19

The remaining Havoc crews vanished. The market returned to its frenetic din. If anything, the activity became more frenzied. Logan made several more sweeps with his teams, each revealing the same situation. Merchants and customers alike showed a sense of wonder and disbelief. He saw smiles, even heard laughter.

The comm link supplied by Linux glowed. When Logan answered, his uncle demanded, “Are the reports I hear true?”

“Our initial forays have been successful.” Logan leaned against the nearest wall. Even the sense of partial victory was enough to unleash a wave of exhaustion. “We’re not in the clear yet. Havoc is bound to retaliate.”

“Of that I am absolutely certain.” Linux hesitated, then added, “It appears I may have underestimated you.”

When Linux cut off, Logan asked Sidra, “Are you as tired as I am?”

“Not until you asked.”

They returned to the militia headquarters, where two-thirds of the teams were sacked out. Logan ate a hurried meal standing by the cooks, then asked Nicolette, “When is Loghir’s next sleep cycle?”

She checked her readout. “Just under six hours.”

“And battalion HQ?”

A slightly longer pause, then she answered, “Day officially begins in five hours.”

That did not leave Logan time enough for a proper rest, but it would have to do. He started toward an empty pallet and groaned his way down. “I have to report in. Wake me in four hours.”

They left four scouting teams in the market, supervised by Nicolette. No ghost-walkers, just the military crew, with orders to stay well down. No heroics, no attempts to halt any Havoc team if they moved. Just keep an eye out. Report any change. Nothing more.

Everyone else started moving prisoners.

The plan was probably flawed in some way or another. Logan was too weary to make any improvements. He woke feeling more exhausted than when he lay down. The same fatigue was imprinted on many other faces.

They did what Vance called “work by numbers.” Two prisoners had their wrists freed, and then one arm was bound to the other’s, right to left. Their outside arms were strapped tight to their sides. The ghost-walker then moved into place between them, gripped the bound arms, and stepped forward.

Their destination was chosen for maximum impact. Once the prisoner transport was completed, Logan coded in the link to Linux. When the old man answered, Logan said, “I need you to make a call. Do you have a trusted contact in Loghir?”

“Of course.”

“Have him contact the head of their police. There is a hotel directly across the square from their headquarters.”

“I have stayed there.”

“We took five rooms on the top floor. They are now filled with Havoc’s forces.”