Fourth Vector Ch. 27

"Is he kicking yet?" asked Abigail as she reached over to touch the other woman's stomach.

"I think we still have a couple months to go on that," said Kat.

Abigail sighed in such a way that could only give away her baby fever.

"Things are going to be so different when he, or she, does come," said Jack quietly as he softly caressed Kat's back.

Kat nodded. "It does make me a little nervous about it all. I know I shouldn't worry so much about it but I do."

Abigail shook her head. "You're going to be a great mom, you know that."

"You will too," said Kat with a small smile. "You'll be just as much of a mother to this baby as I am. That's how Galician families of old used to be like when the kings had a land wife and a sea wife. Both women were considered joint and equal mothers to all the children."

Abigail perked up. "You mean I really do get to obsess over this baby like it's my own?"

Kat started to laugh. "Of course!"

"Well, this day just got a whole lot better!" said Abigail with a triumphant smile.

It was all the other two could do to contain their laughter.

*****

The next morning, Jack made his first visit of the day to the front lines of the Javan marines like he'd been doing for a couple weeks now. This morning, he intended to start talking with the officers—the lieutenants and the captains—so they would know what was expected of them when the battle kicked off in two days.

It was still quiet that morning and the sun was just about to rise. The city was still relatively quiet for this time of day. One thing that Jack liked most about making these visits on foot was that he got a very good feel for the layout of the city. Having crossed most of it in his two weeks of front line visits, he felt he had a good understanding of their own positions and how they might be able to push the Swabians out.

His current destination had him walking along an empty market before he passed through a less desirable street where there were some crippled houses as well as a rather prominent corner that was usually occupied through the night with prostitutes. Jack had passed through here one time in the early evening and had been propositioned no less than five times.

At this time of morning, it was almost abandoned. There was one older woman in the usual spot but she paid him no attention when he walked past. As he continued walking though, something didn't quite feel right to him.

It was a feeling, something that he'd felt before. There was a sense of subtle foreboding that filled his brain and set his senses on edge.

Jack felt like he was being followed.

The first time he turned around, he saw nothing. No one slipped into the shadows or ran away, even though there weren't that many people out. It still didn't feel right, and Jack found himself walking faster.

The feeling never went away. Jack's heart rate began to rise, and he shifted his NT-12 lower against his shoulder so he could whip it around if necessary. But who would be stalking him within the city? The Swabians were still on the other side of the front lines, right?

Jack thought he heard the faintest click of shoes against the cement as he tried to wheel around with his rifle.

He never made it.

Darkness and pain exploded at the same time as a tremendous force was brought against his head. The next thing he knew, he was on his side, laying against the pavement and with huge black spots in his vision. He was vaguely aware that someone was standing over him but he couldn't make out who it was or what they were doing.

He never got the chance to figure it out before a second round of explosive pain went off against his head.

Jack's consciousness fled and darkness took him.

*****

There was a ticking sound in the room.

Jack couldn't make out what it was nor could he open his eyes.

His arms were restrained, and he was faintly aware that he was sitting. He gave a soft yank of his arms only to find that they were tied behind him. Whatever chair he was sitting in was being used to restrain his movement as well.

Jack tried to raise his head but two things stopped him—the feeling in his neck was intense as he tried to lift it, and his head was throbbing with a deep pain. Jack suspected it was from being hit with . . . whatever it was that hit him.

When he finally managed to open his eyes, he could see the room was small. The tile was gnarly and the walls were stained. It was clearly a house since he was sitting in a kitchen but where was it?

Where was he?"

"What—where am I?" he muttered softly, trying to get his bearings.

"Ah, the famous Jack Easterbrook. We meet at last."

Jack's head turned as quickly as he could manage while tolerating the pain. In the corner of the room was a man sitting on a chair much like he was, except without the restraints. The man was Swabian by the look of him. He had short-cropped dark hair and gray eyes. His pencil-thin mustache seemed to be stapled to his upper lip. He had the look in his eyes of a hunter who'd finally captured his quarry.

"Who . . . are you?" Jack managed.

The man stood up from his chair and approached Jack. "You just might know my name. You can call me Adalbert Avila."

The name sparked recognition for Jack right away. Even in his frazzled state, he could still recognize the man who'd caused so much trouble for him all the way back to Andalucia.

"You're an interesting man, Jack Easterbrook," said Adalbert as he stood directly in front of him. "I've been watching you since you came back to Daban. I've been one step behind you every time you walk around the city. You should have used guards."

Jack managed to shake his head. "What do you want from me?"

Adalbert sneered. "Personally? I'd like to kill you. Because of you, I've almost lost my life twice in the past year, from my own cousin no less."

Jack blinked. "Avila? You said your last name was Avila. That means—"

"Right you are, Jack," interrupted Adalbert. "My cousin is Emperor Regaulfus Avila."

Jack's mouth fell open. "Emperor?"

"Things have a way of changing, Jack. But don't you worry. Where we're going, you're going to get the chance to meet my cousin."

"Where are we going?" Jack tried to yank his arms from his restraints but failed, not having the strength to undo the bindings.

Adalbert started to laugh. "We're going to Swabia, Jack. And I think it's the last place that you'll ever go."