“Jesi?” Luiz asked, getting to her feet. “Who’s...?”

  “Luiz, wait, it’s not what you think—”

  Too late—she’d already recognised Ajui. “Him?” She suddenly pulled out her gun from her back holster and pointed it at him. “Tinun Ajui, you’re under sentence of death and I hereby execute that sentence.”

  I leapt across the barrier and in front of Ajui. “Luiz, no!”

  Her eyes huge, she backed up, her gun swinging a little to point at me. “No...no...it’s a trick! Jesi, get your gun, or get down!” She aimed again. “Get out of the way, whoever the fuck you are, or you die where you stand!”

  Jesi jumped between me and her. “Luiz, no! It’s not what you think! Drop your weapon! That’s an order, lieutenant!”

  She must have wavered and given him an opening because there was a brief struggle, and then Jesi tossed the gun to Ajui. “Keep hold of that,” he snapped.

  “You traitor!” she snarled, trying to rush him. Even though he overtopped her by a good thirty centimetres and forty kigs, there was a hell of a lot of struggling and biting and general dirty play before he wrestled her to the ground, holding her there. She spat up into his face. “How could you!”

  Time for me to come in again, I figured. “Luiz, Jes isn’t a traitor.”

  “And who the hell are you? Nevo Langse’s dead.”

  “Yes. I’m Nevo Langse, and I really am dead. Watch.” I walked towards them, right through Jesi and her on the ground, and then I walked back again. “I’m a ghost, and you and me really did talk last night.”

  It made her pause, but not for long. “Liar!”

  She started to struggle hard again, spitting and swearing, until Jesi shook her hard. “Knock it off, lieutenant! Ajui, in my bedroom, right cupboard, bottom drawer, there’s some cuffs. Get ‘em.” Ajui scuttled off.

  “You wouldn’t dare,” she snarled.

  “You’re not giving me any choice, hon.”

  “Luiz, you need to give Jes a chance—”

  “He’s a traitor! And so are you, even if you are a ghost!”

  Ajui came back in with both pairs of cuffs—I half expected him to make some smart remark about bondage or something, but his expression was completely serious as he held them out. Jesi didn’t bother with asking Luiz if she’d behave—in her position, I’d lie too—and just flipped her over, cuffing her tight but carefully. He did her ankles too, then he lifted her up and put her on the couch. “Gun?” he said to Ajui. The guy pulled it from his waistband, and handed it over. Jesi checked the safety, then unloaded the clip, before taking it and tossing it high up on the kitchen cupboards, out of anyone’s quick reach.

  “Ajui, sit please. And tell me what happened.”

  Ajui kept a wary eye on Luiz, even trussed up as she was. “I got tagged. Sorry, I was concentrating so hard on shields I didn’t think to check first—”

  Jesi held up his hand, still looking at Luiz, who was glaring at him like she wanted to kill him and eat him raw. “It’s not important now. Did they follow you back?”

  Parido came to my side and grabbed my arm. “No, he dodged them.”

  Luiz’s head snapped around. “You! You’re—”

  “Dead, yes, I know.”

  “No, a Marauder,” she snapped. “How long have you been a double agent, Gonlimi?”

  “I’m not,” Jesi said calmly. “Look, Luiz, either you let me explain, or....” He bit his lip. “Or I’ll have to terminate you.”

  I stared at Jes, unable to believe he’d just said that. “You’d kill me?” she whispered.

  His eyes were utterly bleak. “I’d kill myself if I could avoid it, but this is more important than you or me, or even Nev. This is something that affects everyone in the world.”

  “How could it—”

  He put his finger to her lips. “Give me ten minutes to explain?”

  She narrowed her eyes, then nodded jerkily, scornfully rejecting his offer to make her more comfortable. He sat back on the armchair, and told her what he knew, with me and Parido chipping in from time to time.

  I was getting familiar with the look of someone who’d just had everything they’d ever believed in, turned upside down and inside out. But she was a much harder sell than Jesi had been. “You’re being manipulated, Jes. You’ve let a Marauder into your home and into your mind, if this telepathy bullshit is real. Now he knows our secrets, you’ve compromised everyone on the team.”

