I noticed two deer bounding into the bush as I ran, and I looked down to realize I was invisible. Sheldon must have taken over the belt controls. Good thinking. Hopefully, the shooter didn’t have some version of infrared goggles for invisibility.

“I think this is a deliberately low-tech surveillance effort, in order to avoid detection,” Sheldon said. “After the Arley kidnapping, they may have clued in that we have Covenant-level technology. Unfortunately, it is working exactly as planned. I cannot tell from a scan what is out there.”

“Less talk, more help,” I said breathlessly, as I skidded to a near-stop in front of the small door.

“That’s no random hunter. He is ignoring the deer and moving toward the barn at a run. I believe he knows where you are going.”

Patrick pulled up behind me. “Shit. Why didn’t he zap us?”

“He might not have a disruptor, on the assumption that we might be able to detect it. Or if he does have one, he’s out of range. He has a large area to cover. However, if he gets close enough to us, that’s a real danger.” I thought for a moment. “Sheldon, open the people door as a diversion. Patrick, head around the barn, on the house side. We need to get out of line of sight. Any chance he has a detector?”

“The ones that would be useful in this situation for identifying you at a distance are large and heavy,” Sheldon replied. “With a portable, he’d have to get close to you first. There could be a series of stationary devices spaced around the property, although I haven’t detected them so they would have to be inactive at the moment.”

“If he gets close enough, he just has to wave the disrupter like a garden hose in the right general direction,” Patrick said. “We have to stay out of range.”

Sheldon replied, real anger in his voice for the first time. “This has to stop. I have had enough of being constantly on the run and having my friends threatened. It is time to bring the buttock-whooping.”

There was a high-pitched zzzzip nearby, then a thump and a scream. I looked over my shoulder just in time to see someone fall over on their back, hands over their face. Even from this distance, I could see blood seeping between the person’s fingers. Nearby, the drone was on the ground, hopping around and doing cartwheels, half of its rotors smashed. Then there was a pop and the drone burst into flames.