Lightning Game (GhostWalkers 17)

Jonquille had a point. Not one thing about this squirrel man made sense. None of his actions did, unless he was deliberately holding their attention. They hadn’t spotted him immediately. Rubin hadn’t known he was there until the elk had been so nervous.

Diego, slide back into the thickest brush. Once you’re under cover, no one can spot or track you. Take a look around and see if he’s alone. Lightning Bug and I will be sitting ducks waiting for you to get back to us, so don’t fall asleep on the job.

Diego didn’t argue, although Rubin felt his reluctance. His brother slipped away, a silent wraith, moving quietly so he wouldn’t disturb the insects or wildlife. Rubin didn’t dare take his gaze from the man lying supposedly dead not thirty feet away.

Are you feeling any better, woman?

I thought it was Lightning Bug.

He let his laughter slip into her mind. You can produce superb lightning. I was very impressed. I could use another pair of eyes on this character, although I’m beginning to think maybe we need to watch each other’s backs.

I’m watching your back, she assured. I’ve got a bad feeling that man is faking it to keep us right where we are.

I’ve got that same feeling. Rubin had the impression they were in real trouble. He just didn’t know how or where it was coming from.

10

Rubin, Jonquille, I’m going to shoot that faker in his calf and the two of you slip back into the brush and get the hell out of there. I’ll cover you. Meet me at the fork in the stream.

Diego didn’t wait for either of them to protest. The bullet hit their quarry in the back of his right calf. He screamed, rolling for the nearest brush. Immediately, answering fire exploded from two different sites, a tree several yards away almost parallel to Rubin and one directly in front of him about thirty yards away. Both shooters directed their shots toward the highest part of a knoll several yards away, clearly trying to trace where Diego had shot from.

Rubin moved immediately, hoping Jonquille was doing the same. He knew Diego had changed positions the moment he fired that bullet. He would be already zeroing in on one of the two snipers in the trees. Sure enough, a single bullet was fired, and something heavy crashed through several branches before a body was hung up in the thick limbs.

Rubin made it into the thickest part of the underbrush, took a deep breath and turned to look around for Jonquille. There was no bright hair to mark her in the dark. There was no sound. He inhaled and took in the subtle fragrance of coral honeysuckle and daffodils. Very subtle, almost nonexistent, although he’d know her anywhere. She was very close to him.

You managed to hide your sparks.

I have to carry something with me at all times.

The night had gone silent again. Rubin was very familiar with Diego’s hunting skills. There was a body hanging in the trees, possibly dead—possibly wounded on purpose, just as Diego had wounded their original prey. That meant the lone sniper would have to make a choice, and it was never a good one. Diego would have endless patience. That was the way Rubin had been taught when he was a child, and he’d passed that lesson on to his brother. The first to move was often the first to die. These men had come hunting them. They would never give quarter. Rubin had also taught Diego that.

You two are pretty ruthless, aren’t you? Jonquille asked.

If the situation calls for it, Rubin replied. He chose a game trail and began moving through it, using elbows and toes to drive himself forward. They came looking.

He felt rather than heard Jonquille behind him. He was extremely aware of her presence now. She was very small and could move much faster than he could through the smaller game tunnels, but she never closed the gap between them.

A rabbit veered away from a downed tree trunk just across the stream from where Diego was hunting the last of the snipers before he went after the wounded squirrel man. Rubin instantly froze, his gaze on the rabbit. The rabbit stood on its hind legs and looked inquisitively at the tree trunk. Rubin did the same.

Diego, stay very still. You’re being hunted. This is most likely a five-man team, maybe larger. We assumed they sent a small team after Jonquille, but there are more than the two snipers and the one with the device seeding the clouds. I’m putting eyes in the sky.

Diego didn’t answer, but Rubin felt his acknowledgment.

Jonquille, stay curled up tight. They might try again to draw you out.

I’m going hunting. I’m capable of hunting. I’m not staying here safe while the two of you track these men, especially if you believe they were looking for me.