Freedom's Challenge (38 page)

Once aboard the BSS 2, Kris sought refuge on the bridge while those who had come with her stopped at the mess hall for coffee and to unwind.

“He'll be here soon, Kris.”

“Oh, yes,” she said in a weary voice. Half of her did not believe she would ever see him again. The other half wondered what his rank of Excellent meant in terms of the work he'd now have to do. Would he take Bazil and Peran back to Catten with him, to be raised properly as young Catteni males were? “Nice touch, renaming the ship,” she said after a moment and because she knew that she ought to make some reference to the alteration.

•   •   •

AS RAISHA PILOTED THE BSS 2 OVER THE HILL above the landing field, she had a clear view. No Baby perched there.

“When you get your hands on him, eh?” Raisha said, cocking her head at Kris, as if she'd known how much Kris hoped to find them there.

“You'd better believe it!” Now she was angry with Zainal for this unconscionably long delay. How could he keep her in such unending suspense? Did he have any idea of how she had suffered during his absence? Especially since the moment she had figured out that he was going to be the sacrificial lamb? That he would deliberately put himself in the ultimate danger as the only way of gaining admittance to the Mentat Ix?

Raisha landed the ship and did all the after-flight checks.

“It can stay out tonight: the visible confirmation of our change of status. Frankly, Kris, I'm exhausted after so much good news and emotion and all that wearying ceremony. Aren't you, Excellent Lady Emassi?” She turned one of the shoulder tabs on Kris' shoulder. “Those are really fine diamonds.”

Kris was as tired, too, weary beyond belief. Raisha had gone down the passageway and seemed to be gathering up the others for their voices drifted away.

She heard steps. Someone was coming to get her so she ought to go. Zane would be waiting for her to take him home. If she hadn't had him…She pushed herself out of the chair and had reached the passageway when she realized it was filled with a large…and familiar figure.

“I thought you'd never come out,” Zainal said, “so I came in to get you. You can tell me off in privacy.”

“Tell you off?” Kris inanely repeated his words, because she had to be sure that it was really him.

“Raisha said you were waiting to get your hands on me…”

“I am,” and she threw them and her arms around his neck. “But if you ever go away like that again, I…I…” He closed her mouth with his, and they spent a long time like that. Until she had to come up for air, patting his face, his shoulders until she felt his muscles tense.

“You did, didn't you? You went as sacrifice, didn't you?” She pulled him into the better light of the cabin and saw the marks of suffering and starvation on his face: marks that only a keen and loving eye would now notice.

“It did the trick,” and he smiled a little, his hands touching her hair, her face, brushing away the tears on her cheeks, “and that's all behind me. Behind us.” Then he held her away from him, noticing the thickening of her body. He raised one eyebrow. “You gave me up for lost?”

“No, never! It's Chuck's, just like you wanted.”

“On Catten?” He was astonished but smiling with pleasure. “Well, well.”

“We were both legless, between hooch and whatever Chuck was given to drink by that field keeper. Promise me you won't ever be away again when I get drunk?” she pleaded.

“I promise,” he said solemnly, crossing his chest before he reached for her again.

“Just a moment.” And she pushed away his hands, standing up very straight and tall, her expression suspicious. “Where do you fit into the new hierarchy of Catten, Excellent High Emassi Zainal?”

“Oh, Excellent is the title they decided to give useful foreigners. I dropped. I stay.” And his yellow Catteni eyes glittered as he folded her into his arms. “How about you, Kris Bjornsen? Will you return to Earth?”

She shook her head. “I dropped. I stay.”

•   •   •

IN FACT, ONLY A FEW RETURNED TO EARTH: some of the specialists stayed to help reconstruct their damaged home world. Most of those who went back did so to find what relatives remained alive and brought them back to Botany. Chuck Mitford brought back two cousins, a scarecrow, and the repaired hammock that had been on his front porch the day the Catteni arrived.

THE NEXT TIME A FARMER UNIT SCANNED Botany, it reported that the population had increased fivefold. A decision was reached since these newest, and unexpected, protégés had proved so innovative and independent. When the maintenance vehicle reached the planet, it lifted not only the food that had been harvested on its cultivated continents but also all the equipment, vacating their premises to allow the indigenous population to expand as populations had a habit of doing.

An unusual species had done well, and they could devote their attentions where similar discreet and carefully limited assistance was required.