“Shut up and listen, Taglioni. We’re going to set down at Briggs’ to recharge the airtruck, get a night’s rest, and pick up Flute. Now, there’s not likely to be any threat right there at the homestead, because Flute and Chaco are there. But it’s still the bush. They might kiss your milk-soft ass back on Transluna, but once you set foot out of this airtruck, you’re lunch. Mobbers won’t give a flying fuck about what table they seat you at back at Tiboronne.”

Falise tensed, gaze going fiery, then nodded. “Very well.” It was said reluctantly.

“That means you’ll do everything I tell you to. When I tell you to.” A beat. “It’s not about swinging dicks, as Kalico would say. When I give you an order, it is about keeping you alive.” Kylee pointed a finger. “And saying that, it’s no clap-trapping guarantee. You could still walk under a nightmare when I’m not looking or get too close to brown caps. You with me on this?”

“I wouldn’t be out here if I wasn’t.”

“Good. Keep that in your head, and I might actually get you back to PA alive.”

Kylee could see the Best River below, a dark line of water twisting and winding its way west through the trellis-pattern drainage created by the hogsbacks. Then they were out over virgin forest. Deep forest, a thick canopy that created a high-piled carpet of blues, greens, and turquoise.

At the confluence of Briggs River, she turned north, sent them skimming over the chabacho, aquajade, stonewood, and what they’d started to call blue leaf.

When the homestead came into view, Kylee turned the wheel, banking around and approaching from downwind. With care, she settled them on the pad just to the side of Chaco’s battered old Beta aircar. Not bad, she still had a thirty percent charge left in the powerpack.

With a smile, she let the fans spool down and hit the cabin lights. Her first long-distance trip. Flown solo, without backup. In the middle of the night! How fantastic was that?

“So, how does a Taglioni not know how to fly an airtruck?” she asked. “Dek came with his own airplane.”

“My brother was into having a good time. I was dedicated to my duty and family responsibilities. As to piloting an airtruck? I have people for that. Ednund . . .” She smiled wearily, no doubt feeling the ache and loss. “Yes, well, surely there are people who can be appointed when the need arises.”

“Appointed?” Kylee unclipped her rifle from the rack. “Good luck with that.” A pause. “And don’t forget your rifle. Ever.”

She opened the door, stepped down onto the pad. God, it smelled so good to be home. The scents from the forest, the smells of the garden, and the sound of the night chime backed by the waterfall down in the canyon.