Damia's Children (22 page)

“Fok is grey!” Ashiant exclaimed, slightly more puzzled than enlightened. “What would be called battleship grey—if that matters.”

VERY GOOD GREY AS TRP HAS SAID
, was the rejoinder and Fok, in an excess of camaraderie, bobbed its head up and down, blinking several lids.

“We'd better stop,” Damia said, struggling with her laughter, “or Fok'll be impossible.”

“By the way, where's Tri?” Thian asked his mother. “I thought it'd join us for dinner.”

TRP IS NEEDED ON THE KLTL
, Fok replied.
TRP WILL BE PLEASED TO BE MISSED
.

When Thian returned to his stateroom that evening, he realized that somehow he had been subtly diverted from what might have been a fierce debate over the morality of the courses open to Humans and 'Dinis on how to end the Hive menace. Or did you just apply your ethics to your own species?

His intercom buzzed. He hesitated before answering. Very few people knew where he was now billeted. He might have very little pre-cog, though turning into that tube might have been in response to a subliminal forewarning. He didn't “feel” any premonition and depressed the acknowledge toggle.

“Lieutenant Greevy speaking . . .”

“Gravy!” he said and pressed full visual.

“Am I glad to find you! Look, you should know this: one of the ensigns in your old quarters is in here with a knife wound. He got attacked as he was opening the door. Knife just missed his lung. You being careful? Who knows where you are now?”

“Very few. How'd you get through?”

“Ted Exeter told me to warn you. He's still operating.” Anxiety kept flickering across her expressive face.

“I'm fine. I've a 'Dini guard out front and, with so many important experts on board, this deck's well patroled.” Seeing Gravy reminded him that such vigilance could also be a disadvantage. “Are you on duty, Gravy?”

“No,” she began with a frown and then her face brightened into a broad, happy and eager smile. “No, Thian, I'm not. I just ended my watch.”

He was also exceedingly well pleased with his 'portation of her. Though he felt an uncomfortable surge of awkwardness when she was amazed by the luxurious amenities of his stateroom, it was hard to stay tense in Gravy's company. She had him laughing over her queries about some of the unusual items in one locker. In the next she found the bottles of exotic spirits, and couldn't make up her mind which to try first, so she poured judicious levels of each one in a big glass, careful not to disrupt the lower layers, finishing up with a remarkably colorful “lethal cocktail” which she made him sample, too. By the time he fell asleep with his arms about her, he decided that the most exotic spirit in the room wasn't bottled!

*   *   *

It was great to be working again, and with his mother. They accomplished a great deal before their “day” ended: auxiliary engines, propulsion units, thrusters and communications gear were 'ported from Earth, Betelgeuse, Altair, and Procyon for installation on the wreck for its outbound journey.

The impetus given the vessel by the searing
wave of nova force was nearly spent and, even on tow, it would need some independent impulsion. One of the large shuttles had been altered and then anchored to the most stable level to serve as bridge and quarters for the watch.

Once the wreck was close enough for a 'portation, it would be “lifted” to its final destination: at the moment a point equidistant between the 'Dini homeworld and Earth was being discussed, though as all the Primes pointed out, its exact location was relatively unimportant. Scientists could be transported from anywhere. There was also controversy that the very presence of the hulk might somehow attract other Hive ships to its position—therefore it should be as far away from either homeworld as possible. This was a theory more voiced on Human worlds than 'Dini.

“Perhaps,” Thian had remarked when the subject was discussed in the wardroom where he was lunching, “because 'Dinis have already had Hive ships in their skies and survived. But then, so have we!”

There was a moment of stunned silence, broken by such a whispered curse from Malice that Thian wondered if he had imagined it. He took himself heavily to task for being so lax, and slow. He ought to have followed that whisper as quickly as thought. But he hadn't. He should have been ready, especially since the attack on the ensign who was recovering slowly. Thian hoped that Malice had had a shock over that miscalculation. With his mother, he'd gone over the names of the boarding party in the hope that some clue might be triggered. Except that twelve of the other fourteen
members had attended his language classes, there was nothing to trigger identity.

