The Black Tide (Outcast 3)

Once I’d updated him, he said, “I agree we need to talk to him, but I suspect that group has a shoot first, ask questions later policy.”

“More than likely, but you’ve people here, and I’m betting they’re every bit as good as the mercenaries he has.”

“Undoubtedly.” He motioned past me. “But attacking them means yet another delay, and we’re losing light fast.”

I swung around. The conveyor had started to flatten out and, up ahead, visible through a rough-cut gap, was a sky streaked with pink and yellow. I wasn’t going to make it make to Central in time to meet with Charles, no matter what I did. I swore and scrubbed a hand across my eyes. “I don’t suppose Nuri would be able to get a message to Charles? Tell him I’m sick or something?”

He didn’t answer, but his distracted expression told me he was already relaying the message. After a few minutes, he said, “She’s on to it, but she said it would be best if you got back to the apartment as soon as you can, because he’s the type to come checking.”

“So I’ve discovered.” I eyed the drop-off point that was approaching way too fast, and then pushed upright. “Cat, how far is the drop?”

A couple of tree heights, at least.

Which meant about a hundred feet. I glanced at Jonas. “That sort of drop may or may not be survivable, but the ton of waste that’ll be following us over the edge definitely isn’t.”

“No, but we don’t have to jump.” He bent and picked up Penny’s body. “There’re walkways on either side of the conveyer up ahead.”

“There are?” I glanced back and saw what he meant. The conveyor’s sloped sides flattened out as it neared the fall point, providing a three-foot wide strip of stationary metal either side of the belt. Calling it a walkway was something of a misnomer given the rubble spillage, but it at least wasn’t moving and it was certainly better than risking a hundred-foot drop. “Stepping off is going to take coordination—and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t break a leg this time.”

Amusement glittered briefly in his bright eyes. “If you insist—”

“And I do. Your ass is too heavy to carry far—and I say that from experience.”

“Then I won’t.” He gave me a severe look that was somewhat spoiled by the smile twitching his lips. “Please ensure you offer me the same courtesy.”

“Deal.”

He moved over to the other side of the belt. I walked back to the rubble pile behind us to gain some room then—just before my section of the conveyor hit the flattening edge—ran forward and leaped high.

I hit the platform and stumbled forward several feet before finding my balance and coming to a stop. I glanced quickly across the belt and saw that Jonas not only still held Penny, but was also upright and uninjured. Relief stirred, but we were hardly out of the woods yet. Or out of the tunnel, as the case may be.

Bear, any movement up there?

Two soldiers are stationed either side of the gateway into the mountain, but the rest have gone inside.

Jonas? I asked silently. How are we going to handle this?

We aren’t doing anything, he replied evenly. You need to get back to Central, remember.

Yes, but—

But nothing,

he said. We can’t afford to blow your Cat identity now that we’re so close to pinning down Dream.

He was right—I knew that—but it was nevertheless frustrating when I really wanted to be there when that soldier was questioned. If he had the answers we needed—if he could point us to Dream in whatever guise she might currently be using—it would save me the trouble of going back.

But if he didn’t, then I’d risked blowing my identity for nothing.

You can use one of the transporters to take—

No, I cut in. Branna was using a device that allowed him to move through the false rift without harm. I used it to get here, and I can do so going back. It didn’t take the toll on my body that previous crossings did.

And unless Dream had discovered Branna’s remains, she’d hopefully think it was him using it rather than me.

Good, Jonas said. But be careful, both when you’re using that rift and when you’re in Central. Dream will suspect you’re impersonating someone within either the ranks of the House of Lords or the councilors, given what happened to Branna at the inauguration ball.

I know. I glanced ahead and saw that the fading remnants of daylight had been swept away by the night. Cat, Bear, stay here with Jonas and help out. I’ll call you once I’m back in Central and rested.