Simon Hawke - Hellfire Rebellion

“Okay by me.” Delaney said.

“Lucas?”

“Yeah, yeah, all right. I just hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Are you questioning my judgment?” she said.

Lucas shook his head. “No. it isn’t that, it’s just… hell, forget it. It’s your call. Do what you think best.”

“All right, then,” she said. Now that that’s settled, the question is what do we do about Hunter’?”

“How much did you tell him’?” asked Delaney.

“Everything, except I left out the pan about Steiger, of course. In light of what Creed said, I think we have to assume that he could be double-dealing us. It’s possible. There’s still too much we don’t know.”

“Creed’s been a spook so long, paranoia is a way of life with him,” said Lucas. But frankly, I feel better knowing that he’s keeping tabs on Hunter. It’ll make our job a lot easier. I think we should keep Hunter on a ‘need-to-know’ basis; use him as a liaison with Adams and the Sons of Liberty, but don’t tell him anything that could affect the outcome of the mission. What he doesn’t know can’t hurt us.”

“Hunter’s not stupid.” Andre said. “He’s liable to figure out we’re holding out on him and he isn’t going to like it.”

“That’s his problem. Lucas said. “He doesn’t have to like it. But if he’s being on the level with us, he’ll have to do things our way or he doesn’t get to go back home.”

“ Does he get to go back home?” said Andre.

“Forrester gave his word,” said Lucas.

“I know,” she said, “but Steiger didn’t like it.”

“Creed’s not stupid enough to go against Forrester’s orders.” said Delaney

“Maybe not,” said Andre, “but I’ve been thinking about it and knowing Creed. I wouldn’t, put it past him to find a loophole. Such as the fact that Forrester didn’t say when Hunter would get to go back home. Creed just might decide to put him through interrogation first and find out if he was bluffing about those subliminal triggers.”

“Are you saying we should try to stop him if he does?” said Lucas.

“Are you saying that we shouldn’t?”

“Hunter is the opposition. Andre.” Delaney said.

“That’s not the point.” said Andre, “If Hunter doesn’t play straight with us. okay, all bets are off. but if he lives up to his end of the bargain. I think we ought to live up to ours.”

“Steiger might not see it that way,” Lucas said.

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about.” she said. “I just want to know what we’re going to do about it if it comes to that.”

“Let’s just make sure we understand each other here.” said Finn. “If Creed decides to take Hunter back when this is over and put him through the wringer before sending him back home, are you saying we should try to stop him? Lose the chance of gaining valuable intelligence and take the enemy’s side against one of our own people?”

“We made a deal: Andre said.

“Things aren’t always that simple. Andre,” Lucas said.

“They’re simple enough for me.” she said. “I’m sorry if I’m not sufficiently modern to compromise my integrity for political expediency, but when I give my word, I keep it. We made a deal with that man and we all shook hands on it. That may not mean a lot to Steiger, but it means a lot to me and I’ve always believed it meant a lot to you. Or was I wrong?”

“No. you weren’t wrong: said Lucas, “But I don’t think Creed will understand.”

“What about it. Finn?” she said, looking at him anxiously.

“Well, I guess we’ll just have to make him understand, won’t we?” said Delaney. There was a soft knock at the door. They exchanged quick glances. Delaney reached for his laser and held it out of sight. Lucas and Andre both took out their dueling pistols.

“Who is it?” Lucas said.

“A friend,” came a soft voice from beyond the door.

Lucas glanced at Andre. “Let him in, but stand clear the moment you open the door.”

Andre went to the door and slipped the bolt, then quickly opened it and stepped out of the way. The man who came in with his hands held out to his sides and slightly raised was Carruthers, the Tory who’d been sitting with John Hewitt.

“Easy,” he said. “I’m unarmed.”

Andre closed the door behind him, then quickly patted him down.

“He’s clean.”

“Lt. Paul Carruthers. Col. Priest, I presume?” Carruthers said, looking at

Lucas.

“Who sent you?” Lucas said, still covering him with the pistol.

“Col. Steiger,” he said. “It is all right if I put my hands down?”

Lucas nodded. “Steiger sent you from H.Q.?” he said.

Carruthers frowned. “No, this is my permanent post. Col. Steiger’s here in Boston. You didn’t know?”

Lucas loward his gun. “Yeah I knew. But you can’t he too careful.”

“I understand. I reported a temporal anomaly and was told that a team had already been dispatched. Steiger briefed me about Hunter. Unusual situation.”

“Yes, it certainly is.” said Lucas.

“I’m sorry to come so late, but I just got my orders.” Carruthers said. “Col. Steiger told me to report to you.”

“Why did Steiger know there was an Observer stationed here and we didn’t?” said Delaney.

“Because my commission’s not in the Observer Corps.” Carruthers said. “I’m Temporal Intelligence, section chief in this sector.”

“Section chief?” said Lucas “That implies you have a fully staffed field office here.”

“That’s right.” Carruthers said, sitting down in one of the chairs. “I’m in charge of thirty field agents spread throughout the thirteen colonies.”

“How come we didn’t know about it?” Lucas said. “There was nothing in the briefing tapes about a field office here.”

“That’s because we’re deep cover,” said Carruthers. “The C.I.S. has already raided our data banks once, so the I.S.D. established undocumented, deep-cover units in a number of high risk temporal scenarios. Besides, there’s also another reason. We’ve discovered that the Network has a very active branch here.”

“Terrific.” said Delaney. “Steiger sets up his own deep. cover operation and doesn’t even tell Forrester about it. Anyone else involved in this scenario that we don’t know about? The Girl Scouts, maybe?”

“What about the Network?” Lucas said. “What’ve you got on them?”

“Not very much,” Carruthers admitted. “We know they’ve infiltrated the East

India Company and we have good reason to believe they have some influence in the British Parliament, as well. They’re involved in the colonial smuggling trade, but we haven’t been able to establish exactly how or with whom. There are so many smugglers in the colonies that it’s been difficult to get a line on their activities. But we know they’re here.”

“And so is Drakov,” Delaney said. “Or maybe the C.I.S. Or maybe both Drakov and the C.I.S. And we’ve got a temporal disruption going down in the middle of the whole damn thing. Jesus, what a mess.”

“Yes, it could get a little sloppy,” Carruthers agreed. “That’s why Col. Steiger ordered me to put my entire section at your complete disposal. We can’t predict what the Network’s going to do, but by now, they probably know that an anomaly is taking place in Boston. The question is, how will they respond? A temporal disruption threatens them as much as it threatens us. The trouble is, they’re not very likely to offer us their help, for obvious reasons.”

“In other words, we could easily wind up working at cross purposes.” said Lucas. “That’s just wonderful. If Drakov is behind this, he couldn’t have picked a more ideal situation.”