Cobra Gamble by Timothy Zahn

course. Personal dread aside, he had no intention of giving the invaders a head start in fighting whatever troops his mother succeeded in bringing back.
    Fortunately—or as fortunately as it got—he had ultimate veto over that particular scenario. Once the warship opened fire on Milika he could ensure that he ended up in the midst of their attack. With his speed, strength, and reflexes, he should be able to arrange a quick and mostly painless death for himself.
    And yet...
    He raised his eyes from the darkened village to the stars twinkling against the cloudless sky. Merrick's great-grandfather Jonny Moreau had also been taken alive during his war against the Trofts a century ago. He, too, had realized that the enemy planned to use him to glean information about Cobra abilities and equipment.
    But instead of simply sacrificing himself to keep that from happening, Jonny had found a way to turn his captors' plan against them.
    Shouldn't Merrick at least try to find a similar solution before he gave up?
    There was an urgent knock on the door. "Enter," Krites called softly.
    The door swung open to reveal one of the Sammon family servants. "Your pardon," the man panted, glancing at Fadil's closed eyes and then turning to Merrick. "I have an urgent message for Merrick Moreau. One of the wall guards has sighted a small light in the kundur trees to the east."
    Merrick frowned. And this had had to do with him how? "Okay," he said cautiously. "And?"
    "He speaks of the kundur grove to the east," Fadil said. Merrick jumped—he'd thought Fadil was still asleep. "A light shining into Milika from there would be invisible to the invaders' warship."
    "The light gives five short flashes, then a pause," the servant added. "Then five more flashes, then another pause."
    Merrick caught his breath. That was Dida code. Five flashes— dit dit dit dit dit —was the signal for calling—anyone there?
    His mother had returned. And she had indeed brought more Cobras with her.
    "I need a spot where I can see the light," he told the servant as he scrambled to his feet, a sudden surge of hope blasting away the fatigue hovering at the edges of his brain. "Someplace where I also won't be seen from the ship."
    "The meditation dome above the library should work," Fadil said. "Sharmal will take you there."
    "Yes, Master Sammon," the servant said. "If you'll follow me, Merrick Moreau?"
    Three minutes later, Merrick was in the dome, a small flashlight in hand, his light-amps at full power as he quickly but methodically scanned the area the servant had identified as the kundur tree grove.
    There it was, back against one of the tree trunks, between two leafy branches where not even a glint of reflection would be visible to the warship's cameras and sensors. Dit dit dit dit dit. Dit dit dit dit dit.
    Merrick keyed his flashlight to touch mode and pointed it at the tree. Dit dit dah dit dit dah, he sent. Ready—proceed.
    There was a short pause, and then the other light changed to a new pattern of flashes. Identify.
    Merrick smiled tightly. Like there was anyone else on Qasama who knew Dida code. Merrick Moreau Broom, he tapped out. Identify.
    Paul Broom.
    Merrick's smile vanished. His father? Here?
    But that was impossible. Jin Moreau Broom had gone to Aventine, not Caelian. This had to be some kind of trick by the Trofts, perhaps something designed to flush him out of hiding and then keep him in one place long enough for them to sneak an assault team into the village to nail him.
    But how could the invaders have learned Dida code?
    Merrick cranked up his opticals to full power, trying to pierce the gloom and rustling leaves. But whoever was back there was too well concealed. All he could see was a shadowy, indistinct form that could be anyone.
    Muttering a curse under his breath, he keyed his light again. Whatever was going on, he was not going to let his fathers name spook him. Prove it, he challenged.
    You're an excellent cook, the reply came. Especially when