Turning Point (22 page)

“There will be trouble,” said Kusac heavily.

“I'm mentioning it now to both of you not to be alarmist but so you are prepared for it when it happens. As I said, I'll do what I can.”

Kusac relaxed. “Thank you, Captain. Don't place too much hope on finding the pod yet, this is a Talent new to me and I have still to see if it works,” he said, halfheartedly chewing on a piece of meat.

“With the two of you, and our guide, I think it's a foregone conclusion. I just hope you are up to traveling tomorrow.”

“I won't hold you back.”

Garras nodded. “There's something about you, lad, that doesn't quite add up. I don't expect you to tell me, but I'll work it out. Why you ever joined the military I'll never know, you're not the type, and with a Telepath's upbringing to boot. The only person you might have needed to prove yourself to was you, unlike the Guynors of this world.

“Well, I'm turning in for the night. You do the same. Nothing heals like sleep. Good night.”

“Good night, Captain.”

 

Carrie sneezed and was abruptly awake. She was aware of the unfamiliar pressure of arms wrapped closely around her and strained against them, trying to free herself. She touched fur and relaxed just as Kusac released her and pushed himself up on his good elbow.

“Good morning,” he said as she turned to face him. “The sunlight woke me, too.” Wincing, he brought his injured arm round so he could touch her face with his hand. His fingertips were gentle as they caressed her cheek.

“Even compared to Sholan women, you are beautiful,” he purred softly, bending down to run his tongue across her ear.

Carrie shuddered with pleasure as she reached up to stroke his face. “Isn't it a bit public for this?” she whispered.

Kusac nuzzled her shoulder. “Only if anyone is looking,” he murmured, working his way across her neck.

“Be serious,” she admonished, wriggling in his grasp. “What if someone should look?”

“We're only indulging in little intimacies,” he said, moving round to lie partly across her. “We have nothing to hide, have we?” he asked, his mind touching hers.

Carrie shook her head, smiling. “I know,” she said. “If we can accept each other, they can accept us.”

“The sooner the better. Life on board the
Khalossa
lacks much in the way of privacy unless you are in your quarters, and we can't stay there forever.” He felt her stiffen slightly.

“We will have to leave the planet for at least a few weeks,” he said. “There is Guynor's court-martial, and I have to face charges concerning our bond. It may only be a board of inquiry, but I will need you with me.” His tone sounded concerned.

“I'll come,” she replied. “How could you doubt it? I just haven't had time to think ahead. What will we do when this is all over?”

Kusac brushed her hair back from her face. “Let's leave that till later. We have enough to occupy us for now,” he said, returning to his exploration of the space behind her ears.

A loud throaty noise came from nearby. “If you two want breakfast, you'd better get it now while there's still time. Skai says we move off in fifteen minutes,” said Vanna.

Kusac sighed. “We're coming.” He rubbed noses with Carrie before pushing himself to his knees and helping her to rise.

As they walked over to the fire, Kusac's good arm negligently draped around her shoulders, Carrie was aware that his open display of affection was not only for themselves, but also for the benefit of his crew mates. He was publicly laying claim to her and forcing them to acknowledge it, if only to themselves. She was also amused to detect an element of jealousy, not closely enough guarded from her, of Skai because he was Terran like her.

They sat beside Vanna and the Captain, who nodded in greeting.

“Before we leave, Kusac, I want you to imprint English on Guynor and Mito if you are up to it.”

Kusac flexed his shoulder slightly. “There's some pain and stiffness, but not as much as I'd expected,” he said. “I cannot do an imprint if Guynor will not cooperate.”

“He will. I have his word on that. What preparation will you need to do for locating the pod?”

Kusac poured himself and Carrie a hot drink. “We'll need several minutes to Link and Search for it. Once we've eaten and dealt with Guynor and Mito, we'll make a start. Carrie, you can cope with Mito, can't you?” He took the piece of cold meat that she offered him and began to eat.

“No problem,” reassured Carrie. “I'll do it now.” She gestured to Mito to join them. When the Sholan was seated, Carrie held out her hands and instructed Mito to grasp them. Reluctantly she did so. A look of concentration came over both their faces for a few minutes, then Carrie released her.

“That wasn't too bad, was it?” she asked the other woman.

“No,” Mito said, surprised. “There was no sense of you invading my mind at all, there was just a sharing. And you don't seem cold and Alien!” She shot an angry look at Guynor. “I'll let you finish your breakfast now,” she said, rising and moving quietly to sit beside Garras.

Kusac touched Carrie's shoulder, drawing her attention back to him. “It's too noisy to Search for the pod here. We'll have to go back into the forest, I'm afraid.”

She nodded and rose. “I'll collect my things first,” she said, stuffing a piece of meat into her mouth and going back to where their blankets lay.

“Hello,” said a voice from behind her.

“Good morning, Skai. What can I do for you?” she asked, pulling out her brush and running it briefly through her hair before packing it and the blankets into her backpack.

“I was thinking about last night. I don't know how far we can trust these Sholans. They aren't as peaceful as you seem to think, are they? Your pussy cat really knows how to use his teeth and claws.”

“Last night you witnessed rampant xenophobia,” she said, rounding on him, “not the rational behavior of the rest of the crew. And what about us?” she demanded. “We aren't exactly tame pussy cats either! Seen from an Alien viewpoint, I'm sure we look just as bloodthirsty at times.”

She softened her tone and continued. “Look, Skai, you have to learn to see the people; their similarities to us, not their differences. We're all too used to seeing Aliens as the Valtegans, creatures to hate and fear. The Sholans aren't Valtegans. You must learn to take them on their own merit. Don't try to put Human values on what they do, they aren't Human, they're Sholan.”

