Hal was running with the wind and the Luca Luna was soon out of sight of the burned dock on Turodey. He had to hope Gengor would be able to keep up. Hal kept watch, hoping to catch site of the beast. With his new gills the creature could stay under indefinitely and there would be no telltale bubbles. Hal had to wonder about the wisdom of Widhbo giving Gengor a stack of torpedoes and turning him loose. Hal tried to use the radio and call the Sora, but it was dead. Someone had taken the battery.

"Great, just great," Hal said to the endless waves.

A few minutes later the water boiled by the side of the Luca Luna and Gengor emerged without warning. He was big enough to accidentally capsize the yacht, could if he tried.

"It's about time you showed up, buddy." Hal said.

"That was fun!"

Hal laughed. "Yes, it was." He threw a ladder over the side and hoped it would hold Gengor's weight. More important, he hoped the Luca Luna could handle the weight.

Gengor struggled to get a foot in the first rung. It was no use. His foot was too big.

"Go easy on the ladder," Hal said. "Let me think."

"I miss Widhbo already. He would never overlook such a detail," Gengor said treading water.

"Whoa, you can drop that attitude, along with all your giant turds, in the ocean if you plan to come on board."

Gengor's face contorted into a rather hideous grin before breaking into deep bellows of laughter. "I like you, boss."

"Don't get all mushy on me. Let me think," Hal said.

Gengor flipped to his back and paddled around while waiting. He was a strong swimmier and actually rather graceful in the water. Widhbo had redesigned his body to make it less bulky and sleeker in profile.

Hal took four strong oars and lashed them together for a makeshift platform which he tied along one side of the boat. He attached lines to cleats on the opposite side of the hull and fashioned some hand holds using strong sailor's knots. He moved all the gear and heavy objects he could find to the side opposite the platform.

"Okay. Step on the oars and use these lines to hoist yourself up," Hal said. "I'll stand on the far side to help balance your weight."

Gengor gave it a try. He was awkward and fell backward into the sea, splashing water over the deck.

"Sorry, boss."

"You can do it. Try again."

It took a few more attempts but Gengor finally mastered the move and hauled his body up and over the side of the boat. The Luca Luna lurched and rocked, then settled down to ride lower in the water from the extra weight, but it survived.

Hal readjusted and set the sails. They picked up a little speed. He would have to be careful. If the boat leaned too far they, would tip over.

"I like sailing," Gengor said turning his face into the cool breeze.

"So do I. What were you doing under water so long?"

"Eating."

"Fish, right?"

Gengor spoke softer this time as he was learning to modulate the speech device Widhbo had made for him. "You know I only eat vegetables," he said and burst into laughter again.

It was contagious and Hal joined in. They were interrupted when Hal's helmet came alive, and he heard Widhbo's voice calling to him through it. Hal picked it up and put it on.

"How's it going?" Widhbo asked. "I hear laughing."

"We made a clean getaway. I forgot about this helmet. Our radio's dead, no battery."

"I can patch you in through the helm. Where's Gengor?"

"On the Luca Luna with me. He's weighing her down quite a bit."

“I’m glad I trimmed a few pounds off or he would sink it. Set a course on this heading," Widhbo said, sending Hal a set of coordinates. "You need to get on the Solar Wave before the first nuclear strike."

"Don't look now, but we're toast out here if they hit Turodey in the morning. We can’t get out far enough in that length of time."

"Not tomorrow, but there will probably be a hit in the vicinity of Agartoon within three days."

"Three days, huh?" Hal did some calculations in his head. "That sounds a lot better."

"We have more immediate problems," Widhbo said. "Colberton's battleship is heading our way. He plans to take possession of the Sora. Plan 'B' is to blow her to bits."

"Classic approach. If he can't have it, nobody can," Hal said.

"Colberton hasn't seen how I approach things yet," Widhbo replied. "I'll have the most fun. Sora out."

* * *

Gengor dozed in the sun leaving Hal to ponder their situation. He could imagine what Mara would think when he showed up to the sub with Gengor. As best she would consider the daglyr to be an evil omen manifested, a demon in the flesh. On the other hand, she was a very practical woman and Gengor was uniquely useful.

"We'll sort things out when we get there," Hal mused to himself aloud. " Or will we? When she finds out Tajlon's on the Sora and leaving the planet, I don't want to be anywhere around. It would be easier to go up against that battleship than to get on the wrong side of Mara."

