Close Encounters (12 page)

To take my mind off the subject, I turned to the female and touched my chest. “Kiera.”

She mimicked the gesture. “Lurran.” Her voice was soft and lyrical, and she had the same exotic beauty I’d found in all the Buri. I was pleased to note her hair was pulled back on one side with a clip I’d brought, one adorned with royal blue stones that complemented her dark gray hair and eyes perfectly. They even matched the skirt she wore in the Buri style. The strip of lightweight blue material, threaded through her belt, left both sides open to expose a long stretch of smooth bronze leg and slender hips.

Why would any Buri male, especially one like Thor, pay attention to pink, blonde me with someone like her around? It boggled the mind.

With the introductions out of the way, she took my arm and led me to my new living quarters. Thor followed us. He didn’t make a sound, but I felt his presence in every pore along my back. Remember the zorfa’s ass, I told myself. Certainly didn’t want a repeat of that fiasco. The boss would disown me. Yes, I really needed to put a stop to whatever was going on between us. Soon.

I loved my new quarters immediately. It was only one room, but the size made it feel cozy instead of confining. There was nothing inside that would pass for conventional furniture, just lots of colorful cushions in warm tones of yellows, oranges, and browns, scattered here and there on braided rugs. Both the rugs and cushions matched the window coverings, which were pulled back to let in light and air. And apparently dragon birds, since the contingent that had followed me from my base camp were now taking up every inch of space on the ledge, peering around the quarters inquisitively. Neither Thor nor Lurran seemed to find the little creatures’ actions unusual, so I turned to survey the rest of the room.

Against one wall was what appeared to be a Buri-sized sleeping platform made from adobe. It rose approximately six inches from the floor and was covered with a large, comfortable-looking mat and more cushions. Compared to the cot I’d used in my hut, it was positively decadent.

Between the windows, pegs were driven into the walls, each set holding a wooden shelf bearing pottery jars and bowls of different sizes and shapes. Together, they formed an artistic whole that was functional as well as beautiful.

Thor supervised the unloading of my things, directing Junior and Ghost to stack the crates of supplies behind the building, under the eave to keep them out of the rain. Only my personal items and clothing were brought inside, and even that was probably unnecessary. A wide selection of Buri skirts and belts were draped over pegs near the sleeping platform.

By the time the three males left me alone with Lurran, the sun was low behind the trees. The female Buri seemed determined to get me into traditional dress as soon as possible. She took a green skirt from one of the pegs, laid it across the platform, and motioned for me to strip. Once assured that I was obeying orders, she pointed to the skirt and began my education in the Buri language.

“Kechic.” The sound came from the back of her throat and was clipped at the end. It took me three tries to get it right, but she finally nodded in satisfaction and moved on to the bowls, lifting pieces of fruit to tell me what they were called.

I was doing pretty well until the construction of the kechic belt distracted me. It was actually three layers of material, sewn together on the sides but separated in the front and back to make slots. On one end was a round wooden object with a bar across the middle, through which the end of the material was woven. It had to be a clasp, but I couldn’t figure out how it worked. Lurran noticed my confusion and came to the rescue.

She settled the belt low on my hips, and then pulled the loose end through the wooden clasp, winding it over the other material to make a flat knot. Although comfortable, it didn’t look all that secure. While she picked up the kechic, I wiggled experimentally, but the belt stayed snugly fastened. Good. I’d really hate for my clothes to fall off the first time I walked through the village.

In front of me, Lurran made sure I was watching, and then pulled the end of the material through the slot closest to my skin. When the length was right, she tucked it through the outer slot and turned the belt so the material hung down behind me. Ah, so that’s how they did it.

Nodding my understanding, I pulled the material between my legs and repeated the process in front. It felt a little odd, like I was wearing thicker-than-usual skivvies, but I liked the way the hem swirled around my knees. There was no mirror to check, but with the armlets and bare feet, I must have looked like a harem girl from
Harum Scarum
. Max loved Elvis Presley, so we had a vid of every movie he’d made in our files. Not an image I wanted to project to the Dynatec crew, but for everyday wear in the village, it suited me fine.

