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could mean anything or nothing, but probably isn’t good.”
    “Do you think the Tonkiln house has been attacked?” Andi worried about heading into an even worse situation than the one they’d left behind.
    Not looking at her, he just shook his head. “Let’s deal with that when we come to it. Don’t steer straight to the dock—we’d be too obvious, sitting ducks. We need to land and work our way to the house without attracting attention.”
    Angling the boat off to the east, Andi set a course to avoid the dock as ordered. “I never considered an attack on the family’s home. Lords of Space, what about the kids? Sadu and his two little visiting cousins—their Shenti nurse went home to her village last night—there’s only old Iraku and a few of the housemen there to protect them.” Worry about the younger family members gnawed a pit in Andi’s gut. “Lady Tonkiln must be terrified.”
    “I have to extract the Sectors citizens, not risk my men trying to rescue anyone else against overwhelming odds. The Tonkilns aren’t my concern, understand?” His voice was flat, the words dismissive.
    Andi jerked her head around to stare at him. “We can’t ignore the danger to them.”
      “Lady, I have orders.” Shaking his head, he grabbed the wheel and yanked it, sending the boat veering away from its route to shore. “Cut the engine and get down. Someone’s moving by the dock.”
    Cold flooded her body at the thought of enemies watching them. With fumbling fingers, she flipped the switch. Drifting through the dark waters, their craft floated in silence, slowing as the momentum died away. Andi crouched in the bottom of the boat, Deverane’s body warm and reassuring beside her.
    “Can you swim?” He tucked his blaster and the small com unit away, sealing a pocket with a quick motion.  
    “I can swim.” She stared at him, trying to read his expression in the moonlight. “Can you?”
    “Now’s as good a time as any to learn,” he said with a tight grin. “I’ve been told it’s like zero-grav exercise. Any major predators in this lake?”
    “Well, there are two varieties of snake and a large fishlike thing with razored jaws, but none of them are active at night. Supposedly.” Andi peered over the side of the boat. The opaque surface of the lake was impenetrable in the dark. Only too well aware of what could be lurking there, Andi remembered hooking one of the snakes on her fishing line. The Shenti guide had had a terrible time killing the reptile without toppling them all into the lake, where its nine-foot-long mate had been waiting, swimming easy circles around the small boat. Not a reassuring memory right now.
    “Let’s go.” Reaching past her, Deverane rocked the boat with a sudden violent motion. Taken completely unaware as the craft tipped over, Andi flew through the air for a moment, instinctively arcing her body into a flat dive into the chilly water. Surfacing, she searched for her companion. The captain was already swimming at a fair pace toward the shore, using a strange overhand stroke. His bobbing head was much less visible in the light of the moons than the boat had been. He glanced back once to make sure she was all right.
    She treaded water for a minute, hampered by the clinging silk folds of her gown. Unfastening the tabs, she let the garment fall away in the water. No time to waste bemoaning my expensive dress . Left in the sleek one-piece undersuit, freed from the extra layers, Andi could swim efficiently, catching up to the captain. His unusual stroke was forceful, propelling him through the water as if he was fighting an opponent. She followed him, reaching the shallows, then wading to a spot on shore where an immense tree had fallen into the lake, providing some cover. A steep hill lay between them and the looming Tonkiln mansion. Raising her head above the rotting tree trunk, she risked a glance.  
      The huge house was dark and silent, every light off. Probably a very bad