"They should be landing in about two and a half days, then; Colonel
Korda had orders to give me three days, then come looking for me."
"But we're not at the camp any more, and I don't dare use anything much
more obvious than the fusion lamp, or the rebels will find us first."
Dave brightened. "Unless they blew up the car I used, when they found
out it was missing; then they'd think we were dead."
"True, but we can't count on that; it'd be best to assume they landed
it, and are looking for us."
"Yeah, I guess so." Dave hid his disappointment; the Ranger was
counting on him! "We've got to be awfully careful, then. They were
holding you hostage, weren't they?"
"Yes--to get His Majesty to give Lord Robert a Sector" Tarlac
chuckled. "The last I heard, anyway; by now, his Lordship may have
decided he wants to be Sovereign."
"He won't be," Dave said positively. "No one who'd take a Ranger
prisoner could possibly be qualified as Sovereign--even if Prince
Forrest hadn't been elected Successor."
"True, but that doesn't keep some people from trying." Tarlac shifted,
bit back a groan. "I think the quidine's wearing off, Dave. Do you
have anything stronger?"
"No--and I wouldn't give it to you if I did." Dave braced himself
against the objection he anticipated from the Ranger. "Quidine's
almost too much of a risk itself, for someone who's been hit with
stingweed."