第81节

to figure out where they'd gone wrong.

Roz sat down with her back to the opposite side of the tunnel and

perched the lamp on top of her knees so that he could bring the map

close to the dimming light.

'There's something I've been meaning to tell you as well."

Cadillac didn't look up. 'And what's that?"

'Steve's here - in the Palace."

Cadillac marked their estimated position with a fore finger and slowly

raised his eyes to meet hers. 'He was

one of the envoys...?"

Roz braced herself for the inevitable blast. 'Yes. He was sent here

with a member of the First Family to set up some kind of a deal for the

Federation."

'And got himself arrested!'

Roz ignored the resigned sarcasm. 'You heard the

Shogun give the order."

Cadillac digested the full implications. 'And now I suppose you want

me to rescue him ' Roz gave her voice a cutting edge. 'How strange.

I had the impression this was a joint enterprise. And now, at the

mention of Steve's name, it's suddenly become a personal burden."

'You know what I mean!" 'Yes!

And I heard what you said! You're a wordsmith-aren't they supposed to

know how to express themselves properly? I' 'And we're partners!"

cried Cadillac. 'Aren't they supposed to share everything- like

secrets for example? I How long have you known he was going to come

and screw everything up? From when we talked about him in the

post-house? Or have you been stealing in and out of each other's minds

since we left the wagon-train?!" 'No!" hissed Roz.

'It wasn't till we got here! And he's not screwing everything up!

What happened to the idea of grabbing the envoys and swapping them for

Clearwater and her baby?

Remember how excited you were about that?"

."Roz, c'mon-be realistic.

The Federation are not going to exchange Clearwater for Brickman. What

do they need him for?"

Forget Steve!

I'm talking about the woman he's with! She's someone close to the

President-General! The feeling I got was of a very strong

attachment."

'So what are you suggesting - that we free both, take her with us, and

send Brickman back to break the good news?"

'Yes!" Cadillac's eyes narrowed as he thought it through. 'He's going

to love that. When the Family find out you helped to capture her,

they'll blow him out of the water!" 'True but he's not going to tell

them. If we can keep my involvement here a secret, Steve will be in

the clear."

'Yes, of course." Cadillac nodded admiringly. 'Not bad." 'Not bad?

C'mon, Caddy, it's brilliant! All he has to do is explain how he lost

her, then tell them they can have her back in exchange for Clearwater

and her baby."

'It may not be that simple,' mused Cadillac.

'That's why I'm leaving the details to you,' said Roz. 'All I'm doing

is outlining a deal that will keep Steve up and running."

'Yes, I can see that- but it may not be enough. From what I've learned

about the First Family, they're not going to hand him a medal for

losing one of their own -especially if she's as important as you

suggest."

'He'll manage,' said Roz. 'Steve's talked his way out of worse jams

than this. If he was sent to Ne-Issan as the escort for this high-wire

then the Family must trust him.

We have to make sure they go on trusting him- enough to let him help

organise the hostage swap. It could provide a golden opportunity for

him to get away too. We'd all be together. Wouldn't that be

fantastic?"

'Yeah." The idea of Steve coming back into their life was the less

appealing part of the plan. 'Meanwhile, that leaves us with two

problems- finding out where Brickman and this woman are being held, and

coming up with a rescue plan - and figuring how, in the name of the

Sweet Sky Mother, we're going to get out of this gopher hole before the

light-' Cadillac broke off and moved the lantern to a place of safety

as he saw Roz's attention turn inwar