The Tower and the Hive

by MCCAFFREY, ANNE

  I’ll help, Kincaid said, laughter in his tone.

  You’ll have to. There’s no other way I’ll get out of here. She linked her mind with his and together they ’ported her car all the way back to the Clarf Tower compound. Just as well, she added, because the traffic’s backed up on all the roads and the air’s thick with incoming ’Dinis on belts. How come?

  We do have ’Dinis here, you know, and I think they broadcast the news even before you got to Plus.

  You should have seen the old gray dear! Laria said, grinning, and gave Kincaid a replay of the ’Dinis’ ecstatic hall dance. Then she ’ported herself out of the car and into the cool Tower. “Phew! Only something as important as this news could get me out in that heat.”

  “I take it there is great rejoicing on all Clarf’s streets?” Lionasha asked in a wry tone.

  Laria gave the T-7 a repeat of what she’d ’pathed to Kincaid.

  Is there any hard copy for us here on Sef? Laria was astonished to hear Yoshuk’s voice.

  How did you hear?

  Earth Prime was kind enough to repeat the good news to us. He figured it would take you a little time to get it to Plrgtgl and we’d need to be forewarned. Care to wager on how long it takes the ’Dinis to start the immigration?

  No, Laria said firmly. But I suspect both Towers’ll be overworked.

  In fact, Lionasha said, holding her com unit slightly away from her ear, Clarf Tower is being asked to facilitate the dispatch of the KLTL ...

  They can’t have organized a ship and crew in... what is it, half an hour? Laria objected.

  You were wise not to bet, Laria, Yoshuk said, laughing. Nesrun has just received a request from the KLLM to be lifted as soon as possible.

  Have they had ships just standing by? In case? Laria demanded of no one in particular as she ’ported herself onto her couch in the Tower. Never let it be said that we dallied in transporting them to their desired location.

  Here’s where the KLTL is right now, Laria, Lionasha said. The coordinates came up on the Tower screen. Good thing you know that ship so well.

  Is it all ready? Laria demanded. I’m not about to send a ship that far with its hatches still open.

  I checked, said Kincaid. It’s ready. Let’s shift it to Talavera.

  Rojer, are you ready to receive?

  Ready? Rojer was as astonished as she was, but caught the excitement in her ‘pathed words. Let no moss grow on ’Dini flippers. Yes, now I’m ready.

  Laria felt his mind firmly contacting hers: she felt Kincaid’s strong support, and reaching out for the KLTL, she ’ported it off its field and toward the distant system.

  Got it! Nice throw! Rojer said.

  The first of many, I’m sure, Laria said.

  I’ll get the rest of ’em up then.

  You did that alone, brother? Laria turned from sister into Clarf Tower Prime in an instant.

  Me and the Columbia’s generators! We’re able.

  Don’t try it again, Prime Rojer.

  Yes, Prime Laria. Rojer’s tone was anything but penitent.

  He’ll burn himself out if he doesn’t take care, Laria said privately to Kincaid, scowling.

  A Lyon burning out? Kincaid made a scoffing noise deep in his throat. Highly unlikely.

  Not even Lyons are infallible.

  I heard you say it. Kincaid, grinning mischievously from his couch, waggled his finger at her.

  She couldn’t stay angry with Rojer when Kincaid was in such a good mood.

  A half hour later, in the midst of congratulating themselves on the ’portation of the KLTL, Lionasha received official notification that two more ships, one a large freighter (its tonnage was included in the information) and the other a passenger vessel, awaited teleportation.

  “Have they been living on board just in case a planet was released?” Laria demanded, lying back down on her couch.

  “Wouldn’t surprise me. Shouldn’t surprise you, considering how overcrowded Clarf is right now,” Kincaid said.

  No sooner were those big ones shifted than three smaller units requested assistance from Clarf Tower. After them, two more of the big naval K-class ships reported readiness to be ’ported.

  “Never even remotely suggest that our ’Dini allies are unprepared for any contingency that might rear its head,” Lionasha said as Laria and Kincaid came down for a restorative drink after such heavy duties.

  When a request to transport three more loaded freighters and two passenger ships came in, Vanteer had already left the Tower, and the others were eating a late supper.