“Like you do?” he asked sarcastically. “No wonder you weren't in the market for a man. You were after something more exotic, just like your sister.”

Carrie fetched him a stinging blow across the face. “Don't you dare talk to me like that again! I don't have to justify my actions to you or anyone. If we're going to work together, you'll keep your opinions to yourself. Do I make myself clear?” She stalked off, leaving Skai cursing himself for alienating the one person to whom he could relate.

Kusac was sitting opposite a sullen Guynor when she returned to the camp fire. She could feel him stilling his mind and trying to match Guynor's: she was also aware of Kusac recoiling from the undisguised hatred that Guynor was projecting.

“It isn't easy without your cooperation,” sighed Kusac. “It might even be painful.”

“I've been ordered to submit to your teaching, but no one can make me like it,” snarled Guynor.

There was no option but to force the initial contact if he had the power. He could get Carrie to help, but with Guynor's mind in its present state there was no knowing how he'd react. He'd have to do it alone if he could.

Slowing his breathing, he stilled his mind, gently searching through the wide band of interference that the First Officer was transmitting until he located its source. He had the key, now to put it in the lock. There was no point in gentle probing, it would only be repulsed by Guynor's barrier of hate. Kusac gathered his energy and sent a sharp, incisive probe deep into the other mind, grasping control firmly and subduing all irrelevant activity. He experienced the gasp of pain and terror that Guynor could not vocalize, but was able to subdue it instantly. Quickly, he located the relevant area of memory and implanted the necessary information.

Now that he had control of Guynor's mind, he could withdraw more gently and not cause any further pain. Within moments Guynor was sitting nursing a splitting headache, and Kusac was wondering over the new dimensions to his Talent. An exercise like that should have left him feeling drained for several hours, yet he had used hardly any energy at all. Just as well, considering the pain he was in and that he and Carrie still had work to do.

Guynor's gaze followed him as he rose to his feet, and this time there was an element of fear along with the hate.

Kusac made his way to where Carrie was talking to Vanna. “Let's go and find this pod,” he said.

“Do we know what we're looking for?” Carrie asked.

“Ah ... No.”

“Wouldn't it be a good idea to find out first?” she suggested.

“Captain?” called Kusac. “What does the pod look like?”

“I'm afraid I have no idea. I suspect that it was probably cone shaped to reduce friction on entry. By now it should have some exterior manipulatory protrusions-grabs and such—to take soil samples,” he replied. “If it's any help, just look for a large body of metal.”

“Great,” muttered Kusac, taking Carrie by the elbow and leading her through the trees.

“Why do we need to come here to work? If you could handle Guynor in the camp, why can't we locate the pod?”

“We need the privacy to work,” he said shortly.

“Kusac, what are you hiding from me?” she asked, coming to a halt.

“Nothing that I know, believe me,” he replied, trying to draw her on.

“We are too close for that. What are you hiding that you don't know?” she asked, refusing to move.

Kusac sighed and ran his hands across his ears in exasperation. “Look, I don't know anything, remember that. I just recall that newly bonded Leskas work in privacy until they can control the ... the intimacy of their linking.”

“Oh,” said Carrie in a small voice, allowing herself to be led forward. “Could this have happened to us that first night in the woods?”

“Maybe,” he replied, squeezing her arm reassuringly. “I don't know. I don't remember. Do you?” he asked, looking at her.

“No,” she said hesitantly, then chuckled.

Catching her thought, Kusac grinned. “I know, if it had, you'd like to have remembered it. Me, too,” he said, stopping to caress her cheek. “I think we're safe enough here. Let's get comfortable,” he said, moving over to sit with his back against a tree. “You sit in front of me, like that. Now lean back. That's right.” He put his arms around her. “Now relax, make your mind still. When we link, I want you to let me guide you in the search, so listen for my instructions. We're going to imagine we're drifting above the trees, then across the swamp, looking down on the land below till we find this pod.”

His voice was getting softer and softer, and Carrie felt herself begin to link with him. The whirlpool of sensations drew them slowly together until she felt her own identity begin to dissolve into Kusac's.

Now we rise above the trees, Leska,
came Kusac's/her thought.

It was slightly unnerving to look down and see themselves still sitting at the base of the tree as they moved leisurely toward the swamp.

For what seemed hours, they searched up and down the length of the swamp until Carrie finally sensed something. They homed in on it and found a mound of what looked like vegetation sitting near the center of one of the multi-trunked trees.

That's it,
thought Kusac,
and it appears the Gods are with us. The ground feels solid. Can you remember the location?

Now that I can visualize it exactly, there will be no problem,
she replied.

Swiftly they returned to where their bodies lay undisturbed on the ground.

It seems we have found how to control our Link,
thought Carrie.

This task was easier than I anticipated,
responded Kusac.
Time-consuming, but not difficult.
Remember,
our bond is unique. We have no one else's experiences to learn from. We will continue to work in privacy for now. Besides,
he continued, his tone of thought humorous,
at the moment it's the only time we get alone, and we both enjoy it.
He let his feelings come to the surface, and for a precious few moments they relaxed in a glow of mutual pleasure.

Wistfully, they parted and returned once more to their own identities, still sharing the moment but on a less enhanced level.

Kusac's arms tightened round her, and his rough tongue found just the right spot behind her ear. He sighed. “We must return to the camp, Leska.”

 

When they got back, everyone was packed and ready to leave except for Vanna, who met them with steaming mugs of c'shar and some emergency rations.