"Battleship?" Gengor asked stirring from his slumber on hearing Hal's words.

"Yeah. Battleship" Hal answered. "Which would you rather do, Gengor? Face the wrath of a shaman's daughter who thinks you're the harbinger of death and destruction? Or attack a battleship?"

Gengor chewed thoughtfully on a remnant of fish caught in his back teeth. "Trick question, boss?"

"Not meant to be. She also blames you for her grandson leaving Beldora."

"Then, battleship."

Hal laughed. "Right answer. You're a smart one."

Still, the thought of going up against a fully equipped battleship gave Hal pause. Not only was the hull reinforced but it had bulkheads to compartmentalize any breach of the hull and control leaks. The emergency pumps on a boat of that size could push out thousands of gallons a minute. Even if Gengor's torpedoes got through it was unlikely they could do more than inconvenience the ship while it would annihilate the attackers.

As if reading his fears, Widhbo came through his helm. "You're in luck. There's been a delay. Soshe was taken hostage and is to be traded for Colberton in the morning. They will be in Turodey waters until then. The sub should reach you before morning."

"Not the news we were hoping for Widhbo," Hal responded. "They should have left the girl out of it."

"Gengor attacked one of Colberton's personal fleet, Hal. I wouldn't be surprised at anything he might do in retaliation."

"Taking Soshe is personal too. That works both ways," Hal replied. He couldn't help but think of getting even should anything happenes to Soshe.

"You'll have to beat Tajlon to it," Widhbo interjected.

"You're reading my mind through this helm, aren't you?" Hal asked.

"Yes, but I could have predicted those last thoughts. Take the helm off it you want privacy. I can't resist peeking," Widhbo said.

"Oh, I wouldn't want you to miss a single word. Gengor and I were talking about fish earlier. Sorry you missed it."

"Gengor is obsessed with fish. They were his sole companions for the past century."

"What's wrong with fish?" Gengor asked.

"Nothing, buddy. I just think you need to get out more," Hal said.

"I agree completely," Gengor said. He rolled to one side to better hear the conversation through the helm and the boat tipped precariously to one side.

"Easy there, Gengor," Hal cautioned. "So, Widhbo, what's Tajlon got in mind for taking out the big battleship?"

"The Sora has a laser weapon which could cut it in half for starters," Widhbo replied. "That would be quite a show for the general."

"Whoa! That would be a hard act to follow," Hal said.

"I haven't left you out of the fun," Widhbo said. "You have a conventional bomb in the hold that I crafted to imitate a nuke. It would have to be delivered from above and dropped on the deck of the battleship to be effective."

"Does Gengor fly too?" Hal asked.

"Very funny, boss," Gengor said. "Why didn't you give me wings while you were at it, Widhbo?"

"An oversight on my part, but no. I've included a drone to deliver the payload."

"Sweet!" Hal said.

"It is. But, that's not the reason I called," Widhbo said. "While things are quiet, you should upload."

"Now?" Hal asked.

"Now. In case you're killed trying to do something foolish later."

"If we go up against that battleship it won't be foolish, it'll be suicide, " Hal said.

"Exactly. I need to copy you," Widhbo said. "I should tell you I'm having to slip around Jejliard to get anything done. He's having dinner with Tajlon at present and I'm taking this opportunity to upload you."

"Why? Are you saying he wouldn't want you to make a copy of his best friend?" Hal asked.

"Who knows what he wants, Hal," Widhbo said. "Between you and me, Jejliard is a control freak. I think he'd oppose any suggestion from me in his current mood."

"What's going on between you two? Truth," Hal said.

"He's angry with me for not telling him Colberton was bluffing about already having the bomb."

"What else?"

"Why should there be something else?"

"You have a habit of leaving out a few details," Hal reminded him.

"Do I really?"

"So, what else is going on? If you tell me, I might be able to help," Hal said.

Widhbo was quie for a moment. "We're having a little power struggle. Tajlon wants me to humor Jejliard and pretend he's in charge."

Hal laughed. "Oh, this is going to be good."

"What do you suggest? I would have a contest for leader, but can't come up with a fair challenge," Widhbo said. "I can obviously beat him at anything."

"There's your answer," Hal said. "Challenge Jejliard to come up with a fair contest. If he can do it, then he wins by default. Bloodless."

"Interesting. I'll consider it," Widhbo replied. "Initiating upload. Make sure you're lying down."

The helm crackled and hummed, then gave a loud pop as it shorted out and the power cut off.