Priestess of the Flame
Page 3
subject we neverdiscussed. Nor did we mention the sect of which, according to theChief of Command, she was the head. We did talk freely, when broughttogether at the table, on every other general topic.
Liane was an exceedingly intelligent conversationalist. Her voice wasfascinating, and her remarks were always to the point. And she was avery good listener; she paid flattering attention to the most casualremark.
It seemed to me she was particularly gracious to Hendricks. Herstrangely arresting blue eyes seldom left his face when he wasspeaking, and the greater portion of her remarks seemed addressed tohim. Naturally, Hendricks responded as a flower responds to thewarming rays of the sun.
"We'll do well, sir, to keep a weather eye on the youngster," opinedCorrey one morning. (I think I have previously explained that even inthe unchanging darkness of space, we divided time arbitrarily intodays and nights). "Unless I'm badly mistaken, Hendricks is fallingvictim to a pair of blue eyes."
"He's young," I shrugged. "We'll be there in two more days, and thenwe'll be rid of her."
"Yes," nodded Correy, "we'll be there in a couple of days. And we'llbe rid of her, I hope. But--suppose it should be serious, sir?"
"What do you mean?" I asked sharply. I had been thinking, rathervaguely, along much the same lines, but to hear it put into words cameas rather a shock.
"I hope I'm wrong," said Correy very gravely. "But this Liane is anunusual woman. When I was his age, I could have slipped rather badlymyself. Her eyes--that slow smile--they do things to a man.
"At the same time, Liane is supposed to be the head of the thing we'reto stamp out; you might say the enemy's leader. And it wouldn't be agood thing, sir, to have a--a friend of the enemy on board the_Ertak_, would it?"
A rebuke rose to my lips, but I checked it. After all, Correy had nomore than put into words some fears which had been harassing me.
* * * * *
A traitor--in the Service? Perhaps you won't be able to understandjust what that thought meant to those of us who wore the Blue andSilver in those days. But a traitor was something we had never had. Itwas almost unbelievable that such a thing would ever happen; that itcould ever happen. And yet older men than Hendricks had thrown honoraside at the insistence of women less fascinating than Liane.
I had felt the lure of her personality; there was not one of us onboard the _Ertak_ who had not. And she had not exercised her wiles onany of us save Hendricks; with the shrewdness which had made her theleader she was, she had elected to fascinate the youngest, theweakest, the most impressionable.
"I'll have a talk with him, Mr. Correy," I said quietly. "Probably itisn't necessary; I trust him implicitly, as I am sure you do, and therest of us."
"Certainly, sir," Correy replied hastily, evidently relieved by themanner in which I had taken his remarks. "Only, he's very young, sir,and Liane is a very fascinating creature."
I kept my promise to Correy the next time Hendricks was on watch.
"We'll be setting down in a couple of days," I commented casually."It'll be good to stretch our legs again, won't it?"
"It certainly will, sir."
"And I imagine that's the last we'll see of our fair stowaway," Isaid, watching him closely.
Hendricks' face flushed and then drained white. With the tip of hisforefinger he traced meaningless geometrical patterns on the surfaceof the instrument table.
"I imagine so, sir," he replied in a choked voice. And then, suddenly,in a voice which shook with released emotion. "Oh, I know what you'rethinking!" he added. "What you've all been thinking; you, sir, andCorrey and Kincaide. Probably the men, too, for that matter.
"But it's not so! I want you to believe that, sir. I may beimpressionable, and certainly she is beautiful and--and terriblyfascinating; but I'm not quite a fool. I realize she's on the otherside; that I can't, that I must not, permit myself to care. You--youdo believe that, sir?"
"Of course, lad!" I put my hand reassuringly on his shoulder; hiswhole body was shaking. "Forget it; forget her as soon as you can.None of us have doubted you for an instant; we just--wondered."
"I could see that; I could feel it. And it hurt," said my juniorofficer with shame-faced hesitancy. "But I'll forget her--after she'sgone."
