Free SOMETHING WAITS by Bruce Jones Page A

movies once. Yes. Several months ago.”
     
    “And?”
     
    “And? Nothing, sir. It was a terrible film as I recall.”
     
    “After the film?”
     
    “He took me home—no, I took him home. He’s…you see, he’s small, sir. His quarters were in a rundown part of the Colony and, well, I’m good with a sword.”
     
    “I see.”
     
    “The truth is, sir, we were just friends. Never anything romantic about our relationship. I don’t think Leakwood had romantic inclinations toward anyone. He just wasn’t the type. I socialized with him because, well, I could relax around him, not constantly be fighting off eight arms if you take my meaning. Leakwood didn’t have many friends. He’s sort of… funny- looking, to be blunt. I felt a little sorry for him. And I know he appreciated my gesture, offering to be his friend.”
     
    “His friend. Not his girlfriend.”
     
    “Not his girlfriend, no sir.”
     
    “Was he a thief, Sheffield?”
     
    “Sir--?”
     
    “Did he ever steal anything to your knowledge?”
     
    “Not that I’m aware of, sir.”
     
    “Well, he has now. Something extremely valuable. Extremely expensive and extremely important to Fleet.”
     
    “I see, sir.”
     
    “We want it back, Sheffield.”
     
    “Yes, sir.”
     
    “Pronto, if not sooner.”
     
    “Yes, sir.”
     
    Pause.
     
    “Uh…what would that be, sir?”
     
    “How’s that?”
     
    “The stolen property, what was it?”
     
    “I can’t provide you with that information, Sheffield.”
     
    “Can’t provide—“
     
    “It’s classified, Sheffield. Sensitive. You can appreciate that. Colony Six is a Top Secret installation. Half of these buildings house classified information and material. The object this cadet stole is highly confidential. I understand there are no more than two of them in existence and both are here at Colony Six. Or were here. I want it back.”
     
    “Yes, sir, but how will I be sure…I mean, if I don’t know…”
     
    “I’ll grant you that’s a problem. That’s why you were chosen, Sheffield. My reports tell me you’re one of the best in the Colony. Top of your class. This could be the most memorable assignment of your career. The most important. Are you game, Sheffield?”
     
    “Of course, sir.”
     
    * * *
     
    Of course she was game. Like the best swordsmen in the Colony, she’d been itching to get a look at what lay outside those steel walls. Now she had her chance.
     
    Evening was coming on fast. In a few minutes she’d have difficulty discerning Leakwood’s trail, clear as it was.
     
    The dandleflies were out, zeroing in on her like attacking missiles, rolling their crystal wings deliriously in her sweat glands. She found a Mulinaw bush without much effort, broke one of its berries between her fingers and spread the glistening oil over her limbs. The dandleflies buzzed off in resentment. She’d done her homework.
     
    The ground beneath her slippers grew steadily softer, danker, as she’d read it would toward evening. The Rhunks would be pushing up any time now. She fingered the hilt of her sword warily…
     
    A species of un-catalogued bird-lizard screeched abruptly above her head. She twisted around and caught sight of its yellow-blue plumage spiraling swiftly across the mauve sky, arrowing gracefully to a nearby fern, landing not so gracefully with a light plop. As she watched, it began kicking convulsively, then stiffened and began dissolving rapidly into the devouring fern.
     
    She knelt down beside Leakwood’s latest boot print and took a reading with the infra-heat device snapped to her girdle. To her amazement the little needle hovered just over the seven minute mark. Leakwood must be very close. Calculating her rate of pursuit, he must have slowed considerably within the last hour. Odd. He couldn’t have tired this early in the hunt. Was it indeed to be an ambush? Or had he finally come to his senses, fearing the coming night, his lone