Are we inside the construct?
She answered him with her mind.
Yes, brother. We have arranged for you to board another way.#p#分页标题#e#
She nodded towards his fingers, indicating his gun.
Revik found himself relieved they were letting him keep it. As he began to follow her away from the security line and down a side passage, he realized two of the Seven’s guard wore United States Homeland Security uniforms.
When Revik next turned to look at the female hunter, Chandre, he caught her studying Allie’s light, a thinly veiled curiosity shining from her own structures. He felt his jaw harden, but knew it was natural...they would be interested in her. Still, he would rather have a few minutes’ breathing space before he had to handle more reactions to her light, whether human or seer. He continued to watch Chandre warily when the infiltrator visibly startled.
She looked between the two of them, her dark eyes widening as she confirmed what she’d seen above each of their heads.
Revik sent a ripple of irritation until the woman’s red-tinted eyes shifted to his.
Manners, Chandre.
Sorry, brother...er, sir. They did not tell us.
Some discretion would be appreciated.
The woman bowed. Of course, sir. And congratulations.
Revik nodded, once. He glanced around at her unit.
Won’t seven be conspicuous? He had expected five. How big is your whole contingent?
Chandre quirked an eyebrow.
It’s a large ship, sir. You won’t even know we’re here.
Hearing the subtext in her deliberate misunderstanding, he gave her a look that made it clear he wasn’t amused.
He brought the Bridge with him as he walked past Chandre and another smiling seer, then glanced back to see if Allie had noticed the exchange. Her gaze took in the other guards before coming to rest on the dark-skinned Chandre. Allie stepped closer to him as she stared, her eyes faintly glazed, still almost not-there as she crushed into his side as they walked.
From her face and light, he knew she was in shock. It made sense that her light would draw to his, as the safest option there...but the ease with which his own light responded made him tense all over again.
In a way, he even understood her reaction to Chandre. The East Indian Sark looked exactly like what she was, a highly paid infiltrator. Despite their reddish tint, her eyes had a hint of cold to them, as if she assessed all objects from a distance; she looked at Allie that way, too.
It occurred to him in the same breath that Chandre had already been briefed on the contingency.
Then it clicked. They would no longer trust him to perform it himself.
He had been effectively removed from duty.
Staring around, another piece fell into place. Having such a large Guard presence was a part of that message; they needed enough seers to take him down if he got in the way.
Meeting Chandre’s gaze, he realized that she was putting the same thoughts together behind her dark red eyes.
His fingers tightened around Allie’s as they reached a small desk, where a lone customs official examined their documentation before waving them through. Revik could tell from the man’s eyes that he was human, and had been heavily pushed into believing some lie. So had the woman who smilingly directed them around the obligatory photo backdrop that the rest of the ship’s passengers were being escorted through in an assembly line, getting their pictures snapped while two photographers danced around, trying to get smiles from the humans and pump up the cruise-goers for their vacations.
“Come on!” he heard one of the photographers half-shriek. “Let’s see some party faces, y’all! There now! That’s better!”
“If either of you need anything, sir,” Chandre said politely, in English, as they neared the gangplank and the line of people boarding. “You need only say the word. We will of course expect you to restrict your movements around the ship...”
Revik glanced at Allie, saw her listening to the infiltrator intently.
He hoped like hell Chandre wouldn’t make some crack about...
“...We have purchased an entire corridor,” she continued, her voice still smoothly polite. “And made some modifications for your comfort. You will be briefed on the rules once we are underway. Clothing and food have already been sent to your cabin, as well as training materials for Alyson. You will not be expected to adhere to ship’s routines...”
“You mean I can’t leave the room,” Allie muttered.
Revik glanced at her again.
Chandre smiled at her faintly, quirking an eyebrow.
“That is correct, Esteemed Bridge...for you, anyway. Dehgoies may leave, provided he follows the rules of the construct, and checks in and out with one of our team.” She smiled. “Vash seemed to feel he might be tempted to break rules if we restricted him too much...but perhaps he can smuggle in anything you need, Esteemed Bridge? Anything you do not wish to ask us for...?”