Crisis On Doona (23 page)

“I protest the need for any such extreme measure!” Hrruvula was on his feet.

The Treaty Controller gave a sharp rap of his gavel.

“That may not be necessary,” he said, though his phrasing caused other Councillors to regard him in surprise. “The defendants will be interrogated in court in the normal manner as to the violation of the interdiction of Hrrilnorr and their possession of illegal objects found secreted on the ship solely used by them. The defense attorney is to have time to review the new evidence presented to this court today and prepare a defense.”

Madam Dupuis regarded the Controller in a fixed stare, for he intimated that he didn’t believe there could be a defense adequate to clear the charges. She noticed that Hrruvula was quick to catch the innuendo.

“If those proceedings prove inconclusive,” the Controller went on, “time enough to administer querastrin.”

Landreau covered his jubilation. He had become worried at the Controller’s silence, for it had taken a long time for his colleagues to place that nominee of the bigoted Third Speaker in the senior position. He had to deal with Hrrubans, to be sure, to effect that end, but at least they had been Hrrubans who felt as he did—that the Doonan Experiment should be disbanded. He tossed Hrruvula a challenging look. Just let that cat try to discredit the evidence that had been so carefully obtained. Just let him try!

And after discrediting the Reeves, such sterling examples of Doonan colonials, he was quite willing to start an interspecies war to depopulate Doona. Those plans needed only a few more little twitches to provide ample excuse for the protective preemptive strike he felt was necessary against the danger of a Hrruban invasion of Earth. Soon that twenty-five-year-old mistake would be exonerated.

The gavel startled him out of his reverie.

“Due notice of the trial date will be forthcoming,” declared the Controller. “This session is adjourned.”

Admiral Landreau sprang to his feet as the Councillors filed out, well pleased with the events. He failed to notice either their thoughtful expressions or the bland expression of Hrruvula.

* * *

“Well, that’s a horse of a different color, if you get what I mean,” Ali Kiachif said, startling Ken, who had been disconsolately stroking the leopard Appie hide. “I thought so when I shipped it. Alive, alert, and akicking, it was. Freddie lad told me you were looking for me. I’ve got another sled or two of your hides, myself, if you were interested in having them. Chance of a drink for a dry man? Some of your pussycat punch around, if you know what I’m talking about, eh? That mlada’s a powerful temptation.”

Ken looked from the hide on the table to the merchantman’s friendly face. “Sure thing, Ali,” and he swung out of his chair to get bottle and glass from the cupboard, “but are you saying that you remember this one horse in particular, out of all the hundreds you’ve carried?”

The captain lifted his shoulders expressively. “Thousands, Reeve, thousands!” He knocked back the generous tot Ken had poured. “Horses are what Doona ships the most of. But that leopardie Applousa was a real looker.”

“Leopard Appaloosa,” Ken corrected automatically.

“Don’t see many of them, if you know what I mean. Er, I’m a bit dry.”

As automatically, Ken splashed an even more generous portion and set the bottle down in front of the wiry old spacefarer.

“Tell me all you remember, Captain, please! I’m going half crazy trying to find out where the horse which wore this hide came from. My records come up blank and we’re having to cross-check it against every animal ever bred here.”

Ali Kiachif had been lowering the level of mlada in the glass slowly but steadily as Ken spoke. Now, wiping his wild whiskers with the back of his hand, he sighed with relief. “Ah, that cuts the spacedust and sifts the sand, with a vengeance. I remember perfectly because one, the unusual hide on the beast, and two, it was the first time I’d seen an animal with your freeze mark being exported. Looked like a nice animal so I couldn’t understand why you’d sell it on. I take a fairly friendly interest in your family, from far away back. Got another reason to remember yon spotted laddie because I was taking your stablehand, young Mr. Aden, out into the great beyond with it! He was going to one of the new places to ply his trade.” Kiachif scratched his beard. “Though I can’t rightly remember what that trade was. He had a lot of tricky toys and equipment with him, but it was all his. He had a manifest, money, the works. A lot of money, I was thinking, for a young lad who never did anything but manage horses all his life. He was off to a grand start with all those gadgets wherever he was going.”

“Now, that’s the best thing I’ve heard in weeks, Ali,” Ken said, but his smile was grim. “And it—partially—explains who knew so much about my ranch and freeze IDs.”

