Nothing could have forced me, Laria. He gave her hand an affectionate squeeze and then began to smooth her hair back from her face. Oh, our ’Dinis heightened the atmosphere a great deal, that’s for sure. And he chuckled softly, wrapping a strand of her hair about his index finger. Then, turning his body and propping himself on both elbows, he dropped a light kiss on her cheek. However, we aren’t being manipulated by sex-driven ’Dinis right now and plain ol’ sex between consenting adults usually relaxes the sort of tension we’re both under. If you’re not too tired ...
Kincaid cocked his head at her, a one-sided grin curving his lips, as if he was amused to be making such a suggestion.
“I think I’d like that very much, Kincaid,” she said softly, reaching up with both hands to run her fingers through his hair and then bring his face down to hers.
They were gentle with each other, as much from weariness as from a genuine and leisurely interest in making sure each would be satisfied. While not as passionate as their encounters had been when the ’Dinis were involved, release was unexpectedly and delightfully prolonged so that they drifted into sleep in each other’s arms.
They woke together, one mind’s consciousness awakening the other, and they were still entwined. Kincaid lifted himself on one elbow and gently outlined her mouth with one finger, smiling a little.
“I might even get accustomed to this, my dear. You’re very restful.”
He had no barrier set, and she perceived how much his mind and emotions had healed from the desperately weary, disillusioned and battered man he had been when he arrived at Clarf Tower.
“That’s as you wish, Kincaid,” she said lightly but oh so very pleased to know the healing was now complete. “And thank you.” She raised her head high enough to reach his lips and gave him a soft kiss, then immediately rolled to the side of the wide bed to rise. “Let’s hope that Van wasn’t right and today’s load doesn’t include sudden emergencies. And we are all going to take a holiday when we finally get Talavera completely supplied.”
“Good idea,” was his amiable reply. “I’d best shower ... in my own room.” And he ’ported himself away.
It would be more fun to shower together, she thought very quietly and to herself alone. But she did feel much better today. In fact, she was aware of some very important change in herself as she bathed and dressed.
“All I needed was a good night’s sleep,” she told Lionasha as they met for breakfast.
“Does wonders ... that is, if you spend your night sleeping,” Lio said, and for one startled moment, Laria wondered if Lionasha could possibly know how she really had spent the first part of the night. But Lio was looking significantly in the direction of the engineering section and obviously meant Vanteer. Laria felt his weary but satisfied presence doing the usual dawn check on the generators.
Kincaid was whistling when he emerged into the lounge and started building himself a breakfast.
“Let us devoutly hope, Lionasha my dear, that you were not enjoying any prescience for today’s workload,” he said as he filled his tray.
“There’s not an ounce of clairvoyance in my Talent, Kincaid,” Lio said. “Besides which, I can’t imagine what can have been left out of what we’ve sent streaming out to that planet.”
“Officials to make sure the work’s being done well and on time,” Laria had occasion to remark drolly later that morning when a small passenger craft begged ’portation to Talavera. “And Plrgtgl’s on it, so let’s set it down as lightly as possible by headquarters.”
“At least that’s the only one,” Kincaid said, stretching until his joints audibly popped when they had dispatched it. “Was that Zara aiding Rojer this morning?”
“No, actually, it was Flavia. But they’re both T-1 ’s and strong.”
“I thought Zara was more of a healer than a Tower Prime,” he said, slewing sidewise and resting his elbows on his knees, his big hands clasped lightly.
“That’s her personal preference, but Rojer’s been rotating the T-1 ’s. We’re not the only ones sending him ’portages.”
You know, I’d like to see what they’ve done with all the stuff we’ve sent to Talavera, Lionasha said, busy sorting the day’s files into their respective piles.
Want to rotate with someone there? Laria asked.
Well, not exactly rotate, but just have a good look round, Lionasha said in a careful tone.
Kincaid and Laria chuckled at her qualification.
I think I would too, Kincaid said, winking at Laria. Sort of busman’s holiday.
Busman? Lionasha repeated, confused.
Laria grinned at Kincaid, since she did understand the archaic reference.
