CLARION

179

had either jammed or was out of ammunition. There was no time to figure out what to do about it. Frakes had already reached the same conclusion. The fans screamed to life as he backed the car around behind a collapsed domed structure, then roared off along the road on a course following the river. On the aft vidscreen, Paul could see the other car turning sluggishly to come after them. Light flashed from the nose cannon. Frakes slid around a corner onto another road, pulverizing a domed structure. Debris flew all around them. The car took a hit and skidded around in a half circle. When Frakes jammed his foot on the pedals, a heavy shudder ran through the car.

"Portside fans are out!" he yelled. "She won't go." The domed structure in front of them exploded in fragments, and part of it rained down over the car. The car lurched again as the fans revved. Then it slammed to the ground. Frakes cursed, already unbuckling his harness.

"We'll have to run for it!" he yelled. Paul knew Frakes was right, but he also knew they didn't have much chance of escaping that combat car on foot.

They waited for the next blast. As the ground behind the car churned into dust, Paul scrambled through the hatchway and down over the skirts. Frakes was close on his heels. A missile blossomed against the side of the car, and the concussion slammed Frakes to the ground. He was up and running an instant later. He ducked around the pile of rubble behind which Paul had taken cover. They waited, watching the approaching car. It skimmed over the road, throwing up thick clouds of dust.

"They don't know where we are," Frakes said, breathing hard. The car slid closer. Frakes withdrew a handgun from his belt holster and handed it to Paul.

180

William Greenleaf

"Cover me," he said. "If anyone sticks his head out of that hatchway, blow it off." He had taken out another gun, which he gripped in his bloody hands.

"What are you—"

But Frakes was already scrambling up onto the roadway. He jumped for the combat car as it slid past and pulled himself up over the skirts. The car jerked to a stop and the antipersonnel nozzle sputtered. But it was too late. Frakes reached forward, grasped the hatchcover and yanked it open. He fired his gun directly into the cockpit. The sputtering sound of the weapon was punctuated by a hoarse scream.