Jesus, I hate those things, Vicki thought. The electric ignition system for the rockets was… not very sophisticated-that was a nice, tactful way to put it.
"You know," Alex said meditatively after a while, "I'm a little surprised that the Emancipator got approved. I mean, it'll be useful, having something that can scout way around and carry light cargo- and I'm damned glad I'm getting an opportunity to fly-but is it cost-effective?"
"Not here," Vicki said gently. "Not on the Island."
"Not-oh."
The younger officer nodded. Vicki Cofflin was the daughter of one of the Chief's sisters, a much closer connection than his to the Secretary of the Council.
"Well, let's get back to work," she said. "Don't you love being on the cutting edge of technical progress?"
"Damned right," Alex said, nodding.
Jesus, Vicki thought, as she followed him back into the hanger. I thought I was joking.
CHAPTER TWO
April, Year 8 A.E.
Ranger Peter Girenas grunted as he lifted the gutted whitetail from the packhorse's back and brought it to a nearby cache-tree. Two other deer hung from the white-oak branch already, and he quickly ran the dangling leather cord through a slit between the bone and tendon of this carcass's hind legs.
With one hand braced against the flank, he jerked the crossbow bolt free. Easier than digging out a bullet, and cheaper-it was only in the last couple of years that ammunition had gotten cheap enough to use for hunting.
"Here it is, Pete," Sue Chau said, handing him half the deer liver, spitted on the green stick she'd used to grill it over the low coals of the fire.
"Thanks. Perks says thanks, too."
She laughed and nudged the dog with her toe. Perks didn't normally allow liberties, but right now he was too occupied with the deer head to resent it. Girenas squatted by the fire to wolf the meat down; the smell alone was enough to make a man drool after a day's hard work. It went well with the green smell of summer forest, the leafy-yeasty odor of the mold on the ground, and the spicy sassafras tea boiling in the pot. The rich organ-meat juices filled his mouth and ran down over his chin as he bit into the liver.