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Testo

Dataset card Data Studio Files
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"That someone being me," Jonny said. "I gather they think I'm afraid to act?"
Eldjarn looked up at him, shrugged uncomfortably. "No one blames you," he said.
"In other words, they do," Jonny said, a bit too harshly.
"Jonny-"
"It's all right, Chrys," Jonny told her. He could hardly blame the others; they didn't know why he'd held back. He wasn't even sure why himself, now. . . . "...
"At least ten Cobras that we know of, and probably a dozen of those teen-aged arrogants manning roadblocks," Eldjar said.
Jonny nodded. Challinor had said he had twelve Cobras on his side. Add Taber and maybe a couple more, subtract Szintra, and it still looked like nearly all t...
For a moment the room was silent. "The miners usually work a two-week shift and then have a week off in Weald, don't they?" Chrys asked. "Maybe Challinor wan...
"That sounds reasonable," Jonny agreed. "Depending on how the routine goes, Challinor would hit the mines with either a single shift there or else all three ...
"For what?" Chrys asked suspiciously.
"For me to go upriver to the mines and blow the whistle, of course-and I'd better get started right away." He stood up.
"Hold it, Jonny; this is crazy," Eldjarn said. "In the first place, there are forty kilometers of extremely hostile forest between us and them. In the second...
Slowly, Jonny sat back down. "I hadn't thought of that last," he admitted. "You really think Challinor will keep such close track of me?"
Eldjarn shrugged. "Despite your . . . Um . . . inactivity this morning, you're still the only person in town who can be a threat to him. Your disappearance w...
"You?" Chrys looked startled. "That's ridiculous-suicidal, too. Without weapons and with the spine leopards on the move you wouldn't have a chance."
"I have to try," her father told her. "A boat would protect me from all but the most determined spine leopards. And there is a weapon still in town that I ca...
"What-Seth Ramorra's machete?" she scoffed.
"No." Eldjarn paused, and Jonny saw a muscle twitch in his cheek. "Ken's antiarmor laser."
Chrys's jaw dropped. "You mean the one in-Dad! You're not serious!"
"I am." He looked at Jonny. "Is it possible to remove the laser without amputating the leg? That would be too obvious for Challinor to miss."
"It was done once before, during our brief foray into civilian life," Jonny said mechanically. All of MacDonald's Cobra gear available-and he'd never once th...
Eldjarn nodded. "It'll be a combined service, for both Ken and Ra Insley, tomorrow at nine in the Square. Most of the town is going to come, I think-and in a...
Jonny stood up. "Then we've got to get that laser out now. Ken's body's back there, isn't it? Good; let's go."
As in most frontier towns on Aventine, Eldjarn's job as Ariel's doctor also required him to act as undertaker when necessary, and the modest office/surgery a...
Laid out on a table, MacDonald's body didn't look any better than it had sprawled in the street, but at least the odor of burned flesh was gone, either dissi...
Eldjarn nodded. "I see how they inserted it now. All right; I'll get an instrument tray and we'll get started."
The faint sound of footsteps was their only warning. Jonny looked over his shoulder just in time to see the door swing open as L'est and Taber strode into th...
"Good evening, Doctor Eldjarn; Moreau," L'est said, giving the room a quick once-over. "I trust we're not interrupting anything?"
"We're preparing Mr. MacDonald's body," Eldjarn said shortly. "What do you want?"
"Oh, just a little insurance against heroics." L'est glanced over Eldjarn's shoulder. "It occurred to me that perhaps we ought to remove our late compatriot'...
Eldjarn didn't move. "No," he said, his tone allowing no argument. "I'm not going to permit you to mutilate the dead."
"You don't have any choice. Move aside."
Eldjarn snorted. "I realize you're new to this warlord business, but if you think you can kill or imprison a town's only doctor and then expect to get even g...
For the first time L'est's confidence seemed to waver. "Look, Doctor-"
"Doctor, would you remove the lasers for us?" Taber put in suddenly. "You're a surgeon-you could do it without leaving any marks."
Eldjarn hesitated. "Jonny?" he asked.
Jonny shrugged, trying to hide his disappointment at L'est's rotten sense of timing. "Either you do it or L'est will. I'd rather you did, personally." He imp...
"But the lasers-" L'est began.
"No buts. His hands are going to be in plain sight in the casket."
Taber nudged L'est. "As long as we can confirm the fingertip lasers are still there in the morning, that should do," he murmured. "You can always take them a...
Slowly, L'est nodded. "All right. But if those fingers are missing in the morning, we'll hold you responsible, Doctor."
"I understand. Jonny, perhaps you and Chrys would go over to Ken's house and bring me his Cobra dress uniform?"
Jonny nodded. Bad enough that Chrys had had to stand there and listen while MacDonald's body was discussed like a military bargaining chip; there was no need...
"Just be sure and stay where you're supposed to," L'est warned. "The roads out of town are closed-and there are Cobras on each barricade."
Jonny didn't bother to reply. Brushing past them, he took Chrys's arm and left.
MacDonald's house wasn't too far away, but Jonny was in no particular hurry, and the house held a lot of memories for both of them to linger over. By the tim...
"That's not necessary," she said tiredly. "Dad will be finished by now."
"But it's such a nice night," he said, steering her gently but firmly toward the center of town.
She resisted only a moment before falling into step beside him. "You have an idea?" she whispered.
Jonny nodded. "I think so. You have the key to your office with you?"