Starlight Gleaming Ch. 16

I ate at a diner, enjoying the quiet and the curious stares of the locals, then set out to explore the town a little.

During the meal, I swallowed a scent-mask pill, an interesting tool of Imperial Security. I figured I had a day or two before I was in position, and taking the drug would alter my scent over several hours. For full effectiveness, it was best to take the pill for several days in a row., Eight to twelve hours after I stopped taking the drug, my scent would begin returning to normal. If there were dogs at Chatolklan's estate, this would help me elude them. Provided I was able to maintain my distance. The longer time I had before being seen, the better, as my changed scent would confuse the dogs.

At the market, I bought several bottles of water and fresh food to put into my backpack.

According to the map, once I left the town, it would be private estates and independent farms all the way east to my destination. There were also hiking trails, leading across the Mamos and into the Screyacha Animal Preserve, a huge animal park comprised of thousands of square rads of undeveloped land abutting the Empire and the Seven Nations.

While there were other animal preserves in the southern continent, this huge expanse was part of the concord between the Empire and the Seven Nations. No permanent structures were allowed, but some bands of humans were permitted. While a few were research parties, most were Preservers, a group of survivalists that used lithic technology, such as flint spears and knives, atlatls, and more rarely, simple bows, believing that technology divorced humans from their aboriginal roots and dishonored the ancient hunting-and-gathering lifestyle of our forebears. To keep everyone honest, Screyacha Animal Preserve was patrolled by air and satellite, and periodic joint-inspections were carried out, searching for contraband technology and poaching.

Seeing my purchases, the cashier at the market asked if I was planned on doing some hiking, which I affirmed. He let me know that they'd had sightings of short-nosed bears as well as dire wolves on this side of the mountains, and warned me I should be cautious. The dire wolves might or might not bother me; their smaller cousins, the timber wolves, generally avoided humans altogether. But the short-nosed bears, if they caught my scent, would seek me out for their dinner. I bought a five-day hiking permit, and after paying for my goods, I thanked him and left.

Driving further into the foothills, I found a pull-out near the public hiking trails, on a parallel road to Chatolklan's estate along its southern border. I had a twenty-two rad hike over rough terrain ahead of me. I got into my heavier clothing, filled my pack, and assembled my rifle. I stored the scope and noise suppressor in my jacket to protect them.

Fortunately, the weather held out as I headed north. In one of the small clearings between copses of trees, I saw a bush-antlered buck herding several does. The antlers were remarkable, being about six-feet wide and split off into at least a dozen tines on each side, looking like two giant combs embedded on their heads. I hunkered down in the tall grass between the trees until they passed. They were big, their shoulders reaching about six feet. It wasn't breeding season, but I didn't want to take any chances if the buck decided to be aggressive.

Toward evening, I found that the borders to the Chatolklan estate were marked by weathered. split-rail fences, which were easily climbed and crossed over. That night, I found a nice tree to hook the hammock, settling in high in a tree.

That night I had an erotic dream. It took place in my bedroom at my parents' estate. On the bed, I saw Janetta, naked, her legs apart. Her face was flushed, and her pussy was puffy, dark, the lips parted and her nether hair soaked with wetness.

Then I saw Calia, standing beside the bed, also naked save for a fake cock attached to some sort of belt harness. Calia told Janetta, "Let me know if want more," before turning and walking past me. The rubber cock glistened wetly.

Still in the dream, I was so hard, I ached. I walked up to Janetta, who looked surprised to see me. She started to rise, but I put out my hand and stopped her. Before she could speak, I said, "Don't say anything. All I want to know is if you are safe, because I am so going to do you."

Not even bothering to take off my trousers, I pulled my out my cock, grabbed Janetta's leg and put myself at her soaked, still open cavity. With one thrust, I slammed into her, my balls slapping against her butt. Then leaning over her, bending her in half, I pounded hard into her depths, over and over, giving her my full measure. As she grabbed my arms and cried out, I could feel myself getting close to ejaculation.

Then I woke up.

Once I stopped cursing, I took a long breath. I had never seen Calia wear such a device, and wasn't sure that Janetta would ever let Calia do such a thing to her. But the image was hot, and my cock demanded release. So I pulled it out and imagined Janetta was still underneath me, getting her everything I had. It was a matter of moments until I reached release. At the last second, I turned enough to let it shoot out over the side of my hammock and to the ground below.

