Page 76 of Static/Cling
“Leif, there is no other way. We have to hit them at the same time, and you and I are it. You up here, me down there. It might give us enough time to actually get out before they close in on us.”
“You’re going to go in the sub-basement alone? Fat chance.”
“Now you’re just being mean.”
“I’m just reminding you that you don’t like enclosed spaces. Or the dark. Or spiders. Remember when we did the mine tour in second year? You almost passed out.”
“I’ll be fine. You don’t have the energy to make it all the way down and then out, possibly at a run. You’re beat.”
“And how do I get out of here?”
“They’ll be so busy with us, they won’t realize right away what you did. You just take the elevator down to the main floor and walk out the front door. Collect Roger on your way out. And his little dog, too.”
“But you’ll be by yourself.”
Bjorn tapped the side of his head, near his ear, but not on it, having learned that lesson from Roger. “I’ve got Sal.”
“It’s not the worst plan,” Sal said quietly.
“It’s not the best one.”
“Maybe it is, with what we have, and what we know.”
“Guys?”
Bjorn jumped at the sound of Roger’s voice.
“Oh! Sweetie.” Sal sounded so relieved Bjorn’s heart hurt. “Are you out?”
“No.”
Sal’s breath caught audibly.
“But it’s okay,” Roger went on. “I think I can help.”
“How?”
“If you go out the same way Kassian went in, we can make sure you have a clear shot from the storehouse to the small gate. Our transpo will be waiting when we get there.”
“We?” Bjorn asked at the same time Sal said no and Leif asked how.
“Yes,” Roger said gently to Sal. “I’m not a child, or a puppy you have to rescue, Sal. I’m an actual member of this team, and I’ll be okay.”
Sal made a distressed noise, but didn’t argue further.
“Me and Antony,” he told Bjorn.
“Oh.” Bjorn grinned. “Okay, then. That’s good.”
Leif shot him a withering look.
“What? He’d know if this guy was a baddie.”
“How?”
Bjorn shrugged. He didn’t want to say “because of the dogs, obviously.” Especially so soon after Roger had just reminded his keeper that he wasn’t a lost puppy to be rescued. But however he talked to the dogs, that was clearly not the only trait he shared with the animals, so Bjorn was confident in his character assessment.
“As for how,” Roger said, “that’s easy. I have an Antony.”
