“Thanks, Raya. I’ll take it from here.” To Two Spot, she said, “Patch me through to the Maritime Unit.”

“Roger that.” A pause. “Patching. You have a clear channel, Supervisor.”

“This is Board Supervisor Aguila to the Maritime Unit. I have an urgent communication for Scientific Director Michaela Hailwood. Repeat: I have an urgent communication for Scientific Director Michaela Hailwood. Please respond that you have received this communication.”

Nothing.

Kalico repeated it. And then again.

Nothing.

“Two Spot? Are they hearing this?”

“Yes, ma’am. Signal’s fine. If there’s a problem, it’s on their end.”

“Son of a bloody bitch,” Kalico growled.

“What do you want to do?” Shig asked mildly. “Anything you need from us, is yours.”

Kalico frowned down at her half-eaten lunch. “I’d say your A-7, but the last thing I ever want to do is make that run from the ramp to the Pod door.” She cocked her head. “It’s too far to fly out there in an airtruck. Not without a recharge at the beach pad. No, I need something small, light, that has the range . . .”

“Dek’s airplane?” Shig suggested.

“That would work. It’s light enough and has vertical take-off and landing.” She frowned. “The only problem is that Dek is out at Two Falls Gap with Talina. And there’s no telling if he’s sane enough to fly it safely.”

“Manny Bateman can fly it.”

Did she dare? Tempting as it was, Kalico slowly shook her head. “It’s Dek’s plane, Shig. Even if this was a full-fledged emergency, which we can’t be sure it is, I still wouldn’t be brazen enough to commandeer a Taglioni’s private property.”

“Let me see what I can do,” Shig said, sliding off his barstool. “If you need our A-7, it’s yours on demand. We’ll work out the rent later.” He flicked fingers at the third-full glass of red wine. “See, how incredibly clever you are? A single swallow, and all my inhibitions are gone. Plied as I am with alcohol, I’m putty in your fingers.”

As he walked away, Kalico muttered at his retreating back, “If I’m so fucking clever, Shig, why do I have the feeling that I caused whatever disaster is unfolding out at the Maritime Unit?”

80

Talina unlatched the door to the Two Falls Gap dome. Stepped wearily inside. Dek limped along behind her. He carried his rifle balanced with the weight of the barrel over his shoulder, his hand on the gun’s high comb. They were both filthy, sweat-streaked, with their clothes smudged by roots and dirt.

Talina shot Dek another of her “you’re an idiot” looks. Then gave him a weary smile. “You ever do that again, and I’m breaking your legs.”