is one option, – having taken seat on chair, Alice has told. – The same type has told that there is old route – on air shafts of geothermal power plants. They last on hundreds of kilometers, some leave almost to the most corporate kosmoport. But there heat, toxic evaporations and … are possible meetings with local fauna which was got in those tunnels.

– What for local fauna? – I have asked again.

– The mutating insektoida, – has passionlessly explained to Ki. – Result of leakages of biological waste of the extracting production. Generally average sizes, predators, hunt packs. I estimate chances of survival of the small group armed only with small arms at thirty two percent.

– Thirty two?! Well, it is already quite good, – upset with such figures I have noticed, remembering the experience of survival in much more hopeless situations. – What about weapon? At us only mine and that at Kim.

– I have contact, on this planet, – Alice has unexpectedly told. – Armorer in the black market. It owes me. To be in the region of old drainage collectors. It on the way to air shafts.

– I have the person here too. But the problem is that I never worked with him, know by sight. I cannot trust too. If I with it come for contact, there is no guarantee that instead of it there will be no someone another and all of us will tie. Therefore I suggest to come to yours, Alice, the checked contact.

I have looked at the captain, at Kim. Both have nodded. Risk? Of course, enormous. Alternative? And it is not just in this situation. We were left no choice. We can trust so far only each other as us one purpose on all unites now, this survival.