Dana Cartwright Mission 3: Kal-King by Joyz W. Riter Page B

his solar cloak nervously.  
    He needed a plan — a fail-safe plan — to lure Captain Cartwright aboard Kal-King .  
    Once aboard, she could not refuse his offer. The ship would convince her. Many a captain would pay to command this beautiful, private yacht. There was no need to even mention his Master’s orders.  
    Hawk knew one more thing; he dare not fail.

    Xalier’s fur bristled as Captain McHale moved to stand behind him — an instinctual reaction not an emotional one. He rather liked the human who always smelled of meat. Xalier favored fellow carnivores.
    “We must engage the mercenaries before that ship powers up to leave,” McHale decided. “We can’t wait for Commodore Jai’s response.”
    Xalier countered, “There are thousands of life forms in those tunnels, sir. Your team will be trapped.”
    “They need only to tag five people for transport and get out. We can insert them here.” McHale indicated a cavern on the holographic map where five life forms were located deep in a clearing. “We can then collapse the landing bay and trap the mercenary ships.”
    Xalier blinked his amber, feline eyes. “It’s your call, Captain.”

    Janz Macao paced, trying hard, by pounding on the ground and stomping, to shake off the angry emotions touching his brother had evoked.
    The Enturians slept, unaware of his distress, their bellies full for a change. For two straight days the slaves brought significant, belly-filling meals, and even a fifth cup for Macao, but there was no sign of Dec.
    Macao fretted. Swimming in the pool wasn’t helping his back pain as hoped. Shalee’s voice attempted to soothe, but even her wise words could not calm him.  
    She pleaded, Beloved? Kieran is bound to Dana January. You could not leave me if the situation was reversed. Your brother must do what he must.
    Dear One, what must I do?
    He waited a long time for a response, and nearly laughed out loud when it came.
    Jump.
    Her admonition gave him strength. So much of the mission he’d allowed Kieran to rule over him. Now their lives depended upon a Star Service Captain’s instincts and wisdom.
    He knelt near Schaffer and the Enturian stirred. “I’m going to prowl about the caverns.”
    The Lieutenant moved to rise. “I’ll come with you, sir.”
    Macao’s first instinct was to protest, but the man’s expression held strong determination, a trait he admired, and he liked the idea of a companion on the reconnaissance.
    Schaffer took a splinter of wood, about arm’s-length long, that had a wooly substance tightly wrapped about one end. He dipped it in the embers of the fire, lighting a torch. “It keeps the rats away,” he offered.
    Macao worried that the glow might be detected, but did not give it voice. He had no clue what they might encounter. A hand beacon would be better. A laser rifle even better still.  
    If wishes were fishes…  
    He couldn’t recall the rest of the archaic Earth proverb. Maybe he’d even gotten it wrong. When you touch another’s mind telepathically, you sometimes collected cliches and nonsense. He could feel a good deal of hesitation from the other Enturians, but Schaffer seemed an exception, though Janz couldn’t pinpoint why.
    Schaffer motioned for him to lead, but held up the torch to light the way. “Your boots are leaving a trail, sir.”
    Macao looked back. He noticed that Schaffer was barefoot. “Is it better to abandon them?”
    “You’ll come to regret it once they get wet. Wet boots chafe.”
    Schaffer waited patiently as Macao sat on a convenient ledge, tugging off his boots. He hated to leave them behind, yet they were awkward to carry. “I’ll take them, sir.” Schaffer offered, tucking them into the back of his drawstring waistband. “Did I mention beware of spiders?”
    Macao shuddered. “Thanks.” He opted to keep his socks on.
    Without prodding, the Enturian began recounting his little band’s early explorations of the caverns. His voice remained soft, at a bare