“But that Appie laddie wasn’t rustled. He was sold proper by that Aden feller.”

“Who’s part of a conspiracy to frame me and my son.”

“What’s that?” Ali Kiachif paused, hand on the bottle neck.

“I never bred a leopard Appaloosa, Ali. The Solinaris do. Those are, undeniably, my ranch markings but they should be on a two-year-old pinto.”

“Well, I can swear that they’re on the hide of the animal I loaded. That animal!” And Ali stabbed a stubby stained finger at the hide in front of him.

“You’d be willing to swear to that?”

“In front of anyone and as often as need be. But it’s not one hide that’s got your drive revving.”

“No. So far I’ve found nineteen other hides, provenanced from Zapata, that don’t tally with any horse I ever bred and marked. Poldep is saying it’s Todd who’s been rustling from his own father, amassing a fat credit account off-world.” Ken could feel the frustrated anger building inside him again just having to repeat the foul accusations. “And there’re more rumors that Hrriss is either coming along for the ride or sharing the take.” At the astonished and disbelieving expression on Ali Kiachif’s face, he reined in.

Ali did not. He poured a quick tot to steady himself, for his face had turned an apoplectic red.

“Not those boys!” he said, pounding his fist on the table, a separate bang for each word. “Charge anyone else from any planet anywhere in Terran space or even Hrruban space and I might agree, but not Todd and Hrriss.”

“The Council and Poldep do not share your faith in their honesty. And damn it all”—the boost which Kiachif’s instant defense had given Ken dissolved as quickly—“the facts, the evidence are against them.”

“Facts! Facts? Evidence?” Ali narrowed his eyes, the shrewd trader, not the spirits-guzzling reprobate. “Facts can be altered, even evidence can be counterfeit to suit needs. But I’m a man who’s dealt with all kinds, all over this arm of the Milky Way,” and he waved expansively, “and I’ve never been wrong judging a man in my life. And I’m not wrong about that lad of yours who wore a rope tail to look like his best buddy. Anyone else, of any creed, color, conformation, or character, might do the dirty on his own dad so we’ll have to find out who did!” Ali waggled his stained finger at Ken. “And by fire, frost, and every ounce of faith in this old bod, we’ll prove it.”

His wrath was so great he began to choke on the accumulated spittle in his mouth and Ken had to pound him on the back. Still strangling, Ali Kiachif held up his glass for a refill.

* * *

As she had promised, Kelly brought the ranch files to Hrriss’s house. He came out to meet her.

“I thought I recognized the distinctive beat of Calypso’s pace,” he said warmly, greeting her. “Nothing’s wrong, is it?”

“Not with Todd,” she assured him, dismounting and throwing the mare’s reins over the rail at the door. “But we got another small problem. Ken Reeve thought maybe you could help on the Hrruban end of things. Give you something to do.”

“Constructive work is always welcome,” Hrriss said, gesturing for her to precede him. “What is the task?”

Kelly outlined the story of the mismarked and unidentifiable hides. Hrriss scowled deeply, grasping the implications immediately.

“Zo, now we are alzo rustlers!”

To her surprise, Kelly actually saw the hair of Hrriss’s stripe rise in resentment.

“Ken Reeve saw a leopard Appaloosa hide in a bundle Fred Horstmann brought in. The puzzle is that the Reeves don’t raise leopard Appies. We do. But the freeze mark was a Reeve Ranch that was put on a two-year-old pinto.”

“Neither pintos nor leopards change their spots,” Hrriss said thoughtfully. “Had the freeze mark been altered in any way?”

“No. Ken had the hide analyzed and we’ve all had a look at it through a microscope. Dad doesn’t show a record of any missing leopard Appies. But we need to know if any Hrruban rancher might be missing one.”

“What good would that do? A freeze mark cannot be altered.”

“But a duplicate number could be put on another stolen animal, couldn’t it?”

“Ah, that is a different matter. And no reliable trader would export animals which did not bear the brand of a reliable rancher.”

“Todd’s already working on a read-only scan of Hayuman ranches but it takes so long on this antiquated computer net that if you could handle the Hrruban end of things ...”

“Of course,” Hrriss said, patting her knee to reassure her. “I will begin at once.”

“I would like to help in any way I can,” said a soft voice as a female Hrruban slipped into the room. “I have computer skills.”

