codes.”
“Well
I’m glad for that. How come the Captain doesn’t fall into the same category?”
“He
is the enemy.” Ardal straightened his shoulders. “He is not a woman.”
Fiona’s
face scrunched up. “That makes no sense.”
“It
is forbidden for a Hunter to kill or harm a woman or child. That is the first
rule of our Sacred Code.”
“You
never disobey this code?” Fiona raised an eyebrow.
“It
is what we live by.” Ardal took her arm and led her back to the house. “We are
wasting time by arguing. We should have started on our journey.”
“Well
you can go. Leave me with the Captain. I’m sure he’ll be no problem, especially
once I threaten him with the police.”
“The
man is dangerous.” Ardal felt a familiar determination strengthen his muscles.
“You are to come with us. I promised.”
“Whoa,
just a minute there. I don’t need anyone else’s help,
especially not a man’s.” Fiona pulled away from Ardal and started to back up.
“I have contacted the Underground Network and they will place me again.”
“There
isn’t time. Your military is within a couple of miles of finding us. We need to
move now.”
Ardal
stood with his feet spread and arms crossed. “The decision has been made and
you will come with us. Go and gather a small bag of necessary items. It would
be good if you could bring the paper map also.”
“Let
the Captain live. Hasn’t there been enough death.” Fiona touched his crossed
arms, her eyes looking up at him, pleading. “Besides, it will be the military
who find him. They can decide what to do with him.”
“He
will give us away.”
“Do
you honestly think they’ll believe what he says? They’ll think he’s a lunatic.
“So
you want him left here for the others to find?”
“Yes.”
Fiona moved close enough that he could see the dark ring around the green of
her eyes, “He won’t know where you are, and you’ve covered up the debris, so
anything he tells them will look like a lie.”
“This
is not a good decision.” Ardal felt a tightening in his stomach. Years of
training told him that leaving the Captain alive would only mean trouble later
on. What was he to do though? If Fiona insisted he must obey. “He will hurt us
in the future.”
“If
that happens then you can deal with him then. He’s on a new planet, too. Give
him a second chance to prove he’s not a monster. Let him live.”
“This
is your order?”
“Yes.”
Ardal
glanced back at Firbin and Jehon. They both nodded their understanding. A
Hunter would not leave the man alive. He knew too much and was dangerous. There
was no arguing with a woman’s instructions though, even if that woman was
unfamiliar with the ways of war. She was not in direct harm, so there was no
reason to countermand the order.
He
stepped back. “As you wish. Now prepare your stuff. We
leave in five minutes.”
Fifteen
minutes later, Ardal was pacing outside the house when he heard the distinct
sound of a flying machine. He motioned his men into the house. It would be best
not to be caught outside where they might be identified as strangers.
“Is
that a helicopter?” Fiona rushed up from the lower level of her house. She
carried an odd shaped pack that was stuffed full.
“Whatever
it is, we must keep out of sight.”
“That’s
for sure.” Fiona dropped her sack at the door. “What if they have thermal
imaging equipment?”
Ardal
grunted. Why could this planet not be more primitive? It would make it easier
to blend in. Thankfully his men were gone. A large group of Hunters would have
been suspicious.
“What
other ways do they have to detect people?”
Fiona
frowned. “I know they have infrared stuff, night vision, and satellites that
are orbiting the planet that can see you and hear you. They have to be in
position though. As far as I know they can’t see through walls.”
“This
is certain?”
Fiona
shrugged. “That’s what all the conspiracy shows say.”
Ardal’s
eyes
“Well
I’m glad for that. How come the Captain doesn’t fall into the same category?”
“He
is the enemy.” Ardal straightened his shoulders. “He is not a woman.”
Fiona’s
face scrunched up. “That makes no sense.”
“It
is forbidden for a Hunter to kill or harm a woman or child. That is the first
rule of our Sacred Code.”
“You
never disobey this code?” Fiona raised an eyebrow.
“It
is what we live by.” Ardal took her arm and led her back to the house. “We are
wasting time by arguing. We should have started on our journey.”
“Well
you can go. Leave me with the Captain. I’m sure he’ll be no problem, especially
once I threaten him with the police.”
“The
man is dangerous.” Ardal felt a familiar determination strengthen his muscles.
“You are to come with us. I promised.”
“Whoa,
just a minute there. I don’t need anyone else’s help,
especially not a man’s.” Fiona pulled away from Ardal and started to back up.
“I have contacted the Underground Network and they will place me again.”
“There
isn’t time. Your military is within a couple of miles of finding us. We need to
move now.”
Ardal
stood with his feet spread and arms crossed. “The decision has been made and
you will come with us. Go and gather a small bag of necessary items. It would
be good if you could bring the paper map also.”
“Let
the Captain live. Hasn’t there been enough death.” Fiona touched his crossed
arms, her eyes looking up at him, pleading. “Besides, it will be the military
who find him. They can decide what to do with him.”
“He
will give us away.”
“Do
you honestly think they’ll believe what he says? They’ll think he’s a lunatic.
“So
you want him left here for the others to find?”
“Yes.”
Fiona moved close enough that he could see the dark ring around the green of
her eyes, “He won’t know where you are, and you’ve covered up the debris, so
anything he tells them will look like a lie.”
“This
is not a good decision.” Ardal felt a tightening in his stomach. Years of
training told him that leaving the Captain alive would only mean trouble later
on. What was he to do though? If Fiona insisted he must obey. “He will hurt us
in the future.”
“If
that happens then you can deal with him then. He’s on a new planet, too. Give
him a second chance to prove he’s not a monster. Let him live.”
“This
is your order?”
“Yes.”
Ardal
glanced back at Firbin and Jehon. They both nodded their understanding. A
Hunter would not leave the man alive. He knew too much and was dangerous. There
was no arguing with a woman’s instructions though, even if that woman was
unfamiliar with the ways of war. She was not in direct harm, so there was no
reason to countermand the order.
He
stepped back. “As you wish. Now prepare your stuff. We
leave in five minutes.”
Fifteen
minutes later, Ardal was pacing outside the house when he heard the distinct
sound of a flying machine. He motioned his men into the house. It would be best
not to be caught outside where they might be identified as strangers.
“Is
that a helicopter?” Fiona rushed up from the lower level of her house. She
carried an odd shaped pack that was stuffed full.
“Whatever
it is, we must keep out of sight.”
“That’s
for sure.” Fiona dropped her sack at the door. “What if they have thermal
imaging equipment?”
Ardal
grunted. Why could this planet not be more primitive? It would make it easier
to blend in. Thankfully his men were gone. A large group of Hunters would have
been suspicious.
“What
other ways do they have to detect people?”
Fiona
frowned. “I know they have infrared stuff, night vision, and satellites that
are orbiting the planet that can see you and hear you. They have to be in
position though. As far as I know they can’t see through walls.”
“This
is certain?”
Fiona
shrugged. “That’s what all the conspiracy shows say.”
Ardal’s
eyes
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