The Tower and the Hive

by MCCAFFREY, ANNE

  Ironically, the Mrdini race had originally been attracted to the Humans because they had witnessed the seemingly effortless destruction of the first Hiver sphere to approach Human space at Deneb, when the Mind Merge of the Rowan and all female Talents had paralyzed the Hiver queens and the male Mind Merge of Jeff had sent their sphere into Deneb’s sun.

  The ’Dinis had come to the point where, with dwindling resources, they were hard pressed to continue their defense against the spheres. So they had used “dreams” to make contact with Humans—with Laria’s mother and father, Damia and Afra, recuperating on Deneb from Larak’s tragic death and their exhaustion in battling the mental entity Sodan. An Alliance had been promulgated between Human and Mrdini. Now, if suitable worlds could reduce the population density on the five ’Dini homeworlds, much of the growing dissatisfaction on the ’Dini half of the Alliance would be eased.

  Laria reached the river swimming facility before the place became crowded. ’Dinis liked water sports. Though sun-warmed, the water was noticeably cooler—since the current was swift—and Laria sank gratefully into it up to her neck. Tip handed her one of the rope harnesses that the wise swimmer looped around the arms. She let her body be carried flat out to the length of the rope by the current. The river flowed over her in a rippling massage. Tip and Huf joined her, their furry bodies silkily touching hers now and then in the current. Letting herself relax with her head back, Laria closed her eyes. She was facing east so that the sun was no longer in her face. Tip and Huf gurgled happily, and there they remained until the Clarf sun with its customary abruptness sank below the distant hills and darkness spread across the deep plain, with its thousands of ’Dini dwellings and the occasional lump of a hibernatory.

  As soon as Laria heard the revving of other ground cars, the put-put of individual fliers approaching the riverbank and the chatter of ’Dini tongues, she flipped over and began to pull herself, hand over hand, to the bank. Shucking off the harness, she swam vigorously to the slanted permacrete lip that assisted entry and exit. Almost before she reached her car, Tip and Huf dancing beside her, totally refreshed by the swim, her skin and her suit were dry. But the water had been therapeutic. She made a private wager that Vanteer would have finished the servicing and would be gone when she returned to the Tower.

  She won.

  Lionasha had left a note saying she was dining with friends in the Human Compound, lavishly air-conditioned. Lio had a new male interest. Kincaid was probably still asleep, but he was always a restful and undemanding companion.

  Laria woke in the night, gasping with panic, her heart pounding against her ribs, her ’Dinis twitching in their sleep and mumbling. She had been caught in their dream and it had been ... What had it been? Terrifying? No. But charged ... heavy with emotion and an odd “dead” smell.

  “Laria?” Kincaid ’ported into her room, striding to her bedside and gathering her up in an anxious embrace. “What is it? What’s the trouble?”

  She clung to his bare arms, her head against his chest, struggling with the aftermath of such intense sensations, gasping for breath.

  “Easy now, easy now,” he said as he stroked tangled hair back from her face, his hands gentle. “‘Dini dream?”

  She nodded.

  “Are they due for hibernation?” he asked.

  Tip and Huf were flapping at her side in whatever dream still held them.

  “Possibly,” she said, and knew that had to be part of the problem. Humans might not know how ’Dinis mated—the hibernatories were off limits and even ’Dinis did not mention what went on—but sometimes, when her pair were close to that part of their life cycle, their dreams could be extremely erotic. Her own frustration had magnified the intensity of their dreams and she had been frightened by her own response. That was what had wakened her. “They usually know and tell me.”

  Kincaid pulled her closer, holding her against him, soothing her with soft touches and a wave of mental consolation. It felt so good to be held—a thought she kept very, very tight. Good to be held by Kincaid. That rider startled her, and her panicky breathing under control, she started to push away from him. His hands resisted.

  “I offer myself, Laria,” he said softly in her ear. “You need someone right now and I am here.” He gave a soft, self-deprecating laugh.

  She gripped his arm, unable to answer yet desperately wanting to agree.