I let it go at that. After all, it was a rather painful subject for usboth. The next day it did seem that he treated her with lessattention; and she noticed it, for I saw the faint shadow of a frownform between her perfect brows, and her glance traveled meditativelyfrom Hendricks' flushed face to my own.
* * * * *
The next morning, after the first meal of the day, she walked down thepassage with me, one slim white hand placed gently within the curve ofmy arm.
"Mr. Hendricks," she commented softly, "seems rather distraught thelast day or so."
"Yes?" I said, smiling to myself, and wondering what was coming next.
"Yes, Commander Hanson." There was just the faintest suggestion ofsteeliness in her voice now. "I fancy you've been giving him goodadvice, and painting me in lurid colors. Do you really think so badlyof me?" Her hand pressed my arm with warm friendliness; her great blueeyes were watching me with beseeching interest.
"I think, Liane," I replied, "that Mr. Hendricks is a very young man."
"And that I am a dangerous woman?" She laughed softly.
"That, at least," I told her, "your interests and ours are notidentical."
"True," she said coolly, pausing before the door of her stateroom. Herhand dropped from my arm, and she drew herself up regally. In thebright flow of the ethon tubes overhead she was almost irresistiblybeautiful. "Our interests are not identical, Commander Hanson. Theyare widely divergent, directly opposed to each other, as a matter offact. And--may I be so bold as to offer you a bit of advice?"
I bowed, saying nothing.
"Then, don't attempt to meddle with things which are more powerful,than you and the forces you control. And--don't waste breath on Mr.Hendricks. Fair warning!"
Before I could ask for more complete explanation, she had slippedinside her stateroom and firmly closed the door.
* * * * *
We set down on Lakos late that afternoon, close to the city--town,rather--of Gio, where those in charge of operations made theirheadquarters. With Liane and Correy, leaving the ship in charge ofKincaide, I made my way quickly toward the headquarters building.
We had gone but a few steps when Liane was surrounded by a shoutingthrong of her fellow Lakonians, and with a little mocking wave of awhite hand, she stepped into a sort of litter which had been rushed tothe scene, and was carried away.
"For one," commented Correy with a sigh of relief, "I'm glad she's outof sight. If I never see her again, it'll be too soon. When do westart something?"
"Not until we've talked with Fetter, who's in command here. I have aletter for him from the Chief. We'll see what he has to say."
One thing was certain; we could look for no assistance of any kindfrom the natives. They regarded us with bleak scowls, from beneathshaggy, lowering brows, our uniforms of blue, with the silverornaments of our service and rank, identifying us clearly.
In the greenish Lakonian twilight, they were sinister figures indeed,clothed all alike in short, sleeveless tunics, belted loosely at thewaist, feet and legs encased in leather buskins reaching nearly to theknees, their brown, gnarled limbs and stoop-shouldered postures givingthem a half-bestial resemblance which was disturbing. Their walk was asort of slow shuffle, which made their long arms dangle, swingingdisjointedly.
We entered the administration building of gray, dull stone, and wereushered immediately into the office of the head of operations.
"Hanson?" he greeted me. "Mighty glad to see you. You too, Correy.Terrible hole, this; hope you're not here for long. Sorry I couldn'tmeet you at the ship; got your radio, but couldn't make it.Everything's in a jam. Getting worse all the time. And we'reshorthanded; not half enough men here. Sit down, sit down. See
m goodto feel firm ground under your feet?"
"Not particularly; your air here isn't as good as the _Ertak's_."Correy and I seated ourselves across the desk from the garrulousFetter. "I've a letter here from the Chief; I believe it explains whywe're here."
"I can guess, I can guess. And none too soon. Things are in terribleshape. Terrible." Fetter ripped open the letter and glanced through itwith harried eyes.
"Right," he nodded. "I'm to help you all I can. Place myself at yourdisposal. What can I