The Lotus Eaters

naval system, built in—and to the usual standards of—the undeveloped or semi-developed parts of the planet. The sound from the clicker was faint. Chu could only just hear it, and then only if he concentrated.

'Take us out.'

There was a slight disturbance in the water around the sub's bow, and a marginally more noticeable one aft. The boat eased itself forward, very slowly and aimed directly at the gate. In a control room overlooking the interior of the pen, one of the sailors pressed a button. Immediately, the armored gate—it was as well armored as the rear portal over the rail lines—began sliding open with the expected deluge of sound. Chu's Meg passed through the open gate and made its way toward the middle of the bay.

About two thirds of the way to the middle the captain ordered, 'Course one-eight-seven. Take us past the island.' The boat began a slow veer to port.

* * *

There was a single trixie, bright green and red quasi-feathers clear against the blue sky, circling the tree- crowned island as it passed astern to the left. Almost immediately, the waves, which had been practically non- existent, grew to a height of a couple of feet. A medium yacht would have noticed them; on the Meg they had no real effect.

A small yacht, its passengers engaged in fishing just at the mouth of the bay, sheltered behind the small island, saw the sail of the Meg pass by about half a mile away. The passengers, sport fisherman from the Federated States, to all appearances, waved at Chu, which wave he returned.

Chu then disappeared into the hull of the Meg. A few minutes later, the sail began to sink into the waves.

Fort Muddville, Balboa, Terra Nova

Though built around a large infantry brigade, Janier's command included both air and naval components, as well as some foreign detachments. As such, the brigade staff was a joint-combined staff. As such, each staff section contained officers, warrants, and non-commissioned officers from the other services, and some from other states in the Tauran Union. Lieutenant de Vaisseau—Lieutenant of the Line—Surcouf was the Gallic senior naval type on de Villepin's intelligence staff.

Surcouf shook his head, wonderingly.

'What's that?' asked de Villepin.

'Oh, the latest little Balboan submarine just left the pen at Puerto Lindo,' the lieutenant answered. 'A test run, I suppose, since it's brand new. Our people doing observation aboard the yacht just waved it out. I honestly don't know why those people even bother; the things are so outrageously noisy that we could find this one, or any of its siblings, any time we like. Seems like such a waste of money and manpower.'

'Think we should dispatch the southern frigate'—there was a frigate at each terminus of the Transitway—'to track it?' de Villepin asked.

Surcouf thought about it for a moment before answering, 'No . . . no, sir, I think not. If Ney tracks it they'll know they're easily spotted. Then they might actually start thinking about and then fix the problem with the noisemakers they think of as water jets. Better this way, I think. Big surprise for the Balboans if it ever comes to a fight.'

'Fair enough,' de Villepin agreed. 'What's Charlemagne's progress?'

'Four days sailing; then she'll be here.'

De Villepin nodded, then said, 'It's kind of odd, isn't it, that the locals aren't reacting to the approach of the carrier. It's not like it's a secret. And one would think that it would at least alarm them some, cause some limited mobilization. But nothing. Not even an increase in telephone traffic.'

'I agree it's odd, sir. But who can understand these people, anyway?'

Maybe nobody, de Villepin thought. I wish I could, though.

SdL Megalodon, Shimmering Sea, Terra Nova

The string across the open was noticeably bowed. The depth meter read six hundred meters. Location was roughly sixty miles out in the Shimmering Sea. The crew was alternately sleeping, or snacking, or playing games at their battle stations, while waiting for the clock to run. A small buoy on a wire linked the Meg with the surface, receiving the Global Locating System signal while Chu and company listened for any code words that would indicate a change in plans.

'Time, skipper,' announced Guillermo Aleman.

'Retrieve the buoy,' Chu said.

* * *

On the surface the captain of the tender that always accompanied test runs noted the time. 'They'll be taking off soon,' he muttered.

Glancing over his chart, the tender's captain gave the order, 'Turn on the clicker simulator. Set course for Point Bravo. Speed, six knots.' He smiled, thinking, Just exactly as if we were still following the sub around.

* * *

It took about three minutes for the small electric motor to bring the buoy back to its station atop the sail, which also closed the tiny doors above it as the buoy settled. The motor, itself, was contained in and shielded by the sail. It was essentially a silent process.

'Tender's taking off, skipper,' sonar announced. 'Heading generally to Point Bravo at . . . call it six knots. She's