razorsedge

by Lisanne Norman

  A figure appeared at the doorway opposite them. Six feet tall to his shoulders, the crewman’s crested head sat on top of a long sinuous neck. This neck was now curved downward, bringing his head level with his shoulders.

  “Captain apologize delay. Bird blocked intake. Make mess.” The lips on his muzzlelike face pulled back in a grimace of distaste. “Trying to remove it now.” Turning, he retreated to the bridge, his thick tail held close against the back of his legs.

  “I wonder if Chemerians get travel sick,” said Carrie softly. “Hope they do.”

  T’Chebbi gave a snort of amusement.

  “What? There’s got to be justice somewhere along the line!” Carrie said.

  “I’m afraid they don’t,” said Kaid, “but if it’s any consolation, he’ll have been terrified throughout our approach in case we really were suffering an engine failure. That’s probably why Kishasayzar sent someone to tell us what had happened rather than announce it.”

  They waited patiently while each thruster was tested. One of them made some peculiar noises before finally settling into an almost soundless hum. Within a few minutes, the craft rose ponderously into the air and headed for the spaceport.

  *

  This landing, while nowhere near as dramatic as their last, was also troubled in order to sustain their cover. At last they were safely berthed and while the engines were shut down, Kusac released himself from his couch. As he stood up, he realized the internal gravity had been cut and they were now experiencing the slightly lighter Jalnian conditions.

  “We’d better head back to the lounge and Assadou,” he said as the others began to get to their feet.

  “Must we?” groaned Carrie, stumbling slightly. Kaid reached out a steadying hand which she accepted gratefully.

  Assadou’s guards stood on either side of the outer door this time. At their approach, one of them activated the lock, opening the door. Assadou was already there.

  As they entered, they were aware of the long appraising look that he gave them.

  “Look like U’Churians,” he said.

  They did. T’Chebbi and Kaid were both as dark-pelted as Kusac now, and all three of them had fur that was a good four inches long. It added bulk to their already impressive size, making them seem larger than normal.

  “Even clothing is right,” the Chemerian added.

  U’Churian traders dressed to individual taste, the basic garment being a mid-thigh length tunic held in by a pouched belt through which a diagonal leather baldric was worn across one shoulder. From this, a sword could either be back-slung or suspended at waist level.

  “Can you use swords?” Assadou asked.

  “It’s part of our basic training as Warriors,” said Kaid.

  Assadou dipped his head forward in acceptance, then looked specifically at Carrie. “The Human, can she also use them?”

  “Your government thinks so,” said Carrie dryly, staring unblinkingly at him. “They requested us personally.”

  The Chemerian’s ears quivered briefly in annoyance, and he looked back at Kusac.

  You shouldn’t bait him, sent Kaid, his tone gently reproving.

  Why not? He’s been a pain in the butt with all his briefings!

  “Remember, my profession is dealing with Lord Bradogan. Many years it takes me to build training reputation here. Do not destroy it. Sample goods, if needed, I have for your use, but are valuable. Do not give them wastefully. You remember our escape plan?”

  Kusac nodded. “We’ve been over it a score of times,” he said with an amused glance at Carrie. “We’ll do our jobs, you just arrange for us to get passes to take us out of the Port and up to the mountains, Assadou.”

  “Spacers not allowed out,” the Chemerian objected, ears once more beginning to tremble and curl inward. “Told you this several times.”

  “Then get us an interview with him so we can argue our case.”

  Assadou let his breath out in a nervous sigh. “Will try. I will be at hotel inside this perimeter. And remember, speak only Jalnian! If use Sholan between yourselves, will be noticed!”

  Carrie looked offended. “We’re telepaths! We use mind-speech when we need to keep our conversations private!”

  “I know!” Assadou said, beginning to wring his hands in agitation. This time his ears did curl over until they were hardly visible against the side of his head. “Apologies! Am concerned for safety of us all! If you should be discovered, then I will be involved, too!”

  “Believe me,” said Kusac sharply, beginning to get as irritated as Carrie, “we value our hides as much as you do yours! Now, unless there is anything really urgent you need to discuss with us, Trader Assadou, we need to go and collect our packs and debark!”

