Either way, his time had run out. He reached the stairway and climbed toward the roof, noticing as he did so that all the gunfire outside seemed to have ceased.
And as he eased his head up through the trap door, he found out why. In the distance, heading toward them at high speed, were three small aircraft.
So the Whinyard's Edge had finally called in air support. About time.
He raced across the roof, hoping Jack was still where he'd left him. He reached the edge, and in a single move leaped up onto the parapet and then threw himself into a flat dive toward the window he'd originally left.
His jump was slightly off, and his paws fumbled a bit as he ducked in through the window. Regaining his balance, he retraced his steps through the partitions and back to the wide stairway.
He made his way down to the second floor landing. There he paused, listening. The three Parprins were talking quietly, and from the direction of their tense voices he could tell they were still sitting or standing at the bottom of the stairway.
Unfortunately, Jack was keeping quiet. Had he moved away somewhere? If so, there might be a problem getting back to him without the Parprins seeing him.
And if he didn't move quickly, the Parprins would be the least of his worries. With much of the attack broken, and the aircraft dealing with the rest, he could see through the windows that the Edgemen were beginning to move purposefully around in the street. One of their first tasks, he knew, would be to check the nearby buildings for enemies.
All the buildings. Including this one.
He focused his attention on the stairway railing. A metal railing; and metal, he knew, conducted sound quite well. Reaching up, he gave it three gentle scratches with his claws.
To his relief, there was an immediate answering scratch.
He lifted his head carefully, just far enough to see. Jack had one hand resting on the railing, the fingers beckoning impatiently.
Slinking down the stairs, Draycos reached the spot where Jack stood. He touched the boy's hand and slid quickly up his sleeve as he changed into two-dimensional form. Shifting along Jack's skin, he worked his way around into his accustomed position.
Just in time. Across the room, the door slammed open. Moving carefully, Draycos peeked out through Jack's shirt.
Sergeant Grisko stood framed in the doorway, a small machine gun held high across his chest. Behind him, Draycos could see Alison Kayna andjommy Randolph.
'There he is,' Jommy said, pointing past Grisko's shoulder. 'I told you.'
'Yeah, you sure did.' Grisko leveled the full power of his glare at Jack. 'And what the frinking rip,' he demanded, 'are you doing here?'
Chapter 13
Quickly, Jack got his hand down off the railing and stiffened to attention. 'I was moving these civilians out of danger, sir,' he explained, giving a short nod toward the Parprins still huddled on the floor beside him. 'They were caught in the fire zone.'
'Very commendable,' Grisko said tardy. If he was pleased with Jack's answer, it didn't show on his face. 'Anyone give you any actual orders to that effect? Or did you dream it up on your own?'
'And then decide to hide in here with them?' Jommy muttered.
'Shut up, Randolph,' Grisko snapped, his eyes never leaving Jack's face. 'Someone give you orders, Montana? Anyone give you orders, Montana?'
'Not exactly, sir,' Jack admitted, feeling a fresh batch of sweat breaking out on his forehead. This was just great. He'd survived an enemy attack; and now he was going to catch it from his own side?
And possibly catch it even worse than just being shot at. The manual had listed some pretty severe penalties for desertion under fire. 'There wasn't anyone nearby to give me any orders,' he went on, trying desperately to think his way out of this.
'The manual lists twelve standing orders for behavior in a firefight,' Grisko ground out. 'You remember any of them being to turn tail and run like a rabbit?'
Jack clamped down on his tongue. 'No, sir,' he conceded. Beside him, one of the Parprins whimpered.
And at last, inspiration. 'But I do remember that an Edge-man's primary job is service to our employer,' he continued more confidently. 'Since our employer on Sunright is a Par-prin group, I assume all local Parprins come under that heading.'
'Nice try,' Grisko said. 'Problem is, the protection of civilians comes three points below support of your comrades on the list.'
Beside him, Alison stirred. 'I wonder where his gun is,' she murmured.
Grisko frowned, his eyes flicking to Jack's shoulder and then glancing at the floor and tables around him. 'That's a good question. You got a good answer?'
Jack would have smiled with relief if he'd dared. Of course; the escape hatch he'd been trying to find. 'One of the other Edgemen took it, sir,' he said.
A slight frown creased Grisko's forehead. 'Why?'
'I believe he wanted to use it against the snipers up in the hillside,' Jack explained. 'All he was carrying was a Heckler-Colt MP-50. Not really suitable for long-range work.'
'So why didn't he give you his H-C?' Grisko demanded.
'I didn't have time to ask him, sir,' Jack said. 'He just took my Gompers and ran with it. To be honest,' he added with what he hoped was just the right touch of humility, 'I don't think the regulars think very much of us as combat soldiers.'
Grisko's lip twisted. 'I can't really say I blame them.' He looked at the Parprins, back at Jack. 'All right, get outside,' he growled. 'We're forming up. Go get your Gompers back, then get your carcass into position.'
He turned sharply and stalked outside. Jommy gave Jack a dark look, then strode out behind him. 'I guess we don't get to see a court-martial, after all,' Alison remarked. 'Too bad. Might have been interesting.'
'Sorry to disappoint you,' Jack said, waving a farewell to the Parprins and heading toward the door. 'At least you got to watch me squirm. Was that enough entertainment for one afternoon?'
She lifted her eyebrows. 'Hey, I got you off the hook. What more do you want?'
'You could have mentioned a little earlier that you saw that thug-ugly take my gun,' Jack pointed out stiffly.
'Yes, I could have said something earlier,' Alison agreed. 'But why should I?'