  “You offered me friendship, dear Laria, when I needed it desperately. Why may I not assuage your need now?”

  She could feel his mind touching hers, lightly at first, then stressing his remarkable offer, as his arms folded her more closely to him. She could not deny the honesty of his gesture. She most certainly could not deny her need of relief.

  “Admittedly I’d be a virgin sacrifice.” The laughter in his voice found an amused response in her. “But I like you better than any other woman I have ever met. And I am not the least bit intimidated by you being a Prime.” He kissed her forehead and then held her away from him, seeking her eyes in the darkness as his mind sought hers on a deeper level. She did not resist. “After all, it’s much the same with either partner.” His mouth curled in an ironic smile. “Shall we see if we can make it together?”

  She opened her mind completely and felt within him the desire to console, the respect and admiration he had for her and a suddenly fierce yearning for sexual release.

  I am honored, she said.

  I am horny.

  That’s my problem too.

  Let’s solve that mutual problem. Just don’t, he added, shield for or from me.

  Gently he pushed her backward onto the rumpled bed, stretching his long self beside her, and then pulled her tightly against him, one arm about her shoulders, the other fondling her bare body. She let down all mental and physical barriers, felt him do the same, saw all that had troubled him before he came to Clarf Tower, and was shaken by an incredibly powerful desire to erase such devastating memories with a selfless abandon to the growing passion that Kincaid’s deft lovemaking roused in her.

  Laria hadn’t had many lovers and the fulfillment they gave her had been satisfactory enough. But nothing was like the climax she achieved with Kincaid, and she felt the surprise in him, the exaltation, when he collapsed against her, shuddering in release. They lay together for a long time in the sweet aftermath, his mind wondering at his response to Laria, hers savoring the fullness of rapport with the personality that had taken refuge in irony and detachment.

  That was rather more than I expected, he said wryly.

  And exactly what I needed, dear friend.

  I am more than your friend now, Laria.

  Are you?

  You can see that easily enough, Prime.

  Yes, but is it right for you?

  She could feel his mental shrug, vividly accompanied by the lingering astonishment of completion with a woman.

  You would consider that aspect, dear heart, he said in a droll tone. I feel we should explore the possibilities without prejudice. Certainly I have never felt such rapport with anyone since Josh died.

  Because he still had all his shields dropped, she knew who Josh was, how deeply they had loved each other and how Josh had died in a sporting accident that happened so quickly Kincaid had “seen” only when it was too late to save his lover. Struggling to find equilibrium after such a terrible loss, Kincaid had welcomed the assignment to the Valparaiso in an effort to distance himself from increasingly painful memories—only to find himself torn in two directions by the officers who vied for his company.

  One thing sure, Laria said sternly. I cannot hurt you as those two did.

  Of that I’m sure, he responded with one of his soft chuckles, and he gave her a hug. “Now get some sleep. Tomorrow will be busy.” He made a move to sit up.

  She made a sound, closing her mind quickly lest he see how reluctant she was to have him leave her.

  “On second thought,” he said. settling back down, wedging the pillow under his head and replacing his arm
around her shoulders, “that would require more effort than I care to make right now.”

  Thank you.

  Don’t mention it. Now sleep, Prime.

  Yes sir, she said in a meek tone, and wove her fingers into his hand.

  Beyond them, on the wide bed, the ’Dinis also sank into a deeper, more restful slumber.

  “That swim did you good,” Lionasha remarked as Laria started up the steps to her Tower the next morning.

  “Yes, I think it did,” Laria replied as casually as she could, because Kincaid let out a burst of laughter in his room, and let her hear it.

  “That’s good,” Lionasha said with obvious relief. “We’ve a very busy day. Oh, the generator wasn’t as much of a problem as Vanteer thought.”

  “I know. He wasn’t here when I got back,” Laria said over her shoulder, unperturbed.

  No, Lio can’t read us, my dear, Kincaid said, and then as he swung into the Tower hall from the private quarters, added: “Morning, Lio. Good evening?”

  “Yes indeed.” And the other two Talents caught the unmistakable smugness of her satisfaction with her evening’s pleasure.

