In Between Minds: Plans Change

I knew precious little about guns. Surely Sir knew that. He must know as well that I needed no weapons to kill. Why give me a gun? Was the safety on? Was it even loaded?

One of the guards was 5 meters away. I dredged his mind for information about the gun. An MP-448 Skyph. The safety, _this piece_, was on. I turned it off. I ejected the magazine and checked it. It was empty. I looked Sir directly in the eye and dropped the gun onto the carpet.

I turned and walked to the compartment door. I opened it, stepped inside, and closed the door behind me. Polkovnik was catatonic on the bunk.

_Val, is there anything at all that we can do for him?_

_Nothing, Kat. As I said, when_ she _lashes out, people get hurt._

There were hurried footsteps in the corridor. I sensed that the steward had just entered the car. I listened through him.

"Sir," he said rapidly, "the train is to be stopped and searched by the police at Volokolamsk Station."

"When will we arrive there?"

"In less than 5 minutes."

"Thank you, Georgiy."