After the hatch closed behind him, he added in English, "Your social skills could use some work, too."
He felt dirty. A bath and a swim might help, but that meant dealing with Sisle. The situation with her hadn't improved at all. He had been going to his lord's quarters almost every day to work, and every day she sat near the door, watching his back. I know what I'll do. I'll bring Potter with me this time. At least he cares about me.
He made a quick trip below the commons and back again with Potter in his arms.
He opened the door to find Sisle in the pond, dog paddling beside the rock on the far bank where the water was at least fifteen feet deep. He watched for a moment, then put Potter and his change of clothes on the floor and walked to the other side of the pond.
"You can't swim can you?" he asked.
"What!" she sputtered, and her head went under the water. After an unsuccessful grab for the bank pushed her toward the middle, her head came up and went under again.
"Uh oh," Tommy said.
He pulled off his tunic top, kicked off his sandals, and dived into the water.
When he got to her, she was flailing in all directions and sinking deeper.
She knocked away his first grab for her arm.
He swam above her, grabbed her hair at the top of her head and kicked hard for the surface.
A moment later, he dragged her out on the rock, where she lay on her stomach, coughing water from her lungs.
"Learning to swim with a partner is safer," he said.
"You're not funny." Her voice was a croak.
"I'm not trying to be funny. It wouldn't have been funny to find your body floating in the pond. You could have told me you didn't know how to swim."
She coughed again and frowned. "The women don't. The men learn to swim as part of their training. They use the lakes in the Commons. Humans are never allowed in the lords' ponds. I thought you knew."
"If I knew, would I have asked you to join me for a swim the day we ate together?"
She rolled over and sat up. As she bent her head between her knees for another racking cough, he realized she wasn't wearing anything above the waist.
"I'll be right back." His words came out a stutter. "I brought some towels with me."
He felt much better when she had wrapped herself with a towel. "Is it my imagination, or have you stopped addressing me as Lord Tommy?"
She was using his second towel to dry her hair. He would have to make another trip down the elevator.
"You told me not to," she said. "Have you changed your mind?"
She's crying. Some of those drops rolling down her face aren't from her hair.
"No, I haven't changed my mind.” He managed a smile. “Are you going to be all right? Can I get you something else?"
"I'm fine. I just need to put on dry clothes."
"Do that while I get some more towels. I need a bath. Would you like to get something to eat after?"
She wiped her nose with her towel. "I would like that."
"If you see a black and white cat, that's Potter. He's mine."
He saw her smile for the first time. "I met your cat when he was here before. We had a long talk. It's nice to know his name."
# # #
The council put newly made Director Leegh in the rotation for ship commander immediately, and she had the podium when The People's Hand backed into the newly created The People's Fist. In Tommy's opinion, she was too absentminded to be ship commander, but he wasn't asked. According to Ull, Leegh had been serving as a commander of My Flowing Streams for ten years, so there should be nothing to worry over. In any event, the ship moved into its prepared hole without incident.
They completed the cable connections between the two original ships within the hour, making the combined ship ready for its first voyage.
Tommy and Ull stood next to the commander's podium as Leegh gave the final command to start the transit countdown.
As the countdown approached zero, Tommy said, "I do have one question for Leegh."
"That would be?" responded Leegh.
"Did your mathematics predict what would happen to a drive inside the bubble created by a second drive?"
Leegh and Ull jerked in his direction as the count went to zero.
"I suppose not," Tommy said as he glanced up to see the dome turn black. A few seconds later he jumped up and down. "Gravity is still on."
"When did that occur to you?" Ull asked. "We could have all been killed!"
"Actually, it occurred to me a few minutes ago, but I was sure, if anything happened, it would only be the loss of internal gravity. That is all we are using our drive for at the moment."
"That could have been enough to kill us," Ull said. "Losing gravity would have killed most of the vegetation and animal life in the Commons and the Reserve. You should have said something sooner."
Leegh's transparent eyelids flicked closed, then open, as if emerging from the water. "We should be all right. The first drive's transit field encloses our drive as long as we do not try to create a second transit field. I must confirm this, but if we tried to extend a bubble from our drive to enclose just The People’s Hand, I believe that neither field would continue to exist in our three-dimensional universe."
"What would happen to us?" Ull asked.
"A large amount of energy would be released, comparable to a matter-antimatter explosion of equivalent mass."
"Why did no one consider this possibility before now?" Ull demanded.
"The configuration never seemed important,” Leegh responded. “Why would we ever want to do that?"
"May I point out we are still alive?" Tommy said. "When will we arrive at Toblepas?"
"We are not going directly to Toblepas," Ull said. "The council decided The People's Fist is too big a prize. Even the knowledge that a ship like this is possible is beyond value. We will be exiting our final transit one light year away from Toblepas, and then transiting in with just The People's Hand."
"Our final transit?" Tommy asked.