  “Good for you,” Kincaid said affably, trotting up the stairs. “At least you didn’t get a bum yesterday at the river,” he added, grinning at Laria as he reached the Tower. The mischief in his smile made Laria quickly stifle her amusement lest Lionasha catch it. He shook his head, indicating that he was not projecting his ebullient mood.

  “Morning, all,” said Vanteer, striding into the Tower. He leaned into the stairwell, calling up to them. “Fixed the generator, Laria. Did you have a good swim?”

  “Yes, thanks,” she called back cheerfully. “Start ’em up, Van, we’ve a busy day ahead. Got two hours before that sun starts scorching again. Let’s get to it.”

  Kincaid touched her with approval as he settled back on his couch and got into position for the work ahead.

  They had had a very full day by noon and took time off for a siesta. Even their ’Dinis grumbled about the heat on the plascrete of the landing field. There were not as many loads for the late afternoon, but enough to tire them. Laria made a salad for supper with fresh fruit that Yoshuk had sent them from Sef. They all ate together, while Lionasha sorted out the orders for the next day’s teleportations. Soon after Van had wandered off by himself, Plrgtgl arrived, its poll eye draped in vivid magenta lace, with endless questions for Laria and Kincaid about the progress of the explorations.

  Over and over, Laria repeated that as soon as she heard something she would most certainly inform Plrgtgl. Kincaid brought up the files on their lounge screen, showing Plus, as Laria called her ’Dini contact, what was so far known about the four planets that he had found, paraphrasing Laria’s reassurances with his own. Their ’Dinis, of course, served Plrgtgl the juice drink it preferred and got whatever their Human partners asked for, as well as some of the bits and nibbles which Plus had come to like.

  SEF IS MUCH LIKE THAT, Plus said in ’Dini, pointing its flipper at the surface of Talavera.

  THE PLANET COULD EASILY BE SEF-RENEWED, Kincaid agreed. IT SUFFERED DAMAGE BY HIVERS WHICH MUST BE REPAIRED AND WILL NEED LIFE-FORMS FROM THE SMALLEST—

  NO, said Plus firmly. THERE ARE SOME THAT WE CAN DO WITHOUT THIS TIME. LIKE THE LICE, AS YOU CALL THEM, AND THE STINGERS. NO HARM TO THE ECOLOGY BY LEAVING THEM OUT.

  HOW CAN YOU BE SURE? Laria asked, amused at Plus’s vehemence as well as its wish to leave behind such bugs. She saw that Tip and Huf as well as Nil and his Plus were keenly interested in both queries and answers though they did not voice their own opinions, not in the presence of such a senior ’Dini.

  WE HAVE STUDIED CAREFULLY, Plus said, shaking the lace on its poll eye until Laria was afraid it would come loose. WE USE THIS AS PROBLEMS IN TEACHING THE YOUNG. WHAT MAKES A GOOD PLANET BETTER. WHAT IS NEEDED TO SPREAD POLLENS AND SEEDINGS. WE WOULD BE UP AND RUNNING, AS YOU SAY—Plus’s large frame shook with its delight in using Basic slang—BEFORE YOU CAN SAY BOO? IS THAT WHAT YOU SAY ... BOO?

  “Boo” came out in Basic. Laria and Kincaid agreed that Plus had used the slang properly and then listened as it enumerated the various plans for the revitalization of the planet.

  Full night had settled on Clarf before the two Talents tactfully managed to get Plus to leave.

  “I thought it’d never go,” Laria said, exhaling with exaggeration.

  “They’ve been doing a lot of research on reviving Talavera’s ecology,” Kincaid said thoughtfully.

  “From the way Plus was going on, that must be their latest game to play at night.”

  “As useful an occupation as many, certainly,” he agreed.

  “I’m for a shower and bed,” she said, waving over her shoulder at him as she left the lounge for her own room, Tip and Huf following on her heels.

  “I won’t be far behind.”