  “Get me Plrgtgl, Lio,” Laria said, trying to keep her exasperation under control. Lionasha was nearer the Tower office.

  “It’s unavailable,” Lio replied.

  “Is Naciana still at the office?”

  “It’s her I’m talking to.”

  Laria ’ported the com unit out of Lionasha’s hand. “Naciana, tell your boss no more tonight after this lot. And only one an hour tomorrow. Talavera’s a long way to toss anything and there really is a limit to what this Tower can process in one day.”

  “I’ll tell him.” Naciana didn’t sound too happy about it. “I’ve never seen them in such a frenzy. You’d think the planet would disappear...”

  “It’s more likely to get as crowded as Clarf with this rate of traffic. And have they brought enough food? There’s nothing there, you know.”

  “Oh, they know. That’s what’s on the three freighters. They do have to be sent as fast as possible, Laria...” Naciana let her voice trail off with a silent plea.

  “No more after these five until full daylight tomorrow. We have got to get some rest. I absolutely will not ’port when I’ve reached my limit. And Rojer will be as tired at his end.”

  “I’ll tell Plus,” Naciana murmured in a deflated response to Laria’s ultimatum.

  “Mules we’re not,” Laria muttered darkly to Kincaid and Lionasha.

  “Yes, we are. You just kicked!” Kincaid said, and at the sight of his roguish grin, some of her exasperation drained.

  Rojer seemed in better spirits than Laria was when they touched minds again, but he had Primes and high Talents to assist.

  That is absolutely the last delivery tonight, Rojer.

  I should hope so, but they make quite a display orbiting Talavera. Or Tlvr, if you prefer. I am reliably informed that that’s what it will now be called.

  I prefer my bed right now, thanks, brother.

  Until tomorrow then.

  Laria made the barest formal acknowledgment, and rose wearily from her couch. Kincaid put a helpful arm around her waist as she gracelessly thumped down the steps and turned toward her quarters.

  “I did wonder if the ’Dini tongues would be up to ‘Talavera,’ ” she murmured.

  “‘Tlvr’ is very ’Dini-ish.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  It was Kincaid who pulled off her station boots, pushed her into the bed and drew the light cover over her.

  Sleep well, my friend.

  Laria yawned, turned on her side and was asleep.

  The next day both Clarf and Sef Towers operated on all the power the generators could give them. Sef, with T-2’s Yoshuk and Nesrun, handled the lighter shipping and much of the drone traffic. Clarf Prime ’ported one major ship an hour for the next twelve, interspersed with message tubes and “urgently required” cartons of equipment which had not been ready to leave when the mass migration began. Almost as many messages came back in from Talavera within that hour frame as went out. ’Dinis were busy collecting and delivering tubes and cartons in response to the shower of messages.

  The experts on the Columbia had recommended a wide valley near one of Talavera’s large inland lakes as the primary site. The land around it supported some vegetation and was pronounced arable and without the lethal trace elements that had been found near the queens’ original installation. The water would have to be treated before it was potable by Humans or ’Dinis, but it wouldn’t harm the millions of pla
nts being sent to begin the resurrection of the planet. The initial ’Dini swarm from Clarf and Sef managed miracles in their first forty hours on Talavera, assembling prefabricated headquarters buildings, living quarters, storage barns, ground vehicles and heavy earth-moving machinery, making landing cradles for all sizes of incoming drone deliveries as well as personnel carriers. A second swarm were planting and seeding large areas around the lake. A Tower was erected to one side of the landing field, with living accommodations for the Humans who would staff it.

  Rojer, Roddie, Asia, Jesper Ornigo and Flavia’s brother, Mallen, transferred down from the Columbia, leaving Flavia as Prime with Zara assisting until the Tower was fully operational. Rojer, Flavia and Zara had agreed to take turns as Prime. Morgelle had been returned to Earth to await reassignment. The ecological team—Dr. Tru Blairik, Mialla Evshenk, Rosenery Mordmann and Yakamasura—set up their camp to one side of the Tower. Without being asked, the ’Dini work teams arrived with additional housing units, offices and a field laboratory, and staffed the facility with trained ’Dini assistants by the same evening.

