The Forlorn(112)

But Keilin knew the truth, with sudden and absolute clarity. "She made love to you just the once. You could be very charming. But her psi worked best then. She knew exactly what fantasy you had to play in your mind to have normal sex. She threw you out. Rejected you. You, the great hero Dane Fisher."

Cap's face contorted with rage. Keilin held the bag in front of him, like a shield. "Let her go!"

"God I hate you little psis. Always snooping." He leaned over Shael and cut her bonds. She managed to get up.

"The core sections. Throw them or I'll cut her throat."

"I'll throw . . . when she comes towards me."

Cap smiled. It was not a nice smile. And he pushed Shael forward towards Keilin.

Keilin tossed the bag, grabbed her arm and pulled her behind him. "Run."

"No. Give me a knife."

Keilin pulled one out of his boot But instead of giving it to Shael he threw it at Cap. Cap dodged. He had picked up his long, curved sword. He smiled cruelly. "I never realized back on Earth how useful Kendo training would be. Give her a knife, boy. It won't make any difference. And you won't be able to run. CompControl: Close doors to the drive chamber." He leaned over the transmitter flue and took out the mixture of core sections and opals. "Now I have them all," he said, as the doors whined shut.

Keilin and Shael stood side by side, facing his slow, catlike advance. Keilin could tell it was giving the man great pleasure.

He felt the hard shaft of the assegai.

Knew with absolute certainty that this throw would strike true. Knew also that it wouldn't kill.

And the great doors at the far side of the room were struck by something with the force of double-forked lightning.

Again.

They cracked. Splintered before the assault. And crashed open.

The three Gene-spliced stood there. The svelte Gerda with her saber. The immensely broad, almost-fat Hamesh with the huge battle-axe that had wreaked part of the damage on the door. And in the middle the towering Wolfgang, looking so like Bey in a berserker rage . . . only one and a half times as big, and far more controlled. He was whirling a spiked steel ball on a chain. A slow and deadly figure eight of perfectly controlled steel, that could accelerate with unstoppable force.

Keilin knew that Cap prided himself on his martial skill. Why then did he back away?

"I've come to avenge my father," Wolf's voice was cold, and as carefully controlled as the morningstar in his hand.

"He tried to stop me. I had a duty to do. You would never have been born without me . . ." Cap whined.

"Liar."

"We know now how you poisoned our people." Hamesh tossed the heavy battle-axe from hand to hand like a willow wand. "You poisoned us against all other humans. Told us that they were afraid of us. You were the one who was afraid. Afraid because even the untrained humans like us are faster and stronger than you. That's why you poisoned our women, cut us off from other people."

"Killed our babies." Gerda cut the air with her saber. "And that's just what you did to our people. There are many others waiting to see you in hell."

They were closing. "You've always fought less-able folk. Let's see what you can do against us."

Keilin could feel real fear emanating from Cap now. He could also feel the fear of the other three. They were facing a legend. They didn't really expect to win. But Cap didn't know that. He saw Cap's index finger come up. Pointed at Wolf's chest.

Keilin didn't even remember throwing. But the heavy blade struck true, shearing into Cap's hand, deflecting the ruby incandescence. A hole was blasted into the wall inches from Wolf's head.

"Keep off. I'll shoot again." Fear and pain pitched Cap's voice higher.

"He's only got one shot until it recharges. He's lying . . . as usual," said Wolf to his companions, who hadn't slowed their advance. Then he spoke to Cap. "Why don't you call for medical help? The doctors in the hospital are waiting for you. They might put you in a bed between Bey and Leyla."

Keilin felt the change in Cap. Something Wolf had said had made him think of a way out. The man dived behind a bank of electronic instruments.

"There's a door," yelled Shael. "Get him."

But they were too late.

A speaker boomed. "I have instructed CompControl to flood this place with cyanide gas in three minutes. I'll be spacebound by then, you fools. The Morkth destroyed the shuttlecraft at Morningstar I. But of course they didn't get the ones here. I'd forgotten that! I've got the core sections. I'll come back when you're dead. And on the ship I've tools that are going to turn Dublin Moss and anyone else who dares resist me into molten lava. So long, suckers."

This door was made of sterner stuff than the doors they'd smashed earlier. It took at least a minute to break down. Cap's scent and the blood spoor ended abruptly outside the door.