“Of course not,” the Tolian continued. “But if they feel this project of theirs could develop into something significant . . .”
“I see. Well, I wasn’t considering it seriously, anyway. Fortunately, it’s not our decision to make. I have a hunch that if the Major calls the AAnn Commander for a friendly chat and just casually mentions that he’s fully aware of what’s going on here, the AAnn won’t be as inclined to try anything drastic. Not if they know they’ll be held accountable.”
“By the time the Commander here figures out how to proceed,” she continued, “something appropriate will have been worked out in the way of restraints at the ambassadorial level. Which is all that needs to be done, I think. Obviously Peot has grossly overestimated this thing’s abilities. Or else it’s been dormant so long it’s lost whatever it once might have had in the way of strange powers.”
“One thing,” said Mal. “If they follow what I understand is their usual procedure in cases like ours, we ought to be let go some time tomorrow. Next day at the latest. With a verbal reprimand. But there is always the chance something might hold up our leave-taking.”
“Oh, I didn’t intend to wait until they let us go,” said Kitten, jogging easily on the sandy flooring. “We’ll broadcast from the raft first thing in the morning. Their own transceivers ought to be busy then.”
“They’re certain to be monitoring us as a matter of course,” he replied. “You know they’ll pick up any broadcasting you do.”
“I expect them to. But all they’ll hear is a typical screeching performance via my alias to Church authorities. That alone ought to be enough to make any listeners switch off. The real message won’t be transmitted in words.”
“Phycode,” said Mal, pursing his lips. “You can do that?” He sounded surprised.
“Of course, silly!” Unexpectedly, she giggled, green glass chimes. For a battle-rated officer, it was indecently infectious. A corner of her mouth went up; then a cheek, the left one, twitched twice. An ear wiggled.
“I just made a long, involved comment about your probable ancestry. An AAnn wouldn’t have detected a thing. To a perceptive human I’d appear to be afflicted with a slight case of the fidgits. But to someone versed in the code . . .”
“ . . . I’d have seemed properly insulted, I know,” Mal said. “I’ve heard about it, but never seen it—or have I?”
“That’s what I mean,” she grinned. “I’m very good at it.” They’d reached the bottom of the stairwell. Porsupah started up.
“You’re sure that when all these lizards come around, they won’t remember what happened to them? Those three in the monitoring section, for example.”
Her voice drifted back from just ahead. “They’ll be out for at least another hour yet. No, they won’t. In addition to being a strong soporific, the drug conveniently wipes out memory just prior to being administered. An intentional side effect. But if we’d taken a minute or two longer with those three, they’d remember enough to make things awkward.”
The sun and the first guard were just coming up as they reentered the sleek sportsraft. Kitten was the first to her own cabin. She changed from the skin-tight, light-bending black crawfit to something suitably grotesque and flamboyant for a young lady of her assumed station. It wouldn’t do for an AAnn vidcast scanner to pick her up transceiving in a one-piece suit designed to create an effect of semi-invisibility.
Mal and Porsupah changed a bit faster, not having to be concerned with such details as, for example, coiffure. Kitten essayed a few eloquent twitches, paraphrastically speaking, and felt up to the task. She’d have to trust to memory and improvisation to handle the verbal part of the act.
Porsupah waved as she entered the plush control lounge. He was adjusting the transceiver. The AAnn would almost surely pick up the cast, but it didn’t hurt to try for as tight a beam as possible, anyway.
“The arrival of your friend with the shipment you requested is due shortly, I am told,” said Commander Parquit. Rose walked comfortably at his side.
“A few necessities and items of nostalgic value.”
“I’m sure,” Parquit replied drily. “If the shipment is as small as you claim, then both you and your materials will be removed to orbit, there to await an appropriate transport as rapidly as can be managed, as per our agreement. An event which I look forward to with more than a modicum of pleasure.” The Commander was making no effort to hide his dislike.
“You don’t seem to care for me especially,” offered Rose.
“I am not fond of your race, as few of my kind are. You strike me additionally as a particularly loathsome example. We can bargain without friendship. It is not required I kiss you.”
“Not sure I’d care for that myself.”
“I advise you not to have worries on that account. Must you carry that thing everywhere?” He indicated the metal case with its explosive, deadly contents. One breath of the powder could kill any of his command slowly and painfully.
“Oh, it’s not activated just now for my, ah, bargaining purposes. Sorry if it makes you nervous. It’s just that I’ve gotten in the habit of not letting it out of my sight. Not that I’d expect you ever goin’ back on your word, you understand.”
Parquit made an AAnn expression indicative of nausea, coupled with unconcern.
“Just that I feel more secure with it near me, see?”
“I neither pretend nor care to,” the Commander replied.
“Incidentally, where are we headed?”
“Harbor Control.” They halted outside a door. Sensing their body heat, the semi-transparent portal slid back.
They entered a wide room that was completely transparent from walls to ceiling. Only the floor was opaque. They were not terribly high. Still, there was no sense in subjecting some timorous controller to vertigo. It wasn’t necessary to see beneath one’s feet. They were in the approximate center of the island, just above the tallest trees of the forest.
