Return to Dakistee by Thomas DePrima Page B

door. That's cause for celebration."
    "If there's one thing I've learned when I'm not aboard ship, it's that someone is always watching. There can be any number of reasons, and most often it's innocent curiosity, but I would be willing to bet a year's salary that there's at least one Raider spy watching us whenever we're in the open."
    "A Raider spy? How can you be so sure?"
    "I have a deep appreciation for their intelligence-gathering and they have to have learned about this find since everyone on the planet seems to know about it. They've had plenty of time to place a dozen spies in the archeology camp so at least one can always be watching for any sign that we've been successful."
    "But you've closed and locked the door again."
    "It doesn't matter. I don't want them to know we've opened it. We have limited protection here and I don't want to let them think they can gain access somehow."
    "But surely the Marines can stop them."
    "Maybe, and maybe not. Either way, it's easier just to keep them from learning even the smallest bit of information. Now put on your most dejected look. The one you were wearing all day yesterday would be perfect ."
    "I'm not going to be able to look depressed if you keep making jokes," Carmoody said with a grin.
    "Okay. Sorry." Christa said with a smile. "Now give me a depressed look." After a couple of seconds, Christa said, "That's good. Hold that one." Masking her own face with a look of boredom and fatigue, she turned and led the way out of the tunnel into the bright afternoon sun.
     
     
    Once inside the shuttle, Christa said, "Okay, you can drop the act. No one can see us in here."
    "What act?" Carmoody said. "I'm genuinely depressed about spies possibly watching our every move. You're not sure though, right?"
    "I have no proof, but I know it as sure as I know that I need a cup of coffee. Join me?"
    "Thanks. I'll get them while you send the message. Colombian, two sugars, black, right?"
    "Right."
     
     
    When Christa returned from the cockpit, Carmoody was relaxing with her coffee. Christa's full mug was on the table and had cooled enough that she could take a big sip.
    "Okay, the message is sent," Christa said as she took a seat. "But if we go back into the tunnel now, it will look suspicious. Let's wait until tomorrow. In fact, perhaps we should wait until we have some additional forces here. As soon as we start exhibiting signs of increased activity, we're going to have archeologists climbing all over us, trying to gain information about the find."
    "Fine with me. I'm not in any hurry to die."
    "Die?"
    "Haven't you ever seen any of those old mummy movies? People walk in and disturb a tomb, and, the next thing you know, mummies are popping up everywhere, trying to kill the entire cast.
    "Gracie, that only happens in the movies," Christa said with a giggle.
    "Really? Look what happened the last time you opened a facility like this one. Didn't you tell me you had to live in a sewer for weeks before you could escape from the facility?"
    "But we were escaping from Raiders, not mummies."
    "And isn't the code word to open the door 'rodent hole?' That speaks volumes."
    "It may not be a literal translation. As you said, it's a code word. Code words that mislead are often assigned to operations and projects."
    "And didn't you just tell me we're being watched by Raiders?"
    "There's a big difference between being watched and being attacked. We just have to make sure we don't let them know we've opened the facility until after the Marine reinforcements arrive."
    "What Marine reinforcements? From what I've seen on this planet, the Corps doesn't have enough people to control a wild wedding party, much less a Raider attack."
    "That was the purpose of my message. I told Admiral Holt we need every Marine he can get for us."
    "I hope he comes through."
    * * *
    "Ahil," Chairman Strauss said, "Costs for the operation on Dakistee are mounting. Our people have been sitting on their brains for months now just