Alien Refuge (11 page)

He switched the subject. “Tell me about this E.I.K. group.”

Borl was just starting his third draught of kloq since Ospar’s departure. His voice was growing louder. “Ridiculous creatures. Perfect examples of why we’re better dying off than breeding with lesser animals.”

“Are there many of them?”

“The E.I.K. is still quite small, but it is having some success in building its numbers. The extremists are in their infancy yet, not able to do much more than post their agenda and play at slight intimidation. Still, they are making the others nervous enough that open fraternization with our people is infrequent.”

“What about the rest of the Earthers? Are they likely to join the cause?”

“Maybe. It’s hard to say. The majority of colonists do not mind using our territory to rebuild their lives, but they have no more wish to mix our lines than we do. There is usually a bit of an uproar when one of their women decides to go to Kalquor. The E.I.K. gets more sympathizers when that happens.”

“Have you made overtures to them?”

“I have had to be careful. They dislike any Kalquorian intensely, and they certainly don’t trust me. Fortunately, there are a couple of Earther leaders who I believe would work with your program to stop the interbreeding.” Borl suddenly grinned. “Including the Earther governor, George Hoover, who absolutely despises Ospar.”

A whole new world of opportunity unfolded at his words. Maf felt a glow of excitement. “Excellent. Our tour tomorrow should begin as early as possible. I am eager to know the workings of this colony, its weakest points, where we might strike to foment the most unrest.”

Borl gave him a calculating stare. “I take it the word Basma is not to be spoken.”

Maf saw Sitrel tense in his corner of the room. He answered smoothly. “Of course not. No one is to know I am here, except as a concerned councilman.”

“There are those here who would be honored to meet The Boot. It would strengthen their resolve in the days to come since there are only eight of us on Haven loyal to your cause.”

Maf smiled. “And I would love nothing more than to bolster those loyal to the pure Kalquorian race. But no, I must not be revealed to anyone here. Not to my supporters and not to our Earther allies who will bring this travesty to an end. The revolution is young yet and needs time to continue to grow.” He casually tossed out the tidbit that would make Borl salivate. “For now, you must be my face and voice here on Haven.”

The aide flushed with excitement. “I am too honored, my leader.”

“You honor me with your loyalty to the true Kalquorian. The revolution will succeed ultimately because of men like you, Dramok Borl.”

His agent fairly trembled with delight. Maf had groomed Borl carefully to be his eyes on the inner workings of Haven and most particularly Dramok Ospar, the man who started the destruction of the superior race of Kalquorian. To have the governor’s right hand man as one of the Basma’s many tools in the growing rebellion was justice well served.

Chapter 4

Thomas wriggled to get out of Iris’ grip as she wiped him down. Lunch was always a messy affair for the boy, and it was after meals that Iris appreciated his dislike of wearing clothes. He’d coated himself in cheese sauce, which was supplemented by sweet potato and carrot puree. Thomas despised vegetables, so Iris was forced to sneak them into his food.

She was just finishing taking off the last layer of orange when the visitor announce beeped. Iris and Thomas looked at each other.

“We sure are popular these days, aren’t we?” Iris asked.

“Aren’t we?” Thomas echoed.

He followed her to the door. “Who is it?” she called.

“Imdiko Rivek and my clanmates,” came the silky-smooth voice.

Rivek and his clanmates? Startled, Iris hurriedly untied her ponytail, smoothed back her hair, and remade it. It had been badly mussed from her struggles with cleaning Thomas. All of the sudden, she missed lipstick and mascara. And her clothes ... her blue sweatshirt was now smeared by cheese sauce, and the cuffs of her jeans were still damp from slogging through the snow earlier that day. No time to change, not with the Kalquorians right on her doorstep. Damn.

Fighting against examining too closely why she wanted to look nice for Rivek and Jol, Iris gave up on her appearance and called, “Come in.”

The door slid open to reveal the three alien men waiting outside. They all wore white armored formsuits, even Rivek. They matched the snow-filled backdrop of Iris’ yard. Thomas automatically reacted with pleasure at the sight of them. “Rivek! Rivek! Jol!” He stared at the third member of the group uncertainly. “Copin?”

The Kalquorians stepped in as Iris pulled Thomas to one side. Jol looked pleased to be recognized by the boy, and Rivek smiled.

The Imdiko said, “Copin is at the temple. You will have to visit him there.”

Thomas immediately turned to Iris. “Go temple, Mommy. Where’s Copin? Thomas goes to temple at Copin.”

“Maybe later, Thomas. Right now, we’re visiting with Imdiko Rivek, Nobek Jol, and—” Iris looked at the third man in the party. She knew who he was, but wasn’t certain how she should introduce him when she hadn’t been introduced herself. She settled for the obvious. “This is Governor Ospar.”

Thomas scowled and yelled, “No! Go temple. Temple and Copin! Run.”

“Not now, Thomas. Later.” Iris sighed and waited for the inevitable storm.

Thomas stomped to his collection of trains. He picked up one and threw it to the floor with an angry shriek. It broke into three pieces. He picked up another and threw it too. It fell on the rug that lay in the center of the furniture grouping. It survived.

Iris smiled wanly. “I’m sorry. He doesn’t deal with frustration well. Would you like to sit down?”

Not staring at Thomas as if he was a freak nor looking as if the slightest thing was amiss, the three men bowed to her. Ospar spoke, his voice pleasantly raspy. “Thank you, Matara Iris.”

They sat down. Again, there was no sneering or weighted looks among themselves as they sank into the badly used furnishings. Ospar even had a cheerful smile, as if he was visiting an old friend. Iris found it impossible to not return the expression.