“As your companion is due with your possessions soon, I would prefer you to be here. There should be no confusion if the agreed-upon coding is properly utilized. A proper visual identification, however, is far preferable. I have reasons for such precautions. Someone else could have intercepted the coding. This way we will be certain.”
“Afraid of something, old skin?”
“No more so than normal. Besides, anything that will aid in expediting your removal gives me enjoyment. Other matters press heavily on my time. Rest assured, however, that getting rid of you is foremost in my mind.”
“Flattery’ll get you nowhere.”
The Commander was already talking to a detec operator. “Communication from the anticipated arrival yet?”
“No, your Excellency. The channel is held open, though.”
“Good. Notify if—”
“Excellency?” Parquit turned.
“What is it, Harbormaster Third?”
“Pardon, your Excellency, for disturbing. The Terran female is broadcasting. Directionally, it appears, to somewhere within the central city.”
“A logical place.” Parquit was only mildly interested. “I did not know that a raft of that class could beam so far directionally.”
“Some have the capability, Excellence. Boostering and expensive modifications.”
Parquit grunted. “Nothing of interest, presumably?”
“No, Excellency. Nothing unique. It appears to be a series of complaints distinguished only by their vituperativeness. Should I try to damp her out?”
“No, let her rave. Hopefully she will annoy the humanx authorities as she has us. I would not personally inflict such a female on the most desperate mate-seeker. Such selfrighteousness! I understand this grouping has been an abnormally difficult one.”
“Abnormally vocal, anyway, Excellence,” smirked the Harbormaster.
“You’re holding a group of people?” Rose inquired. He’d understood enough of the preceding conversation.
“No, not people. Humans, and one other.
Tourists. Along with an occasional commercial fisher, who hopes to find an unfished area close to the center of population, they sometimes stray within Concession boundaries. Most such are the result of honest errors of navigation. Others do so, I suspect, in the hopes of achieving a small thrill. Unfortunately, I cannot react as I would prefer. This would entail frying the lot of them. We are ‘at peace,’ you see. So such actions are proscribed by treaty. I believe some would actually enjoy the threat. Most merely express outrage that we constrain their sacrosanct person. You are the first, I regret, to arrive here with purpose.”
“What do you do with them?”
“Hold them over for a day, make brief suggestions of bodily dismemberment, lodge a protest with the authorities, who, I understand, sometimes even actually levy a fine on the offenders.”
“You said humans and ‘one other.’ ”
“A Tolian. Petty aristocrat. These small mammals . . .” Parquit paused. Rose had turned away and was trying hard to control himself. “Does it shame you so much?”
“It’s laughter I’m trying to hold back, not shame, your scaliness! Two humans and a Tolian. One large male and one exceptionally attractive female?”
“By your standards, as I vaguely comprehend them, yes. How do you know?”
“And you don’t want visitors. Oh, Luna! . . . Listen, brighteyes. The female and the furry posturer are Church undercover agents, both officers. The male is an independent freighter-captain with more connections than an all-purpose ‘puter linkup. In the words of ancient hue, me boyoh, you’ve been took!” The drugger burst into laughter, causing heads to turn in the control room.
Parquit did not betray any emotion beyond a slight tightening of horny lips.
“Harbormaster Third, damp that broadcast!”
“Excellency!” The reptile jumped at the sting in the command.
“Controller! Kindly inform the sergeant in charge of that landing section to conduct our visitors to my rooms. Under guard. Put their raft under cross-coverage from harbor turrets. If they make the slightest move to depart, destroy them.”
“It is done, Excellence.”
“Hey, no reason to jump on them like that! They’re probably lookin’ for me,” said Rose
Parquit turned and gave the drug-runner such an intense stare that the normally stolid Rose looked away.
“You flatter yourself, human. As you said, it gets one nowhere. I have reason to believe they are here for reasons and purposes other. I am admittedly curious as to how you know them.”
“They’re the ones—the two agents, anyway—who’ve forced my reluctant and hasty departure from these parts.”
“I see. Reason enough to condemn them, for inflicting you on me. I sometimes wish for more primitive days, when decisions were a simple question of sharper teeth and stronger claw. Yet I endeavor to cope with civilization. Come along. You may be of some use, Sand knows.”
Parquit headed for the door, paused at a word from the Harbormaster.
“What is it, Third?”
“Excellence, the human’s expected shipment has contacted us.”
“Monitor it closely.” He turned back to Rose. “You will remain to make visual identification. Following that, direct yourself to my rooms.”
The series of rapid, ultra-high-frequency numbers was picked up, recorded and transcribed by the Rectory ‘puters. Coupled with the phycoded information just received, they were sufficient to send the padre in charge scurrying for the Major’s office.
“You realize your confession of your profession is a mere formality now,” said Parquit. “I am as certain of it as of my own ancestral tree. It is your purpose that concerns me more. You no more landed here by accident than I did by desire. Why not observe courtesy, be polite, and tell me freely? I shall be courteous in turn. I will not have you shot out of hand . . . No, please, young female. Subside. No more imagined insults. Surely the maintenance of this act is as wearisome to you as it is to me. I could search your vessel. Interesting things would no doubt turn up. But should they, I would be impelled by precedent to have you exterminated. I would far rather have answers to some questions—before.”
