GALLANT (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

sanitizing beam. Even if it wasn't a real shower, she felt certain freshening up would greatly improve her present condition and disposition.
    * * *
    "Shall I plot a return to Earth, Captain?" Mar asked after he returned to his place behind the control panel.
    "No. Keep following Frezlo's trail," Gallant replied without looking up from what he was reading on the monitor before him.
    "But, Captain," Dot said, "you promised Cherry you would return her to Innerworld."
    "And I will, right after I deal with Frezlo."
    Dot started to say something else but Mar took over. "My guess is he will head for Zoenid."
    "That's better than a guess. He's going to have to lay low for quite a while after pulling two incinerations so close together."
    On Zoenid, the only law was that there was no law, including no extradition treaties. Frezlo undoubtedly intended to seek shelter in that planet's southwestern quartersphere, where he could blend right in with the transient inhabitants—not because they looked like him but because there was such a variety of species residing in that inhospitable zone. The rest of the planet was a totally barren desert, where not even the most desperate criminal attempted to carve out a hiding place.
    Tracking Frezlo at a distance the way they were, it was a simple matter to confirm whether or not he landed on Zoenid. After that, however, Gallant knew it would take a considerable amount of ingenuity to find the assassin and even more to get him to talk.
    Oh, he had his ways, like any agent worth his credits. His ways just weren't like anyone else's. Gallant was certain he would be able to learn everything Frezlo knew, if he could find him. Although, as he had told Cherry, he possessed no telepathic capability, his special talent was worth a lot more. Only a handful of people knew the secret and revealing it would result in dire consequences for everyone involved, primarily himself.
    "Have you got a plan to draw Frezlo out?" Mar asked, knowing from experience how his captain's mind worked. "I doubt he will allow himself to be found once he reaches Zoenid."
    "Right. I've been sitting here reviewing his profile. There's only one thing he fears enough for me to manipulate him with it. He likes to gamble. But how do I get him to my table? A rumor of a high-stakes game might attract him but it would also dredge up every other animal in the area."
    "Excuse me, Captain. This is not right."
    Gallant looked up to face Dot. "What?"
    "The trip to Zoenid will take another five days. Then there is no telling how long it will take to lure Frezlo to you. You clearly implied that you would return Cherry to Innerworld immediately after we touched her mind. How do you intend to explain that it took twenty-four hours to get here but as much as two weeks to get back?"
    Gallant frowned at her. He was doing his utmost to keep thoughts of Cherry out of his head. It was vital that he think of her as an inanimate object, rather than a living, breathing person. He could not afford to let his decisions concerning her be influenced by one of the troublesome emotional responses that perpetually simmered just beneath his image. "You know how important this mission is. I'll take her back as soon as it's convenient."
    "What will you tell her?"
    "I'll stick to my first excuse—that I'm trying to keep her safe from any possible repercussion from Frezlo. That should hold her for a while."
    Mar asked, "Do you think there is any chance he is aware that the Weebort spoke to her?"
    "Not one. If he had seen what I saw, her ashes would have landed on top of the Weebort's." Gallant leaned back in his chair and stroked his chin, as he often did when an idea was hatching. "But what if he found out about it... after the fact. Wouldn't he come looking for her... to verify the rumor?"
    "No," Dot said firmly. "You must not do what you are thinking. Frezlo would come looking for her all right. To incinerate her."
    "I'd protect her," Gallant countered confidently,