Lady Lure

by Speer, Flora

  “You are not stupid,” Halvo said. “Just the opposite, in fact. Perri, is it possible that while you were with Elyr before you left Regula, you overheard something or saw something that he might fear would put him into jeopardy if you were to reveal what you had learned?”

  “Elyr kept me ignorant of the most important aspects of his life,” she said. “I spent my days inside his house or in its garden, with his mother and the servants, and they did not speak freely to me. I was always aware of their reserve. They never told me what Elyr was doing when he left the house, never explained what I needed to know about – about intimate matters.” She paused, blushing a little.

  “So you have said.” Sitting up beside her, Halvo linked his fingers into hers and Perri did not resist the gesture. “With Elyr a secretive type and everyone in his household being so cautious, it is unlikely that you could have stumbled on anything he did not want you to know. What about contacts outside his home?”

  “I seldom left the house,” Perri said, “and then only with Elyr’s mother or her most trusted maidservant, and also with Rolli in attendance. I was protected from all unpleasant influences. That is what they called it. At the time, I believed they meant well and I accepted the restrictions. Now their protection seems to me like a form of imprisonment.”

  “It was,” Halvo agreed. “All right, then. As sources of forbidden knowledge we have just eliminated Elyr, his mother, their servants, and what they would doubtless consider pernicious outside influences. If Rolli knew anything she would have said so long ago in hope that together she and I could keep you safe from Elyr and the Chief Hierarch. Which leaves your interview with the Chief Hierarch himself. Did he say or do anything that struck you as unusual?”

  “The entire interview was unusual, beginning with his consent to see me.”

  “Think, Perri. Did he mention pirates?”

  “Well, of course, he did. I have told you so before, Halvo.”

  “Tell me again. Exactly what did the Chief Hierarch say?”

  “That you had received superficial wounds while commanding the winning side in a battle against pirates on the Styxian border. But now a pirate was going to win against you, because I was to pose as a pirate while abducting you and carrying you off to Regula. But he told me lies. I have learned that your wounds were not superficial. They were terrible. And I know the Chief Hierarch’s intentions toward me were dishonest.”

  “What was your reaction to the idea of pretending to be a pirate?” Halvo asked.

  “I thought it was a bad joke,” Perri said, “but at the time, I believed he wanted me to have a credible disguise. Later, after I learned it was all a trick and he and Elyr were using me for their own purposes, I thought the Chief Hierarch must be hoping the Jurisdiction government would believe that pirates really were responsible for your abduction and thus would not blame Regula for what happened to you.”

  “I’m sure that line of reasoning was part of it.” Halvo considered for a moment before continuing slowly, as if he were thinking out loud. “Pirates. Yes, I did wonder earlier.”

  “Wonder what?” Perri asked.

  “Let me think about it a little more. I promise I will tell you what my conclusions are, as soon as I reach them.”

  “I trust your promises,” Perri murmured, at last allowing him to draw her down on the bed beside him. “Yours and no one else’s.”

  * * * * *

  Some hours later Perri stepped outside the Space Dragon, pitcher in hand, heading for the stream. With only a few crumbs left from their supply of bread, water would be their breakfast that morning instead of the cups of hot, steaming qahf, the fried blueflour bread, and the broiled darahfish eggs for which she longed. Halvo was planning to work on the communications system and when it was repaired, assuming it could be repaired, he would move on to the food processor.

  “If I need to work on it at all,” he called through the hatch after her. “We may be rescued before we have a chance to starve.”

  “If a rescue is to happen before I starve,” Perri said, putting a bit of teasing into her voice, “it will have to happen within the next hour.”

  Laughing in response to his sympathetic chuckle, she looked up toward the sky. There was not much to see. The bright weather of the previous day had given way to a bank of thick fog, which had rolled in from the ocean during the night. All Perri could see was the area immediately surrounding the Space Dragon. No birds would fly that day, and searchers relying on visual contacts would have a difficult time finding the Space Dragon.

  As she walked in the direction of the stream Perri could hear the surf, muffled by the fog, and she heard Halvo talking to Rolli as if the reactivated robot were a close personal friend. There were no other sounds, at least not until she was returning from the stream. Then what she heard made her hasten to the Space Dragon.