Like a spaceman taking a cruise on a liner for the fun of it, she explained.
Oh! Wouldn’t he have had enough space travel? Lionasha asked.
That’s the point, Kincaid said.
Not much of a point, or a holiday, Lionasha said with a little snort of contempt.
Laria and Kincaid exchanged glances, his eyes twinkling with an amusement he kept well hidden from Lionasha. She had a pedantic tendency and misunderstood the subtler whimsy of Laria and Kincaid.
Laria, a special cargo—quite animate—and just for you, said Jeff Raven, with such a smug tone to his voice that Laria was very much surprised, and curious. I know both ’Dini Towers have been hard pressed with outgoing. Gollee suggested this T-2, so kindly don’t bang him up.
As if I would, Laria replied tartly.
She heard her grandfather’s chuckle and then felt the incoming personnel carrier, which she deftly caught and landed gently in an appropriate cradle. ’Dinis swarmed to greet the newcomer.
Messages, Laria, said Rojer at the same instant. Priority.
When she realized from his mind that there was a drove arriving, she immediately linked with Kincaid to prevent any of the incoming tubes from getting lost. The mass of them took up every available rack, with several rolling onto the ground. The ’Dinis who had opened the personnel capsule were now chasing the fugitives.
Well, at least it’s all inan—ahhhhh. Lionasha’s exclamation of total surprise and her sudden surge of immense sexual attraction caused both Laria and Kincaid to exchange startled looks.
As one, they made for the stairs. Kincaid halted but Laria continued, curious to see who could have had such a startling effect on Lionasha. The tall man had been holding both Lionasha’s hands in his—surprising enough, a tactile contact from one T for another—but she was gawking like a teenager at the very handsome and somehow familiar man bending toward her. Vanteer was standing stock-still on the top step of the stairs down to engineering, his face expressionless.
The new arrival, still holding Lionasha’s fingers in his hands, turned slowly toward Laria, smiling with such charisma that Laria had no trouble at all understanding Lionasha’s reaction. What she didn’t understand was the immediate and intense antipathy that his smile generated in her.
“Vagrian Beliakin, T-2, reporting from Blundell Tower to assist Clarf Tower and Prime Laria Lyon,” he said, showing very white and even teeth in a smile that was meant, Laria knew instantly, to have the same effect on her that it had had on Lionasha. “Kincaid.” His smile altering subtly, he gave Dano a glancing look. “I look forward to merging with the man who developed the probe techniques on the Strongbow ...”
Laria caught the spurt of absolute rejection from Kincaid: a violent abhorrence at the thought of even the lightest merge with the mind of this man. Fast as it was, Kincaid’s reaction also had something to do with his long tour on the Strongbow.
“It’s required reading now, you know,” Vagrian went on, totally unaware of anything save his making a very strong impression on everyone in Clarf Tower. Laria shot a quick probe at Vanteer and caught envy, distrust and, unusually enough, a touch of fear from her engineer. Lionasha was still smitten, the undercurrent of her thought wondering if she had a single chance of getting him into bed, along with a sense of puzzlement because
Vagrian looked familiar to her too.
Familiar to whom? Laria realized, although the impact of his forceful greetings on her staff had diverted her briefly from that thought. Now he advanced on Laria, hand extended sideways in the prescribed position for Talent touching.
Inadvertently she took a backward step, banging her heel into the first riser. She felt Kincaid descend to stand directly behind her, and never had she needed his support more.
“You’re Yoshuk’s younger brother,” Laria said, looking down at the extended hand and wondering how she could avoid touching him.
Do it and know, Kincaid said on a very tight tone.
She couldn’t smile but she did manage to make the touch—red/acerbic/pepper—as briefly as she could and being very careful not to let him see past a tightly shielded mind.
A wry smile pulled Vagrian’s sensuous mouth to one side. “Yes, my older brother by a scant year. I am late come to my Talent.” His smile became winsome but slightly embarrassed, and he smoothed back his wavy dark hair. “A freak accident stimulated it and I was lucky enough to save others from sure death.”
“Yes, such stimuli do activate miracles of self-preservation,” she replied, trying to fathom why she was having such a negative response to the man.
