Ivan nodded.

Whatever was happening here wasn't routine, and Jordan apparently didn't like it either.

What could he do?

If they were here for him, it was over.

He watched Captain Scott punch the control, and the hatch opened. There was the clang of feet-many feet-on the metal steps. Then three troopers entered the passengers' cabin.

Everyone reacted. Sitting up straight as if in school.

The old-timer at the front asked again, "What the hell's going on?"

But the troopers ignored him. Each had his hand locked on their rifles, as if ready to take the passengers out.

Then their commander entered. He was smiling.

Not always a good sign, Ivan thought.

His stomach tightened. If the troopers were here for him, he was helpless.

Unless ...

He looked at the troopers, their guns, weighing possibilities.

If they come for me, do I fight?

Other people might get hurt.

The SRV's gunner now looked at the troopers as if they were hostile invaders.

"Take it easy, old-timer. McGowan, right? The miner?" the commander said, still all smiles. "No need to worry, folks. We're here to help."

11.

COUNCIL'S ORDERS Here to help?

Yeah, right ...

Nahara placed his right hand on his upper leg and squeezed the data crystal in his pants pocket.

Checking.

Paranoid now.

Thinking: Maybe they know!

How could they have found out?

I didn't log out of Humphries's computer.... Anyone with half an ounce of brains or suspicion could search the history and see what I did ... the data I downloaded.

Dead easy.

A sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead. His paranoia, so obvious, like the slick of oil on his skin when he wiped it with the flat of his hand. He tried to see if any of the troopers were focusing on him.

He glanced at the miner and saw his obvious reaction: he was pissed at the interruption. Maybe he was anxious to get out of the SRV and stretch his legs. Grab a beer.

Nahara thought: I need to look ... unconcerned.

The tension inside him was so bad, he wanted to leap up out of his seat and run out the door, screaming: "You got me!"

How far would he get across the tarmac before they gunned him down?

And even if he avoided them, where the hell would he go?

He'd be trapped on this jungle planet.

Carnivorous plants!

He felt sick.

He took a breath.

Then: No one's on to me. Humphries is too stupid to suspect a thing. All I have to do is- "We have orders to escort you to your final destination-Omega Nine," the World Council commander said.

Using his jacket sleeve, Nahara wiped the sweat from his forehead.

It's all good ... for now.

Annie shook her head.

"Since when has a commercial passenger coach been important enough to warrant military protection?"

"We don't need your protection," Jordan added.

"Just following orders, Captain."

"Can we talk in the cockpit?" Annie asked, leaning close.

"No. Your passengers should know what's going on," Lahti said, turning around to face the cabin, his smile now faded.

"You all knew the risks when you signed on to come out here. That goes with the Road. But there have been reports of Runner activity that"-he turned to look at Annie again-"that warrants our protection. I'm sure you can all appreciate the added security of having a World Council troop ship along for the trip."

Already Annie felt like this wasn't her SRV anymore.

A damned troop ship.

But what choice do I have?

"We'll all be leaving-together-as soon as we refuel and re-ionize the ship's induction vents," Lahti said. "So don't wander too far." With that, he turned and exited the ship.

"Gage?" Ruth said.

Ivan turned. The Seeker raced to catch up with him, both with just an hour off the cramped SRV.

Ivan glanced at the troopers, marching back to their ship in stiff military order. All around him on the tarmac, ground crews and other way station personnel bustled about.

Half a dozen men tended to the SRV-66.

Ivan was headed straight for the way station bar. He considered pretending he hadn't heard Ruth, but then he stopped and turned to face her.

As he waited for her to catch up with him, he took a deep breath of the planet's moist, fresh air.

Dense ... delicious.

The Seeker-Ruth, he reminded himself-had pulled back her hood ... or it had fallen back-as she ran to catch up to him.

In the diffused sunlight of Epsilon Two, wreathed by a hazy glow because of the humid atmosphere, he found himself thinking that she wasn't so bad to look at outside of the dimness of the passengers' cabin.

Maybe she was even pretty.

Too bad she's one of those religious fanatics.

"Sorry to bother you, Mr. Gage."

"Drop the 'mister.' Just Gage," he said, nodding.

"Is it really so dangerous? I mean, where we're going that we need a Council troop ship?"

"World Council seems to think so."

He could see by her expression that his answer didn't help, and he decided to soften it.

"Look. Don't worry. We have a military escort now. So we're much safer. Besides, the Runners aren't the savages the media make them out to be."

"My ... brother says they're nothing but a bunch of bloodthirsty pirates."

He caught the way she hesitated before saying the word "brother." That hinted at ... something ... some disconnect.

Thinking: She has secrets, too.

"He ever meet one? A Runner, I mean. Face-to-face?"

Ivan smiled at the irony because here she was, talking to the Runners' leader.

Former leader, that is.

"I ... I assume he has," Ruth said. "He left home years ago and has been on the Road for a long time."

"Well, let me tell you one thing," Ivan said, stepping closer to her. "In my opinion, they're fighting for one thing and one thing only."

"And that is...?"

"Freedom of the Roads. For everyone. I would think you, especially-"

He took a step back and regarded her with a long, sweeping glance from head to foot.

"-as a Seeker, would appreciate and support what they do."

"But they're cold-blooded killers, too," she said. "I can't support violence."

"And what the World Council does is okay with you?"

Ivan sensed his control slipping.

Could make a mistake here.

Got to drop my support of the Runners. And fast.

He shot a glance over his shoulder and saw the neon lights of the restaurant and bar. Its name was FAR OUT.

But cliched name or not, if he was lucky, they either had some very fresh beer or some very old whiskey.

"Now, if you don't mind, Ruth."

Enough Seeker philosophy for now ...

"I want to grab myself a drink or two before we hit the Road again. And when I drink alone, I prefer to be by myself."

With that, he turned and walked away.

But all the while, he was aware of her gaze fixed on his back until he opened the door and entered the bar.

12.