The Lost Animas (The Ammonite Galaxy Series, Book 5)

Chapter 19

BACK ON VALHAI, Petra was beginning to feel better. Since the attack on her, very little had happened. But now the Second Valhai Votation was looming up in less than two weeks, and she knew that Mandalon's enemies would have to make a move soon if they wanted to put an end to his innovations.

She looked around the huge Valhai Voting Dome. She had come here, together with several more of Mandalon's private guards, to make checks on the security measures being put into place. But something was bothering her; she could feel a twinge of uncertainty which put her teeth on edge.

She had left Mandalon 50 in company of all his ministers, so he must be safe; that could not be the reason for her discomfort. No, it was something else, something nagging at the back of her mind, something which was stopping her from concentrating on the task at hand. She looked surreptitiously around at her fellow cohorts but they were engrossed in what they were doing.

Then she realized what it was. Her orthogel bracelet was missing. That meant that she couldn't instantaneously contact Arcan. Petra stared down at her bare wrist for a second, her quick mind momentarily dulled and cumbersome.

Then her senses reacted, and she tensed instantly, ready for fight or flight. They were making their move, and she had to be prepared for them.

But the realization had come just a few milliseconds too late. She felt a pin-prick in her arm, and the whole world began to spin uncontrollably, her stomach heaved, and then a forest of horizontal needles seemed to embed themselves in her brain. She fell to the floor almost silently, her eyes rolling upwards inside her head before she had time to finish the thought which recognized that she had been an utter fool.

The triumvirate of guards who had accompanied her rallied around the prone figure, triumph on their faces.

"She won't be any trouble now," said Volgorion, with a thin smile. "Get her down to the gate. She will make the perfect scapegoat; when they find her there it will be an easy matter to prove that she was responsible for the whole thing. But we must hurry; the plan must be finished before the orthogel entity thinks to check with either Mandalon or her. And don't damage her; we want no outward signs of attack."

The other two guards, both of whom looked more like tree-trunks than people, gave sniggers of enjoyment.

"Only a little bit of thing now she's out for the count, isn't she?" said Scurrion. "Seems strange she could have caused us so much trouble. But Zorion will be pleased."

Volgorion nodded. "You will be well-rewarded. We all will, when Zorion takes his rightful place as head of all Sell. But first we have to complete our task. You two, get on with your part. And make sure nobody sees you as you take her down into the tunnels. The last thing we need is for somebody to guess exactly where they are. She won't come around for over six hours, but here is some more of the concentrated clorohexanone. When you dump her, give her another injection. That should keep her under for twelve further hours, by which time it will be far too late for our great Namuri." He laughed, and gave the inert body a kick. It landed with a satisfying crump of tissue. "She should have minded her own business."

The third guard, Hebeton, nodded solemnly, and repeated his instructions, numbering them off on his fingers. He was not renowned for his quickness of mind. "Take to tunnels. Injection. Got it."

Volgorion sighed. "And don't forget the nitrate-oil mix we will need later on."

Hebeton stared. "What is that for?"

Scurrion, who was faster both mentally and physically, nodded. "I will make sure of that. Any other instructions, chief?"

"Don't be seen or heard. Nobody must have any inkling of where we have taken her."