Starbridge (45 page)

When she reached the former ambassador's side, Mahree cried out in dismay. The visible portion of Rhrrrkkeet's face was a mask of blood, ripped fur, and pulped flesh. Khrekk's aunt had her teeth fastened in her opponent's throat.

"Let me!" the gladiator demanded, pushing Rob and Raoul roughly aside.

Hekkk'eesh grabbed his employer's clenched jaws, exerting his full strength to prise them apart. Dragging Kk'arrrsht' up and away, the gladiator prisoned the former Council member in an unbreakable grip, despite her frantic struggles to escape.

Even as the pressure on Rhrrrkkeet's throat was released, a spurt of magenta blood fountained up. Mahree clamped her hands across her mouth to keep from screaming in horror.

Swearing at the uselessness of his swollen, broken-knuckled right hand, Rob groped desperately with his left, searching for a pressure point amid the tangle of fur and open wound.

Raoul flung an arm around Mahree, as much to steady himself as her, as the three humans knelt beside Rhrrrkkeet'. Praying, Mahree watched tensely, hardly daring to breathe as blood jetted upward with every beat of the Simiu's heart.

"Oh, God!" Rob gasped, trying to guard his eyes from the hot splashes. "Got to--can't remember where--
got
it!" he muttered, in triumph, closing his left fingers hard. The deadly spurting faltered, then stopped. He looked up at Mahree, his face a gory mask. "For God's sake, somebody get a doctor!"

287

Dhurrrkk' just called. Rhrrrkkeet' is definitely out of the woods.

Uncle Raoul and Rob are recovering. Both spent time on the regen unit yesterday and today--Uncle Raoul for his black and swollen eye and jaw, and Rob for his hand. He broke two knuckles when he punched Uncle Raoul.

They decided to call it even.

Uncle Raoul was really undone by Rhrrrkkeet's defense of him, nearly at the cost of her own life, and when he learned that they couldn't save her right eye, he wept unashamedly before pulling himself together and going to wait outside the operating room. They wouldn't let him see her, but he waited anyway.

Dhurrrkk' will be stiff and sore for a few days, but he's fine. When I saw him last night in the Simiu hospital on Station Three, he was-even getting a little cocky about the fact that he'd scored "first blood" in battle with the fearsome Hekkk'eesh. (Rob acted much the same about decking my uncle, who's a third again his size. Males, I swear--!)

And it was
Hekkk'eesh
who declared ritual hence, not Dhurrrkk', remember.

As Yoki says, he'll gain much "face" from this.

Kk'arrrsht' is in custody, along with the other family members who plotted to kill Uncle Raoul. I expect the Council will deal severely with them.

Uncle Raoul went to see Joan last night, when we staggered back from the hospital, still splashed as he was with

287

288

Rhrrrkkeet's blood. I don't know what they said to each other; but he was with her for nearly half an hour, and then she came out and helped him get cleaned up and put something on his eye.

I don't know whether they can patch up their marriage . . . but I think maybe now they'll at least try to be partners again.

And last night, I finally talked to Rob . . .

Mahree sat on the bed, braiding her hair. "Rob ... I want to talk to you."

He dropped his undershirt over the back of a chair with a sigh, then gave her a wary yet resigned look. "All right."

"You caught me flat-footed the other night," she said, fastening the end of her braid. "It never occurred to me that you would want to marry me. After all, when I first met you"--she gave him a sideways glance--"you didn't seem like the kind of man who was interested in marriage."

He sat down opposite her in the chair to kick off his shoes. He shrugged. "I wasn't," he admitted. "I never thought it would happen to me like this, but it has." He smiled thinly. "I guess I've changed."

"So have I," Mahree said. "Probably more than you have, since I had a lot more growing up to do in the first place. I'm going to be honest with you, Rob. I love you, more than I can say. I want us to be together, I want to sleep beside you each night. I've even found myself"--despite her resolve, she faltered, and blushed--"I've even found myself imagining you as the father of my baby . . . someday. I think we could be happy together."

His expression brightened, and he put out his good hand and clasped hers.

