Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor

meet them later.” “Much later, if you’ve got any sense,” said Sister Marion.
    “They’re good fighters,” said Mother Beatrice reprovingly.
    “They’re complete bloody psychopaths!”
    “Takes one to know one, dear. And these days their… attitude is somewhat of an advantage.” Mother Beatrice frowned down at her hands, clasped together on the table before her. “Every time the Hadenmen come, we lose more people. My people are brave enough, and they fight well, but lepers have their limitations as warriors. Even the smallest wound can turn deadly very quickly. It’s the rain and the ever present moisture. Everything rots. Everything.” “How long has it been since the last attack?” said Moon in his buzzing, inhuman voice.
    “Three days,” said Sister Marion, pruning her green fingernails with her dinner knife. “They could come anytime.” She looked up and fixed Moon with her bright, cold eyes. “Ready for a little action, Hadenman?” “Call me Moon. And yes, I will fight. To protect my friends. Isn’t that why anyone fights?”
    There was a moment of silence that might have become uncomfortable, but it was interrupted by a polite knock at the door. Sister Marion went to answer it, and then came back to murmur in Mother Beatrice’s ear. She rose to her feet. “You’ll have to excuse us. We’re needed at the infirmary. Make yourselves at home. We’ll talk more later.”
    The room seemed very quiet after the Sister of Glory and the Saint left. Everyone looked at each other, except Hazel, who was mopping up the last traces of anything edible from her plate. Everyone else regarded her with varying shades of disgust and amusement. She glanced up and saw them looking at her. “What?”
    “I’m impressed,” said Owen. “Really. I couldn’t eat more of that stuff if you put a gun to my head.”
    “I’m hungry! And you’d better learn to get used to it; we could be here a long time.”
    “Parliament will send a ship as soon as they learn we’re stranded here,” said Owen. “We’re too valuable to the war effort to be abandoned.” Hazel shrugged. “On the other hand, we’ve made a lot of enemies in our time. Enemies who might be quite happy to see us sidelined. Face it, Owen, we’re not getting off this planet anytime soon.”
    He shook his head angrily. “One thing at a time. Let’s deal with the Hadenmen first. Moon, any ideas on how we can turn the odds more in our favor?” Moon frowned. “We have no way of knowing where the Hadenman forces are, or how large they are. We don’t know what they want, or how big a force they’re prepared to field to get it. I will think on the matter further. Now, if you will excuse me, I need some time alone.” He got to his feet. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea, Moon,” said Owen. “Lots of people here have no reason to love the Hadenmen.”
    “I’ll be fine, Owen. I don’t need a nursemaid.” He headed for the door, not looking back. “Don’t wait up for me.”
    “Watch your back!” said Owen, and then the door closed and the Hadenman was gone.
    Bonnie and Midnight got to their feet. “Getting late,” said Bonnie. “Time for one last stroll before bed.
    These lepers are fascinating.” “And I want to check out the fortifications, look for weak spots,” said Midnight. “See you in the morning.”
    And they left too. Owen looked at Hazel. “Was it something I said?” “For once, no. I think everyone just needs some time to themselves, Owen. For all Saint Bea’s upbeat attitude, this is still at heart a grim and depressing place. People came here to die, and just when they thought they’d made a life for themselves against all the odds, along came the Hadenmen to put the boot in. I’ve got a bad feeling about this place, Owen. We’ve cheated death many times, one way or another, but this is the place where death always wins. Maybe we’ve finally come to the one place that no one escapes from. I’m going to go and get some sleep, on a real bed with warm, dry blankets, and try not to dream. You should get some sleep too. We’re going to need all our strength when the Hadenmen return.” She got to her feet and looked around the empty room. “We should never have come here, Owen. Something bad is going to happen.” She left the room without looking back, not bothering to shut the door behind her. Owen leaned back in his chair and stretched tiredly. But he wasn’t ready to sleep yet. Not while he