  She was tired, and when she had soaped and rinsed herself, turned the shower to cool to reduce her body temperature. Wrapping a towel about her body in sarong fashion, she left the bathroom. Her ’Dinis were already curled up.

  “Let’s have nice dreams tonight, shall we?” she said, but they did not answer.

  She had no trouble falling asleep. But once again, early in the new day, she woke with the same panic syndrome, gasping for breath, unable to remember what had roused her so thoroughly.

  Again?

  Again, and worse this time, she said, tears dripping down her cheeks.

  Kincaid seemed to step into the room at the bedside and was enfolding her in his arms, mentally soothing her alarm and helping her control the ragged breaths and agitated respiration.

  “What are they doing to you?”

  “I don’t know. They’ve ... never been like ... this before. And I’m in much better shape ... after you ... last night,” she said, leaning her head against his shoulder, gripping his arm with both hands and trying to still the shudders that ran up and down her spine.

  “You were fully asleep, weren’t you? I wasn’t.” He said the last ruefully. “I couldn’t seem to get comfortable. Odd smell in my room the circulator isn’t removing.” His hands smoothed down her back, as if he were trying to push the shudders from her.

  Gradually they ceased and she lay limply against him, her hands still on his arm, keeping her by him. When he felt her totally relax, he shifted slightly and she grabbed reflexively to keep him close, as if he were the talisman to ward off the frightening dream.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll stay. Perhaps you can help me get to sleep?” His voice was oddly wistful and she giggled.

  “Why not? We both got to sleep last night.”

  “This could get to be a habit,” he said, chuckling as he put one hand on her chest and pushed her back into the pillows.

  “Not if it has to start with me scaring myself to death,” she said as she reached out with her hands to collect him to her.

  The third night was worse as both Laria and Kincaid woke at the same instant, both feeling the shafts of intense emotion. Sobbing, Laria was struggling out of the twisted sheets of her bed when Kincaid arrived, tripping over the sheet he had ’ported with him in his haste. Laria shot up, reaching to steady him, and then they clung together until the spasms gradually eased.

  I think both sets of ’Dini pals—his tone was sharper than she had ever heard from him—need to go to the hibernatory. That smell ought to have alerted us. I remember it from ’Dinis in our squadron. They’ve been having fun and games with us.

  They have? Laria was astonished. She didn’t want their new intimacy to be anyone’s fun and games, even her devoted ’Dinis’.

  Can you explain this any other way?

  Are you angry with them?

  Ah! His arms tightened about her, his lips turning up a soft smile as he gazed down at her. I can’t say that I am, dear heart, but I’ll be damned if I’ll let them manipulate us like this. I can do without the panic triggers and I know you can.

  She glanced over her shoulder, half expecting to see
two bright poll eyes watching them. They’re fast asleep, she said, seeing only the two lumps to one side of her wide bed.

  And so were Plus and Nil when I staggered out of bed, but that doesn’t keep them from conniving dreams. You’d have had more experience with ’Dini dreaming than I.

  Not I. My parents were the first to have ’Dini dreams. Tip and Huf have always given me nice dreams.

  My pair kept me from going crazy on the Valparaiso, Kincaid allowed, his tone puzzled now. Tomorrow we’ll take all four to the hibernatory and see what their condition is. D’you want to bet they’ve used their sex drive to stimulate ours?

  Laria tried very hard not to giggle at the outrage in Kincaid’s tone. Of course, he could feel the rising laughter in her under his hands, and he held her off to look into her face.

  And it worked, she said meekly just before a chuckle broke from her lips.

  All right, all right, he said, rocking her from side to side in his arms. I’ll give in. Will you?

  She hesitated, not quite sure how to handle this because she had no intention of forcing herself on Kincaid, despite how deep her feelings for him had become. She felt him begin to withdraw and tightened her arms about his neck.

  I just want to be sure you want to too.

  I do. And she couldn’t doubt he meant it.

  The next morning, just as false dawn lit the skies, they hauled all four ’Dinis into the ground car and drove them to the nearest hibernatory. The large keeper, unusually gaunt for a Mrdini of its age, took one look at the quartet and started scolding them.