  “They must have gone hyper to have all this ready to teleport so quickly,” Roddie said, eyes wide with amazement, when they arrived on what had so recently been empty land. “They even have shade trees for us.”

  “All the comforts of home,” Rojer said, grinning. “Even the sun,” he added, shielding his eyes from the glare of Talavera’s primary.

  “Not quite as bright as Clarf’s,” Roddie said, with a quick glance in the direction of the sunset. “Thank all the gods!”

  “I envy Laria’s tan,” Asia said at Rojer’s side.

  “You be careful of the sun down here, Asia,” Rojer said, as usual assuming she needed his guidance.

  “I have sunblock on, dear,” she replied, unruffled. “See!” She made him examine the slight sheen the cream gave her clear complexion.

  Rojer grumphed. “Just don’t forget to put it on.”

  Jesper and Mal rolled their eyes and Roddie regarded Rojer as if he were slightly bereft of common sense.

  “As long as you do too, Rojer,” Asia said in a sweet voice without a tinge of sarcasm.

  Their effects neatly dropped into a pile just beyond them.

  Thanks, Flavia.

  You’re welcome, Roj, but please stop treating Asia as if she was an imbecile. She’s extremely competent, Flavia added with a bit of asperity in her tone.

  “I know, I know. Let’s get settled in, team,” he said, and found his duffel. He would have taken Asia’s as well, but she forestalled him and was already trudging up to the Tower quarters, Rojer’s ’Dinis supporting the end of her sack.

  Dr. Blairik, whom Rojer found a pain in the neck, intercepted him before he could catch up with Asia.

  “I really do feel, Prime Rojer, that we should have been informed that the ’Dinis were going to take over everything,” he said, clearly disgruntled.

  “Why? Because they’re so highly organized?”

  “Well, I would have expected to be consulted about my requirements ...” Tru Blairik began sententiously.

  “Is there anything wrong with the facility provided?” Rojer asked.

  “I haven’t had time to really investigate ...”

  “Why don’t you do so, and then we can rectify any problems,” Rojer said, and quickly moved away from the astounded biologist. An indignant “Well, I never...” followed Rojer into the Tower.

  “Good on you, Rojer,” Rosenery Mordmann said, grinning. “Saw him comer you.” She had a message tube. “When you’ve had a chance to settle in, I was asked to provide ecological reports to various groups on Earth.”

  Rojer gestured toward the worktop that would serve Jes Ornigo as Tower expediter. “It’s first in line.”

  “Thank you.” Putting the tube down, she left with a cheerful farewell wave.

  Rojer continued to the personnel quarters and nearly knocked into Jes coming back to the Tower proper.

  “Yours is obviously the one at the end of the hall, Roj,” Jes said, his arms laden with disk files. “They’ve done us proud even with the speed they put this all together.”

  “We’ve already got our first message to ’port from Talavera,” Rojer said, continuing down the hall.

  “We’ll be ready when you are, Rojer,” Jes assured him.

  Rojer peered into the next open door, and the room was empty. So was the one on the left-hand side of the corridor. So he walked on to the end and opened the door into a large lounge room, subtly decorated with ’Dini artifacts and Human-type furnishings, a thick plain green carpet on the floor—restful. Windows gave onto the space that was already lined with trees and the beginnings of a patio. The inner wall had worktops and several screens mounted on the wall. A proper office. On the short wall to his left were two doors. One was a closet and the other was locked. He crossed the room to the door beyond the office space and entered a spacious bedroom, complete with the extra-wide bed that also featured a ’Dini trundle. Another door gave into a well-equipped bathroom, attractive restful ’Dini designs on the tiles. Laria’s accommodations on Clarf were not as fine as this. He grinned with satisfaction as he swung his duffel onto the bed.

  “Mine is nice too,” Asia said, startling him, and Gil and Kat came racing into the room behind, taking a running jump to land on the bed.

  “Where are you?” To his ’Dinis, he said, “Act your age, you two. You’ll make holes in the mattress before I ever sleep on it.”

  “I’m around the corner,” she said, grinning as the two ’Dinis flowed down onto the trundle and began rolling around on it, testing its surface. “Jes said there’s already a message tube to be sent. Or did you want to unpack first?”

