Back up in his room he sat on the bed. “We’re going to leave here tomorrow,” he told his assembled team. “Today I want everybody’s gear and weapons inventoried and checked. Also, a two-hour run in the surf and no drinking tonight. I’m going to see Commander Flagg.”

He found Flagg at his ship and together they went to the prison. The commander introduced him to the warden, Colonel Clark.

“That dark lantern guy we brought in yesterday,” Flagg said to Clark. “Lieutenant Lewis was the one he attacked, back in Dontil.”

“I read the reports,” Clark said. “You know, we’re going to have to watch this one carefully. He almost escaped last night. We lost two good soldiers; luckily one of our hunters was in the hallway and was able to subdue the prisoner. Now he’s shackled and confined by himself.”

“Any luck getting information from him?” Lewis asked.

“We haven’t tried yet, but I’ve never seen anyone hold out longer than a couple of weeks,” Clark said. “And there’s always the scopolamine. Enough of that stuff will loosen any tongue.”

Lewis made a face, but nodded. “I’ll call on you when we come down.”

Clark looked puzzled, so Flagg told him. “Lieutenant Lewis is going to the top of the mountain, to look for something.”

“What?” Clark asked sharply. “What’s worth dying for up there?” then added. “We’ve sent people up the mountain in the past, if they came back at all it was with less people and sometimes raving stupidly.”

“About what?” Lewis inquired.

“Reapers, mutants, cliffs, weirdoes, you name it,” Clark said quietly. “Whatever’s up there doesn’t come down and bother us, and personally, I like that.”

“We’ll try not to bring anything back that might bite,” Lewis replied. “Have you ever been up there?”

“I’ve been on the first tier where the Hagen live,” Clark answered. “That was twenty years ago when I was first out of the academy. We spent a few weeks up there, fighting mutants and leatherwings.”

“Did you win?” Flagg asked.

“I guess so,” Clark said. “I haven’t heard of them sending any large patrols up since then. Once in a while some Hagen will come down; they say it’s been quiet for a long time.”

“What’s a large patrol?” Lewis wanted to know.

“There were seventy of us, when we went up,” Clark answered. “Twenty or so when we came back,” then he added as an afterthought. “By the way, a fellow passed by on his way up. That was maybe a month ago. He had an old map of the plateau.”

“What was he looking for?” Flagg asked. “And why would we let him wander alone in our territory?”

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“Talk to the base commander,” Clark said. “You know, I need to get back to my paperwork. Good luck.”

When they were outside the prison complex Flagg turned to Lewis. “Do you want to ask the base commander about that guy Clark mentioned?”

“No, we’ll keep our eyes open for him,” Lewis said. “He’s not part of our mission and I don’t need the distraction.”

“Speaking of distractions, I almost forgot to ask,” Flagg said. “What would you like to do about the boy?”

Lewis drew a complete blank. “Beg your pardon, sir?”

“Do you remember the boy who hit you with a board in Port Mist?” Flagg asked.

Lewis thought for a moment. “Vaguely, right at the beginning of the mob action. Crap, I took him to Telini and said that I wanted to talk to him later. Is he locked up on your ship?”

“No, he’s been working,” Flagg laughed. “You know, your people are very, um – persuasive.”

“Care to elaborate on that?” Lewis asked carefully.

“Well, when we noticed there was a minor with them we wanted to send him back to shore. Master Sergeant Roquette argued that he had no family and that part of their mission included your standing order to hold onto him,” Flagg looked amused, making Lewis suspect there was more to the story. “So we put the boy to work under a program that allows him or us to opt out of it up to forty days after the papers are signed.”

“Well, I suppose I should come meet him,” Lewis mused. “How’s he working out for you?”

“He needs work, that’s for sure,” Flagg replied. “But he could make a decent sailor.”

The ship was quiet, with most of the crew on shore leave. Flagg went to see about some business and a petty officer took Lewis to the galley, where the boy sat peeling potatoes in the corner. He looked up as Lewis approached, his eyes bright and full of curiosity.

“Hoy, remember me?” Lewis asked.

“Yes sir, you’re Lieutenant Lewis, right?” the boy laid the knife down on the barrel lid and stood. “Larry Ribbon at your service, are you going to take me away with you?”

“Right to the point, aren’t you?” Lewis put a serious face on. “I don’t know, you hit me with a board. Do you remember that?”

“Yeah, sorry about that,” Larry said, and then he brightened up. “But then you abducted me. Doesn’t that sorta make us even?”

“Maybe, maybe not,” Lewis replied. “Let’s think about that. Do you know why I grabbed you?”

“So you could squeeze information out of me,” Larry answered, quick and a little sarcastic.

“Did you share all the information you had?” Lewis inquired.

“Yeah, I told Sergeant Telini everything I knew about what was going on,” Larry assured him. “And that investigator guy from Dontil; I answered all his questions too.”

“So why did you hit me?” Lewis asked.

“I was paid to do it, and I hadn’t eaten in a few days,” Larry answered. “That makes me a mercenary like you guys. So, can I have a job with you?”

“Where’s your family?” Lewis pressed.

A cloud descended over Larry’s face. “Dead, sir.”

“Sorry about that, kid,” Lewis said quietly. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not really,” Larry said. “I just don’t want to be hungry anymore.”

“Are the sailors not feeding you?” Lewis asked sharply.

“Wait, that’s not what I meant!” Larry looked like he might panic. “The sailors are nice enough, but I don’t want to spend the rest of my life on the water. I’ll do anything you want.”

“You signed a contract here, you know,” Lewis informed him.

“What? They told me I could get out of it as long as I didn’t wait too long!” Larry whined.

“Calm down, let’s go find out what the deal is,” Lewis snapped. “Either way you will eat.”

“I guess,” Larry looked a little better.