by Ed Charlton
“Why don’t you go in and do it?
“Guls have had a great deal of practice with war amongst themselves. If they are ready for interplanetary war, what reaction do you think we would provoke if we went in force to remove those ships? No, Jim, a clandestine operation is the only choice. Two people, or perhaps three”—Daum Robertus glanced at Tella—”have a chance to slip in undetected.”
Jim shook his head and sighed. “It’s a tall order.”
Tella placed its hands on the table, one metallic and solid with the lighted bracelet, the other fading to a transparent shadow.
“Perhaps some refreshments are in order?”
Chapter Four
“If the Gul-Raeff will permit?” began his aide.
“What is it?” he muttered, his mouth half full of food.
“The reconnaissance team has sent its report.”
He stopped chewing. “Let me see!”
He snatched the display pad from his aide’s paw. A minute of silent reading ended in a laugh.
“They have it. They have it! Hah!” He slapped his aide on the shoulder and laughed louder. “Out! Out! Everyone get out, and don’t come back till I call!”
The Luminant was at his shoulder. The room was silent but for his labored breathing.
“What does the spirit say?”
“They have located the place. I hear the voice of war, not the whisperings of a spirit.”
“I understand, but the spirit speaks alongside the words of war. Can you not hear it?”
“No! Be silent! This isn’t the time for your babbling!”
She stepped back. Calna had warned her of his mistakes of this kind. She had to be careful.
“If the Gul-Raeff will permit?” she said, imitating the aide.
He walked a few steps away and then stopped and turned, laughing. “Ha! What? What do you want to say, my voice?”
“That the spirit loves you. That this news is part of the spirit...in a different form.”
“Yes! Yes, I know! I know all that!”
He threw himself onto a couch and picked a piece of fruit from a bowl.
“Then let us think for a moment what the spirit is saying.”
“I know! I know what it’s saying! I don’t need to...”
His eyes glazed over, and his breath became shallow. She was at his side at once, stroking the knotted muscles of his neck.
“What do you see?”
“I see the fleet.”
“What do you feel as you look at it?”
“Nothing matters. We have the more important task. I see it more simply now. I have tried too much too soon. It need not be so.”
“The spirit moves you to a new work?” she asked, not understanding him.
“No, but the priorities change. Call the chiefs of staff. I...ah!” He shuddered and sagged into her arms. The fruit thumped onto the floor and rolled away.
“My Raeff, my Raeff. All is well. The spirit is good. You have let it touch you. This is good.”
“Hmm. You sound like Calna.”
“I thank you. She was a great voice and a steady light.”
“You’re a lot prettier than her.”
“What a silly thing to say! I am your Luminant. I have no appearance; I have no body. I am light and sound, nothing more.”
“You think yourself unattainable?”
“There is nothing to attain. I shall call your chiefs.”
He rolled further into her arms and slid his own arms around her.
Smiling, she untangled herself and pressed the button for the aides to return.
Chapter Five
Jim was impressed with the array of food. He piled his plate with an assortment of interesting-looking lumps. Tella only drank.
Daum Robertus inquired if Jim approved. “We have tried to find something that would appeal while, at the same time, not infringing our own rules.”
“Let me guess. You don’t do meat?”
“Correct, nothing that breathes. It is a simple restriction, and one that is easier to follow than some of our others!”
“I see you’re a community of many species.”
“Yes, our membership is from many worlds. That we are all primates on this team is something of a coincidence. Brother Tamric’s grandparents were from Earth, so he counts as a human. I am a native of this world.”
Jim stopped in mid-mouthful.
“Does that surprise you? That we should be so similar?”
“I guess it shouldn’t, but yes.”
“The galaxy is large and life is abundant. We are blessed here with conditions similar to your world. Our seas are home to two sentient species, as is the land.”
“Two? That is rare. Usually, one land-based species wipes out all the competition.”
“There is much about our cluster of stars that is unique. And we cherish and protect them with a vigor that I know surprises many.”
“I thought that was just business.”
Daum Robertus smiled and said, “No, the business is a byproduct of our other concerns.”
Before Jim could ask more, Tella approached and gestured for some time with him.
“What’s up?” Jim asked.
“Show more confidence in our ability to complete this mission. I suspect they view your humility as a sign of inadequacy.”
“Whoa there! Do you think we can just nip down to Jorr and take on a battle fleet?”
“It is possible. Timing is everything in a case like this. Think back to your history. A naval fleet was always at its most vulnerable in its home port. The same is true of a space fleet. If we can catch it on the ground, a single well-armed ship could destroy it all.”
“Hmm, maybe you’re right—if it gets the chance. But what about this Tamric kid? I don’t want him along.”
