LOGAN (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 5) by Marilyn Campbell Read Free Book Online Page B

supposed to explain everything and took a stab at what he meant. "And when the barn door's locked... new people arrive?"
    Hans nodded. "Sometimes. Not often. Usually it just means Duncan's fairies are at work."
    "At work doing what?"
    "Trading."
    Logan reined in his frustration and forced himself to use the same easy tone Hans used. "What is it they trade?"
    "We give them some of the fruits and vegetables we grow, and they leave us things we need but can't make ourselves." Hans caught sight of some ripe fruit on another tree and started dragging his nearly full basket toward it.
    Logan picked up the basket and carried it for him as he asked, "What sort of things?" Hans cocked his head at him with a totally vacant look in his eyes as if he had no idea what he was talking about. "You said the fairies leave you things you need. Like what?"
    Hans's smile came back. "Tools, clothing, sugar. Things we need. Sometimes we put a drawing with the crops so they'll know what we'd like. Other times they surprise us."
    Logan wanted to hear more about the fairies, but Higgs chose that moment to do some more fretting.
    "Can I talk to you?" he asked, looking nervous enough to throw up.
    Logan let Higgs lead him out of the others' hearing range.
    "I just want to make sure there's no hard feelings," Higgs said, not quite meeting Logan's eyes. "You know, between us. I mean, I was just doing my job, you know. It's not like I had anything to do with your court martial."
    "Forget it, Higgs. We were all just doing our job."
    "Well, anyway, I just wanted you to know, you and the major have my support if you need it. My guess is, Wilkes and his pals aren't the only ones who might cause trouble."
    Logan smirked. "Thanks for the news flash." He stopped himself from taking his frustration out on Higgs. "Just pass on anything you get wind of. This situation's bad enough without us fighting amongst ourselves." He was about to return to Hans when Higgs stopped him.
    "Do you think they're androids?" he asked glancing at Hans. When Logan furrowed his brows, Higgs added, "You know, robots that are really close to being human but are still just computers? Or maybe they're aliens that have taken our shape to gain our confidence."
    Logan didn't want to hear why Higgs thought the aliens needed to gain their confidence. "I don't know any more than you do, Higgs, but I'll tell you this much. I'd lay odds that these guys aren't the ones we need to worry about. They're just puppets. What we've got to do is find a way to reach the ones who pull their strings."
    Higgs glanced from side to side as if expecting to see an eavesdropper. "If it's aliens we're dealing with, I should be able to help. I've read thousands of science fiction novels, you know."
    "Thanks, Higgs," Logan said, giving him a pat on the back. "I'll keep that in mind."
    As he made his way back to Hans, Logan rubbed his temples. Damn ! He was getting a headache. Considering the tension he was holding inside, it wasn't surprising that one was coming on. All he needed now to make his day complete was a killer migraine—a blinding, five-day cluster type ought to about do it. Especially since there probably wasn't an aspirin in the whole friggin' place.
    What the hell had possessed him to step forward and help the major? He knew when he did it, he'd regret it. The welfare of the men was no longer his concern. The army had spit him out of its womb and forgotten him, much like his own mother had. But he just hadn't been able to stand there and let an ass like Wilkes get the upper hand.
    So here he was, back to being the one everybody was counting on to make the right decisions and keep them safe.
    Well, almost everybody. Wilkes wasn't counting on him for anything but a hard time. Though even that was something he'd have to live up to.
    Then there was Tarla. She certainly wouldn't count on him for anything. Not if she could help it. In fact, he'd done such a good job of putting her off, she'd probably refuse to