  “Go, then!” he said, urging them away from him with rapid hand movements. “Contact me only if necessary!”

  “Meet in five minutes at the port air lock,” said Kusac as they left Assadou’s suite.

  Kusac had to grin to himself as Carrie almost danced back to their room. He could feel her jubilation. At last they were doing something concrete. He was, if truth be told, as pleased as she was at the prospect of getting away from the Chemerian. Assadou might have stayed in his own quarters throughout the trip, but he’d made his presence known regularly.

  “If anyone’s going to give us away, it’ll be him,” said Carrie once they were in the privacy of their own room. She headed for her locker, digging out her backpack and glancing round the room a final time to make sure she’d not forgotten anything.

  “He shouldn’t. Beyond arranging the permit, all he has to do is continue his normal trading.” He went over to his own locker, pulling out his pack and their swords. “Come over and I’ll fasten your sword on for you.”

  Stopping only long enough to stow her energy pistol in its holster, she joined him, standing patiently while he secured the scabbard to the retaining rings. When he’d finished, she rotated her shoulders and reached up to readjust the baldric, settling the weight of the blade more comfortably.

  He turned, fastening his own at waist level. “Check you can draw it quickly if…” He stopped as he saw the flicker of light on the steel blade that pointed at his throat.

  “I have,” she said, grinning up at him as she resheathed it.

  He smiled back as he tied off the scabbard and stood up. “What am I to do with you?” he asked, pulling her close for a moment. “Like Jack says, you have the face of one of Terra’s angels and the soul of a warrior.”

  She ran her hand across his cheek, smoothing down the long pelt. “What you usually do. Just love me,” she whispered, flicking his nose gently, then ducking away from him. “Let’s go! I want to get off this ship and onto firm ground again! I want to see the sky! I’ve had a bellyful of Assadou!”

  He turned back to his locker, drawing out the rifle and slinging it over his shoulder. “You won’t see much, I’m afraid. It’s night here.”

  She grasped his arm as he opened the door, holding onto him. “It’s an alien world, Kusac! The first I’ve visited. Aren’t you even a bit excited?”

  “Don’t know that excited is the word for it,” he said as they joined the other two. “Curious, certainly.”

  Kaid and T’Chebbi were standing with their rifles ready, looking concerned. “Kishasayzar says there’s trouble outside. Port authorities warned us not to get involved, it’s a private matter.”

  “What kind of trouble?” asked Kusac, unslinging his gun.

  Kaid shook his head. “No more information. His crew are already checking it out.” Turning, he activated the outer air lock.

  One of the Sumaan was there, obviously standing guard.

  “Is safe,” he said, turning his neck and looking down at them as they approached. “Rebels try to board cargo unit. Port Controllers chase. We see they not board Hkariyash.”

  Now they could hear the sound of angry voices shouting to each other. Kaid, rifle ready, took the lead, with T’Chebbi behind him as they began to descend
to the surface of Jalna.

  It was still dusk, and by the last remnants of light they were able to see the figures running toward the warehouses on their right. They were closely followed by a group of four Sumaan and three others.

  “U’Churians,” said Carrie from her position behind T’Chebbi.

  “Looks like our cover will be put to the test sooner than we thought,” said Kaid dryly. “Let’s hope the scent neutralizer works on U’Churian noses.”

  “If it doesn’t, you’re all going to have to do what Vanna suggested, keep coming to me for hugs,” said Carrie with a nervous laugh, not taking her eyes off the pursuit. “You all say Human scent is stronger than yours. Have you noticed how many Sumaan there are around here?”

  “Mercenaries take work where they can find it,” Kaid reminded her, obliquely referring to his years in exile from the Brotherhood.

  “Is bad, this,” said T’Chebbi. “If they catch them and they talk, give names of leaders, could compromise our mission.”

  “Kris said they belong to cells for that reason,” said Kaid. “I don’t think they’ll let themselves be taken.”

  Energy pulses lit up the gathering darkness, and screams rang out.

  “Let’s hope Strick wasn’t one of them,” said Kusac.

