More soldiers, bearing automatic weapons, walked the grounds and the perimeter.
I’m getting a bad feeling, David said.
So was Seth. The feeling that they had indeed screwed up and missed something. The similarities were too numerous. This base was too reminiscent of the other. Coupled with the knowledge that these men had acquired the tranquilizer, Seth could only conclude that—
We must have missed something, David announced grimly.
Yes.
Do you think it’s Donald and Nelson?
Their memories were wiped, so if it is them, they’re operating on whatever information the hard drive or whatever gadget we missed contained.
Which could be a little or a lot.
Their feathered companion swung away just as a scent reached Seth.
You smell that? he asked.
Death.
They banked, circling around to follow the vulture to its feast.
“Are those vultures?” he heard a guard down below ask.
“Yeah. I told you the body was too close. If the wind changes it’s gonna smell like shit.”
The vulture led them to the body of a mercenary who had been shot in the head.#p#分页标题#e#
Seth and David joined the bird in circling above it.
Do you think it’s one of the men Lisette, Étienne, and Krysta tagged? David asked.
I’m not sure. Why kill only one of them?
And, if they killed him because they found the tracking device, why are they still here? Why aren’t they all bugging out?
Let’s widen our circles so we can fly over without raising suspicion and pick their brains. Perhaps they’re busy designing a trap if they think we know where they are.
Reading the minds of the guards from this distance was a challenge, simply because maintaining this form already took a lot of concentration, but both elders could do it.
You weren’t exaggerating, David said. Had they been in their usual forms, Seth knew David would be shaking his head. They know almost nothing about the outfit that employs them.
Most don’t care because it pays so well.
I’m not hearing anything about traps. No anticipation of our arrival.
Nor any mention of the tracking devices.
They seem to regard the slain one as a betrayer, yet can’t say why.
They were told he had betrayed them, but not how.
A couple more vultures joined them, circling the carcass below.
I’m going to read the minds of the men in the hangars and the barracks, Seth said. You take the men in the main building.
It was a time-consuming task. Holding these forms for extended lengths sapped their energy, but neither complained. What they learned here could save lives.
By the time they finished, half a dozen vultures were picking the dead soldier’s bones clean.
I got nothing, David said at length. None are aware of any plans to capture us. No one has been warned about or knows anything about the tracking devices. And, while they’re all speculating and coming up with their own ideas, none know why the dead soldier was deemed a traitor.
Apparently only the commander of the army knows why and he isn’t here.
And, of course, they don’t know where he is. This is ridiculous , David said with irritation he rarely exhibited. There is a point at which gullibility ceases and stupidity begins.
I know. They passed that point as soon as they saw their first paycheck and, because they assume that everything they are doing is legal and at the behest of some government contract, they have no problem with the killing.
Money has made them imbeciles!
They were imbeciles before that. The money just gave them a chance to confirm it. How are you holding up? Generally the only time David’s mellow temperament succumbed to irritation or anger was when he was in pain. They had been out in the strong midday sun for a few hours now while expending large amounts of energy to retain the forms of vultures. While Seth was weary, David was probably really feeling it by now.
I could use some blood, he admitted reluctantly.
We aren’t going to learn any more here today. Let’s head home.
The fact that David didn’t protest told Seth the pain was substantial. He should have asked David to shift forms and wait on the ground in the shade at least an hour ago.
Five miles beyond the fence, Seth banked toward the ground.
David followed without question.
Seth shifted just above the grass and landed on his feet.
David did the same, but stumbled.
Seth braced him until he could get his balance, then drew him into the shade of a nearby tree and placed his hand on David’s chest, absorbing his pain. “Forgive me. I lost track of time.”
“I didn’t. We needed the information.”
When David sighed with relief and nodded, Seth removed his hand and clapped him on the shoulder, teleporting them home.
“You seem nervous,” Krysta said, eyeing Étienne with some concern. The only other time she had seen him this nervous was when he had been about to ask Seth if she could be transformed.