he needed was a quiet way to cut the Ranger's bonds.
Maybe one of the passed-out rebels carried a knife he could use--most
people did, in the wilderness.

The dying firelight provided just enough illumination for him to find
what he needed on the second rebel he checked. It was an expensive
hunting knife, and he hesitated for a moment, feeling a twinge of guilt
at taking it even from a rebel.

But the twinge didn't stop him; he had to help the Ranger! He stared
for a moment at the limp figure in the torn and bloody forest-green
uniform, then moved toward the south. He had to get transportation
first; he was strong for his age, but he didn't think he could carry or
drag that much dead weight--he shuddered at that thought--very far.

The parking area was guarded, though it was obvious that the two on
duty had been doing their share of drinking. Dave thanked any gods who
might be listening that the rebels didn't come at all close to Marine
standards; if they had, a fourteen-year-old civilian wouldn't have had
a chance. Even as it was, he'd be lucky to get out.

Not that he didn't have some things going for him, he thought as he
studied the layout of the parking area and the way the guards were
negotiating their patrol routes. First was surprise, since they
wouldn't know he was free and wouldn't consider him much of a threat if
they did see him. Add that he was armed, something else they wouldn't
expect--and, he thought grimly, that he had paid a lot of attention to
his mother's stories and teaching. He might be young, but he had as
much theoretical combat knowledge as anyone who hadn't been through the
Academy, and he was willing to use gun and knowledge both to help the
Ranger. But right now, stealth was better than a confrontation.

He made his way cautiously to an aidvan, finding as he'd half-expected
that it wasn't secured; aid vehicles had to be ready to go at a
moment's notice. He would have liked to take the van, considering the
Ranger's injuries, but he didn't dare; he needed something that was
both more maneuverable and less noticeable. He also didn't have the
training to make use of its resources, at least not enough to make it
worth the tradeoff. But he could take things he knew how to use, like
bandages, emergency blankets, a survival kit, and rations; he stuffed
those into a carrying sack, then went forward to check the controls.
This was a rebel camp, after all, so the vehicles shouldn't requi