Lurran stepped back, checked me out, then retrieved a pair of the moccasin-like boots and handed them to me. The buckskin was buttery soft and formed around my feet snugly, providing comfort as well as protection. When I had them on, she smiled and motioned toward the door. Guess now that I was properly attired, it was okay to appear in public. The thought struck me as funny, and I chuckled as I walked outside.

My laughter died a hard death as two things hit me simultaneously. Four Buri were trying out the antigrav sled. They had it piled so high with blocks I was surprised they could move it.

Which brings me to the second thing I noticed. Apparently none of them had ever heard of Isaac Newton, or his first law of motion. A body in motion tends to remain in motion at a constant speed in a straight line unless acted on by an outside force. It’s basic physics. The antigrav sled negates the weight of objects placed on it, but it doesn’t do squat for the mass. And in this case, the outside force that was about to act on the sled was the new building the Buri were erecting.

Unfortunately, a Buri male was currently standing between the sled and the solid stone wall. Since the effort it took to get the sled moving while loaded with blocks was directly proportional to the effort it would take to get it stopped, the job required the strength of four, fully grown male Buri. Or me.

Adrenaline exploded through my body, sending me into overdrive. In less than the blink of an eye, I crossed the clearing, braced my feet, and planted my palms against the front of the sled. Teeth grinding and every muscle tight with strain, I shoved with all my strength. The sled halted as though it really had slammed into the stone wall, leaving the endangered Buri gaping at me in surprise.

Immediately I wilted to the ground, my breath coming in hard, short gasps, sweat dripping from my skin. Newton’s third law. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, and now I’d pay for the massive amount of energy I had expended. I desperately needed food and liquids to replenish that energy.

It seemed to take forever for the Buri to reach me, and I didn’t realize I was hurt until Lurran, babbling hysterically, tried to soak up the blood streaming down my leg with the edge of her skirt. I must have cut it on the corner of the sled.

“It’s okay, really.” I did my best to calm her, but to no avail. She continued screeching until the entire population of the village surrounded me.

Damn, damn, damn. Tears filled my eyes. I’d so hoped that the Buri would accept me fully before they discovered I wasn’t “normal.” Now there wasn’t a chance in the thirteen hells. Even as Thor pushed through the crowd and scooped me into his arms, the deeply torn, jagged flesh on my thigh was healing, the sides knitting together with a speed that couldn’t be mistaken.

Shouting orders, Thor took me to the building that served as a communal kitchen and dining room and placed me gently on the low table, hovering over me protectively. Auntie Em was waiting with a bowl of water and a clean cloth. She pushed Thor aside, swabbed the blood away and then blinked at my leg as a resonating silence fell over the Buri.

Instead of the gaping wound they were expecting, there was only a thin pink scar. In an hour, even the scar would be gone. The truth is, only a direct shot to my head or heart will kill me. Anyplace else, and my body will heal itself before the shooter gets a second chance.

Along with empathy, superfast reflexes and immunity to diseases, my body’s ability to repair itself is one of the “improvements” we were sure Gertz, the rogue geneticist, had made when he created me. Other less certain alterations lay in wait, ready to pounce on me like a villain in a horror vid.

“It was just a scratch, honest,” I lied. “Nothing to worry about.”

You could have heard a leaf hit the ground, it was so quiet.

From the back of the crowd, a whisper erupted, soon joined by another, and yet another. The sound swept over the Buri until it took on the cadence of a chant. One word stood out above all the others. It sounded like
shushanna
, but I didn’t have time to worry about it. Sweat poured from my body to pool on the surface of the table. If I didn’t get food and liquids fast, I’d go into shock.