  “Not likely. He organizes the caravans and works mainly within the perimeter. He’d be too cautious of his privileged position to risk it in a venture like this. I’ll wager it wasn’t rebels, only renegade dock crew trying to steal.”

  They waited until the bodies were brought out and loaded onto one of the Controllers’ ground sleds. People were returning to their craft and their posts now that the excitement was over. Still keeping his rifle at the ready, Kusac took the time to look around him.

  He counted seven craft besides theirs within the inner perimeter, mostly, as the Chemerians had said, powered cargo pods or short-range shuttles. There was one other spacecraft, though. Larger than them, it stood two berths away. The design was unfamiliar.

  “U’Churian,” said Kaid, indicating with his rifle barrel the two black-furred people still standing looking their way. “Could be watching the gate, but I don’t think so.”

  “Not the gate,” said Carrie. “Us. Definitely.”

  Kusac glanced over his shoulder at her. “You can pick them up from here?”

  “The surface thoughts, yes.”

  “Can you read either of them? Pick up the language to make sure those recordings of Ambassador Taira’s are accurate?”

  “I’ll try,” she said, leaning back against him for support while she gently probed at the U’Churian’s mind.

  *

  On the pad beside his ship, Tirak’s head swung suddenly round to look at his companion.

  “Captain?” asked Sheeowl, her face creased in concern. “What is it?”

  Turning, he hurried up the ramp back into the Profit with her hard on his heels.

  “Captain! What is it?” she demanded, catching him by the arm and pulling him to a halt.

  His eyes blazed with anger he could barely contain. “Another such as that Kate!” he snarled. “A mind reader!”

  “Telepath,” she corrected him automatically, using the Sholan word. “Another Human?”

  “Yes! She touched my mind, tried to read me! She came in on the Sumaan ship,” he said, heading for the upper decks where his guests were being held. “I need to know where that ship came from! Get Manesh onto it.”

  Sheeowl sprinted after him. “Where are you going? Not to the kids, Captain, it isn’t their fault!”

  “Yes, to them! I need her to stop this happening again, and if she won’t do it willingly, I’ll…”

  “Captain, they’re children!” she warned him again.

  “I’ll shake her till every tooth in her head rattles,” he finished with another snarl of anger.

  *

  Shocked, Carrie almost dropped her pistol. “He sensed me!”

  Kusac watched the retreating U’Churians with interest. “He did, didn’t he? Can you still pick him up?”

  She shook her head. “No. He’s angry and confused— his thoughts are too jumbled for me to make sense of them. He recognized the touch of a telepath, though. That much I did get before he panicked.”

  “The touch of a telepath can be intimidating the first time,” said Kaid. “Where could he have felt it before? Are his own kind Talented?”

  “Too many coincidences,” said T’Chebbi. “Most likely he’s met one of our missing ones. Need to speak to him.”

  “Did he know it was you?” asked Kusac.

  “I couldn’t tell.”

  Kusac felt a heavy hand on his shoulder and looked up to find Captain Kishasayzar looming behind him.

  “We debark now,” he said. “Rooms are already booked for you at the inn we use this night. Port Controllers wish to speak with me later about landing Hkariyash. Merchant Chikoi goes to their office already.”

  Reaching past Kusac, he stretched a bony arm in the direction of the starboard air lock where Assadou was emerging from the shadow of the ship. His powered chair was now docked in a sled with room for his Sumaan guards to stand behind him. It was speeding toward the gateway.

  “Rifles to be left on the ship. Sidearms only allowed, and blades. Give, and I will pass them back for stowage.”

  Kusac glanced at Kaid, who merely shrugged. They handed their rifles to Kishasayzar who in turn passed them back into the Hkariyash.

  Kusac hefted his pack over his shoulder and continued down the steps. At the bottom, they waited for the rest of the crew, then began walking toward the illuminated spacers town that existed between the two perimeter fences.

  “It looks exciting and exotic, and it’s so warm after Shola!” murmured Carrie as they came closer to the gateway.

  T’Chebbi snorted. “Doesn’t smell good.”

