DUALITY /#Wattys 2021

Chapter 42

The hike took them through woods until they came to a metal fence, which Reb cut and they slipped through. "This has sensors in it, which Chi is supposed to have turned off. If he hasn't, we'll get a military escort to the Palace." Bug flew along, so far above that if Ridley hadn't known to look, she would never have seen him at all.

A little farther and they came to a gravel road. "We're going to leave these camo jackets here. They'll self-destruct in ten minutes." Reb took his off and concealed it in the bushes, and Ridley followed suit. Despite her layers of clothing, she shivered. At least she got to keep the cap and gloves.

The gravel wound out of the forest to a highway. Reb raised a hand, and Bug flew down to rest at their feet. "Bug, I'm turning voice command over to Ridley," said Reb. The eyestalks bobbled up and down and Bug beeped. Reb looked at Ridley. "Tell him to proceed to the rendezvous point and conceal until we get there."

"Bug, proceed to the rendezvous point and conceal until we get there," said Ridley. With a beep and a hum, Bug rose into the air and disappeared.

Downtown Midgarde lay directly ahead. Traffic picked up, and they hiked down a ramp onto a busy city street. A few blocks south, and the Palace wall rose in front of them. Reb gave it a wide berth.

"We look like tourists," he said. "We're just going to file in with these people."

A museum stood just down the street, not a large one; more a like tourist trap, a place with displays and souvenirs about Othala and the royal family, historical displays and recordings, and Café Eira, a reference to the Queen. Reb grabbed Ridley's hand and pulled her across the lobby to the café, elbowing a few startled people out of their way.

Next to a window overlooking Othala, a couple with an old lady and a baby struggled out of their chairs, disposing of trash, helping the old lady to her feet, and placing the baby in the stroller. Reb stood behind them, finally garnering an impatient look from the husband before the family put their coats on and moved off. Reb grabbed a chair and motioned Ridley to another one, digging into his pocket for some money.

"Here. Get us each a coffee."

Ridley went up to the café line. When she returned, she saw why Reb had picked the table. It offered a perfect view down the sight line of the Palace's west wall. Reb had his eyes trained on the guard, ceremonially dressed in a smart black uniform, who stood there. As Ridley watched, another guard approached and relieved the first.

A quick motion in the sky caught Ridley's eye. If she hadn't known better, she'd have thought it was a bird dropping down out of the air to the top of the wall.

Ridley sat down with their coffees. "There's Bug," she said. Apprehension tied a knot in her stomach. Reb sipped his coffee, but she didn't need anything to make her more nervous. Not only did she have to break into the royal house, but Chi waited for her on the other side of the wall. Her fingers and toes tingled at that thought, while her stomach churned at the thought of what might happen if she got caught on the wall. "What are we going to do about that guard?"

"I took care of that yesterday. That guard has this post every day. Stitch went up playing drunk and created a disturbance. Chi is going to pull this guard from his post—" Reb checked the time on his communicator— "any time now, to discuss his demeanor with the public. And that's when we go." Reb sipped his coffee and smiled. "Stitch is cooling his heels in jail as we speak. Fortunately, he's a Confederate citizen, so he can't be deported."

Ridley shivered. "As long as it's not where I was."

The guard put his hand to his ear, as if listening to a communication. "Here we go," said Reb, and stood up. "We're tourists; bring your coffee."