Pushing Thor’s hands away, I sat up and reached for the bowl nearest me. It contained several types of fruit, and I grabbed the first one my hand touched. It was round and red and juicy, and I ate it in two bites, then picked up another one. With my free hand, I mimed drinking, and someone shoved a cup in my direction.

The relief was immediate. I could feel strength flowing back into my body, and sighed. Another minute and I’d be back to normal. Well, normal for me, anyway, although I was still hungry enough to eat an entire herdbeast in one sitting.

Scooting to the edge of the table, I put the cup down, stood and dusted off my hands, a big smile plastered on my face. “See? Good as new.”

Lurran paused in her frantic narrative, and the silence descended again. As one, every Buri in the room bowed from the waist, and I heard
Shushanna
murmured again. Only Thor was still upright, and I turned to him. “What’s a Shushanna?”

One corner of his lips twitched in a half smile, and he caressed my cheek with one strong finger. “Shushanna.” He was feeling so smug and vindicated that I scowled.

“Me? I’m a Shushanna?” Maybe it was Buri for “GEP.” I glanced back at the group, despair curling in my stomach. I should have known they would find out. But why were they bowing? It would make more sense if they threw me out of the village.

On the other hand, Thor didn’t seem too upset by the revelation. What if I was reading the situation wrong and they were merely grateful I’d saved the male’s life?

I waggled my hand at the bowing Buri. “Make them stop, okay? It’s a little distracting.”

He issued a command, and then promptly pulled me back against his chest, his warm arms folding around me as the other Buri straightened and rushed toward me. They sure were talking now, and each one seemed determined to touch me. I kept my smile in place until things finally calmed down, then glanced at Thor over my shoulder. “Can we eat now? I’m starved.”

With a full-fledged grin, he sat in front of the table and pulled me down beside him. Churka took up the space on my other side, and Lurran sat across from us as several of the females carried trays of food to the table. There was everything from stew to slices of roast meat, and vegetables and fruit. The aroma was wonderful, but I barely tasted what went into my mouth. Everything within reach was fair game, and I ate until I could barely move. For once I didn’t even worry about who had prepared the food or what was in it. I needed the nourishment too much to quibble. By the time I was finished, my eyelids drooped with exhaustion.

It had been a long day, and if nothing else, I’d awed the Buri with my ability to pack away the groceries. They were probably wondering how in the thirteen hells they were going to keep me fed.

Suppressing a yawn, I leaned in to Thor and closed my eyes as he draped an arm over my shoulders and pulled me closer. I felt strangely safe with him, unlike other experiences I’d had. Not until someone lowered me to the cushions on the sleeping platform in my quarters did I stir again. When I opened my eyes, Thor was silhouetted in the light of a small oil lantern on the shelf above me. He sat on the side of the platform, watching me. With a serious, intent look, he brushed the hair away from my face, then touched the armlets and murmured something with husky overtones. I got the impression he was telling me how much he liked seeing me wearing them.

“Thank you for making them, even though you didn’t have to repay me for the clasp,” I whispered. “I’ve never owned anything so beautiful.”

My response satisfied him, and he rose, hesitating a moment as he gazed at me.

“Good night, Thor,” I said.

His chest lifted on a deep breath filled with longing, then he walked out the door, pulling the curtain closed behind him.

I was almost asleep when Max jarred me into full awareness.

“Kiera, we have a problem. I tried to tell you earlier, but you weren’t responding.”

“I was asleep.” Swinging my legs over the edge of the platform, I sat up. “What’s wrong?”

“There are three strange Buri in the village, two females and a male, and I don’t know where they came from.”

“W
hat do you mean, there are three new Buri? That’s impossible.” I stood and rummaged in a knapsack, looking for my prism torch. “And don’t you dare tell me nothing is impossible or I’ll have to hurt you.”

“Kiera, I scanned the entire planet. All the Buri that were here when we landed are accounted for, and their medical information stored. These three have arrived since the first day you visited the village.”

