Defying Mars (The Saving Mars Series) - By Cidney Swanson Page 0,52
alone. “You will inform her at once.” Pavel’s voice, imperious, made the officer frown in indecision.
Pavel sensed a way to play his hand.
“My aunt will not be pleased if I tell her you delayed me from speaking with her,” said Pavel. This was probable and the officer recognized it.
“Very well,” replied the secure. He contacted his team, apprising them of Pavel’s demand. Then he spoke to Pavel once more. “You are to proceed with me to the prison’s holocomm.”
It was perfect. Pavel had gambled on his aunt’s vanity—her need to appear before him large as life as opposed to upon the screen of whatever device the officer might have with him.
However, they did not get as far as the holocomm center. They did not get very far at all. After one set of doors retracted to let them pass, the next refused to open. The doors at either end of the short hall remained sealed despite the secure’s best efforts at opening them. When he requested assistance, he was told he would have to wait, due to an emergency which had arisen within the prison.
~ ~ ~
Brian Wallace had awaited Ethan’s signal and was now making his slow way along corridors filling with ever-increasing numbers of prisoners who had suddenly found themselves staring at open doors. Their cell-doors normally opened to release them for work or food, so most ambled out into the corridor, looking back and forth for the guards who would accompany them at this unexpected hour.
But no one seemed to expect anything from the prisoners at the moment.
“Doors must’ve malfunctioned,” they murmured to one another.
So when Brian Wallace came strolling along the corridor murmuring, “This way if ye please,” and accompanied by Kazuko Zaifa, many fell in step behind him. Ethan’s voice, in Brian’s earpiece, gave the Scot precise directions leading him toward an exit from the prison. Brian trusted Ethan would lead him away from any guards and danger that lay ahead; the group amassing behind them was a sort of insurance policy against attack from behind.
But then, unexpectedly, Brian received a change of marching orders.
“Brian Wallace?” called Ethan’s voice from the earpiece.
“Aye, lad,” replied the fugitive Scot.
“It would appear Pavel has been unsuccessful in his effort to retrieve Harpreet,” said Ethan’s voice.
“She’s not refused again, surely?” asked Brian.
“No,” said Ethan. “Unfortunately Pavel has been apprehended by Red Squadron. They have recognized him. It is doubtful he will escape and he has instructed us to depart without him.”
“I see,” murmured Brian, continuing along a narrow corridor.
“I am unwilling to depart without Harpreet,” said Ethan.
“I see,” Brian replied.
“I propose giving you directions to her chamber,” Ethan said.
“Aye, well, hurry it up then, lad!”
Ethan directed Brian and his growing entourage through halls and doors and in less than a minute, Brian was met by a blinking Harpreet, newly emerged from her cell, which had unlocked seemingly of its own accord.
Unfortunately, at that moment, several guards managed to cut through a locked door leading to the corridor where the fugitives gathered.
“It’s Harpreet,” said some.
“Guards!” cried others.
“Are we supposed to be following the man ahead?” asked others.
The answer came blaring over a loudspeaker system. “Prisoners are to return to their cells at once or face punitive action.”
From within the crowd, which shrank back from the approaching guards, someone took Harpreet by the arm and tugged her toward the center of the huddle. She reached for Brian’s hand, Brian reached for Kazuko, and soon all three were at the center of a moving mass of prisoners retracing their previous steps.
From behind, Brian heard cries of, “The detainee is not here. Her cell’s empty.”
“They’re after ye,” he murmured to Harpreet.
“Perhaps I am not meant to escape after all,” she said softly.
Beside her, one of the prisoners heard what she said and a soft murmur began trickling through the crowded mass.
Harpreet is escaping today.
This man and Kazuko Zaifa are helping Harpreet to escape.
Few were indifferent to the rumor. Either they were disposed to assist or afraid that the attempt would bring “punitive action” upon them as well as upon the attempted escapee.
The mayhem increased.
~ ~ ~
Ethan had never been more grateful for the care with which Pavel had treated his once-gnarled hands. While not as easy to use as the hands of his own body, these were responsive and rarely pained him anymore. Ethan felt a great deal of satisfaction as his fingers flew along several panels. It was a sort of game ideally suited to his abilities.