Crown of Slaves

for any boarding party to keep straight without at least a detailed set of plans. But this is a slaver, so it's virtually certain her layout doesn't match the rest of her official classmates anymore. And even if it did, there'll be an elaborate set of internal security measures to penetrate.'

He nodded at Victor. 'The codes he got are only the general Mesan codes for ship entry. The internal security codes will be specific to each vessel, and there's no way of finding them out without getting on board and hacking into the ship's computer.' Now, he nodded toward Ruth. 'She can do it, I'm sure she can, and while she's at it, she can pull out a complete schematic of Felicia's blueprints for you, too. The girl-sorry, young woman-is a whiz with security programs. Just to prove it, she cracked the codes of The Wages of Sin inside half an hour. The toughest ones of all, in fact, the ones which govern access to the hidden security scanners in all the rooms and suites in the station.'

The Solarian officer's smile grew lopsided. 'A bit flamboyant, you ask me. I certainly wouldn't have violated your privacy that way.'

Victor and Thandi both froze. Princess Ruth looked exceedingly uncomfortable. 'Look, sorry. It was just the suite number I remembered right off. I switched off after-three seconds, at the most.'

Berry giggled. 'What a liar. More like three minutes.'

Victor rubbed his face. 'Ruined,' he muttered.

'Don't be silly,' Berry stated firmly. 'First of all, I made sure Ruth erased everything. Second of all, even if I hadn't, the worst thing you'd face is hordes of female admirers. It was… Ah. Impressive.'

'Hordes of dead female admirers,' muttered Thandi. She gave Ruth a look which was not filled with admiration. 'You ever do that again, girl, and I will introduce you to a new word: regicide.'

Ruth looked suitably abashed. Insofar, at least, as a young woman of her temperament ever could. 'Not sure that's right, actually. 'Regicide'-I think-refers to a ruling monarch. But'-she hurried on-'that's okay. I'd just as soon avoid princessicide too. I really didn't mean any harm. I just had to prove to Jiri I wasn't bragging.'

Thandi transferred the look-not-filled-with-admiration to the Solarian intelligence specialist. 'Superior officer or not, Commander-'

'Have no fear, Lieutenant Palane. My lips are sealed.' Watanapongse's smile was now very lopsided. 'I've also seen you in a full contact court, remember? And I've never had any problem keeping my priorities straight. Staying alive comes a long way ahead of gossip.'

He took two steps and eased into the couch across from Victor and Thandi. 'So let's get back to the subject.' He tossed his head toward Berry and Ruth. 'While the two of you were-ah-indisposed, we fleshed out the plan. Lieutenant Palane, you'll lead the skinsuit assault on the Felicia, with the Princess and your Amazons slaved to your controls until you reach the ship. Once you get in, you'll be in command-and you'll have your special unit along, as well as Princess Ruth to provide you with tech assistance. We figure you should be able to reach the bridge within two hours.'

He made a face. 'We'll just have to hope that's enough time. But I'm afraid there's no way around the fact that Ms. Zilwicki-still posing as the Princess-will have to transfer over to the Felicia within the hour. I don't think anybody doubts that Templeton's maniacs will make good on their promise.'

Victor scowled fiercely. 'That was not part of the plan. Like you said, they're maniacs. We can't leave Ms. Zilwicki in their hands for hours before she's rescued. No way.'

'It's either that or watch eight thousand people get vaporized,' Berry said bluntly. 'You do what you want, Victor Cachat. It really doesn't matter, because the decision is mine and I already made it.'

Thandi's eyes were wide. 'Eight thousand?'

'Yup. As part of their broadcast, Templeton's men showed interior scans of the Felicia. The bastards have that ship packed to the gills with people. All of them genetic slaves from Manpower's breeding station on Jarrod. Tech and heavy labor varieties, mostly. Congo uses up slaves like firewood.'

All that, the seventeen-year-old girl said in a level, even voice. The words which came after seemed to have no tone at all. 'They won't kill me, Victor. Not right away, for sure. The worst that'll happen-fairly standard practice for Masadans-is that I'll get raped. I've been raped before. I'll deal with it afterward, well enough. It beats eight thousand people being murdered. So there's nothing to discuss.'

Victor stared at her for a few seconds. Then, nodded. The gesture was more of a sign of respect than agreement.

'All right, then. But you're not going alone. I'll go with you.'

'Are you nuts?' protested Berry. 'What's the point? They'll kill you right off.'

'No they won't.' Victor's face had a little lopsided smile of its own. 'Not after I let it drop that I've got critical information for them. Which I'll refuse to divulge, of course. And our anti-drug immunization programs are even better than Manticore's, so they'll have to fall back on torture. That'll have the added advantage of distracting them from you.'

'What 'critical information'?' demanded Princess Ruth.

Victor shrugged. 'Who knows? I'll figure out something in the next hour. Biggest problem I'll have is posing as your… tutor, whatever. Somebody who insisted on coming with you. My Nouveau Paris slum accent is hard to disguise.'

'Just roll your 'r's a bit,' suggested Watanapongse. 'And toss in some French words here and there. Havenite patois will work fine, since they won't know the difference anyway. You can pass yourself off as a scholar from Garches.'

Seeing Victor's puzzled expression, he added: 'It's a planet in Ventane sector. Dirt poor, but settled originally by idiot intellectuals. Their major export crop is half-baked nannies with delusions of grandeur.'

Thandi was staring at him, her face tight. 'Victor… I'll get there as fast as I can, but… .'

He gave her a smile. Then, deciding that discretion was pointless anyway-certainly in front of an audience which had been watching them in flagrante delicto, excelsior-turned it into something of a leer. 'One of my father's favorite sayings, you know: 'turnabout is fair play.' Although I do hope you get to me before they wear out the leather and start pulling out the iron stuff.'

Chapter 34

'This isn't going to work,' Berry said quietly, as she studied Victor.

The words didn't seem to register on him for a few seconds. Victor just kept staring at the viewscreen, watching the image of the Felicia III slowly grow larger. Then, his eyes still seeming a bit unfocused, he swivelled his head toward her. He and Berry were sitting in the first two seats in the small shuttle, with Lieutenant Gohr and three Marines from the Gauntlet sitting in the shuttle's four other seats. Because the front row of seats faced backward, Victor and Berry were looking straight at the Manticorans.

'We can still turn back,' he said. 'All you have to do is say the word.'

'I didn't make myself clear. I'm fine. The reason it's not going to work is because of you.'

Victor frowned. Berry looked at Betty Gohr.

'I ask you, Lieutenant: does this man bear the slightest resemblance to a tutor for a royal princess?'

Lieutenant Gohr chuckled. 'About as much as a falcon resembles a mouse. She's right, Officer Cachat. I was just thinking the same thing myself.'

Victor shrugged irritably. 'I'm not putting on the act now. Once we get aboard-'

Gohr shook her head. 'Not a chance. If you were just going to be playing that role… maybe. I don't know how good an actor you are. But not even the best actor in the galaxy can play two parts at once. And the problem is that you're also preparing yourself for torture. Steeling yourself enough to stand up to at least two hours of it. Whatever it takes to give Lieutenant Palane the time she needs. And you'll give it to her, won't you? I don't much doubt you're one of those rare people who'll withstand torture until you simply lapse unconscious.'

Victor repeated the irritable shrug. 'I have a high pain threshold, that's all. Fourth highest ever recorded at the