I pounced on the torch, adjusted it to its weakest setting, and flicked it on. The dim glow filled the shadowed corners of the room, and by its light, I pulled out two Zip Bars. Unbelievably, I was hungry again.

Mouth full, I paced the confines of the room. “So what you’re telling me, Max, is that three full-grown Buri fell out of the sky. Or maybe they popped out of a hole in the ground.” I swallowed and took another bite. “You must have miscounted.”

He sniffed. “I didn’t miscount.”

“Okay, then the only other explanation is that they were somewhere else and you mistook them for another species. You said yourself, there’s so much life on Orpheus Two and the climate is so hot, it’s hard to get an accurate thermal reading.”

There was a moment of silence before he answered. “I suppose it’s possible.”

“It’s the only thing that makes sense. And if there were three we didn’t find, there could be hundreds more.”

“I’ll start another scan immediately, on the night side of the planet. If they’re there, I’ll find them.”

I popped the last half of the second Zip Bar into my mouth and walked back to the sleeping platform. “Good. Let me know if anything shows up. I’ll be back tomorrow to look over the information on the Ashwani.”

Knowing Max, it would take him three or four days to do the scan. He really hated missing something and would be extra thorough this time around. Unfortunately, I had a feeling he wouldn’t find a thing. There was more going on here than Dynatec’s larceny. The Buri were up to something too, and I had a sneaky suspicion Thor wouldn’t tell me what it was even if we could understand each other. Not yet, at any rate. He might be attracted to me, but I was still a member of the enemy species.

Maybe he’d trust me in time, but I couldn’t wait. The longer I was here, the more nervous Frisk and Dorn would become. They were counting heavily on the two-month time limit to keep me from doing any in-depth studies. And Frisk in particular was just stupid enough to try something desperate if he thought I was close to discovering the truth.

Stripping off my kechic, I doused the torch and settled back onto the sleeping platform. Did Dynatec know what was going on, or were Frisk and the Dorn woman working alone? I really needed to speak with Claudia Karle again, but it had to be where no one on the Dynatec crew would know. I didn’t want to put her in any more danger than necessary.

With a yawn, I stretched, tendons popping as I pointed my toes, then relaxed and closed my eyes. Tomorrow, when I wasn’t so sleepy, I’d figure out a way to get her alone. Right now, I was too tired to think anymore.

I only woke one more time that night, when Crigo slipped into my quarters. He made sure it was me on the platform, and then flopped onto his back, paws splayed as snoring erupted. I could feel his repletion all the way across the room.

Damn. It was bad when you were jealous of a rock cat. If he ever found out, he’d gloat for weeks.

Forcing my eyes closed again, I did some deep breathing exercises to relax. And when sleep claimed me once more, I dreamed.

Thor was standing beside the black crystal building, beckoning me closer, and I knew the two were inexplicably linked. Yearning swept over me, painful in its intensity. Everything I’d ever wanted was there, waiting for me to take it. I tried to walk toward him, but my feet refused to move.

Tears trickled down my cheeks as I struggled ineffectively. Suddenly the boss was in front of me, blocking Thor from my sight. His expression was one of ineffable sadness. “I’m sorry, Kiera. We can’t let you go. We need you too much. You’ve never appreciated exactly how unique you are.”

“But I don’t want to be unique!” The anguished words were torn from deep inside me. “I just want to be normal.”

“No, my dear.” His voice, full of sympathy, dropped a level. “You want to be happy as you are. There is a difference, Kiera. You won’t find what you truly seek until you can accept yourself.”

Before my startled gaze, the boss transformed into a dragon bird and shot away into the trees. I turned my attention back to the clearing too late. Both Thor and the crystal building were gone, and I was left alone with a hollow ache in my middle.

The sound of childish laughter woke me, and I sat up and reached for my jumpsuit. Early-morning sunlight beat down on the window coverings, but it was still relatively cool inside the adobe building.

“How’s it going, Max?” I asked as I dressed.