“Unfortunately, that decision seems to have been made long before we arrived. When we get there, it should be okay; he will deal with the plans while we deal with the fleet. But it will complicate things greatly while we travel. We must be very careful what we say in front of him.”
***
Gathering again around the conference table, Daum Robertus began. “This is how we would like you to proceed. Travel with Tamric to Tanna Gul. Locate the Marlolori area of Muthlec. We understand from the informant, Marhan, that the construction facilities are concealed beneath a lake. That will mean gaining access to whatever caverns or tunnels they have dug and negotiating your passage through them. Tamric’s prime target must be the administrative area where the plans are kept. He will assist you with your objective only if it does not interfere with his own. You must first verify the existence of, and placement of, the fleet—then you must destroy it.”
He adjusted the display to show more details of the area.
“We believe this lake is the one in question. As you see, it is of a different color and different characteristics from its neighbors. This may be due to its chemical composition or pollution from the construction or mining activities below it. This, you must verify for yourselves.”
All were quiet as they watched the display and considered the difficulty of the task ahead. Tella’s voice interrupted the silence. “If the fleet, or a significant part of it, survives or, indeed, has already moved to an operational staging area, who will warn the Jorrs?”
“First, we have detected no such movements. We believe, if it exists, the fleet is still in Marlolori. As for giving a warning, they have their own means of defense.”
“Wait a minute,” said Jim, “I thought your ‘preference’ was to avoid that?”
Daum Robertus smiled. “Let me be clear. We intend to send no warning to Tanna Jorr. Our activities will be limited to Brother Tamric’s tasks on Tanna Gul.”
Tella said, “Covert action only. You will not reve
al yourselves.”
“That is correct. If any of you are discovered, we shall, of course, deny any knowledge of your actions.”
Tella and Jim glanced at each other but said nothing.
***
Tamric met with Jim and Tella in a library room. To Jim’s relief, it was too small for five to sit comfortably, and the silent chaperones had to stand guard outside. The desk was of similar design to the conference table, having a small control panel and using the entire surface as a display.
As soon as Tamric sat down with them, he blushed and frowned.
“May I ask you something?”
“Sure,” said Jim reassuringly.
“Do you object to my accompanying you?”
Jim was taken aback both by the question and by the earnestness in the young monk’s eyes.
“I...wasn’t expecting it. I have to admit we usually like to work by ourselves.”
“I see.” Tamric looked away. “Daum Robertus felt that it would be a good thing to have me involved since I am a human like yourself. He thought that communication would be easier with me...than with one of the others.”
“Tamric,” said Tella, “we are surprised that Daum Robertus is sending any of your community along on this mission. That it is you he will send does not trouble us.”
“Okay, thanks. I think he’s right that one of us should come, though, don’t you?”
“As Jim has said, it is not how we usually work. But perhaps we can assist each other in our different tasks.”
Tamric nodded. “Yes, that was his intention.”
“How were you to travel to Tanna Gul if we had gone straight there?” asked Jim to change the subject.
“In one of our fliers,” Tamric said with enthusiasm. “Let me show you.”
He displayed an image of a small stealth flier.
“We are familiar with this design,” Tella said to him. “How heavily armed would you have been?”
“Oh, hardly at all.” The monk smiled.
Jim felt old in the presence of such fresh-faced naïveté.
“Didn’t it occur to you that you might need to be?” he asked.
“As Daum Robertus has said, this is not a matter of force, but of secrecy. I have much less to retrieve or destroy than you. My goal can be achieved in several different ways. It is you who must find the means of destruction on a grander scale.”
“Good point, I guess.” Jim sighed.
Tella placed its metaled hand on Jim’s arm. “I am concerned about the Jorrs, Jim. I think it may be within our purview to go further than we have been instructed.”
“You mean we could warn them without involving anyone else?”
“Yes, either we could go there first or, perhaps, divide our forces?”
Tamric looked concerned. “I must not be seen by them.”
Jim held up his hand. “That’s understood.”
He glanced at Tella, hoping he had picked up the Neraffan’s intentions clearly.
“Tamric, you and I can go to Tanna Gul in your flier. Tella can go to Tanna Jorr in mine. It is one of your commercial products, so it won’t implicate the PR directly.” Pointing to Tella, he continued, “Then you join us. I doubt we’ll be able to move immediately when we arrive. This is going to take some serious reconnaissance before we get our feet wet.”
“Good idea, Jim,” said Tella, nodding, giving no hint to Tamric that it was anything other than Jim’s underling.
“Or,” said Tamric, “you can wait and come bail us out when we mess this up!”
His laugh seemed genuine, and Jim found himself smiling in return.
Over several hours they studied satellite images, made rough plans of possible action, and laughed far more than they had anticipated.