  “I already knew them, you stupid cow,” Ajui snapped. “You think there’s anyone on the ESF we ain’t mindpicked? I knew what colour underwear you liked before you came bargin’ in.”

  She flushed. “You be quiet, you piece of crap.”

  Jesi took control again. “You still haven’t explained what you think they’re getting out of it, Luiz. How does this possibly benefit the Marauders?”

  “You’re going to knock out one of their most important enemies and you’re asking me that?”

  Jesi sighed. “Luiz, I’m prepared to keep you captive here until we leave, and talk to you for as long as it takes. But in two days’ time, I have to get on that train. I can leave you here tied up, but if there’s a chance you’d escape....”

  She didn’t answer, and Ajui lost his temper. “Look, Gonlimi, just off her,” he snapped. “She’s gonna tell people and wreck it. She’s too stupid to believe what she can see with her own eyes.”

  “Fuck off, you little—”

  “Ajui, shut up,” Jesi snapped. “No one’s getting ‘offed’.”

  “Jes, let me try,” I said, kneeling in front of Luiz. “Hon, do you really think I’d be part of anything to betray our people?”

  “You’re not real.”

  Behind me, Jesi sighed. “If I’m not real, then how come I know all about you? Ask me anything.”

  “What’s the point?” she said, her lip curling in disgust. “That little shit can pull it out of my head. You’re probably an illusion created by him.”

  She had a point, I had to admit. “If he went out, would that help?”

  “No.”

  Bugger. Jesi got to his feet. “Oh for....” He walked over to the kitchen table, and returned with the envelope he’d filled and sealed earlier. “Luiz, I didn’t know you were coming, did I?”

  “No. But he could have told you.”

  “Nev thought you were going to write a note. None of us wanted you over here, because that’s causing us a hell of a problem. Do you at least admit that?” Glaring up at him, she finally nodded, although reluctantly. “Then if I wasn’t expecting to see you, why did I write that?”

  He tossed the letter onto her lap, where she could see her name written clearly on it. “That’s a farewell, Luiz. I don’t expect to survive this mission, and I owed you an explanation. I didn’t think we’d meet before...and I didn’t want you to...just not know what happened to me.” He picked up the envelope and tore it open, then carefully smoothed out the sheets and laid them on her knees. “Read it, and then decide.”

  He walked away. I moved back and sat on the armchair. Ajui was still tense, and I knew his gun would be in his hand if Luiz sneezed wrong. Parido wasn’t saying a damn thing, just watching and waiting with those cold, cold eyes.

  The five minutes it took her to read the letter were the longest of my life—or unlife. Finally, she just shook her head. “Oh, Lord,” she whispered.

  Jesi came and knelt before her. “Luiz? Do you believe me now?”

  “I guess I have to,” she said, her voice catching a little. “But I’m sorry, Jes, I still can’t let you do this....”

  He went stiff. “Lu....”

  “Unless you let me go with you.”

  “Probability, eighty-six percent,” Parido announced, looking incredibly smug.

  Chapter 9 — Transitional Arrangements

  Jesi, knowing our girl as well as he did, was still cautious. He kept her cuffed until Ajui had thoroughly read her mind and assured him that she was serious. Even then, he didn’t undo the ankle cuffs, and I knew Ajui still had his gun ready to use on her. I hated seeing Luiz being treated like that, but he was right. She could wreck everything. Even if the ceremony failed, she would destroy him and Ajui both—or Ajui would kill her. He made it clear he knew where she lived and what he’d do to her if she betrayed them.

  But as far as I could see, she was convinced, though she thought Parido’s plan sucked. “You were seriously going to do this with two people, Jes? You’re nuts.”

  “Didn’t have a lot of choice, hon.”

  “Well, I can help. I can fly a ‘copter, and I uh...have a contact that’ll help me get hold of one.” Jesi raised an eyebrow. “ESF aren’t involved. It’s more....”

  “Horizontal?” I suggested.

  “Kinda,” she admitted, blushing. “But that’ll increase your chances of getting out clean.”

  “Just one problem with that,” Ajui said. “I ain’t got no weaponry. Sasine’s wolves must have been flagging the dealers. She was waiting for me. Only got out by the skin of my teeth, and without a single grenade.”

