"This way," Jason said.

The sound of fighting broke out somewhere behind them. Jason tried to look that way and stumbled. "Don't look back," Kira said. "Whoever is fighting whoever, we need to get away from them."

The pier Jason led them down felt deserted, their feet on the wooden planks sounding far too loud as they ran to the end. Some larger vessels tied up on either side were dark and silent. Out in the harbor, ships swung at anchor, lanterns marking their locations.

They paused, Kira trying to catch her breath as she looked around. The sound of the fighting behind them had subsided. "It's quiet."

"Too quiet," Jason said, then laughed. "That's an ancient joke on Earth."

"The more I hear about Urth the stranger it gets." Kira pointed. "Look. A large dinghy. It's got a small mast with a sail, and oars. That'll get us out of here." She looked back, scanning the waterfront. Dark shapes flitted through the shadows. "They're coming. We can't be picky."

Before dropping down into the dinghy, Kira reloaded her pistol, topping off the magazine. "Mother and Aunt Alli always said reload whenever you can."

"Your mother has good advice," Jason said, looking toward the waterfront. "They're getting closer."

Kira lowered herself and dropped into the dinghy, the boat rocking under her. She grabbed a supporting pillar next to the boat to steady it as Jason followed.

"Are we stealing this?" Jason asked.

"We're borrowing it. I'm not happy about it, but it beats being captured or killed by the people who are after us."

"Good point," Jason agreed as he checked the single sail furled on its boom. "Good thing we've got experience with handling sails, huh?"

"What do you think you're doing?" A pile of blankets in the bow proved to be the bed of an enraged man. Just awoken from sleep, he glowered at them, brandishing a large knife. "Get out!"

"You're taking us for a ride," Kira informed him. "We're renting your boat. Cast off."

"Wrong, girl! The harbor master doesn't allow passengers in full dark. Now get off before I—"

The man's voice broke off as Kira pulled out her pistol and aimed it at him. She kept her finger alongside the trigger guard because she didn't want to risk accidentally shooting the man and didn't think he would notice in the dark. "You're taking us. Or you're getting off and we'll take the boat without you. Your choice." A part of Kira marveled at how calm and steely her voice sounded. "You have to the count of three to decide."

Speechless, the man nodded and helped Jason free the last lines holding the boat to the pier. Jason and the man shoved the boat away from the pier while Kira stood next to the mast, holding on to it to steady herself as she watched for approaching enemies. "I think they're coming down the pier. Get us away from here."