*   *   *

Although there were still deliveries of equipment, most of what Damia and Thian 'ported now was food and water to provision the three Human ships that were to pursue the three queen pods, and the KLTL which was continuing on to the suspect nova. Spectroscopic analysis said that the flaring star contained all the elements which had permeated the wreck. The 'Dinis would not accept that evidence as proof positive that the Hive world had been involved in, and not survived, the holocaustic disaster.

Thian wondered if his tour of duty would soon be over and was almost relieved when he had a summons to appear in the captain's ready room.

“Come in, young Lyon, and be seated.” The captain steepled his fingers, once again rubbing the fleshy end of his nose before speaking. Today Thian sensed that the hard mind shield was not so firmly in place and the captain was not certain how his next words would be taken. “I'm given to understand that you've an ill-wisher on board the
Vadim.
”

Thian nodded.

“Your mother has not been able to apprehend your assailant and, although the gunnery officer discovered one of the weapons had been discharged, unfortunately no record was kept of which weapon was issued to which member of the boarding party. Do
you
know who the party is?”

Thian shook his head.

“Well, then, you'll not be staying on board the
Vadim
, lad. I'm not risking a Prime's life.”

“Sir . . . The KLTL's continuing. She's not going to make the entire trip on the provisions she's been taking on: not even if she stuffed every spare cabin. Not unless she has . . . me on board. If I could volunteer for the duty . . .”

“But you'd be the only Human on board . . . for well over a year . . .”

Thian grinned at Ashiant's expression. “Sir, I'm too young for a year to matter that much.”

“Claptrap! A year's a long time at your age.”

“Captain Ashiant, it's like this. I can't finger my enemy. I won't give whoever it is the satisfaction of thinking that he or she has forced me to retreat. I'm too 'Dini for that. I can and will continue this voyage. That was what I was asked to do and what I intend to do—with your permission—continue on until we reach the Hive system. That makes me very Human, Captain, living to fight another day.”

“Well, well! Well! Hmmm, yes, well,” and Ashiant steepled his fingers again, the slow grin on his lips echoed in his eyes. “Yes, well, that would serve both causes admirably because, to be above-board with you, Thian Lyon, Spktm asked me if you'd consider transferring to the KLTL. It's been impressed with you, as interpreter, teacher, and crewmate. It sees this voyage as a marvelous chance to make its crew learn sufficient Basic to get along with Humans anywhere.”

“What did my mother say?” Thian asked, knowing perfectly well that she'd been asked.

Ashiant chuckled. “She left it up to you. Says you're a grown man now.” He chuckled again. “I think she's proud of you.”

“Then I'll transfer to the KLTL, if I may.”

“And Spktm also wished me to say that it'll be happy to receive your 'Dinis back when they can return. Said that'll make you happier aboard a 'Dini vessel.”

“Oh, I will be happy on board the KLTL!”

*   *   *

Alison Anne was not happy that he was continuing onward when he could just as honorably have returned home on the
Vadim.
With her. She had been a regular evening guest as she was fortunately doing the day watches.

“How'll you ever find out who nearly killed you? And nearly killed Ensign Kalickmo! You'll be well guarded up here and we'll find the bastard sooner or later.” Gravy could look exceedingly fierce and determined for all she was a sensitive empath.

“It's more knowing where I could be of real service, Gravy,” he said, smoothing her silky blonde hair. It had enough static so that the fine stuff clung to his hand, leaping out from the pillow to caress his skin. Her skin was silky soft, too, but he needed to catch his breath a bit. “I
know
the 'Dinis will be on pretty slim rations until they can reach a pick-up point. Young 'Dinis need proper nutrients or they will never reach any significant height. And the older 'Dinis need just as much to keep healthy. If I stay with them, they won't have to go on hard rations. And they'll feel freer to investigate every aspect of the nova position without losing any crew.”

