Audacious

55

Who said the only sight more sickening than a battle won is the sight of a battle you lost?

At the moment, Kris's addled brain refused to cough up the answer to that question. And she had better uses for Nelly.

''Are you still jammed? Can you get out a call for medical services?''

''I am sorry, Kris, but yes, I am still jammed.''

Kris shook her head. The jammer had clearly lost, but either was keeping it on for pure evilness or forgetfulness.

Or maybe they hadn't given the battle up for lost.

That was not a comforting thought.

Marines in battle gear now moved purposefully into the rotunda to disarm and secure the prisoners. ''Captain DeVar, what's your situation?'' Kris called from the second-floor balcony.

One Marine looked up. ''Ah, I'm Lieutenant Troy, ma'am. I think I'm in command, ah, Your Highness.''

Told Kris a lot about the company of embassy Marines.

''Lieutenant, secure your prisoners, set up a defensive perimeter here for the hall, then send armored detachments to check out the rooms in this place. They may find civilians who managed to stay lost through the shoot. They may find shooters trying to get away.''

''Ah, ma'am, I'm not sure I've got enough troops to tackle all that. And do you have any medical aid? We could sure use more out back.''

That told Kris all she needed to know about her company.

She nodded, thinking through what mattered most and shortening her list of priorities. ''Lieutenant, secure your prisoners and the perimeter of the great hall against a counterattack. I'll get us medical aid.''

Kris turned to Jack, muttering under her breath, ''Where are those ambulances?''

They headed down the stairs. ''Boys, stay close to us or you may be mistaken for prisoners. You deserve our gratitude.''

Admittedly, they'd turned their coats several times in the last—Kris glanced at her watch—only a half hour! Still, Bronc and his friends had done the right thing after doing the wrong thing.

''Marines coming in,'' Jack called as they approached the main floor. It was good he did.

They were still blacked out from head to toe, a shadow of a shadow. That camouflage had probably saved their lives tonight. But now they were approaching fellow Marines.

There had been a fight here. Kids with rifles and men in dark clothes lay where they'd fallen.

Several of Penny's hand grenades had been used here.

A statue had been rolled up to the stairwell exit. A marine and a security guard looked at Kris over pistol sights. Beside them, two or three more lay where they had died.

The Marine raised the aim of his automatic and whispered a dry mouthed ''Semper Fi.''

And they passed within.

The south hall had gone from being a bright, gala party to a dark, bloody, slippery mess of groaning humanity. At least it groaned where it wasn't deadly silent.

It was far too quiet for Kris's tastes. She concentrated on watching her step and getting where she needed to go.

Behind her, one of the teens added the contents of his stomach to the slime they waded through.

Penny and several surviving Marines held the middle of the hall. The Navy lieutenant and those around her were just risking sitting up.

While several of the Marines stood to greet their comrades, Penny settled for just sitting there. A long sliver of bronze had sliced through the flesh of her upper right arm.

The lieutenant eyed the spear point in her flesh and shook her head ruefully. ''I survived this whole bloody mess, and then you make your usual entrance and whack me one.''

''Sorry about that,'' Kris said, and tried to put some actual feeling into the words. Even she didn't hear any. ''I'll try to get someone to look at that.''

''In a thousand years after the really bad cases are cared for,'' Penny said, looking around. ''Where are the ambulances?''

''I don't know.'' Kris hated to admit it. ''And Nelly says we're still being jammed. Can't say squat.''

''Kris, I think I can home in on the jamming,'' Nelly said. ''It seems to be coming from below us.''

Kris took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. So this thing wasn't over yet. Maybe she could hand Nelly over to a fresh Marine and let a couple of them go chasing into the bowels of this building.

So there is a limit to just how much a Longknife can take, a small voice said somewhere inside her.

And this isn't it, another part of her growled.

''Thank you, Nelly. Jack, you and your Marines up for another ramble through the artwork?''

Jack nodded. The ''Ooo-Rah'' from the Marines might have been a bit below their usual enthusiasm, but they got it out.

From outside somewhere came the familiar sound of M-6s barking on single shot. Marines had someone under fire.

The rapid staccato of machine pistols answered them, but only for a few seconds. Then the night got quiet again.

''Nelly?'' Kris asked.

''I am still jammed.''

Kris turned back for the stairs.

''Be careful, Kris,'' Penny called. ''Don't be the last one killed in this shoot-out.''

''I'll do my best,'' Kris answered over her shoulder.

''So will I,'' Jack shot back.

''Us, too,'' the Marines added.

''Me, too,'' came from the kids who trailed right along.

''I guess I better go along with you,'' one of the Marines with a rifle said. ''Someone might have left a little gift behind and I suspect you'll want a demolition tech,'' he muttered.

And so Kris led her scratch team once more into the black mouth of hell.