Free The Broken Cage (Solstice 31 Saga Book 2) by Martin Wilsey Page B

in a hammock, as the venison simmered in the pot, when AI~Poole woke her.
    “Rand, there are two people approaching from the west. They are about thirty minutes away, but coming directly at us.”
    A window opened in her HUD. She saw them from above. They moved toward the Fly. One man, one woman. They walked along, casually talking, even laughing at times. Each had a bow, but they were unstrung and on their backs, strapped to well-worn leather packs. Their clothes were worn, but clean. The clothes she now wore, salvaged from the saddlebags, were much finer. Her cloak was especially nice. The edges were trimmed with leather and the subtle design was functional as camo as well.
    “Their names are Tannhauser and Vi. Based on what I know, they are trackers. They have been here before. April 23 rd was the last time they were here. They were heading north for the summer. They like to hunt and to forage there. They sign all the logs Tan'Vi. Until now, I thought those references were complicated names. They are all couples.”
    Both of them had their hoods down. Vi wore a long, French braid. Tannhauser's hair and beard were long and wild.
    Rand put on her black riot gloves and her cloak. She checked her Glock as she watched them in the HUD.
    They became quiet and paused, Vi holding out a hand to halt Tannhauser's movement.
    They smelled the smoke.
    They quickly strung their bows with practiced ease. Rand could not hear what they whispered, but they split up and went different ways.
    The Fly stayed with the woman. She was quick and quiet and as professional and economical in her movements as anyone Rand had ever worked with. Vi notched an arrow as she approached the cabin. Just a bit of smoke came out of the stubby chimney as she approached.
    The Fly and Poole now had views of both sides of the cabin. The door was wide open. She saw herself in the cabin door, sitting on a stool, stirring the stew.
    He called out a greeting, in Common Tongue, as he approached slowly. His bow was in hand, but no arrow was notched. Vi was ready to fire.
    Rand continued to stir with her left hand, covering her right hand which held the Glock.
    “Please come in, Tannhauser. And ask Vi to join us, as well. It can't be comfortable behind that rock.”
    “You have us at a disadvantage.” He did not advance.
    She holstered her gun while he couldn't see and set the wooden spoon across the top of the pot to forestall it boiling over and putting out the fire.
    She stood slowly, moved toward the door, ducked under the jamb and stepped out.
    He was very short, probably less than five feet tall, which meant Vi was even smaller.
    What's with this planet?
    “My name is Rand. I have a large pot of stew and no conversation. Would you and Vi care to join me?”
    She stood up from behind the mossy boulder then and lowered her bow.
    Rand was completely hidden in the shadows of her hood. She stood on a large, flat stone used as the step for the cabin. It made her seem even taller, in the Fly’s eye over Vi's shoulder.
    She slowly reached up and lowered her hood.
    She saw herself for the first time in days. Her hair was wild, and it added to the level of intimidation that she emitted.
    “Please, join me.” She turned her back to them and reentered the cabin.
     

CHAPTER TEN
     
    Another Skyfall
     
     
    “Someone was, intentionally, directing ships to their death. They knew this planet was a trap, and they were murdering thousands, with a word.”
    --Solstice 31 Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript: Captain James Worthington, senior surviving member of the Ventura's command crew.
     
    <<<>>>
     
    The Hammerhead relay worked better than expected. The position of the planet never changed in the sky, and the variety of sensors the team had put together was impressive.
    There were all kinds of RF collection, temperature, spectral, chemical, and ultrahigh definition optical sensors. Soon, all of these were combined to get a bigger picture of the planet