  “Halvo, do you hear it?” Her empty stomach forgotten, she set the filled water pitcher down in the galley and hurried into the cockpit, where Halvo and Rolli were taking the communications system apart in preparation for their repairs to it.

  “Hear what?” Halvo lifted his head, listening. “That’s a shuttlecraft, coming in low.”

  “Can you tell by the sound whether it is your brother or—” Perri could not finish the sentence.

  “They all sound pretty much alike. We’ll have to wait until we can see it. Stay inside, Perri.” Halvo went to the entrance hatch and stared out at the fog. Perri was right behind him. The noise grew louder until, as if stirred by the approaching ship, the fog parted and a brown shuttle-craft not much bigger than the Space Dragon emerged.

  Seeing it, Halvo’s mouth tightened.

  “I can read those markings.” Perri pressed closer to Halvo. “It’s a shuttlecraft from one of the Regulan ships.”

  “If the Regulans were able to find us,” Halvo said, “then Jyrit’s people cannot be far behind. We have to stall for time until they get here.”

  “How?” Perri asked.

  “I will go out and talk to them. You stay hidden. Perhaps I can convince them that you have left me and fled toward the south, where those thick woods are. If they decide to search for you, their plans will be delayed – whatever their plans might be.”

  “They will only have to use their sensors to know I am aboard the Space Dragon,” Perri said.

  “Any delay, even a few minutes, could be crucial to us,” Halvo said. “Please, Perri, trust me.”

  “I do trust you.” She moved away from the hatch when Halvo went through it. “But I do not trust the Regulans.”

  “What are you doing?” Rolli turned from the controls to fix blue eyelights on Perri.

  “Arming myself.” Perri took up the hand weapon that had been issued to her back on Regula at the start of her adventure. “Rolli, how are the repairs on the communications system coming along? Could you at least get a homing beacon working?” Nothing could help her then, but if Halvo’s brother, or a shuttlecraft from the Krontar, could locate them before the Regulans took them captive, then Halvo might be saved. It was the most Perri dared hope for at that point.

  “The Regulans can block all communications from the Space Dragon,” Rolli said. “We were hoping to send out a message before they found us.”

  “Then I am going to fight.” Perri glared at Rolli. “Don’t you dare tell me it will be a dangerous course. It is the only thing left for us to do.”

  “As always, I am compelled to warn you of danger,” Rolli said. “However, your decision makes sense. To go into Regulan custody would be more dangerous than open defiance.”

  “I am glad you agree, because you couldn’t stop me,” Perri said.

  By that time, Halvo was standing outside the Space Dragon and half-a-dozen men in the plain brown uniforms of the Regulan Space Service had alighted from their shuttlecraft and were approaching him. All of these men had gold or red hair and the usual green Regulan eyes. All were strangers to Perri, a fact which did not surprise her, since she had
not been allowed to meet many Regulan men. Being careful to keep out of sight, Perri peered around the edge of the hatch opening.

  “I am Admiral of the Jurisdiction Fleet Halvo Gibal.” Halvo took a step toward the Regulans, who stopped as he approached. “I assume you are here to offer your assistance.”

  “We are under orders to return you to Regula,” the Regulan leader said.

  “Thank you for the hospitable offer, but that won’t be necessary.” Halvo spoke pleasantly and even smiled. “All I need is a little help with repairing my ship.”

  “It is a stolen Regulan ship.”

  “Is it indeed?” Halvo feigned surprise. “Well, then, Captain—”

  “Captain Mirar.” The identifying words were snapped out in a brisk manner and Captain Mirar stood stiff and unbending, his face serious. Perri could tell he was puzzled by Halvo’s easy, unafraid attitude.

  “A pleasure to meet you.” Politely, Halvo inclined his head. “I admire your daring in venturing into the Empty Sector, since you must be aware that it is forbidden territory.”

  “You are here.”

  “True, and most inadvertently, I assure you. I was thrown off course by a defect in my navigational system. Otherwise, even the Admiral of the Fleet would not presume to break Jurisdiction law.” Halvo’s last words took on a distinct warning edge and Captain Mirar shifted uneasily.