When I was soft enough, I shook off the remnants and tucked myself back in, trying to relax. Yeah, that was a hot scene. And probably total fantasy. It was the first time, though, I'd had a sexual dream about any of the women in my life. Odd, that it was those two. Closing my eyes, I revisited my last night with them at High Guard, and eventually drifted off to sleep.

On my second day traipsing across the foothills, I got much closer to the house.

I quickly spotted the patrols. Mostly All-Terrain Vehicles, but they kept to the dirt trails. Sloppy practice for them, good for me. The guards wore body-weave armor, sufficient against most weapons, but I expected that my LRS-12 would punch right through anything they wore.

Using the binoculars, I surveyed the area, approaching the main house from the southwest. In order to have a good angle, I discovered I'd have to back out and make my approach coming from the west to northwest. There was a small rise in that direction, which would give me some elevation and cover. I expected this would take me most of the day to accomplish.

I slipped away and made the wide circle around about, and found another tree to hang out in. During the night, the sky was especially clear, so I looked up at the starlight gleaming down at me. I knew some of the stars, but this far north, there were many constellations that were new. At High Guard, I'd been learning some of the new ones, but that had been mid-spring and summer. It was now early. Some of the stars were familiar, but many more were not.

Looking to the heavens, seeing the starlight gleaming down, naturally made me think of my father. Wondering how he and my mother fared. Thinking of them led me to my own family. I wondered how my girls were doing. Sisi and Mina had been with us for so short a time before I'd had to leave. Did they even remember what I looked like? I knew them. Thinking about their magic hugs had helped me stay sane, as did Sisi's infectious smiles. Janetta and the other women who loved me, I hoped they had fared well during my long absence. I had already been gone longer than they'd been told to expect. Which I knew would cause them worry for my sake. During my time at Sparantzlo, all of us had been isolated from the outside world. And now I was deep into my assignment. I worried that anything I sent home might alert those working against Itznacoco or myself as to my location. The only thing that said I was here was a security report at Defiant War Base. Everything since my arrival had been cash or via my fake ID of Ket Beelo.

I looked up at the stars again, promising myself I'd be home soon.

* * * * *

The next morning, just before dawn, I crept to my position and settled in, using branches to cover me, and smearing dirt onto my face. I was about four-hundred-and-thirty yards away. I unwrapped the LRS-12 from its protective blanket, attached the Suur scope, keeping the lens covers closed. Screwed on the noise suppressor.

In front of me was a ranch-style main house, a nearby secondary bunkhouse, and behind them both was a large, three-story barn. Vehicles came and went throughout the morning and afternoon. Guards passed into the bunkhouse throughout the day, and vehicles, when not in use, went into the barn. I counted close to a dozen armed men in small, three-man patrols - plus another six men near the house. Two were stationed outside on opposite corners, with a third man on the roof, who scanned with his own set of binoculars. About lunch time, the shift changed and those on duty were rotated out. No sign of guard dogs, though, and that pleased me a great deal.

In the late afternoon, while I ate jerky and sipped from my water bottle, the smells of red meat cooking filtered from the kitchen chimney of the main house. The smell of cooking meat made my stomach rumble.

After dinner time, a woman came out and sat on one of the chairs on the covered porch, holding a snifter glass of dark liquid, presumably filled with alcohol. As the sun was behind me, I opened the lens cover and took a look. Middle-aged, but nice looking. Loose flannel shirt, tied under her breasts. Heavy tartan skirt and fancy boots. Ligature marks on her wrists. Big surprise. If everything worked out, I was going to change her life.

A man came out. It was Herroto Chatolklan, carrying a cigar and a snifter glass of his own. Flannel shirt to ward off the cool evening air. Jeans. Fancy-tooled boots. Fancy, wide belt with an alexandrite embedded in the buckle. A regular lord of the country manor.

I sighted him in. Tossed up a piece of grass to check windage.

A quick glance back up to the guard on the roof, then back to my target. Herrato sat next to the woman in a chair of his own.

In case of body armor, aim for the head.