She offered, “Something to drink? We’ve just had lunch, but if you’re hungry—”

Rivek waved her towards the last available chair. “Nothing for us, but thank you so much. Allow me to formally introduce my Dramok, Ospar.” He motioned to the man sitting beside him.

Ospar extended a hand and gently shook hers. “I hope you will excuse the unannounced visit, Matara. I had a few minutes of free time and wanted to take advantage of it before anyone else could fill it up.” He chuckled and settled back on the couch. “Someone is always lying in wait, looking to steal every spare moment.”

Iris nodded, still grinning as brightly as he. She couldn’t help it, not with that handsome, easygoing face beaming at her. “I can only imagine how busy you must be. It can’t be easy to manage a colony the size of Haven.”

Ospar chuckled even more, the warm sound making Iris’ stomach flip-flop. “And it’s growing every month. Sometimes I think I’d like to blow up the colony landing pad to keep the numbers down.”

“Then I’d have to arrest you,” Jol pointed out.

“Good luck with that.” Ospar winked at Iris, his smile growing bigger.

Thomas interrupted by bringing a toy engine to Rivek. “Here, Rivek.”

“Thank you.” The Imdiko took the train and held it in one long-fingered hand as Thomas walked back to his collection. The boy’s stormy temper had passed and he was intent on whatever project had taken hold of his interest.

Iris asked the men, “What can I help you with?”

Ospar said, “Actually, I heard about your son’s near miss with a shuttle. I was curious to know if the safeguards Jol put in place are to your satisfaction?”

As she opened her mouth to answer, Thomas brought Jol a tanker car. “Here, Jol.”

The Nobek nodded his head and took the piece. “Thank you, Thomas.”

The little boy went back to his collection, and Iris told Ospar, “Oh, I can’t thank him enough for the border shield. I tested it right away, and it’s going to make things so much easier. Knowing the heat won’t go out on us and having the snow blower operational is a relief too. You really did too much, Nobek.”

“Not at all, Matara. It was my pleasure.” His gaze on her was warm, easing some of the predatory aspect of his personality.

Thomas brought Ospar a boxcar. “Here—?” He stopped and looked at the unfamiliar Kalquorian with confusion. “Not Copin.”

Ospar grinned. “My name is Ospar.”

Thomas placed the train car in his waiting hand. “Here, Boxcar.”

Iris smothered a laugh. “No, Thomas. His name is
Ospar
.”

“Ospar,” Thomas repeated. He frowned, as if not caring for the name. “Boxcar, Ospar.”

“Thank you, Thomas.” The governor studied the toy as Thomas returned to his collection. He made the doors slide back and forth and studied the couplers. “Rivek and Jol say he builds these?”

Iris couldn’t help the pride in her voice. “Yes, he does.”

“Amazing.” Ospar set the car on his thigh and regarded Iris. “We have some concerns that Jol’s involvement here at your home could make things a bit difficult on you. That your neighbors will not look upon it favorably.”

“Like the E.I.K.?” She’d worried a little about that too.

Ospar nodded. “It could come to their attention. But even those who are not so extreme in their views have given some grief to Earthers ... particularly Mataras ... who accept Kalquorian help. A large number of the Earthers here are resentful of our presence.”

Iris sighed. “I don’t understand that attitude at all. After all, everyone here came to this colony knowing it was in Empire territory. To accept help and then treat the people it came from as the enemy?” She shook her head at the ridiculousness of it all.

Thomas brought her a bright red caboose that had begun life as a small jewelry box. “Here, Mommy.”

“Thank you, Thomas.”

The little boy went back to his toys and began assembling a track.

Ospar told her, “Most who come here have absolutely nothing to start with. Of all the colonies begun since Armageddon, Haven gives more aid to get people productive faster.”

Rivek added, “No doubt it wounds the pride of many to have to accept charity, even temporarily. That can eclipse any gratitude they may have otherwise felt.”

Jol shot him a dark look. “Not that the Empire is doing it to gain Earther gratitude.”

Ospar nodded. “We do it because it’s right.”

Iris couldn’t resist calling the governor on that statement. “And because it gives Kalquor the opportunity to impress fertile women?”

Ospar stared at her, his blue-purple eyes widening. Rivek covered his mouth with one hand, as if hiding a smile.

Iris crooked an eyebrow at the Dramok. “Now Governor, no need to play innocent. You are still going extinct, are you not?”

Jol snickered. “Ospar, innocent. That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day.”

As Ospar glared at him, Rivek gave into humor, chuckling and elbowing his clanmate. “She’s got you, my Dramok. You’d better confess to save face.”

Ospar’s face reddened, and Iris decided to allow him his dignity. “Building goodwill to achieve your ends is not a bad thing, so long as your ends harm no one,” she said.

With more glares for his amused clan, Ospar looked at Iris again. She thought he might be mad at her, but instead his grin slowly returned. He nodded, conceding with grace. “You are right, of course. Kalquor is still in desperate need of female mates to continue our culture, and Haven is an excellent opportunity for us to show Earther women the good clans can do for them.” He sobered. “I assure you there is no longer forced clanning, Matara. It’s illegal, you know, and I supported the measures that made it so. If any clan tries to coerce you into joining them, or you see any evidence of it happening to another woman, you must alert us immediately.”

Iris nodded. She wondered if Ospar hadn’t come to her home specifically because his clan was looking for a mate, though she couldn’t imagine a clan wanting the responsibility of a child like Thomas. As wonderful as she thought her son was, most saw him as a handful. She couldn’t begin to realize what aliens must think of him.