  “Where is the woman, Perri?” he demanded.

  “Who?” Halvo spread his hands. “As you can see, I am quite alone – and unarmed.”

  Those words were said with a glance at the hand weapons held by Mirar and all of his men.

  “You are not alone. Our sensors show two humans aboard the Space Dragon.”

  “Really? Well, Captain Mirar, you may be right. However, I do feel obliged to point out to you the interesting fact that, here in the Empty Sector, reality is not always what it appears to be.”

  “What do you mean?” Mirar took a menacing step toward Halvo. Seeing him move, Perri took the safety catch off her weapon.

  “Surely, Captain,” said Halvo, “you have noticed how undependable your ship’s systems have become?”

  “I have noticed nothing of the kind,” Mirar snapped. “You have delayed me long enough. Step aside and let my men search your vessel.”

  “By whose authority?” Halvo asked, his voice cool, his demeanor commanding.

  “By my authority,” Mirar growled, his face beginning to flush.

  “Must I remind you, Captain, that I am an admiral?”

  “Bah!” Mirar’s mouth twisted in disdain. “You have been retired, invalided out of active duty. I take my orders from the Regulan Hierarchy. Get out of my way, Admiral!”

  It was then that Rolli spoke. The robot had moved nearer to Perri and like her remained hidden just inside the entrance hatch.

  “There is another shuttlecraft coming,”’ Rolli said. “The sound is similar to that made by the first one.”

  “Has the second Regulan ship also sent out a landing team?” Perri asked. “Or is this one from the Krontar? Well, it doesn’t matter. Halvo will continue to try to delay this Captain Mirar, and if Mirar or his men try to hurt Halvo, I know what to do.”

  “I believe Captain Mirar is growing impatient,” Rolli said. “Perhaps he, too, is aware of the approaching shuttlecraft.”

  At the moment, Captain Mirar was standing almost nose to nose with Halvo, attempting to stare him down. Halvo was not moving an inch from his position blocking the entrance hatch.

  “Men,” Captain Mirar said, “take him!”

  Halvo raised an arm to fend off the hands of the Regulans who were reaching for him. Perri saw him go white and stumble, putting his hand to his head instead of hitting one of his opponents. Perri knew Halvo’s dizziness had returned. There was no time to think about how inconvenient his weakness was. She could wait no longer. Halvo’s life was in danger. Perri stepped into the hatch opening. Lifting her hand weapon she aimed it at Captain Mirar and fired. At once she ducked back into the ship.

  Her fire was returned. A blast sizzled through the hatch to hit the opposite bulkhead and send white-hot sparks flying around the cockpit.

  “More damage,” Rolli said. “If this keeps up, we may never complete repairs to this ship.”

  Perri wasn’t paying much attention to the robot. Instead, she was worrying about Halvo. She wanted to go to him, but she decided she might be of greater help to him if she stayed hidden for a while longer. Halvo was picking himself up off the ground while three Regulans held their weapons pointed at him. Nearby, Captain Mirar was cursing and clutching his left arm where Perri had inflicted what looked like a minor, if painful, wound.

  By then everyone near the Space Dragon could hear the engines of the arriving shuttle-craft. Captain Mirar looked up, searching the fog for a sign of it, and several of his men also craned their necks to see what was approaching. By the murmuring among them, Perri decided they were afraid it would prove to be a shuttlecraft sent out from the Krontar.

  The noise grew louder and a dark shape could be seen, lowering itself slowly to the ground. It came to rest right next to the Regulan shuttle-craft. When the hatch opened, a Jugarian male appeared, followed by a dark-haired human female. Both of them were wearing the dark blue Jurisdiction Service uniform and both held weapons in their hands. Behind them, two other human shapes waited in the hatchway.

  “Jyrit, my friend! Lieutenant Dysia!” Halvo called. “I knew you would find me.”

  “Good day to you, Admiral.” Jyrit’s antennae flared an agreeable orange red, but then turned a darker, warning red as he spoke to Captain Mirar. “Tell your men to put down their weapons. I am here to take Admiral Halvo back to Capital.”