“Nothing yet.” He sounded preoccupied. “I’ve finished downloading the information on the Ashwani, but it will take me a few hours to go over it and prepare the highlights for you.”

“Okay. That will give me time to take care of a few things here first.” Like unpacking. I finished the job quickly, making use of the shelves that lined the walls, then combed and braided my hair.

The laughter came again, piquing my curiosity. Selecting a piece of fruit from a bowl, I strolled to the door and stepped outside. Brownie and the Buri I’d saved from the sled stood nearby, Brownie’s hand resting on the hilt of the knife I’d given him.

I followed the direction of his stare and smiled. Crigo was sprawled under a tree, Brownie’s little boy clambering all over him. At my appearance, the rock cat rolled his eyes and his side lifted on a deeply indrawn breath of disgust, but the show was strictly for my benefit. The damn cat was actually enjoying the attention.

When I glanced back at Brownie, his hand tightened on the knife and he shot a heated glare in my direction. Apparently his attitude hadn’t softened toward me yet. With a gesture to the Buri standing beside him followed by a low growl, he turned his back and ignored me.

I widened my smile and nodded at his pal, who was staring at me in awe. “Hello there.”

The newcomer had different-colored hair from any Buri I’d seen so far. It wasn’t the rich auburn shade that Junior boasted, or the deep chocolate color of Brownie’s. It was somewhere in between. Dusty, I decided. The name suited him.

His smile was shy as he extended a handful of flowers. “Shushanna.”

They were brilliant red, veined with gold in a lovely filigree pattern, and a heavenly scent rose from the petals as I took them.

“For me?” I buried my face in the bouquet and inhaled. A perfume made from these flowers would cost a fortune in the civilized portions of the Federation. Not to mention, any horticulturist worth his salt would kill to add a specimen to his collection. It seemed everywhere I looked, there was a potential source of trade on Orpheus Two. If the planet were ever opened to commerce, the Buri would be one rich group of people. At least, they’d be rich if they were lucky enough to have an honest, intelligent director to oversee their interests. One who cared more about the Buri than his or her own credit balance.

I sighed. “They’re lovely. Thank you.”

He bowed, murmured something to Brownie, and headed across the clearing toward the new building. Brownie gingerly collected his son from Crigo’s back and departed in the opposite direction.

“Max, that wouldn’t be one of the new Buri, would it?”

“Yes. The only male. The other two are female. I saw them go into the communal kitchen earlier.”

Munching on my fruit, I watched as Dusty reached the edifice and delivered what sounded like a few curt orders. The other Buri immediately got to work on the structure. It didn’t take long to figure out that Dusty was a master when it came to building with stone. Which led me to only one conclusion.

Wherever he’d been, he had returned to oversee the new construction. I arched my brows. How in the thirteen hells had he become a master stonemason when there were no stone buildings in the Buri village except the one he was working on now, and no sign that there had ever been any?

Giving a mental sigh, I took the flowers inside my quarters and put them in water, then went behind the building and sorted through the crates of supplies. Selecting two that contained easily prepared foodstuffs, I stacked them on top of each other and hoisted them in my arms.

The weight didn’t bother me, but I was having trouble seeing around them, stumbling over tree roots several times before I made it to the front of my quarters. It came as a relief when someone plucked the top crate off, and I smiled as Ghost growled a question.

“The kitchen.” I tilted my head toward the building.

He led the way, and I looked around curiously as we entered. I was in no condition to pay attention to my surroundings the evening before, and other than the new stone structure, this was the largest of the Buri buildings.

Six long tables were situated in rows on my right, running from the front of the room to the back, with just enough space to move comfortably between them. Elder sat at one of them, a cup in his hands.

On the end wall was the cooking area. It comprised a fireplace—flames banked low under a large iron grille on which rested several pots—and four ovens set into the wall, two on either side.

