REHO: A Science Fiction Thriller (The Hegemon Wars) by D. L. Denham Page B
Authors: D. L. Denham
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inventory that time!” Gibson said.
Sola did not reply. She turned away and focused on the incoming steamer. Reho watched as she took something from her shirt pocket and popped it into her mouth.
She stuck her head back in the navigation room. “Normally we don’t come through a port city like this. But we need to get on the steamer tonight. And it won’t mean jack if I can’t convince these guys we’re here for pleasure.” Sola removed an OldWorld pistol from under the navigation dashboard, checked its ammo, then replaced it. She looked at Gibson, but did not have to tell him what to do. Gibson sat frozen to his chair.
“We’re going to bribe them.” Reho hadn’t realized it at first, but that was the only logical plan. And Thursday and Ends were in the bottom, ready to come out guns blazing if things went bad.
“Well, I am going to do the bribing,” she said. “And you are going to stand next to me and look tough.” She winked at him, then headed for the boat’s bow.
Reho followed and stood next to her without a word.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “I am fairly sure these guys will take the bribe. If not, look for the sign, and we’ll fall back into the cargo room.”
Reho’s weapons were back in his room, including his knife. He stayed close to Sola so he could easily respond if the situation demanded. Reho noticed that the boxy black bag Ends had given her was now by her feet.
She straightened up and cracked her neck. Reho could see sweat forming on her brow. “Don’t do anything stupid. Just follow my lead and watch for my signal.”
“And that is?”
“You will know. Be ready.”
With the roar of what sounded like a dozen gasolines, the boat pulled alongside. It was smaller—half the size of their boat and rusted enough to make Reho wonder how it was staying afloat. Gibson had been right. Four guys lined the outside of the boat. Others might be hiding elsewhere in the steamer, but Reho doubted it. Each packed OldWorld rifles similar to the one propped against the wall in Reho’s room. Sola spoke, leaning over the boat’s edge and addressing one of the men in a language Reho had heard before as a kid down at the docks in Virginia Bloc.
Sola never looked back. Reho dismissed the memory as her tone change. Before Reho could respond, she had already picked up the black bag, twisted over the rails, and jumped into the other boat.
She held up her hand, signaling Reho to wait.
The men stepped closer to her but made no threatening moves. The one in control spoke in short bursts. The left lens of his goggles was missing.
Sola never looked his way. This is going to work. She opened the black bag and took out a safecard reader. She swiped a smartcard through the machine several times, finally showing them a number on which they could agree. The smartcard remained with the goggled men as she packed up the device and returned to the boat. Reho could read the smirk on her face as she passed by him. She had that excited, wide-eyed look and jaunty stride of someone who single-handedly took care of business for the crew.
Never had Reho seen a woman take charge like that. Women in Usona were dependent and caregivers, not leaders and business-partners, like Sola was with Ends.
The steamer built up power as it crept north, back to patrolling the coast. Reho heard noises from below, a double thud rapped against the steel beneath Reho, probably wondering if they were still alive. Sola stomped twice. Her face was flush and her eyes darted with excitement. Reho wondered what gave her the advantage he had seen a few moments ago. She’d recklessly boarded the patrol steamer, careless of the danger of what could’ve happened. She hadn’t wanted his help. Even if things had soured, there wouldn’t have been a signal for him to step in and save the day.
Chapter 5
Reho looked west across the Atlantic, back in the direction of Virginia Bloc. He stood on the other side of that vast ocean, a metal pier
Sola did not reply. She turned away and focused on the incoming steamer. Reho watched as she took something from her shirt pocket and popped it into her mouth.
She stuck her head back in the navigation room. “Normally we don’t come through a port city like this. But we need to get on the steamer tonight. And it won’t mean jack if I can’t convince these guys we’re here for pleasure.” Sola removed an OldWorld pistol from under the navigation dashboard, checked its ammo, then replaced it. She looked at Gibson, but did not have to tell him what to do. Gibson sat frozen to his chair.
“We’re going to bribe them.” Reho hadn’t realized it at first, but that was the only logical plan. And Thursday and Ends were in the bottom, ready to come out guns blazing if things went bad.
“Well, I am going to do the bribing,” she said. “And you are going to stand next to me and look tough.” She winked at him, then headed for the boat’s bow.
Reho followed and stood next to her without a word.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “I am fairly sure these guys will take the bribe. If not, look for the sign, and we’ll fall back into the cargo room.”
Reho’s weapons were back in his room, including his knife. He stayed close to Sola so he could easily respond if the situation demanded. Reho noticed that the boxy black bag Ends had given her was now by her feet.
She straightened up and cracked her neck. Reho could see sweat forming on her brow. “Don’t do anything stupid. Just follow my lead and watch for my signal.”
“And that is?”
“You will know. Be ready.”
With the roar of what sounded like a dozen gasolines, the boat pulled alongside. It was smaller—half the size of their boat and rusted enough to make Reho wonder how it was staying afloat. Gibson had been right. Four guys lined the outside of the boat. Others might be hiding elsewhere in the steamer, but Reho doubted it. Each packed OldWorld rifles similar to the one propped against the wall in Reho’s room. Sola spoke, leaning over the boat’s edge and addressing one of the men in a language Reho had heard before as a kid down at the docks in Virginia Bloc.
Sola never looked back. Reho dismissed the memory as her tone change. Before Reho could respond, she had already picked up the black bag, twisted over the rails, and jumped into the other boat.
She held up her hand, signaling Reho to wait.
The men stepped closer to her but made no threatening moves. The one in control spoke in short bursts. The left lens of his goggles was missing.
Sola never looked his way. This is going to work. She opened the black bag and took out a safecard reader. She swiped a smartcard through the machine several times, finally showing them a number on which they could agree. The smartcard remained with the goggled men as she packed up the device and returned to the boat. Reho could read the smirk on her face as she passed by him. She had that excited, wide-eyed look and jaunty stride of someone who single-handedly took care of business for the crew.
Never had Reho seen a woman take charge like that. Women in Usona were dependent and caregivers, not leaders and business-partners, like Sola was with Ends.
The steamer built up power as it crept north, back to patrolling the coast. Reho heard noises from below, a double thud rapped against the steel beneath Reho, probably wondering if they were still alive. Sola stomped twice. Her face was flush and her eyes darted with excitement. Reho wondered what gave her the advantage he had seen a few moments ago. She’d recklessly boarded the patrol steamer, careless of the danger of what could’ve happened. She hadn’t wanted his help. Even if things had soured, there wouldn’t have been a signal for him to step in and save the day.
Chapter 5
Reho looked west across the Atlantic, back in the direction of Virginia Bloc. He stood on the other side of that vast ocean, a metal pier
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