Death Echo

grief, and really, who can blame you for what you can’t control? It’s called deniability. The Agency should understand.”
    Emma gave Mac a sidelong look.
    â€œDon’t get caught,” Faroe said, and disconnected.

55
    DAY FIVE
NEAR DISCOVERY PASSAGE
11:30 A.M .
    D ragging chain behind it, Blackbird ’s anchor dropped out of sight in the cold green water.
    â€œI can’t see any docks,” Emma said.
    â€œWe’re more than a crow-flying mile from Harrow’s coordinates.”
    â€œI’m pulling out my chowder recipe and wondering how small I’ll have to chop a tough clam like you.”
    The look in Emma’s eyes told Mac that he could tell her what he had in mind, or find a new first mate.
    â€œIf I don’t tell you—” he began.
    â€œThat’s bullshit, Mac. Just bullshit. I’m with you all the way to the guillotine.”
    He blew out an unhappy breath. “The only thing we have that everybody wants is the Blackbird .”
    She nodded.
    â€œWe’re going to hide her before I go—”
    â€œWe,” she said curtly.
    â€œâ€”to meet Harrow.”
    â€œNews flash. The Agency has more than one satellite in orbit. No matter where we park Blackbird, the Agency geeks will be able to count the hawseholes on this baby’s stern.”
    â€œThat’s where the yowie suit comes in.”
    â€œHow is putting you in a ghillie suit…” Her eyes widened. “Jesus, Mac. You really think we can hide Blackbird from the Eyes in the Sky?”
    â€œI think we’re going to try. You have a better idea?”
    Emma smiled, then she laughed out loud, a full belly laugh that made Mac join in.
    â€œWe’re crazy, you know that,” she said when she had her breath back.
    â€œOr maybe we’re the only sane ones in the asylum.”
    â€œChilling thought. So you bought enough netting to make a ghillie suit for Blackbird ?”
    â€œNot one that I’d trust my life to.”
    â€œBut one that’s good enough for government work? A lunch-hook job, as it were.”
    â€œYes.”
    Not knowing whether to laugh some more or shake her head, Emma followed Mac out onto the deck. The air was cooler here, the quality of the water seemed different, and the forest mix had changed—only a handful of leafy trees against an endless brocade of mixed evergreens.
    Well, not endless, she thought wryly.
    Beyond a decorative ribbon of forest perhaps fifty feet deep along the waterline, the rugged land rose in a stark scenery made of stumps, rock, and dirt—hallmark of recent logging. The green waterline ribbon hanging over gray rock cliffs made the newly exposed dirt look naked, almost embarrassed.
    â€œIt may not be pretty,” Mac said, “but the industrial harvesting means that tourists won’t be coming up here for a few years.”
    His voice came from the flying bridge, yet way to the stern, rather than the bow, as she expected.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” she called up.
    â€œLaunching the dinghy.”
    A gust of wind made the green ribbon of trees sway. Water lifted and whispered against rocky bluffs and sheer, high cliffs.
    â€œWait,” she said. “I want to learn how.”
    â€œSure. I don’t mind missing our mandated time and putting Harrow’s knickers in a twist.”
    â€œI’m not that slow,” she said, bounding up the stairs.
    â€œNo, but his, um, knickers are easily twisted.”
    â€œI thought you didn’t know him.”
    â€œI know the type of person who wears thin after a short time,” Mac said.
    Wind gusted, held, gusted again, then settled to a steady rush of air over land and water. Blackbird swayed lightly.
    Mac showed her the electric swing-arm controller that would lower the dinghy into the water. With easy motions, he put the dinghy’s lifting straps in the steel ring at the end of the arm’s steel line, released the dinghy restraints, and talked Emma through the process of launching the dinghy.
    â€œRIB?” she asked. “As in military usage?”
    â€œRigid, inflatable boat.”
    â€œGotcha.”
    She was a quick study. Before the dinghy was all the way down, she had a feel for the changing dynamic of swing arm and wind. The dinghy met the water with a delicate splash.
    â€œGood,” Mac said. “Now bring in the arm so I can tie the dinghy to Blackbird .”
    Emma looked over the