Broken Circle Read Online Free PDF

operative.”
    Ussa growled softly to himself. “We shall soon know, one way or the other. Because—”
    But he broke off then, as they’d reached the colony’s residence level. The lift doors opened and the two stepped onto thedarkened street, between the stubby, utilitarian buildings, and walked together toward the spaceport, where their ship waited. Ussa was careful not to hurry as they walked by two sharp-eyed guards on patrol, though he’d have liked nothing more than to pick up his stride. He wondered if Ernicka the Scar-Maker was keeping order in the caverns back on Sanghelios. Perhaps they had already been found, and routed. But surely he would have received a communiqué if there had been an attack . . .
    He wondered, too, if he and Sooln were still safe in this place. He’d brought his mate because she had access to engineer’s documentation—she was able to create a suitable cover identity for them. She knew the proper terminology on visits to the mines and power plants. But suppose their disguise had been penetrated? He might very well have led her to a tragic end here.
    Still, they crossed the square without incident. The two edged through a crowd of sullen-looking Sangheili, dusty miners coming off work shifts, and then scurried between two processing structures to the port.
    They were permitted past the gate guards, a young Sangheili scarcely glancing up at them from his talkscreen, and headed to their spacecraft.
    The Clan’s Blade , a blue-and-red vessel shaped like a dart and just large enough for a handful of travelers, was fueled and prepped for departure. Ussa ‘Xellus confirmed this remotely through his wrist interface. But as he approached the hatch, he noted someone step out of the shadows.
    It was an ancient Sangheili in a much-repaired subcommander’s uniform. Most of the teeth were missing from his jaws, and one of his eyes had long ago been scarred over.
    â€œYou . . . This is the one who was following us yesterday!” Sooln exclaimed.
    Ussa reached for his pistol, and then saw the old warrior raise his arms in the air. His left hand was missing.
    â€œDo not fire on me, brethren, until you have at least spoken to me,” he croaked. “I have no weapon.”
    This one makes Ernicka look young, Ussa thought.
    â€œWho are you, old warrior?”
    â€œI am ‘Crecka,” said the elder Sangheili simply.
    Ussa snorted. “Nonsense.”
    â€œI am he. I may also be known to you by another name: ‘Quillick.”
    â€œ You are ‘Quillick?”
    â€œYes—and I need to speak to you alone. Inside.”
    â€œAnd how do we know you’re not just some cunning old assassin?”
    â€œYou would have been under arrest by now, if they were aware of your identity here—not targeted by an assassin. You are too important to simply assassinate, Ussa ‘Xellus. Please, you may search me for arms and then permit me into your ship, if you choose, and I will tell you why I am here.”
    Ussa grunted. But he did search the old one for hidden weapons and found nothing. And, too, there was something inexplicably trustworthy in this Sangheili. “Come in, if you must. But we are leaving the planet very shortly. It will not take us long to get proper clearance. I will only give you a few moments.”
    The three were soon in the tiny bridge of the craft, Ussa in his pilot’s seat, Sooln checking systems beside him. But Ussa had his seat turned toward the old warrior, who stood on the deck behind the control panel, his maimed arms folded over his chest.
    â€œMake it quick,” Ussa told him. His hand was not far from that pistol as he spoke.
    â€œI am who I said I was. I have been watching for you—Muskem and I expected you. But I wasn’t sure if you yourself were being watched. I was reluctant to speak.”
    â€œSpeak now. We are alone.”
    The old warrior rubbed