Jim wanted to draw as much information out of Tamric as possible while Tella was still with him, but the young monk was unforthcoming about many things. However, Jim gradually built up a picture of Daum Robertus’s relationship with the team. He was unmistakably their mentor, older and wiser, but seemed to delegate freely. Jim found it a curious way to manage such a project, but had to admit that, so far, it was working.
At the end of the session, Tamric offered to lead them to more food.
“Sounds good to me,” said Jim. Turning to Tella, he said, “Will you eat this time?”
“I think not, thank you. But a drink will be welcome.”
“Suit yourself,” replied Jim with a frown.
As they joined their chaperones outside, Jim walked with Tamric.
“So, are you guys celibate?”
Tamric was taken aback for a moment, long enough for Tella to sigh and shake its head. “You are obsessed with sex, James Able.”
“I’m curious; not all monks on Earth are. I was only asking.”
Tamric’s face had colored a little, but he answered, “Yes. Yes, we are. We devote ourselves entirely to our work. For us to be married means to be divided. It is not possible to be single-minded about work when the responsibilities of a family press upon you.”
“Hmm, too bad.”
“It is a sacrifice. Are you married, Jim?”
It was Jim’s turn to blush slightly. “Er...no, I never have...married, as such.”
Tamric nodded but asked nothing further.
“What about female monks?” Jim asked. “Do you have nuns?”
“Oh yes, our accommodations are separate, but teams are often mixed.”
***
Daum Robertus was waiting for them with the refreshments.
“Ah, our guests have returned! Jim, come and eat. Tella, will you join us?”
“I will be happy to drink a little.”
“I’m up for more of those green things,” said Jim. “They’re excellent!”
Jim maneuvered Daum Robertus to one side while he ate.
“There’s something I don’t get about your team here,” he began.
Daum Robertus gestured for him to continue.
“They are young—younger than I would have thought wise. You’re giving them a lot of responsibility.”
Daum Robertus nodded. “Yes. Yes, you are correct.”
Jim waited, but it seemed that was to be his answer.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t get it. You’re sending me into hostile territory with a kid!”
“Have you not seen that Tamric has a clear grasp of his mission and the ways it may be achieved?”
Jim pursed his lips. “Well, yes...”
“His training has been thorough. He has proven himself many times, or he would not be here. He has much still to learn, but that is true of us all, isn’t it, Jim?”
The glint in the monk’s eyes seemed too knowing for Jim’s comfort.
He continued, “I will tell you of one fault that I find with Tamric. He is sometimes unwilling to follow instructions until he has found their wisdom for himself. It is something we work on with him.”
“I like him better already,” Jim said, smiling slyly.
Chapter Six
Tamric’s flier was loaded and ready in orbit. Jim and Tella’s EIA flier was locked beneath it for the journey to the Tanna system. At Jim’s insistence, the armaments on and in Tamric’s craft had been upgraded.
When the time came to leave, Tamric disappeared. Tella and Jim waited in a shuttle that would take them up to the fliers, caught in the limbo of being ready but not able to start. At length, Daum Robertus came in. Tamric followed and hustled down a ladder to stow a bag in the storage compartment below them.
“Jim,” said the elder monk warmly, “the best to you and your mission. I hope this is the first step on a long road together.”
“Yeah, I hope so.”
Daum Robertus reached out to Tella and unlocked the bracelet of lights. He then removed Jim’s, bowe
d slightly, and left.
***
They settled into Tamric’s flier for a seven-day trip. Tamric took one of the two small rooms behind the cockpit. Jim and Tella took turns resting in the other. Tamric disappeared into his room with surprising frequency. Occasionally, Jim or Tella could hear his voice lifted in a gentle chant.
“Do you miss the religious rituals of your youth, Jim?” asked Tella one time as they listened to Tamric’s faint prayers.
“What? No...I rarely think of them. Well, I guess going to church every seventh day gave a structure to things. It’s sad that life doesn’t always have that. And, occasionally, I miss the comfort of thinking that there is something out there.”
“Something or someone?”
“Hah,” Jim laughed, “I guess so...someone.”
“For us, that someone is Quavvour. But to say Quavvour is ‘out there’ is misleading; it is here also.”
“In what way?”
“’Out there’ is beyond these dimensions. These dimensions must be included in whatever is greater than they are. Quavvour is, therefore, here also.” Motioning toward Tamric’s door, Tella said, “Quavvour is here also.”
Smiling, Jim allowed, “I guess you’re right.”
***
Around the midpoint of the journey, Tamric asked Tella a question.
“Are you and Jim mates?”
“Mates?”
“Yes, mates...a pairing?”
“You mean, do we have sex?”
“Yes.”
