The Battle for Terra Two by Stephen Ames Berry Read Free Book Online Page A

Heather.
    "He could barely sign the monthly disability check."
    "Disability check?" Social insurance in America had died young. Social security had been converted to war tax in the dark months of '48 and never restored after the fighting died in '53.
    Julio nodded. "Two hundred a month. We moved to West Roxbury, bought a trailer." Cleared of rubble, West Roxbury had no gangers and enjoyed nominal social services. Trees and playgrounds dotted the miles of trailer "parks" -—refurbished war surplus units sold and financed for a handsome profit by government licensed brokers to the minorities and ethnics working the industrialized inner burbs.
    "How is Raoul?" asked Heather.
    "Dead," he said flatly. "Heart failure, arteriosclerosis."
    "If we could access UC's data base, we'd know what they're doing up there," said Ian.
    "Angel told you nothing?" asked Heather.
    "Indirectly he did," Ian smiled wryly. "He asked me if I thought the Berkeley physics department could spare you for a few months. I suggested someone from the Outfit. He said that was 'very tenuous ground,' and changed the subject."
    "What sort of physics are they doing up there?" she wondered.
    "If we go in, maybe you can tell us." He and Julio rose, giving her a hand up. "But Angel was very firm about wanting a theoretical physicist, .not a bomb guy from Livermore."
    "Odd," she said, half to herself. "Now what?"
    "Julio and I are going to make a photorecon in the Bell. We did it two months ago, but Angel wants fresh pics." The Bell was the fastest of their choppers, the only one with cameras. "Coming up under their radar, we'll be gone before they can react. But the rest of you get clear first, just in case."
    Hiking back to the valley, all but Ian and Julio headed southeast in the big Hueys. After ten minutes, the two took the Bell over the fence at full throttle, following the road up the hill.
    Their first pass held no surprises: the same cold architecture as before, no discernible movement anywhere. It was after their second pass, just turning for home, that the Messerschmitt dropped on them from the clouds. Ian tried for the treeline, but the ME's missiles were faster.
    Heather didn't see the Bell go down—they were too far away. The orange blip disappearing from her radar told all. Tears streaming unnoticed down her face, she sent the Huey even lower, almost brushing the treetops. Winding out of the Green Mountains and into New Hampshire, she took them home.
    It was a setup, John saw. A setup engineered by Guan-Sharick to attract attention to Shalan-Actal's base—to Maximus.
    "When did this happen?"
    "Yesterday. I sent you the note as soon as we got back."
    "That year in CIB, we must have saved each other's lives a dozen times down in that green hell. We were closer than most brothers. He was very proud of you—his sister the scientist."
    All true, in its way, thought John. Harrison and MacKenzie had been close.
    "You'll have to assume they took either Ian or Julio alive and are interrogating them," he said, collecting his thoughts. "You'd better evacuate."
    "We're finishing that up now," she said, matching his brisk tone. "I gave the order last night. The final group leaves within the hour."
    "You're staying with the Vipers?"
    "Someone has to be in charge, till the Outfit sends another officer. None of the kids are ready. I think I've earned their respect. I'm not as good as Ian, but I put in my four years as a Ranger captain."
    "I see," he said, upping his estimate of her age.
    "Why are you here?"
    This is it, he thought. Fail now, you might as well have stayed home.
    "It's been decided to take Maximus," he said. "I'm to extract the Maximus data base from UC's computer—it may be of use. And I'm to help in the attack."
    "I see," she said, noncommittal. "Did you know Hochmeister's in the area?"
    Hochmeister, Hochmeister. Grand master in German. There was something in the briefing book. He groped desperately for it. Gray. Feldgrau. Wehrmacht. Abwehr. Of