“Poo! Commander, this has now become exasperating. The sheer size of this illusion you have drawn for yourself makes me fear for you.”
“Your sudden solicitation for my good health is out of character, female.”
“You are perfectly welcome to search our ship, if it will cure you.”
“Those who have no options are generous . . .” began the commander.
“You won’t find anything more espionage-oriented than a few typical, if expensive, cameras. The tapes in them contain only shots of water and island scenery—not this island, nor its surrounding water. Where your suspicions arise from escape me.”
“They arose from me,” came a voice from the doorway. “Dear me, a pun.” The drugger strode past the startled group. “I’m surprised, yes, and disappointed, to see you still tied up with these two, Hammurabi. No profit in it, no profit at all.” He shook his head slowly, mournfully.
“I think I see your point now,” began Mal reasonably. “It sure looks like you’ve been right all along. Maybe we ought to reconsider . . .”
The drugger lit one of his few remaining dopesticks, ignoring Parquit’s expression of disgust. “Uh-uh. Too much hate in your eyes. Angle of lips, position of head . . . no, you’d strangle me first chance you got, on general principles alone. Besides, judging just from your plain stupid relationship with these two,” he gestured at Kitten and Pors, “you’d be a poor risk.”
“You find some funny holes to crawl into, drugger,” said Kitten.
He smiled. “I only go where I’m wanted. Commander, here, is a spiritual relative.”
“Hold your, insults, you push me too far!” said Parquit.
“Easy, Commander, easy.” Rose hefted the ever-present metal case, shook it gently. “I’ve still my little surprise box.”
“If you coerce me to the edge,” the Commander said tightly, “a momentary insanity on my part could destroy us all. Your package of supposed drug concerns me less and less.”
“Okay, okay. Forget it.”
“No wonder the local police couldn’t find you,” broke in Porsupah.
“You contacted your supplier?” asked Parquit.
“Yep.”
“You have now that which you require for departure?”
“Pretty much. Can’t be as picky as I’d like at this stage. At least everything got here intact. I was worried about him having to dodge humanx patrols. Young for the job, but he managed. If they bothered to plot his course, it would provide another reason for not troubling him. Your reputation for hospitality isn’t supposed to encourage visitors.”
A young man appeared in the portal. He was tall and good-looking.
“Everything you wanted’s been transferred off the raft, Dom, so—”
“You!” The scream of recognition was only half feminine. Kitten threw herself at the figure. A guard, energy rifle at the ready, interposed himself. She stared at the weapon for a long moment as though debating whether to try passing the guard anyway, hands at her sides, breathing heavily.
“You appear to be acquainted with this slug’s associate,” said Parquit in lucid understatement. He’d been surprised himself by the violence of her reaction.
“We’ve met,” said Russell Kingsley. He eyed her warily across the room.
Peot was alone. In a universe of a trillion souls, he was, would always be, had been, alone. He’d lived non-life too long and now must live an unwanted real-life a while longer. Hurry. Hurry hurry hurry.
After several eternities, it was not easy to move with concern.
Orvenalix deliberated about two minutes before flipping a switch on his desk com.
“Get me the governor’s residence, operator.”
“Processing, sir.”
After a few seconds the haze on the screen cleared to reveal a spectacularly pneumatic human f
emale. She was seated behind a small mahogany and brass desk. Her tone was lazy.
“I am sorry, Major Orvenalix, but the governor left explicit instructions that he was not to be disturbed until further notice.”
“I see. Well. Fine. You give the good governor this message for me, then. Tell him that as of,” he glanced at the wrist chronometer set into the chiton of his left truarm, “three minutes ago, three especially equipped patrol submersibles of the Replerian Domestic Commerce and Customs Protection Association were dispatched by me at maximum cruising speed for the Imperial AAnn Enclave, where they will attempt to carry out the release of two human and one Tolian prisoner. Should the AAnn Commander refuse to comply with this request, the commander of the three vessels has been empowered to secure their release by force . . . Tell him this straight and tell him this now, or you’ll find yourself tomorrow in the awkward and much less relaxing position of scraping willoweed off the hulls of shrimp trawlers over in Faertown.”
To her credit, the professional smile remained frozen on the girl’s face. The difference now was that the ice showed.
“I will give him the message, Major.” She stood.
“And might suggest a more regulated intake of oxygen. Your present rate of consumption intrigues me only as a xenobiological curiosity. Save it for those it may affect.”
She fled from range of the pickup.
You deserve to have your antennae knotted, you old reprobate! That was unnecessary.
The message was designed to produce results. It did. Governor Washburn was on the screen almost immediately, fumbling with the clasps of his blouse. His appearance was generally rumpled and unkempt. Well, that was too bad. This was one siesta the planetary major-domo would have to forego.
Now, however, he was wide awake—and angry.
“Deity, Major! Primal urges. Obscenity! What is all this about? If you wished to begin an interstellar war in my jurisdiction, you might at least inform me in advance.”
“I think you can discount the possibility of any extra-Replerian conflict, Governor.”
Bloodhype Page 18
