Drifter's War Read Online Free PDF Page A

back and forth, and the breakwater passed to either side. Bubbles boiled up from the point where the robo-sentry had disappeared.
    A reader board was mounted on pilings off to the right. The words slid from left to right: "Thanks for staying at the Rothmonian Lodge. Please come again."
    Lando looked around. He saw open water, white-capped waves, and low-scudding gray clouds. Perfect weather to hide in.
    A wave broke across the bow, sluiced the length of the deck, and washed over Lando's feet. The cockpit had a high coaming around it but the rest of the deck was clear. The smuggler grimaced, and was just about to go below, when something surfaced off the starboard bow.
    Lando's first thought was an animal of some sort, a Pylaxian version of Ithro's sea monsters perhaps, or a bioengineered whale. But whales don't have metal skins or make whining noises when their heads move.
    The creature's head came up out of the water, its mouth opened, and a pair of robo-cams flew out. One came in close while the other hung back. The voice was the same one Lando had heard on the beach.
    "Hello, Citizen Lando! That was a close call back there. What now?"
    Lando pulled the slug gun, took careful aim, and put two slugs through the closest vid cam. It staggered, belched black smoke, and splashed into the water.
    Lando smiled as the other camera scuttled into the submersible's open mouth and disappeared. The entire machine was gone a few seconds later. Lando wondered if it would attempt to follow him. Stupid question. Of course it would.
    The smuggler took a quick look around, failed to detect any other signs of pursuit, and went below. A section of canopy hissed open to admit him. The air felt warm and dry. His shoes squished down the ladder.
    Melissa looked small in oversize shorts and top. She threw her arms around Lando's neck. "It's a good thing you're okay… Della would go bonkers if I let anything happen to you."
    Lando gave her a hug, marveled at the little girl's strange logic, and grabbed a towel from the nearest seat. He used it to dry his hair.
    "Welcome below, sir," the NAVCOMP said heartily. "We're receiving repeated messages ta heave to. How should I respond?"
    It was tempting to make a snappy reply but that would provide the Rothmonian's security people with a radio fix. Lando spoke through the towel.
    "No reply… in fact, the less electromechanical activity the better."
    "Aye, aye, sir," the computer responded. "And that bein' the case, sir, should I shut down the auxiliary power and deploy the sail?"
    Lando considered it. "How would that effect our speed?"
    "Given the current weather conditions our speed would increase from twenty knots to more than forty."
    Lando threw the towel toward a corner. "Excellent. Deploy the sail and cut auxiliary power."
    "Aye, aye, sir. The sail it is."
    The Nadia wallowed in a trough. Lando fought to keep his balance. "One more thing."
    "Sir?" the NAVCOMP responded.
    "Can you tell if we're being followed?"
    "Would you be referrin' ta the submersible, sir?"
    Lando smiled. "Yes, I would."
    "They're followin' all right, sir. Would ya care ta lose them?"
    "That would be nice, yes."
    "Consider it done," the NAVCOMP said confidently.
    It took the NAVCOMP about three minutes to position the skimmer's wing, to adjust the slots and flaps, and to turn onto an easterly course.
    Lando felt more than a little useless as he sat down before the control console. A whole network of potentiometers provided him with information. The only problem was that he didn't know what to do with it. Thank Sol for the NAVCOMP.
    The skimmer shuddered momentarily as the wing cut into the wind, heeled to starboard, and picked up speed. A few moments later the slight vibration caused by the auxiliary power unit disappeared and the Nadia started to fly.
    The wind not only pushed against the wing but lifted at the same time. Freed from all but minimal drag, the boat did exactly what its name suggested, and skimmed the surface