His grasp was so warm and strong and familiar that Mahree's eyes filled with tears. She kissed the back of his hand, and her throat ached from loving him, and also from what she still had to say.

"But try to understand, Rob . . . I'm just not ready to marry anyone. In six months I may feel different. Or six years--I can't say. I need time to adjust to all that's happened--between you and me, between us and the Simiu ... the Mizari and the CLS . . . everything. Can you understand what I'm trying to say?"

He nodded, though she saw disappointment in his eyes. "I'm afraid I can," he said. "I pushed you the other night, didn't I?"

She nodded. "Frankly, you scared me half to death," she 289

confessed. "I felt . . . like my horizons were closing in. I don't know what I want, or what I'm going to do, but I'm sure of one thing, which is that it would be wrong for me to marry you now."

Pain shadowed his features, and his mouth tightened. She continued, hastily, "If it were a question of losing you ... I'd probably give in and agree to marriage. But that's not the way you want it, is it?"

He considered for a moment, then silently shook his head. "That wouldn't be right," he said, finally. "Though for a second there I was tempted, I have to admit. I want you that badly." He bit his lip, not meeting her eyes. "It scares me, how much I want you."

She wanted to put her arms around him, but she made herself sit still. "I know this isn't easy for you, either. But never think that I don't love you. I do."

Things were different between them, and Mahree knew that, as she watched him nod, silently.
It won't ever be quite the same again . . .
Where before it had been all joy, now there was sadness that came from the knowledge that they could hurt each other.

Raoul Lamont postponed
Desiree's
departure until they were sure Rhrrrkkeet' would be recovered enough to assume her duties aboard the
Dawn Wind
as the Mizari/Simiu liaison. During those three weeks, the Simiu Council officially appointed Dhurrrkk' as the First Ambassador to Avernus, though, as he told Mahree, his duties would probably consist mostly of returning Doctor Blanket to its home, and ensuring that the fungus- beings were disturbed no more than they wished to be.

Dhurrrkk' also told his friend that as soon as
Desiree
departed for Earth, he was planning to leave for Avernus, and from there, he'd be traveling on to Shassiszss. Mahree struggled against envy for her friend, imagining Dhurrrkk' free to shuttle between Shassiszss and Hurrreeah in his work with the Avernians. She gained a new respect for the Simiu Council, knowing that they'd truly selected the best person for the job.

Rob caught up on his work, and he and Mahree spent most evenings watching his old films, or talking with Joan, Raoul, and Dhurrrkk'. The doctor managed to spend some time each day with Ssoriszs, continuing his Mizari lessons. He could now

290

understand and speak Mizari better than he could Simiu, though he knew his accent was far from good.

A few days before
Desiree's
and
Dawn Wind's
scheduled departures, the Simiu Council came up to Station Three en masse and hosted an official reception to honor the humans. The entire crew was invited.

At Esteemed Ssoriszs' request Rob went over to the station early to talk to the Mizari. He was curious as to the Mizari Mediator's reason for the meeting; Shirazz had been extremely evasive when Rob asked her why the CLS official wanted to see him.

When he reached the corridor outside the big meeting room, Rob found the alien waiting for him. Ssoriszs seemed both pleased and excited about something. The doctor greeted the Mizari. "You asked to see me?"

"There is something I would like to speak to you about, Robert. Something important." He gestured with his tentacles.

Puzzled, the doctor followed the Mediator into the small chamber, and sat down cross-legged on floor cushions, as the Mizari coiled himself.

"This morning one of our vessels, the
Twilight Blossom,
docked here at Station Three, Robert. It bore a messenger from the CLS Council, saying that my recommendation on a certain matter has been discussed and affirmed. Thus I am now free to speak to you about something that has been under consideration since first you came to Shassiszss."

Rob blinked. "I'm dying of curiosity. What's going on?"

"For years we Mizari have watched the CLS grow, and known that accurate and truthful communication among our member species was becoming increasingly difficult. The more member species we garner, the more difficult it becomes for all of us to speak together. There are inherent problems, as you know, with mechanical translation devices.

