“Through the conduit,” Zac said, sounding puzzled.
“Except that the only reason we knew the conduit might lead somewhere was because of the hole under the T-600,” Kyle said as he suddenly understood. “It didn’t make the hole by falling. It fell so that it could cover the hole.”
“You got it,” Callahan said. “Remember how its arms were splayed out to the sides? It fell like that to spread out its weight so that it wouldn’t break all the way through when it landed.”
Kyle nodded, remembering now how the T-600 had just stood there motionless at the end, defiantly firing and taking fire until it fell.
“That’s also why Skynet sent in a T-600 along with the T-700s,” he said. “T-600s have enough bulk to cover the hole. T-700s don’t.”
“Clever, huh?” Callahan said sourly. “And think about this: if Zac hadn’t taken his brass-hunting job so seriously we might have walked right past it.”
“But this is insane,” Zac protested. “If Skynet wants to flatten us, why not just do it? Why bother with a tunnel? What’s it going to do, bring in some really big bomb and plant it under the HQ tent?”
“I don’t know what it’s planning,” Callahan said. “But one thing’s for sure: whatever the goal is, Skynet must figure it’s worth the effort.”
There was a scraping of boots on concrete.
“Come on, let’s get moving,” Callahan said. “Time to find a way back to the tunnel and see what Skynet’s got planned for tonight.”
The T-700 that had fallen into the ravine hadn’t seemed to Blair to be in particularly bad shape. Given the interest Skynet had already shown in tracking down the fugitive, she fully expected the machine to mount another attack somewhere on their walk back to the ford. But to her surprise, they arrived without the Terminator making an appearance. Her next guess was that it was lurking somewhere near the ford, waiting until they were slogging through the water before striking, possibly in a pincer maneuver with the T-700 that had gone north earlier along the east bank.
But once again, Skynet passed on the obvious. Preston and Hope were already waiting on the far side of the bank with the three guards as Blair, Barnes, and Jik reached the ford, with no sign of Terminators on either side of the river. Nothing attacked, from either direction, as the three of them headed across.
Only once was there a tense moment, when Jik got his feet tangled with one of the arms from the T-700 that Barnes had shredded earlier with his minigun. Even then, he managed to keep his balance until Barnes reached him and held his arm while he got his feet free. Barnes himself made it across without any trouble at all, and even with her aching leg Blair did the same. It seemed like Skynet had simply given up.
And that worried Blair. A lot. Because Skynet didn’t give up, any more than its Terminators did. If it wasn’t attacking at this particular moment, it was only because it was playing some other game.
Problem was, Blair had no idea what that game might be.
On the short walk back to town Blair kept an eye on their backtrail, just in case Skynet decided to go with a delayed punch. But again, the Terminators were nowhere to be seen.
They had reached Baker’s Hollow when they finally met their first real obstacle.
It was Halverson. And he was furious.
“What the hell’s going on?” he snarled as the group emerged into view along the trail. His eyes flicked across Jik, shifted briefly to Barnes and Blair, then settled on Preston. “We heard gunfire.”
“That was us,” Preston confirmed. “We were out doing a little hunting.” He nodded toward Jik. “We think we’ve found—”
“What part of them coming to my house didn’t you get?” Halverson cut him off.
Blair looked sideways at Preston. His throat was tight, but when he spoke his voice was calm enough.
“They did go to your house,” he reminded the other. “What happened after that was none of my doing.”
“You saying they just sneaked out of my bedroom window on their own?” Halverson demanded. “That you didn’t call to them, or invite them, or anything else?”
“I did nothing at all,” Preston said. “I didn’t even know they’d left your house. If I had, I’d certainly have urged them to return.”
“Sure you would.” Halverson shifted his glare to Barnes. “My hospitality not good enough for you?”
Unfortunately for him, glares didn’t work nearly as well on Barnes as they did on Preston.
“Your hospitality’s fine,” Barnes told him. “Wish I could say the same about your attitude.”
Halverson’s face hardened.
“What did you say?”
“I said you’re an idiot,” Barnes said flatly. “Are you even listening?”
“I’m listening just fine,” Halverson shot back. He jabbed a finger at Jik. “If this is the guy the Terminators are after, what the hell are you doing bringing him into town?”
“You really think his presence will affect Skynet’s decision about what to do with you?” Preston asked.
“Not having him here has worked pretty well so far,” Halverson bit back. “So has leaving Skynet alone.”
“So that it will leave you alone?” Jik spoke up. “Yes, I’ve heard that philosophy before. The people who live by it usually don’t live very long.”
“Maybe you’d like to debate the point with the philosopher himself,” Halverson said sarcastically.
Jik smiled faintly. “Indeed I would,” he said. “Perhaps you’d like to fetch him for me.”
“While you’re at it, go get the other two,” Barnes added. “Tell them to meet us at Preston’s place.”
“Forget it,” Halverson said. “If we’re going to meet anywhere—” He broke off, and Blair saw in his eyes the sudden recognition of what having a prime Skynet target in his home might mean. “Fine,” he said. “Preston’s house. I’ll tell them.” With a final glare at Barnes, he turned and strode off.
“My house is this way,” Preston said, beckoning to Jik.
“He’s right, you know,” Jik commented quietly as they set off again. “My presence here does put you at additional risk. Whatever happens, I’m afraid your life here will never be the same again.”
Preston shrugged, a little too casually.
“That possibility’s been hanging over our heads for a long time,” he pointed out. “Since Judgment Day, really.”
“True,” Jik agreed. “The difference is that while I bring danger, I also bring hope.”
“What kind of hope?” Blair asked.
“The very best kind,” Jik assured her. “Before I go into that, let’s hear what these pacifist philosophers have to say.”
Blair exchanged looks with Barnes.
“Yes,” she murmured. “Let’s.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
For someone who’d seemed as nervous about Terminator attacks as Halverson, Barnes thought more than once, he didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry to get Jik out of his town. At their home, Hope had enough time to throw together a quick meal, and they all had enough time to eat it before Halverson finally arrived.
It was just as well they’d opted for Preston’s house with its larger living room. Not only had Halverson brought the three scientists, but he’d also grabbed a dozen other men and women. His closest friends and allies, Barnes had no doubt, and all of them armed.
Idiots, Barnes thought darkly as the people settled onto chairs or couches or found sections of wall to lean against. Idiot Halverson for stirring up a turf war; idiot Preston for letting him get away with it. Barnes had seen too much of this sort of political infighting among the group leaders when Connor first moved their team from Los Angeles to General Olsen’s Resistance group, and it led to nothing but trouble.