Watchman stood in front of the general’s desk. Prophet and Scavenger were a few feet behind him.
“The second patrol I sent to the mountain did no better than you did,” the general informed them, looking up at Watchman. The fluorescent lights gleamed off the top of the seated man’s bald head. “I’m pleased that you identified the teleporter and her clan. I’m far less pleased that you failed to take a hostage during your escape from them.”
Watchman swallowed nervously. Prophet and Scavenger exchanged a wary glance.
“Still, you’re right: even if you did grab the girl, all she’d have to do is teleport away from you. So I'm sending you back to Bainbridge. Get me someone else. A young woman… that will create the greatest sense of urgency among them.” He nodded and stood. “Since your team is familiar with the terrain, you will lead the expedition, Watchman. And you will have more men at your disposal this time. I’m reassigning the Terrapin warriors to your team. They will act as your spotters from now on.”
Watchman frowned. “I don’t know anything about them, sir.”
“I’ll let them fill you in themselves. They will report to you tomorrow night at nine in the parking lot. I’ve ordered them to follow your lead. You will find them cooperative.”
“Very well, sir.” Watchman turned to leave.
“Watchman?”
“Yes, sir?”
The general smiled thinly. “The leader of the Terrapin team is a young man called Dopp. He is the son of the Ripper.”
Watchman’s eyes widened.
“Behave accordingly.”
“Yes, sir! We will, sir.”
“You’re excused.”
The Ridge team hurried out of the general’s office and through the corridors, their shoes clacking and squeaking on the over-polished tile. Once they’d been searched and were back outside the Cut, Prophet turned to Scavenger. “The son of the Ripper? THE Ripper?”
“Yes. We'll have to watch our backs,” Watchman muttered.
“The Ripper’s son will be a powerful man,” Scavenger added. “Odds are he’s ruthless, too, like his father. Not someone we should cross.”
Prophet looked from Scavenger to Watchman, visibly upset. “And now we’re going back to Greenwood, with him, to kidnap a young woman?”
Watchman nodded slowly.
“I still think the teleporter could be the same girl you two saw by the river.”
“Not possible,” Scavenger said. “She would have teleported away then. And she didn’t. She ran from us.”
“At least you weren’t stupid enough to mention that in the meeting,” Watchman snarled. “The last thing we need is him thinking that she got away from us twice. And it doesn’t matter if it was the same girl or not. We know who we’re looking for now.”
Prophet frowned. He looked around at the forest. It was one in the morning. Owls hooted back and forth in the nearby trees. Something hissed. Out of nowhere, a glowing green coyote strode silently past the trio.
Scavenger frowned at the animal as it passed. “For the record, sir: I don’t approve of any of this,” he whispered. “Shooting an old soldier is one thing, but you know what that young lunatic of theirs will do to a female captive if we bring one back here...”
“I know,” Watchman growled. “And I agree with every word. But we have no choice. The chief sent us here because he owes Kolapeka a favor. My job — and yours, and Prophet’s — is to see that those bundles are found so that none of us has to interact with the Poxinosa ever again.”
A red owl swooped over their heads with a loud hoot.
Watchman shuddered. “Let’s just do what we have to do and go home.”
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