  “Bugger,” Jesi said. “Another dealer?”

  Ajui shook his head. “Now they know I’m buying, they’ll be watching. The town’s too hot for me now.”

  “Then’ll it have to be hand to hand,” Jesi said. “Guns and knives and whatever you can throw at them, Ajui.”

  “I think I might have access to...some of this,” Luiz said. “Not the mines, but the grenades and ammunition. I, um...made some contacts when I did that undercover thing last year—you remember, Jes?”

  “You sure that’s safe?” I wondered if Jesi was thinking what I was thinking, which was that our dear friend had some really strange connections.

  “Safe enough. We’re talking small stuff here. Not a lot more than special effects supplies to these people.”

  I didn’t like it—it was bad enough risking Jesi, but both of them? But the chance of success had gone up.... “Parido, what’s the odds on them all getting out alive?”

  “All? Eighteen percent. One or two—sixty-three percent.”

  Everyone went very quiet when he said that, no one quite meeting anyone else’s eyes. “Someone’s not going to make it,” Jesi said finally. “But there’s a good chance that someone will. Luiz, you need to know you might not.”

  She sat up straight, her jaw determined. “I accept that risk every time I put on the uniform, Jes. But you’ve resigned. By rights, you should be the one to stay behind.”

  Jes looked over her head at me, and smiled. “No, I’ve got too much to lose if it fails.”

  Ajui piped up. “I gotta know something. What’s she gonna do with me after, if we get out? Cos I ain’t going down easy, little girl.”

  She gave him one of her meanest smiles. “See, you making an issue out of size strikes me as real ironic, shithead.”

  “No insults from either of you,” Jesi said sternly as the two of them glared at each other. “Until this mission is over, we’re a team. After? Luiz?”

  “After, all bets are off,” she said, looking straight at Ajui. “I’ll bring you in, you can count on it.”

  “And you can count on me killing you, Fresiz. I’ll give you a running start though, cos I’m real fair like that.”

  “We’ll see,” she said, clearly unworried. “Right—let’s refine this, shall we, Captain Gonlimi?”

  We talked late into the evening, and in some ways it was like old times with her, Jes and me, beating down the fine details on a mission, though me being dead and having two of our bitterest enemies at the table kinda reminded everyone this was nothing like an ordinary mission preparation. I wondered if Ajui really would try to kill Luiz, and if he’d succeed—I’d never get over the guilt of dragging her into this mess, if he did. But I was glad to have her on board, apart from that.

  It was nearly midnight when Jesi called a halt. “Luiz, you want to stay over?” She was on leave for the week. The whole team were, to recuperate from twin losses and injuries. At least she wouldn’t have to explain to Dipnil why she needed time off.

  “Don’t trust me to go home?” she asked, but grinned when he gave her his ‘fearsome leader’ look. “Sure. If you’ve got a spare toothbrush.”

  “I ain’t giving up my bed for no ESF drone,” Ajui snapped, backing away.

  “Damn, I was hoping we could share,” she said, batting her eyelashes at him. He actually stuck his tongue out at her, which made Parido laugh.

  “Leave him alone, Luiz. You can share with me. Nev, don’t watch.”

  “Fuck off, Jes,” I said dryly. It wasn’t like they hadn’t shared beds before, even sleeping bags. If Jesi had wanted to jump her bones, he’d taken his time over it. “I thought I might...go back to the shrine. See if I can pick up anything.”

  “And I’m going to keep an eye on friend Sasine,” Parido said.

  “You’re not...gonna be with me, Keril?” Ajui asked, sounding rather unsure. Almost shy, which was ridiculous considering.

  “Some of the time, Tinu,” Parido said with a sigh. “But watching you sleep isn’t very productive.”

  “No. Right...uh...you go...find out what that bitch is up to.”

  I shook Parido’s hand off my arm so we could speak privately. “You dick—tell him you’ll be there. It’s not like he’ll know.”

  “I don’t make a practice of lying to him, Langse. He needs to be able to trust me.” But he put his hand back and smiled at his lover. “If you wake, and call, I can be there in an instant.”

  “‘Course I won’t know if you come,” Ajui said, looking dejected. “Sucks having to talk with these pricks around the whole time. Can’t dish the dirt.”