Squeeze slowly.

Chuff! went the shot, but even so, the shot was loud in my ears. Chatolklan's head snapped back as the back end of his skull decorated the cabin wall. I heard the distant scream of the woman.

Instantly, the guards went on alert. Lifting the barrel, I sighted on the guard on the rooftop and fired again. He dropped and rolled off the building, and then I snapped off another hit to the man on the closest corner. The third guard dove for cover.

Time to run!

Keeping low, I grabbed my backpack and ran around the rise for the heavy brush. Within two minutes, an ATV patrol arrived, crashing noisily through the bracken. As they scouted up and down the road, I quickly edged further away.

Once I got at least a half rad distant, I shouldered the pack and began to run-jog, heading southwest. My goal was to travel for three hours, then turn south. I set my watch timer and resumed running. Once I hit the road, I planned to hike east to the park and retrieve my vehicle.

Taking quick breaks every few rads, I readily drank from my water supply. By the end of the first hour, I was getting tired running over the rough terrain, so I took a break. A good reminder to me that I needed to be in better shape, and I would have to remedy that when I got home.

In the far distance, I spied two helicopters approaching from the west. Saw them before I heard them.

Seven hells! He has air support!

The notion that I'd been set up flitted through my mind, but I pushed it aside. I needed to focus, and even more important, I needed to move my ass to avoid getting killed.

Using my binoculars, I saw that they were both AHR-17 Kites. Instead of the fifty caliber machine guns, both carried a pair rocket pods, one aside each landing strut. The pair split up and deployed into a standard outward spiral search. If these Kites were standard military grade craft, they were equipped with very good detection gear, including infra-red scanners, and I would soon be located.

Kali's throbbing cunt.

I began running as fast as my legs would move.

By the second hour, one of the Kites neared my position. I moved until I was under a large copse. The helicopter made a pass, then swung hard about.

I set to a zigzag run. I heard the salvo of rockets firing behind me. I dove for ground just as trees exploded behind me, billowing smoke and scattering a barrage of wood and steel shrapnel. I grunted as I felt some impacts, but kept moving. As the helicopter hovered, searching, I snugged up behind a tree and brought the rifle to bear, sighting on the rear rotor.

Chuff! Chuff! Chuff! Three 8.5 mm rounds kicked away.

There was a sound of metal grinding, and then the rear rotor began to smoke.

Hit!

Wobbling about, the helicopter lifted higher, then struggled to retreat.

My elation was short-lived. I could hear the second helicopter coming in fast.

As the second Kite got closed, it hovered, pointing in my direction. Worse, gunfire from the trees began to sound, and bullets whizzed by near me.

Four rockets from the attack pod fired and I again dove to the ground. Explosions bracketed me, shaking me hard. Wood from blown trees flew everywhere. A second barrage was loosed.

I had the cold realization that they might be tracking me the same way that Chatolklan had been located.

The chip in my hip!

Rolling to my side and shoving down my pants, I bared my butt. Where I'd received my vaccinations I'd been told. Drawing my belt knife, I found the scar and stabbed. Gritted my teeth and swearing, I moved the blade tip. Felt something metallic. Twisting and yelling, I dug down until I could pried it out. Gasping while blood ran down my leg.

Pounded the chip with the knife hilt into smaller bits.

Hauled up my trousers and ran-limped away. More rockets fired, but they landed to the right of me. The concussive force still threw me off my feet.

Prone, I crawled through the brush as fast as I could move.

More rockets fired, but I was now making my way from their target area.

My hip was wet with blood. It needed a Nu-Skin patch, but I didn't have the time.

When I was about a rad away, the helicopter started into a circular pass.

Panting, I realized I had to deal with my bleeding hip right then.

I hauled off my pack and dug for the first aid kit. Ripped off the Nu-Skin patch, dropped my trousers, slapped it on and held it until it sealed. Pants secured, I swallowed four pain-blockers dry. Then swallowed another scent-mask pill.

With my rifle in one hand and the pack in the other, I ran, trying to keep my head down. The analgesic in the patch took the edge off the pain in my hip. The patch of trees helped provide cover.