"In spite of your navigational improvements, we cannot hit a target so far away on the first transit," Leegh said. "We will be exiting to make new sightings and refine the accuracy of our final transit. Our first exit will be near the Bargh system."
"Bargh?" Tommy asked.
"That is what the inhabitants call themselves and their planet," Ull said.
“Why did you pick the Bargh system?”
"Bargh was once one of our normal trading stops,” Ull said.
“And now?”
“We stopped trading there some years ago,” Ull responded. “They were making amazing progress with their technology, much like your Earth in the last fifty years. Forty years ago, the dominant group on the planet established a base on their moon. On our last visit, we transited to escape missiles launched from the moon base. Their progress evidently included better detection technology. We have not returned since. This time, our exit should be far enough from the star to be gone before anyone notices us."
"So how long do I have before we exit at Bargh?" Tommy asked.
"About two hours," replied Leegh.
"Good. Time enough to eat, and it is mealtime."
"One of you humans' strangest characteristics is your insistence on eating at particular hours," Leegh said. "With The People, fish are always in the stream to be caught."
"There is more to having a meal than just the eating," Tommy explained.
He found Sisle waiting for him in his lord's chamber. She was dressed as usual in a dark orange tunic, belt and sandals.
I wonder if she would like some other clothes to wear? She looks great, but Mom took most of the closet space in my parent's room, so maybe Sisle would like some variety, too. Something to work on.
His gaze was drawn to the metal circle around her neck. I hope she doesn't think I ordered her to have dinner with me. If I had any sense, I would stay away from her. On Earth, this situation would be unacceptable. She is like one of the slave girls in A
Thousand and One Nights. She doesn't have the freedom to say no to anything. For all I know, she can't stand the sight of me but is afraid to say. The metal band makes me into a monster if I show the slightest interest in her. If I could remove it, then she could tell me what she thinks, and the situation would be different.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
He blinked. He had been standing like an idiot, staring at her. "No, just thinking about something. Are you ready to eat?"
"Yes."
"We're eating in an artisans' meal room. I want to keep my promise to arrange for you to eat there whenever you want."
Tommy had discussed what he planned to do with several other guildmasters and with Valin. They assured him he would have no problems. As Sisle and he walked through the door, the level of conversation dropped, but nothing like before. Apparently, they're getting used to my strangeness. Either that or the guildmasters did a good job convincing everyone.
As they walked toward the food line, Tommy introduced Sisle to the artisans he knew. The smiles seem genuine, but how can I know that? Any more than I know Sisle's feelings about me. I'm going to give myself a migraine worrying about this.
After they were seated at a table, he asked, "Are you all right with this?"
"This is wonderful! They’re treating me like a real person, not a midget."
He laughed. "How could they? You’re the tallest person here. But I think there's more to it. I've worked with these people for over a year. Mostly, they're interested in their work and in staying out of trouble with the lords. I haven't seen anyone harass anyone else." He paused for a moment. "I can't say the same about the farmers. For some reason, farmers have the time and energy to be petty."
"They still make the women sit in a separate area from the men just as the warriors do," she said. "That's petty."
"There's more to it. Only men can be artisans, just as only men can be warriors. If the humans in this ship ever return to Earth, at least to the Earth I know, they'll all be in for a big surprise."
"On Earth, can women do anything a man can do?" she asked.
"I'm not sure it's always that way. I used to hear my mom…," he paused, "…my mother complain about being discriminated against in favor of men at her job. But it's supposed to be that way."
"Discriminated against?"
"Not given the same privileges as the men," he answered. "What would you want to do, if you were on Earth?"
"Could I do what you do?"
"What? Work with computers? Sure you could. You could do that here if you want to."
"How? They wouldn't allow it!"
"Who wouldn't allow it? I'm the computer guildmaster. You can work with computers if I say so."
She shook her head. "Don't you ever get in trouble with the lords for the crazy things you do?"
"I have gotten in trouble with the lords. I was able to work my way out of it, and now they think they need me, but that could change. Can you read?"
His sudden question made her sit back in her chair with her fork half raised. He hadn't seen that frightened expression since he had asked her to teach him women's fighting.
"Why do you ask me that?" she asked.
"Being able to read would be useful in learning about computers. Required, in fact."
"Women are not taught to read." Her voice was toneless.
There's more to this, he thought, leaning toward her across the table. "That's not the question I asked. Can you read?"
Her frightened gaze left his face and swept the room.
He leaned on his elbows across the table. "Would you prefer to whisper the answer in my ear?"
"You don't give up, do you?" she said and put her mouth next to his ear. "Yes, I can."
"How did you learn?" he whispered back.
"I taught myself. I used my brothers' books and taught myself."
Yes! There's more to her than I can see! And because he wanted to keep his face next to hers for a little while longer, he whispered, "I'll bring some books up for you to try."
"I've already been trying to read the books you leave on your desk," she whispered back. "They're filled with strange words, though."
She jerked back, rubbing her ear, as his sudden laugh quieted the room for an instant.