Kelly tried hard not to gawk at the unexpected presence of a female in Hrriss’s company. “I’m so sorry. How very rude of me not to ask if you were already occupied, Hrriss.” She started to rise but Hrriss gently pushed her back down on the divan.

“I am Nrrna,” she said, coming straight to Kelly and holding out her hand. She had a short, fluffy dark beige pelt, evidence of her youthfulness, but her stripe was broad and dark, suggesting she came from a very good family. She wore a braided cloth in aqua shade, looped in decorative swags from her shoulders, waist, and ankles that offset her delicate form and beauty.

“I remember you,” Kelly said, cordially gripping the slender hand, for Nrrna’s face markings were familiar. She glanced at Hrriss and saw the glowing look in his eyes, not the least bit fraternal. Nrrna returned his glance in the manner of one who has developed considerable rapport. “We took a language class in High Hrruban, though I admit it’s been years. Aren’t you working for the Health Services these days?”

“Yes,” Nrrna replied with shy friendliness, sidling slightly closer to Hrriss. “I heard of your academic success from my parents. Yours must be very proud.”

Hrriss moved imperceptibly closer to the dainty female. “Nrrna and I will become lifemates this season,” he said, looking proud and self-conscious at the same time.

“You will? Lifemates? Oh! Oh, I’m so happy for you!” Kelly leaped up to seize Hrriss and rub cheeks with him again, then turned to offer both hands to Nrrna, squeezing the delicate bones very gently.

Considering how Hrrubans mated, Hrriss was likely using the word “season” advisedly. Nrrna would know her cycle, and was planning carefully so they would have time for a joining ceremony before estrus began. Kelly felt that her face was cracking with her delighted smile.

“So this is the research into matters of interest to your mother, Hrriss! How wonderful! May you have every joy!” She snapped her jaws closed before she said what was in her mind, and didn’t know where to look in her dismay.

Hrriss reached for her hand and pressed it between his. “When Zodd and I are able to resume our association, Nrrna and I will tell him together.”

Kelly sighed. “Your news would cheer him up, but I can quite imagine how his knowing such a private arrangement could be construed. I may pop out in spots of anticipation but I won’t mention it. That’s one thing I’ve learned at Alreldep—how to know and not know. Just please let me be there when you do break the news. I want to see him really smile, from deep down,” and she touched her diaphragm, “instead of just his lips.”

“You have my word ...”

“Which is worth a lot, believe me,” Kelly said, her tone suddenly fierce.

Hrriss nodded solemnly and his eyes glowed at the strength of her conviction. Once again he took her hands but this time to seal their agreement.

“Well, I do feel better, Hrriss, I really do.”

“And these records? Have you arrived at any style to conduct the search?”

“I have,” Kelly said, and opened the packet. “It’s such a boring job, takes forever, but if you can both help ...”

“Nrrna, your parents may not wish you to involve yourself in an investigation of this nature.”

“Locating missing hrrsses?” She raised her delicately marked brows at him, her emerald eyes wide with surprise. “It is to help the friend of your heart, Hrriss. And I am my own person. I may make my own decisions.” Now she gave Hrriss a certain look that caught Kelly’s breath. Undeniably the twinge of regret she felt at seeing such unselfconscious love was partly jealousy for what they already shared.

Hrriss turned back to Kelly, his jaw lightly parted and a mischievous glint in his eyes. “You see, she will have her way if she knows the rightness of the path.”

“Are you and Zodd not on the same path?” Nrrna asked. “Hrriss has told me how much you are trying to help revoke those ignoble accusations.”

“Ah, yes, well, Nrrna, that’s another matter.”

Nrrna’s delicate laugh came out a soft purr. “It is so easy to tell when bareskins are embarrassed. Oh, I do not mean to offend with that term ...”

“We are bareskins and I take no offense from such as you, Nrrna. Never,” Kelly said. “And I blush far too easily for my own good.”

“Especially when Zodd is the subject,” Hrriss said, cocking his head to join in the teasing. Then he turned to Nrrna. “Hayuman females do not have your advantage.”

“I wish I did,” Kelly said with complete exasperation. “I don’t mind telling you two—and talking about Todd is not a violation of that stupid ban you two are under—but I love the guy and he doesn’t seem to see me as anything more than his ‘trusted Hunt second’ and the girl next door.”

Hrriss regarded her with eyes that glowed now with a slightly different but equally tender regard than the one he gave Nrrna.