The helicopter began to climb, slowly spinning in mid-air, scanning the ground around it. I noticed that they had two shooters looking out the sides. Hardened windows open. My hardened 8.5mm rounds could penetrate the rear-rotor housing, but not the main body of the helicopter.

Lifting the rifle, I sighted the craft. Timed it as they spun slowly and climbed to increase their search radius. With the infra-red, I was in danger. But the open windows were a break for me.

As the helicopter came around the second time, a hundred feet higher, I zoomed in on the open canopy. Just as the helicopter stopped and started to reverse direction toward me, I fired twice, aiming for the avionics control box inside, on the roof.

Both heavy rounds punched through. The pilot responded almost immediately, firing a salvo in my direction. I ran and dove for cover.

I took a lot more chunks of wood sharpnel, this time into my left side, but again the backpack bore the brunt. The helicopter began smoking, losing power.

Sucking air, I hauled myself up and scanned about. Two searchers were three hundred yards to my right rear. If I fired, I could distracted them, but it would also confirm my whereabouts to the ground teams. I only had two rounds left in the LRS-12 magazine. Twelve rounds in the Caiman 35, with no spares. I could not afford a prolonged or pitched fight.

The helicopter fired again, but the angle suddenly dropped, and the rockets went wild. To my front left, I heard distant cries. I blinked. I'll take friendly fire casualties any day.

As I moved off, keeping as low as I could, the helicopter wobbled dangerously as it turned, trying for the open area near the main house for an emergency landing.

Nearly a dozen of the large deer I'd seen two days earlier suddenly burst out from the brush behind me. The deer crying out in panic. Even a doe could hurt someone if they slammed into them. I put my back to a tree and let them pass.

Steeling myself, I slowly zig-zagged through the trees. Within a rad, I slowed to a fast walk.

I had been more than lucky so far. If the gods wanted to help, I would welcome their help. But I was still a long ways from being safe.

The intelligence for this mission had been next to non-existent, and if this was how Imperial Security ran their operations, they needed to take some lessons from professionals, like the Ground or Marine Service.

Then a sick feeling flooded me. I well and truly hoped my sink-or-swim experience here wasn't just to find out just how bad things were with Imperial Security! Because if so, that meant things were really, really bad, and my life expectancy was suddenly much lower than I'd thought.

When I was past the split-rail fence, I breathed easier, but still jogged another rad before halting for a rest.

Dug out a fresh pair of hiking pants and shirt. Wadded the bloody and torn clothing up and stuck them into the bottom of my backpack. Besides, the more I sweated, the faster my scent would change back to normal. Sucked down a water bottle, and stored it into the pack as well. Swearing to myself the whole time.

Once I realized I was speaking aloud, I forced myself to calm down. Field Commander Herroto Chatolklan of Imperial Security was dead. Deedee Marrin and all the others who had died at Sparantzlo while under his watch were avenged.

Right now, though, I was still in a great deal of danger. Once I was safe, I could raise a holy row. But not now. I needed to stay calm. Think. Anticipate what I'd do if I was their leader trying to find an enemy sniper.

Mentally, I imagined Styen coming up behind me and giving me a slap alongside the back of my head.

Oh, yeah. He would have done it, too. And I admit, I fully deserved it.

During my reverie, twilight had come and nearly passed. I was tired and it was night.

Some of the larger carnivores came out to play at this time. Besides the short-nosed bears and dire wolves, there were the big cats to consider. Some of those cats were bigger than I was, weighing at the top end around seven to eight hundred pounds. Guns made humans the apex predators, but surprise would make all the difference, and those big carnivores could move a considerable distance in seconds.

I needed to find a tree and climb.

Finding a suitable volunteer, I threw my rope over a large branch and hauled myself up. At about thirty feet up, as there was no place to set up the hammock, I dug out my jacket and, because it was clouding over, slipped on my rain poncho. Then I tied myself to the tree.

* * * * *

It was fully dark when I awoke. Something below me was climbing up, claws digging into the bark. Slipping on the night glasses, I looked down. Mountain lion, about halfway up.

I moved my hand slowly for my flashlight. If that didn't work, I'd use the solid-wood butt of my rifle.

It sniffed the air, growled, then gave an uncertain noise, almost like a cough. It appeared to consider shifting to a lower branch to free up his paws.