She had never felt the least bit threatened by Yoshuk, whom she had always considered the handsomest man she’d ever met. Vagrian was the taller by at least eight centimeters and, tall as she herself was, she felt dominated by his almost offensive nearness. But she couldn’t step back with heels already pressed against the riser.
’Dinis, rushing in with the addresses of the piles of message tubes, broke the tableau.
“Ah, I seem to have arrived at a propitious moment to start work,” Vagrian said, his smile promising eager cooperation as he glanced up to the Tower.
“In point of fact, Vagrian,” Laria began, “it’s not so much Clarf that needs bulwarking as Sef. A third T-2—and I know how easy it is to merge with a brother or sister—would ease the burden which Yoshuk and Nesrun have been struggling with. So, if you’ll just get back in your personnel carrier, Kincaid and I will ’port you over.”
Vagrian’s expression was stunned, his jaw dropped and all the good nature and camaraderie of his first minutes in Clarf Tower dissipated in a sudden blast of angry rejection of such a transfer. He recovered so adroitly that Laria wondered if she had accurately read that split second of fury. His disappointment she could well understand, but not that flash.
“Alternatively, I’m sure Earth Prime can find you another posting, where your charismatic personality will work in your favor.”
As Laria stepped to one side before turning to mount the stairs, she heard Lionasha’s gasp, and was aware of Vanteer gawking in surprise. She caught Kincaid by the arm and urged him up to the Tower.
“Prime, I was posted here,” Vagrian said, the wave of his hand taking in all of Clarf Tower, his voice edged with a barely concealed and increasing anger. “By Earth Prime himself. Your grandfather.”
Laria turned on the top step, staring down at him, her body rigid with her rejection of him, and his effect on her Tower personnel. She started to tremble and felt Kincaid’s sudden support as she drew herself up.
“I am Prime. I was not informed of this posting and I do not need an additional T-2. Kincaid is more than adequate for any merging I need. You have a choice, Vagrian Beliakin: Sef Tower, which does need a third T-2, or back to Blundell Tower.”
“But I was chosen for you,” he said, allowing disappointment to show in his face as he lifted one hand in appeal. His emphasis informed her all too succinctly of why he had been posted here. Her fury at such tactics now included her grandfather.
“For me?” Laria said softly. Never! She turned back, sliding into her couch and leaning into the generators. If you do not walk straight out of this Tower and into the personnel carrier, I will ’port you there myself, Vagrian Beliakin. You have exactly five seconds. And I have decided that you will cause just as much trouble with the excellent team at Sef as you would here, so you are going back to Blundell. MOVE!
He is moving, Vanteer said, and there was deep satisfaction in the engineer’s voice. Wise decision, Laria.
I don’t understand you, Laria, Lionasha said, baffled.
He’s in the carrier, Van reported.
Earth Prime! This is Clarf Prime. I am returning that man undamaged, but only because I wouldn’t waste the time or soil my hands with him. She acted with such alacrity that the carrier was back in the cradle on Earth before she finished speaking.
Laria! You can’t have given Beliakin time to present his credentials. Nor did Laria have any doubts that her grandfather was considerably annoyed by her rejection.
What did you tell him about me? Or was he Grandmother’s idea? Because he is the most repellent personality I have ever encountered: self-centered, aggressive, domineering, worse than a ’Dini days late for hibernation! He had Lionasha drooling like a teenager. It was all Van could do to keep from punching him, and he had the effrontery to decide he could displace Kincaid in the first merge we made. Nor will I permit Kincaid to be exposed to such bigotry! I would sooner mind-merge with twelve Hiver queens than that odious man.
There was silence from her grandfather. A silence that meant he was digesting her polemic. You have stated your case, Prime. I was attempting to arrange for a relief team to allow your entire Tower some well-earned rest. Vagrian was the first candidate Gollee felt capable.
Laria gave a bark of laughter. Not him. Send him to a squadron where his ... peculiar personality will be controlled by naval discipline. We may be tired but we haven’t shirked a single responsibility yet.
No, you have not. Jeff Raven’s tone commended their efforts.