“Whaddya mean? Losing crew?” She propped herself on an elbow to stare accusingly down at him. More of her hair tangled about his wrist.

“'Dinis hold slightly different views about life
and living. 'Dinis are taught to revere their elders . . .”

“And we aren't?”

“Not in the same way. A 'Dini will starve itself to give food to an elder . . .”

“Huh! They are backwards.”

“Not really. 'Dini elders possess great wisdom and experience and must be preserved for their knowledge. An inexperienced young 'Dini considers it honorable to die lest those assets be lost to the race.”

“So—couldn't they just ration food?”

He tried to do this tactfully. “Ah, they . . . well, they not only give up their lives . . .”

She drew in her breath in horror. “You mean . . .” When he nodded, she gulped. “Gossake! Didn't think they'd have that in 'em!” She was more awed at that final sacrifice than appalled. Thian was oddly pleased by her attitude, especially when she added, “Knowing that, you've got to go. I like the 'Dinis. I miss your two.

“But, say, Thian, that trip's projected for a whole year, Standard. How'll you get along? I mean,” and to Thian's delight and amusement, Gravy blushed.

He hugged her to him and her hair clung to his face like a gossamer veil. He'd miss this all right enough and said so. “I'll be fine though. I'll miss you, I really will. It's much better this way but, well, you've heard of 'Dini dreams?”

She nodded and he had to carefully remove clinging filaments from his mouth, chuckling as he did so.

“Well, 'Dini dreams are very . . . very . . . well, they do the trick.”

“NO!” She was up on her elbows again. “That, too?”

“If Mur or Dip were here, I'd get them to show you.”

“Now just a living minute, Thian Raven-Lyon, Mister Prime . . .” He turned off her threats with a deep kiss because he knew she'd withdraw any objections once he got the 'Dinis to dream with her. And that he did plan to do some day when he was back.

*   *   *

The unsolved problem of Malice continued to niggle at him. Unfinished as well as unsolved which, despite his strategic retreat, did not set well with him. And there was the matter that it was no longer Malice's hatred of him that had to be addressed but the iniquitous attack on Kalickmo. Yet how to identify Malice when that mistake had obviously resulted in this current total silence? Then Thian remembered his sister's suggestion and mentioned this to Damia.

“I'll spring the trap, Mother. The two of us ought to be able to close on him.”

“Him? You're sure of that?”

“After the knife attack, yes.”

“Humph. Really,” was his mother's cryptic response. “Very well. When?”

“Tonight you're being given a special dinner. I know Malice was part of both my language classes and the boarding team. I'll have the wardroom steward put all of us at the same table. That won't look particularly contrived. We often chow down together.”

“All?”

“Uhuh. That's why I'm so puzzled as to who it
really is. I mean, he's got stomach enough to eat with me, hating me as he does?”

“So? When this evening? I'll want to know so I can be wide open, which is not exactly comfortable for any length of time around here.”

Thian smothered a guffaw because his mother had been admired by every male officer of the Human squadron and one of the like-sex lieutenants. Regarding his mother objectively, she certainly didn't appear “old”: she'd married his father at eighteen and had only recently celebrated her fourth decade. She certainly didn't look the mother of eight and she was unquestionably the most beautiful female on board.

“Clean up that laugh, son of mine,” she said but there was an amused sparkle in her eyes.

“Since it's my last night aboard, I have to give a farewell speech. I'll spring the trap then.”

“When you stand, I'll snap!” And she brought her teeth together with an audible click, then went off to finish her day report.

THAT IS WELL DONE, THN
, Fok said, appearing at his side from nowhere.
TRP WILL WATCH AS WELL
.

*   *   *

Several times during what seemed an inordinately long dinner, Thian had to rub his sweaty palms on his trouser legs. He hoped that he gave no other outward sign of tension. At one point, he asked his mother's opinion but she assured him that he wasn't laughing too loudly at Kiely's jokes or looking bored by Eki Wasiq's long-winded yarns.

In fact, you look quite handsome and confident.

Shakes don't show?