"We have long sought for a way to bridge the ever-widening gap we perceived. For some time now, we have thought that the key to what we desire lies in the young people of our member species--those who are flexible and energetic enough to learn other languages, and adapt to alien ways."

"Like Dhurrrkk' and Mahree," Rob said.

"Exactly. They have provided a most shining example of

291

what we would like to accomplish on a far larger scale. After much consideration, we Mizari came to believe that bringing young people of different species together, so that they may learn one another's languages and customs, would be the best way to ensure understanding and

communication in the future. We would like to establish a school to train such young people."

Rob suddenly remembered Shirazz asking him whether he liked kids, and a few pieces of the puzzle began to click into place. He waited silently for the Mizari to continue.

"However, there was a major stumbling block," Ssoriszs said. "We Mizari are only too often accused of trying to run the CLS to suit ourselves. We did not want to take the lead in proposing and promoting this school, and we do not want to be chief among those who direct and administer it."

The alien's scales whispered gently as the being cocked his golden-eyed head at the doctor. "But when we met you humans, we began to think our problem has been solved. You are a strong, intelligent people, with a great deal of vitality and enthusiasm. And, most important of all, you are not yet enmeshed in CLS politics--you are independent of such intrigues and wranglings, and will be, for some time to come."

When the Mizari paused, Rob said, "I see what you mean. But how do I come into it?''

"We want you to propose the idea for the school to your people, then to join with us in finding support and funding for it, on Earth, and the CLS member worlds. And after the school is built, we would like you to work there, directing it, helping to counsel and advise the students. We admire the way you have adapted to Dhurrrkk' and Mahree's friendship, helped to foster it.

She gives you much of the credit for establishing good relations between the humans and the Simiu at the onset of contact between your peoples."

Rob ran a hand through his hair, thinking it over. "That's a lot of faith to put in someone you hardly know," he muttered, trying to take in the idea.

"Ah, but I
do
know you, Robert. I learned about you from one who knows you very well."

The doctor grinned, beginning to experience a rush of excitement as he thought about what this job offer could mean to him--and also to Mahree.
A
chance to work for the CLS! It's her

292

dream come true! She'd jump at the chance to be associated with that!

During the past three weeks, Rob had become increasingly confident that before too long--perhaps by next year--Mahree would agree to marry him, and he felt, instinctively, that this job would only advance his cause.

Hell, she loves aliens--she'd like nothing better than to be at a school filled
with them,
he thought.
And she'd be a big help. Maybe she could teach--or
be my assistant. Mizari mate for life, so they'd be bound to let us stay
together.

He thought about what it would be like to live among aliens.
It would mean
giving up medicine, I suppose. Could I do that? Of course, I'd still be
counseling, and I really liked that . . .

He thought about a school filled with young people of different species, about what it would be like to counsel them, to guide them, then to watch them go off into positions of power in the galactic community. Young humans, young Mizari, young Simiu ... young Chhhh-kk-tu--hell, even young Rigellians, he supposed.
They'll be training to be ambassadors and
diplomats. Councillors to the CLS . . . interpreters . . .

And I'd be a sort of dean,
he thought.
Hardly the job for a glory hound--who
ever notices a dean? An important job, but. . . strictly a backstage one.

"Where would the school be located?" he asked Ssoriszs.

"There is a section of space about three of your Terran months' journey from most of the inhabited worlds--including your Earth. It is comparatively free of stars, so it is frequently used for a transition point for ships changing their headings-- they drop out of metaspace into realspace, then activate their S.V. drives again. Captain Lamont says your human ships know it. We Mizari have a station nearby. We call this sector--" and the Mizari used a phrase that took Rob a moment to puzzle out. .
The link . . . connection? . . .

between stars? No, that word means "across"--the bridge across stars?

Something like that.

"StarBridge?" Rob asked, in English.

The Mizari dipped his iridescent head gracefully. "That is a good translation," he said. "We think it would be best if the school were to be located not on any world, or too near any world, but in space, truly
between
the Twelve Known Worlds. We Mizari have a large asteroid we would be willing to donate. There is a rich vein of the material that powers starships--