If you will forgive me, Earth Prime, we have two-score message tubes to ’port to their recipients.
Do so, then. This time the silence was his absence.
Battered by the encounters with her grandfather and Beliakin, she covered her face and started to weep. Kincaid gathered her into his arms, stroking her hair and laving her troubled mind with reassurances.
“Try this,” said Lionasha. The expediter had a cup of steaming coffee in her hand, eyes and face anxious. Vanteer stood beside Lio, looking both concerned and amazed.
“We heard,” Vanteer said. “Couldn’t help it, Laria.” He blinked and gave her a little rueful grin. “Never heard you speak to anyone like that before. Especially not to your grandfather.” Vanteer was awed. Just beyond him, on the step below the Tower level, his Dig and Nim and Lionasha’s Fig and Sil were ranged, poll eyes startled and wide.
Laria took several quick sips of coffee, then the tissue Lionasha offered, and dried her eyes and cheeks.
“Kincaid, you knew that man, didn’t you?”
Kincaid nodded slowly, his eyes echoing the sadness that had carved lines in his face in the space of a few minutes. “Once.” Then, with a noticeable effort, Kincaid forced his taut body to relax. “Slightly longer than just now. And that was before his Talent asserted itself. But I was just as happy to see him leave without making the kind of trouble he’s often caused.”
“He was trouble, all right, and all too ready to do what he intended here,” Van said. “I’m only a T-6, but he was coming over loud and clear.” His hands were still clenched into fists.
“I’ve never met anyone like him before,” Lionasha said, shaking herself as if to dispel an unwanted burden. “He was ... overwhelming.” And she let out a self-conscious little laugh, then shook her head again more vigorously.
“Too fecking sure of himself,” Vanteer said.
GLAD YOU KNOW THAT, Dig said, and the other three ’Dinis nodded. BAD DREAMING WITH THAT HUMAN. BAD DREAMING.
Laria regarded the ’Dinis with surprise, and a certain gratification that they concurred with her own instinctive and almost unreasonable rejection of a person in such a short space of time. She gulped down most of the coffee and handed the cup back to Lion
asha.
“We do have work to do, team. Let’s get to it. Day’s heating up.”
The tubes were duly ’ported to various locations on Clarf.
“Most of ’em are from that bunch we just sent out,” Lionasha said. “How could they report back so quickly?”
“Whaddya wanna bet they forgot half the stuff they now find they urgently need,” was Van’s suggestion.
He was proved correct, for small and large drones made up the rest of the morning’s imports to Clarf Tower and exports to Talavera. By lunchtime, Lionasha announced with some surprise that the Tower had cleared all cradles and nothing else had come in for the afternoon.
“May I respectfully suggest that we enjoy a siesta until something does turn up?” Kincaid said as he made his way to the kitchen. “What can I get you, Laria?”
“Salad, sandwich,” she answered from the Tower. Vanteer had left the generators idling, but she didn’t need assistance for the quick call she felt she should make.
Yoshuk?
Laria? There was pleased surprise in the man’s voice. Sometimes there was little resemblance between siblings of the same parents.
Your brother, Vagrian, was here.
Oh no! Yoshuk didn’t sound pleased. Ah! You used the past tense? My congratulations on your perception and immediate dismissal of Trouble on Two Feet.
Yes. I sent him back to Blundell. I nearly sent him to you two to help with your workload.
Merciful heaven, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for that show of common sense.
Is he as ... difficult as I read him, Yoshuk? You’re not.
Most emphatically I am not my brother Vagrian. Whyever was he sent to you of all people?
I think my grandfather had dynastic notions.
Ha! Earth Prime’s slipping, or his initial screening has developed serious flaws. Not that Grian couldn’t—without half trying, I might add—give the right answers. Unless someone thought to deep-probe him. Did you? So that you found out how poisonous he is? Accept my profound apology for being related to him. That might have had something to do with your grandfather’s momentary lapse of good sense. Or he was taken in by circumstances of Grian’s sudden emergence as a Talent. Chagrin colored Yoshuk’s tone.
The Tower and the Hive Page 11