  “And I am under orders to take him to Regula,” Captain Mirar said.

  “Jurisdiction government orders supersede the routine orders of planetary governments,” Jyrit stated firmly.

  “Your admiral is traveling with a known criminal!” Captain Mirar shouted.

  “He is not doing so voluntarily,” Jyrit said. Pointing his weapon at Mirar’s heart, Jyrit added, “Admiral Halvo will now step into my ship.”

  “He will not!” Mirar’s own hand weapon was aimed at Jyrit’s abdomen, where the most vital Jugarian organs lay.

  “Why don’t we all put down our weapons?” Dysia said. “Then we can talk about the problem calmly.”

  “Be silent, woman!” Captain Mirar said. “You may not speak unless a man gives you permission.”

  “Don’t talk that way to a Jurisdiction officer.” From the Krontar’s shuttlecraft one of the men in civilian clothes came to stand beside Dysia. The other went to back up Jyrit.

  “I knew they were good men when Tarik chose them,” Halvo said softly to no one in particular. Perri heard him.

  “Those two are from your brother’s colony?” she asked, speaking to him through the hatch. “Then he must be searching for you, too.”

  “I believe Tarik is about to join us.” In spite of the threat the Regulans presented, Halvo seemed to be enjoying himself hugely. When the sound of a third shuttlecraft broke loudly through the fog, Halvo’s grin nearly split his face.

  Two men stepped from this new shuttlecraft, one black of hair, the other blond. Both were strikingly handsome. The two looked around at the tense scene; then the black-haired man walked to where Jyrit and Captain Mirar were still standing.

  “I suggest that you end this contest now,” the new arrival said. “Regulan, if you do not put away your weapon and tell your men to do the same, the full force of the Krontar will be turned upon your two vessels in orbit. I need not tell you what will happen to those ships or to their crews. And your landing team will be left here, at the mercy of Captain Jyrit.”

  “I am honor bound to obey my orders,” Mirar said.

  “Just exactly what are those orders? And who gave them to you?”

  “I am to return Admiral Halvo and the woman, Perri, to Regula. By order of the Chief Hierarch. I dare
not fail.” Mirar gestured to his men. “Take Halvo under guard to the shuttlecraft and confine him there. Then search for the woman.”

  “I will not allow that!” Jyrit’s fingers tightened on his weapon.

  Captain Mirar was faster. He fired right at Jyrit. The Jugarian crumpled to the ground. A split second after Mirar fired, Dysia fired, too, hitting Mirar in his already wounded left arm. Then the air was filled with the crackle and sizzle of hand weapons. Perri tried to get out of the Space Dragon to reach Halvo, but repeated weapons fire pinned her down just inside the open hatch.

  The conflict lasted for only a minute or two before the Regulans were standing with their hands on top of their heads while the men from Jyrit’s and Tarik’s shuttlecraft searched them for concealed weapons. Mirar was the only Regulan who had put up a real fight, and he was one of three who were slightly wounded. The sole serious wound had been sustained by Jyrit. Dysia and Osiyar bent over him.

  “Is Halvo safe now?” Jyrit asked in a weak voice.

  “Yes,” Dysia said, “all of the Regulans have been captured.”

  “Then my honor is redeemed. I die at peace.” Jyrit looked as if he were dead already. His gray skin had faded to a chalky white shade and his antennae were beginning to turn a pale, translucent blue, the color of death.

  “Herne!” Osiyar shouted. “We need you here.”

  “Get out of my way.” A large man elbowed Dysia aside and knelt by Jyrit. Dysia recognized him as Herne, the colony physician. “I said clear off so I can work.”

  “His bedside manner certainly leaves something to be desired,” Dysia said to Osiyar, who took her elbow to help her rise.

  “His concern for his patients makes him forget his manners,” Osiyar said, “but Herne is an excellent physician. If anyone can save your captain, Herne will do it.”

  “Is there something you could do?” Dysia met Osiyar’s blue eyes. “Jyrit thinks he owes his life in forfeit for what happened to Halvo. Someone ought to change his mind, to convince him to fight to stay alive. The Service needs officers like Jyrit.”