After the meal, they found a warrior waiting at the entrance to his chamber. "Lord Tommy, Lord Ull sent me to find you. You are to go to the bridge as soon as possible."
On the bridge, the entire council stood around the command podium, looking at the radar monitor.
"Ull, what is wrong?" Tommy asked.
"Bargh is gone. In its place are dust and debris, just as happened to Stream."
Sisle
Sisle watched the warrior lead Tommy toward the elevators. Could he be in trouble with the lords? Just sending one warrior to get him didn't mean anything. Tommy couldn’t defend against even one warrior, except by using the necklace. Her hand went to her own neck.
Lord Ull called him a human feral, so he must be human. He had all of the parts a human had. She had seen that the first day, but he didn't look much like her brothers. He was as muscular as they were but much shorter. He was shy about his body, though. He would have been out of place growing up with warrior children. The children in the warriors' part of the ship had little privacy. He would have been more of a misfit than she was.
She opened the door and went inside his quarters. His quarters, and he treated them as if they were her quarters, except for working at his computer and taking an occasional bath and swim. She knew what would be happening if she had been given to a warrior. She might not be allowed to have children, but that wouldn't prevent her being used for some warrior's pleasure.
Having a meal with him is nice, she thought. He always treats me like a person.
Earth must be a wonderful place. He talks as if he will be going back someday. It would be wonderful if he could take me with him.
Maybe I am so different from females on Earth that he thinks I'm ugly. I wanted him to think I was ugly the first day I met him. Why am I not sure anymore?
Chapter Sixteen: A Larger Universe
"Could Bargh have progressed to your level of technology in forty years?" Tommy asked.
Ull's warble echoed through the bridge. "Our level? They were already at our level when they built a base on their moon. We were at that level on Stream when the Kadiil contacted us. You know we have changed little since."
"So, the Kadiil must have contacted them,” Tommy said. “We should be seeing their ships out here, powered by the same transit drives you use. How did this happen?"
"We accepted the Kadiil’s offer." Leegh’s flat lips rolled back in a snarl. "Perhaps the Bargh did not."
"The Bargh were always suspicious of others," Ull said. "They always had to get the best of any bargain."
Tommy looked at the millions of returns twinkling on the radar monitor. "Not this bargain! What will you do now?"
"We have no reason to change the council's decision to proceed to Toblepas," Las said. "We stopped here for a star sighting and nothing else".
"Our holds are already full," Luns said.
"Perhaps you have forgotten that My Flowing Streams' holds are empty," Ull said, "We might be rewarded if we spend a few days investigating what remains."
"Ull is correct," Neth said. "What is your opinion Leegh?"
"My interest is purely scientific," Leegh said. "I would like to stay, at least for a few days."
"A few days might be worthwhile," Las said. "We are far ahead of our original arrival date at Toblepas."
Five gray muzzles moved back and forth then stilled. "By your silence, I find agreement," Ull said.
So that's how they decide, thought Tommy as everyone on the council except Leegh and Ull left the bridge.
Tommy watched Leegh's back for a moment. The control chair had been made for the narrow backside of the normally slender Nesu. Leegh’s bottom rolled over the edges of the seat. Too much time thinking and not eno
ugh time swimming, he thought. I just wish she would think a little more about her relationship with humans. I want to punch her a lot more than talk to her. Tommy walked to the front of the podium. "Leegh, would it be possible for me to study your foremother's records from the time of Stream's destruction?"
"My family has studied those records for two thousand years. What do you expect to learn?"
"I know so little compared to you,” Tommy said. Perhaps I would gain some insight on what we might find here at Baugh."
"You might. Yes, you may examine the records. I will be leaving the podium in one hour. Come by my chambers then, and you may begin your study."
# # #
For the next three days, Tommy left Leegh’s chambers only to eat, sleep, and use the toilet. Leegh wouldn't allow him to remove the documents, so he had no choice but to examine them there. He thought he might eventually understand the mathematics, with study and help from Leegh, but that was beyond him for now. He could, however, follow the marginal notes written by others as they had, over the centuries, made their own interpretations of the original physicist, a Nesu named Lant. Leegh's explanations had touched on most of what he found there, with one exception. Several times the marginal notes referred to tunnels through other dimensions. The theory predicted that any place in the three-dimensional universe could be reached from any other place by tunneling through one or more of the remaining six dimensions.
Wormholes! I saw a discussion of this on television. The same program also talked about strings and "branes." Those could be Leegh's filaments and sheets. Physicists on Earth are working on this same theory right now!
And that meant the Kadiil could visit Earth at any time. When they do, would Earth choose the "gift" or be destroyed?
He thought he knew. Feral humans, at least some of them, were a lot more curious than the humans on this ship. World governments would take the gift, but the research would continue in secret. Except the experiments needed to verify the theory couldn't be hidden. Curiosity had driven his interest in the drive. Curiosity would drive the humans of Earth to their destruction.
A Larger Universe Page 27