  “I expect we’ll quickly become desensitized,” said Kusac as the sharp sounds and smells reached him. He wrinkled his nose in distaste. The underlying odors of poor drainage and sanitation were overlaid with the aromas of food vendors’ wares. A sudden gust from behind them added the heavy smell of machine oil to the noxious combination.

  Beside him, Carrie sniffed, her enhanced senses picking it up, too. “I hope so, but it still looks exotic!”

  Lights strung above the stalls swayed in the breeze, sending dancing shadows over the holders. Beyond them were the ever present shops and taverns common to all ports.

  “Get used to it,” said T’Chebbi. “All same. Seen one, seen ‘em all.”

  “This is my first, T’Chebbi. I refuse to be put off,” she said firmly. Kusac, do we need to read the guard to check the language?

  No need. Our Jalnian at least will be accurate because of Kris sending it to Vryaka.

  Assadou could be seen heading away from the gate to the east where a modern building stood several hundred yards away from an imposing stone tower. Access to both buildings was also controlled by guards and a checkpoint like the one for the spacers’ town. They were set in the wide area between the two perimeter fences.

  “A hotel for those merchants and traders who can afford to use it,” said Kaid, following her gaze. “Assadou’s staying there. The other is Lord Bradogan’s residence.”

  “Thought Assadou was seeing the Controllers.”

  “He is,” confirmed Kishasayzar, his neck snaking down to gaze at her. “There is office there, too.”

  “What’s the history of the place? Who found it and built the Port?”

  Kusac looked at the Sumaan. “Captain? Do you know?”

  His head swiveled to look at Kusac before he returned his gaze to Carrie. “U’Churians say the Port built on old site some two hundred years ago, Alliance time. Built by TeLaxaud, Cabbars, and U’Churians. Controlled inside by us and U’Churians, and in spacers’ town, by Lord Bradogan.”

  “TeLaxaud. Don’t remember hearing of them before,” said Kaid, slowing down as they came to the gates.

 
“Come rarely. Cargo unit in now but leaving in few hours.”

  “Why build a port they don’t use often?” asked Carrie, stopping behind the group of Sumaan. She reached into the thigh pocket of her one-piece jumpsuit for her ID and landing papers.

  The captain’s mouth opened vertically, exposing teeth like tombstones and a thick, pink tongue as he smiled. “Are aliens, unlike Sholans and Sumaan; who knows their motives?” He made a jerky, guttural sound which Kusac realized with surprise was laughter. This was a trait in the Sumaan he’d been unaware of despite his dealings with them through AlRel.

  Everything’s different in the field, sent Kaid, a touch of humor in his mental tone. As you should know, you come across the strangest allies.

  “Cabbars— they’re the vegetarians, aren’t they?” Kusac asked.

  “Yes. Two cargo units of theirs are being here, but seeing them in spacers’ town not usual.” He held his three-fingered hands about a meter apart. “Short people; long bodies but close to ground. Dangerous for them.” He let his hands drop again and pointed to his large clawed feet. “Say we might step on them.” Again the strange laugh. “Hotel keep lower level rooms for them. Crews often gather there.”

  With barely a glance at their papers, the guard waved the Sumaan crew through. Then it was their turn and Kaid, T’Chebbi at his side, stepped up first.

  Where’s the dog Jo’s party warned us about? asked Carrie.

  Looking around, Kusac noticed several Jalnians with large quadruped creatures on the end of leashes, patrolling the dead area between the fences. To your left, twenty meters away. They’ve got several of them. Must be used for tracking and hunting, too. Vicious looking brutes, he added.

  He could see the creature’s head was on a level with the nearest Jalnian’s waist. Round its neck was a ruff of stiff spines.

  Gods, it’s huge! It does look like a wolf, Carrie sent. A wild one at that. She shivered.

  An equally cursory glance at Kaid’s and T’Chebbi’s papers had been enough for the guard, and he waved them through.

  Kaid turned to look at Carrie, his eyes glowing slightly in the gathering darkness. That is the creature you mistook for Dzaka on the Khalossa? He was grinning broadly and she could sense his amusement.