  He gave his duffel a diffident look. Then, smiling at the thought of opening a brand-new Tower on a now ’Dinioccupied world, Rojer threw a proprietary arm about her shoulders and guided her back through the lounge. He could hear the generators chugging quietly.

  “Who started them?” he said, surprised.

  “I did,” Asia said. “After all, I’m the engineer,” she reminded him almost pertly, and continued on her way to the three steps down to where the generators had been housed.

  Do you mind working with me as backup? Mallen asked, an odd smile on his face.

  No, no, of course not ...

  It’s just that Asia’s prettier than I am, Mallen said.

  Rojer adjusted his thinking quickly, for he’d assumed that this was his chance to work with Asia and he’d really looked forward to such rapport.

  I have to admit to that, Rojer said, coloring his tone with amused chagrin. But I’ll need your strength as T-3, Mallen. No insult intended.

  “Let’s get to work, team!” he said, reaching the lounge and clapping his hands. He heard the generators kick over. “Jes, you’re expediter?”

  Jes Omigo pulled out the chair at that workstation. “That’s me.” He peered down at the message tube, rubbing his hands together as if eager to start the day. “I’ll send the coordinates up to your screen.”

  “Thanks.” Then Rojer made a flourish at Mallen toward the Tower. “Shall we ascend?”

  “By all means, Captain,” Mal replied with a flourish of his own.

  Mallen Bastianmajani took the left-hand couch with a sigh of satisfaction.

  Didn’t you think you’d make a Tower? asked Rojer, amused but entirely understanding Mallen’s reaction as he settled in the right-hand one, a perfect fit for him.

  Frankly, no.

  You may wish you hadn’t, Rojer said drolly. Asia, generators up to speed?

  Yes, Prime, was her quick response.

  Jes screened the coordinates in the High Council buildings in Old Europe and Rojer, checking to see that Mal had them, nodded once. He felt Mal’s mind joining his as easily as a foot slips into an old shoe.

  Here we go! And the message tube disappeared.

  You didn’t hang about, did you? Earth Prime said to his grandson.

  Ca
n’t set a bad example, Grandfather. Not the way the ’Dinis are swarming in here.

  Welcome to Tower life, Rojer, Mallen, Asia, said the Rowan graciously.

  Thank you, ma’am.

  Enjoy it while you can, Rojer, his grandfather said. Don’t know how long I can spare you from Operation Search.

  Oh?

  Later, lad, later. Morgelle’s in line for the next Tower. Good sending. And, as abruptly as Jeff Raven had touched his grandson’s mind, he was gone.

  That was nice of them, Mallen said. I’ve never been in contact with either of their minds before. Awesome.

  Hmmm, well, yes, I guess it was. Only how’d he know we’d started sending? The Blundell Building was not the destination.

  They always know, said Jes sardonically. And our next service will be four messages for Clarf. How’d they know we were up and ready? Because they are.

  Stop the chatter. Four to Clarf?

  The generators lifted briefly as Rojer made the ’port. Coming in, Clarf Prime, he said formally.

  Rojer? You’re on the Talavera Tower? Laria asked him. They set that up fast enough.

  Talavera Tower? That sounded very good to Rojer. That they did. So you can lob anything to me now on the surface. Flavia and Zara are still on the Columbia. We’ll bring down what’s being held in orbit.

  But you’re on the business end. Good. I’ve a lot more to send you.

  Tired, sis?

  Well, it’s been hectic here. I put my foot down and we only do one big one an hour... every hour... and they are weight, but ...

  I won’t let them overwork her, Kincaid said, joining the conversation.

  She can make sure of that herself, thank you both, Laria added with some asperity. Here’s the latest one: freighter, cargo all inanimate. Got a big enough cradle?

  I’ve enough delicacy of touch not to warp our brand-new cradles, Rojer replied. Thank you, sis. Nice ’port.

  There’re two more scheduled for today and that’s it for Clarf Tower. What time of day is it there for you? I’ll mark it up for a “Talavera Tower” rotation.

  Rojer glanced up at the multiple time displays, each identifying a different main Tower time, nicely placed for easy reading for the couch occupants. It is fourteen-thirty hours of a twenty-six-point-five-oh-hour day.