  “Consider it a lesson in restraint,” Jesi said. “Come on, Luiz. Good night, Ajui.”

  “Good night...Jesi.”

  Jesi paused. “Then good night, Tinun. I’m sorry you and Parido can’t have privacy. I know that’s not ideal.”

  Ajui shrugged. “Better than the alternative. You keep your hands off him, Fresiz.”

  “Jealous, sweetheart?” He growled as she blew him a kiss.

  Jesi shook his head at the two of them and dragged Luiz off before Ajui lost his temper. With him gone, and his only way of seeing his lover also gone, Ajui slumped a little. “You still there, Keril? I ain’t scared, you know. If it’s me who’s gonna buy it...then I get to be with you. Gotta be better than this. But I’m gonna do this first. I swear, we’ll stop ‘em.” He waved at where he thought we were. “‘Night.”

  “Good night, love,” Parido whispered, his expression miserable. I swear there was something glistening in his eyes, before he wiped at them and cleared his throat. He turned to me. “You better go.”

  “See you in the morning. I, uh...wish there was a way....”

  “There isn’t,” he said coldly. “Please just leave.”

  So I left. Lord, I hated everything about this situation.

  ~~~~~~~~

  I prowled around the shrine, memorising every detail so I could tell Jesi and the others as much as I could. I avoided the medical centre, but I still encountered several spirits on their way across. It bothered me more now that I knew what was going on, than it had when I’d been alive and puzzled by the flickering visions of people, hearing things that I knew I shouldn’t be hearing. I’d explained it to myself in so many ways, ways which now seemed a bit dumb, but it was easier to think, oh, that was just reflected sound, or my hearing was playing up, or I’d lost attention so I didn’t notice when those people had moved away so it just looked like they vanished into thin air. Easier to believe that than I was going crazy, which was the only other explanation. Finding out it was the spirits of the dead was worse in some ways.

  Parido was still gone when I got back. Jesi and Luiz were fast asleep, and I got a little pang seeing how he’d wrapped his arms around her same as he used to do for me. Was he missing me? Had she needed a cuddle? Was he just incapable of sleeping any other way now after all this time with me? I didn’t know. All I knew was that I missed him, his touch, the feel of him around me. I stood and watched them for a while, the moonlight falling across their bodies. I reached out, desperate to breach this veil between us that my special abilities seemed to have no effect on—but my hand just went through Jesi’s shoulder like it had before, and there was no sensation at all that I was connecting with real blood and flesh people. It was like trying to touch a thought.

  Parido returned before dawn but had gone straight into Ajui’s room—couldn’t begrudge him that, now I knew what he’d been through. Centuries...I was freaking out after a couple of days. I was glad when day broke, and I could at least hear Jesi and Luiz again.

  She and Ajui left mid-morning with stern warnings from Jesi and Parido not to kill each other. To deflect Sasine’s hunters, it had been decided that Ajui would buy a cheap ‘copter through Luiz’s contact and have it delivered to Marcenek, the nearest town to the shrine, while she would handle the weapons purchase. She would transport the weaponry and pick up the ‘copter at Marcenek’s airport the night before the ceremony—disguised, and using Ajui as nominal pilot, since Jesi wanted no connection between her real identity and this caper. He’d decided that he would be the one to handle the infiltration of the shrine on his own—a decision which had been the cause of much long and loud discussion, Luiz and me both arguing that he was just crazy, but he insisted that it made sense. “Tinun’ll help me get in, Nev will be my eyes and ears. You both monitor me until Tinun meets up with Luiz. The diversion they’re going to create is all important, Nev. Luiz can’t lob grenades and fly the ‘copter safely.”

  Ajui was going to use his talent to persuade the catering staff and the guards to take little interest in the place where Jesi was hiding, though with the number of paranormals on the Exalted’s staff, he’d have to be careful. Jesi was going to have to secrete himself for several hours in the side tunnel before breaking into the chamber structure. Ajui would be easier to hide, but for sheer experience and speed, it was agreed Jesi had it all over him. Ajui had tried to convince Jesi to let him come along, which surprised me—but since he could be Luiz’s link to Jesi, he could be a lot more use in the ‘copter.