Annie shook her head. This SRV didn't feel like hers anymore, not with this now intimidating stranger sitting below, a pulse rifle by his side.

"When do we do that?"

"I'm not sure. We don't want to spook him. Let him know we're on to him."

"You think he doesn't know that already?"

"Maybe when we stop at the next station. Make it casual. Ask a few questions."

Annie chewed her lower lip.

A physical reminder that for once in her life, she wasn't sure how to handle something. This wasn't like her.

Then she noticed that Jordan had unbuttoned his shirt cuff and was rolling up his right shirtsleeve. All the way up to his shoulder, exposing his biceps.

Jordan twisted his arm around to the right, exposing a spot under his biceps, then he held his arm up so Annie could see.

A series of black lines and squiggles.

A QR symbol burned into Jordan's skin.

"Every trooper, from grunt to central command, gets one of these. For security, for safety ... for life."

And then it became clear what he meant.

She repeated his words: "For life."

A nod.

And with that vital, even dangerous bit of information they could plan what they were going to do.

"When we get to the way station," Annie said. She looked around, checking the flight readouts. "We'll deal with it then ... where there's security to back up our play."

Jordan nodded.

Good, she thought. But having a plan and pulling it off are two different things.

They both fell silent as they prepared to enter the portal to the next way station.

24.

HYDRA SALIM.

"I wonder if going through the portal looks the same to everyone," Ruth said, her face turned to the window.

The light show streaked by in a dazzling array. "Or if it's like-what's the word? Subjective? What if it's subjective, and you see what you want to see?"

His nap obviously over, Ivan opened his eyes, looked at her, and shook his head.

Why all the mystery? This wondering about the Road, the portals? The goddamned Builders.

The Road was the Road.

Take it for what it is-what it has to offer-and don't ask so damned many questions.

He said none of this because, as much as he didn't want to admit it, he was finding her attractive.

Better looking than the Chippie, if he had to choose.

Been so long. No time for any of that in his previous life.

He let his hand drop to his side and touch the smooth barrel of his pulse rifle.

Now that's reassuring.

He was waiting for the confrontation-when the gunner or the captain, more likely, asked him-demanded!-that he yield his weapon.

Not gonna happen ... and they'd better not try to take it.

"Attention please!"

Captain Scott's voice.

"Please secure your seat belts. We're coming up on the portal to Hydra Salim in a few minutes."

"Ohhh..." the Chippie said. Ivan watched her check to make sure the chip in the side of her head was secure.

He heaved a sigh of relief.

Hydra Salim. A short hop from the last station. Still not even halfway there.

So ready for this trip to be over.

He had something important to do, and he wasn't going to relax until it was done and over. Even if that meant he was dead.

"We're not sure what the conditions are at the portal or at the way station."

Before Captain Scott could finish, a low, rumbling shudder ran through the ship, vibrating it like a huge tuning fork. The lights streaking by outside appeared to grow brighter, more frenzied.

"And after what we just went through..."

Another, deeper shudder that made the vehicle's frame rumble like distant thunder.

The lights in the cabin dimmed. Went off. Then came back on.

What the hell?

"There's no cause for alarm."

Really?

The captain's voice soothing; but Ivan wasn't convinced.

Ivan glanced at Ruth, no longer thinking of her as simply the Seeker, and smiled-he hoped-reassuringly.

He liked the glint of light he caught in her eyes before she bowed her head and focused on her hands, clasped in her lap.

Ivan smiled to himself. That's what he always liked about the Star Road.

Endless possibilities.

As it came screaming out of the portal, SRV-66 bumped and shook from side to side as though being buffeted by a sudden blast of hurricane-force winds.

The jerky movement had Annie banging her head against the back of her seat. Hard enough that she saw stars.

Her hands quickly ran over the console, making adjustments as the landing gear dropped into place.

"You all right over there?"

Not a shade of concern in Jordan's voice.

"Yeah. I didn't recalibrate for barometric and the gravity dispersal. Damn. Sorry."

Thinking: How could I forget? What happened back there really shook me up.

"Keep us on the track," Jordan said.

"Lovely planet," Annie said, looking out at the landscape.

No. Not landscape.

A seascape, as far as the eye could see; this planet ... a wide expanse of gray, churning water. Swells rose up like mountains, their tops blowing away with foaming spindrift. Heavy clouds-a weird purple that looked like a healing bruise-streamed by, closing down on the SRV.

This Road station was never one of Annie's favorites. She came here as seldom as she could.

The damn entryway. Insane ...

Like a series of interconnected roller coasters, set on pylons that rose above the waves.

Usually.

The problem was-with Hydra Salim-sometimes the storms got fierce enough to wash over even some of the higher routes.

Like now.

A huge wave-it had to be thirty meters high or more-swept over the ramp in front of them. When it drew back, it left behind a tangled black mass of vegetation-a layer of the indigenous life smashing into the ship.

No intelligent life, though ... unless it remained at the bottom of the vast ocean that encircled this planet.

Annie clenched her teeth as she steered the SRV along the amazingly complicated network of winding roads.

"Why do you think the Builders made it so damned complicated at this station?" Annie asked.

"Beats me," Jordan said.

Annie fought to keep control of the SRV. Rough winds buffeted the vehicle from every side, knocking it around like a kite. Pellets of rain lashed the windshield.

"Have to ask the Seeker we got onboard," she said. "Maybe she'll have a mystical ... theory."

In the corner of her eye, she caught Jordan's grin.

It took her total effort to keep the vehicle on the road as wind-whipped plumes of spray shot up and washed over them, momentarily obscuring their view.

"Any closer to the water, and we're going to need a submarine," Jordan said without even the trace of a smile.

Annie focused straight ahead, watching the mad spiraling complex of ramps, interchanges, entrances, and exits unwind past her. All of the spurs and runways tied into one huge knot supported by towering gray pylons.

Dense mist and lowering clouds, veined by white lines of lightning, hid the terminal in the distance, but then- She caught glimpses of what was up ahead, and she didn't like it.

Shifting blacks clouds. Darker than any fog or clouds she knew.

Smoke?

"Jesus, no!"

"Say again?" Jordan asked, looking at her.

Annie pointed ahead. Jordan said nothing for a moment or two as he stared at the heavy black billows partially masked by the shifting mist and smoke.

"I think we got more trouble," she said. "No way we can stop, get out of here."

Annie saw Jordan activate his main gun HUD.

Not good.

She punched the button for the intercom.

Her voice was pitched low, steady. "Please remain in your seats with your seat belts securely fastened until further notice-even after we come to a stop."

She didn't know what she might have to do once they reached the station, the smoke and whatever the hell it meant.