A group of Buri females looked up and smiled at me from some smaller tables where they prepared food. Lurran and Auntie Em were with them and I carried my crate to the older woman and deposited it on the floor.

While Ghost put his crate next to mine and stepped back, I pulled the top off and extracted a sealed packet. The contents looked like nothing so much as dried dung, and all of the Buri watched me warily.

Taking out my knife, I slit the packet open and moved to the fireplace to peer into the pots. Good. One of them contained boiling water.

I returned my knife to its sheath and upended the parcel into the water, then stood back as the Buri females gaped in surprise. The dehydrated food soaked up the water and swelled until it filled the pot, the delicious aroma of fruit compote pervading the room.

When it was done, a matter of a few seconds only, I took an implement from a table, dipped it into the compote, and spread it on a chunk of the round Buri bread. Before anyone else could move, Auntie Em lifted it from my hand and took a bite. A slow smile spread across her face, and she nodded. Immediately, the others dove in. There was a wide variety of food in the crates, all with pictures on the front of the packets. I hoped they would at least be able to get an idea of what was inside.

I left them to it and turned toward the other side of the room. Since there were so few females in the village, it was easy for me to recognize all the ones I’d met on my first trip. I’d never seen the two who were sitting at an odd-looking contraption, watching me while they worked levers and pedals. They both smiled and gave me the short bow when I approached, but they never slowed in their movements.

The darker-haired woman was operating something that reminded me of a spinning wheel. But instead of sitting and winding thread around a spool, she was feeding it to the wooden frame the other female was working. It was a loom, I realized, as I stared down at the material growing under her hands, the exact length and width of a kechic. Only the cloth was like none I’d ever seen before.

It resembled silk, but was finer, almost gauzy in appearance, as though they’d taken the webs from a thousand spiders and woven them into a fabric that was blinding in its beauty. The piece in the loom danced from shades of indigo to emerald and to amethyst in the sunlight streaming through the windows.

I reached out to touch it when a flash of brilliant red drew my gaze to the table beside them. Half a dozen kechics made from the shiny material, complete with belts, were neatly folded on its surface. They ranged in color from vibrant yellows to deepest purples, but it was the red one that held pride of place.

Awestruck, I gently lifted it and felt it slither in my hands as though it were sentient. Like a living flame, it shifted colors from red to orange to yellow, then back again. It was with a sense of regret that I refolded it and put it back on the table.

Yep, something was going on. First Dusty shows up to erect a huge stone edifice unlike any the Buri had built before. Then we have these two new females who were busily creating clothing that no woman with an ounce of estrogen in her bloodstream would wear for everyday.

Was it possible the Buri were preparing for a party? Maybe a dedication ceremony for the new building.

“Kiera, the information on the Ashwani will be ready by the time you reach my location,” Max said, knowing my need for more information.

“Okay, on my way.” With a smile and a nod at the two new females, I walked toward the door, Ghost following closely on my heels.

Other than the males working on the new building, the village seemed deserted as I walked through it. “Max, where are all the Buri?”

“Most of them are in the fields, tending crops, but some of the males are practicing warfare skills in a cleared area behind the village.”

I stopped so fast Ghost bumped into me. “Warfare skills?”

“So it seems.”

This, I had to see. Turning right, I made my way between two buildings. It didn’t take long to find them. The grunts and growls were audible even over the racket the dragon birds made.

The males were divided into two groups, one doing target practice with their spears, the other engaged in hand-to-hand combat. Thor stood to one side, hands on his hips as he watched a Buri with light brown hair square off with Junior.

Hesitating at the edge of the clearing, I watched as Junior sailed over his teacher’s shoulder to land on the ground. The Buri pulled him to his feet, growled at him for a second, then acted out the move he wanted Junior to accomplish.

For the second time, Junior flew through the air. Well, of course he did, I thought in disgust. His instructor was going about teaching him the maneuver all wrong. Junior was both shorter and lighter than the adult male, which made his center of gravity different.