by F. M. Busby
"So would I," said Hardekamp. "Or that he'd stayed. He was a fox, that one-the way he got us up free from Tweedle. But you must be a better one, Tregare."
"Maybe, maybe not. I'm here-let's get on with it."
The next few questionings were brief; the men and women followed Hardekamp's lead, and the indicators stayed green. Then a tall man, one eye bandaged and right arm in a sling, sat.
He said, "I won't bother lying, Tregare. You killed my brother when you flamed groundside. I wouldn't ship with you if the world was burning away under my feet! So kil me and be damned to you. But if you were any kind of man, you'd give me a fighting chance."
Tregare stood; his hands shook. "I'm sorry about your brother. But Peralta gave me no chance. I had to make my own. I give you better than that; you go free to make your way on this world." He gestured to Gowdy. "Get him out of here!" The rest of the interviews took litle time. Tregare shook his head at one man. "You're out." To Rissa he said, "The in-dicators flickered; I'm too tired to find out why."
When it was done, they slept again in Peralta's former quarters. The next day al personnel were questioned under the field, and Tregare designated three more to be grounded; he did not state his reasons. Limmer, with Kenekke riding "shotgun," delivered the five to One Point One and brought the scout back barely before dark.
next morning Tregare and Rissa inspected new installations on No Return, found few errors and decided to return to Base One. Over lunch, Rissa said, "Felcie, would you like to come with us, or must you stay to guard the equipment?" "Oh, I'm sure it's safe here. I'd like to go with you." So five rode the scout to the plateau. Nothing had changed; there had been no intrusion. Once aground, Felcie was shocked at the effects of Peralta's foray-the damaged cabin and wrecked aircar. "What a snick! Looks like somebody used ship's weapons!''
"We did," said Rissa. Felcie's mouth opened, but closed without replying. "Come, Felcie, I wil show you a litle of the place. Al right, Bran?"
"Sure. I've got some calls to make."
Rissa gave Felcie a conducted tour. First the cabin-but no mention of its defenses. Then outside-to the plateau's edge with its sweeping view of lower Hils and plain, then back past cabin and outhouse for a short climb, far enough to see the plateau as a whole.
"It's well planned," the girl said finally. "And I love the location! I've never been far into the Big Hills on the other side-a little higher than Hulzein Lodge, but not much. How'd you ever get an aircar over here-special model, or did Tregare bring it in his ship?''
Rissa laughed. "I wil not tel you just yet. I may have the chance to show you, instead-and I would not want to spoil the surprise." The sun neared the high-flung horizon. They returned to the cabin, found it empty, and went to the scout. Deverel and Kenekke were absent; Tregare worked at a sheet of scribbled calculations. He looked up. "You see al the sights, Felcie?"
"Yes, and I'm really impressed." She paused. "I almost forgot-could you give me a circuit to Ami? I haven't reported in yet today."
"And how about yesterday?" said Rissa.
"Oh, I caled her in the afternoon. You were busy; the tal man-Kenekke-arranged the circuit for me."
"All right," said Tregare. He punched for Hulzein Lodge and asked for the relay; an unfamiliar face appeared briefly and then Ami Gustafson came to the screen. "Hello," he said. "Ms. Parager's here to talk with you." Felcie moved to the screen. "Everything's fine, Ami. The equipment behaved a hundred percent snooky, and now I'm up at a different place. Wow-was there ever a fight here! Oh, not now-before I came, I mean. You should see-" Tregare cleared his throat. She looked at him. He neither smiled nor frowned, but she turned back and said, "I think I wasn't supposed to say anything about that. Pretend I didn't, wil you, Arni?"
Over her shoulder, Tregare said, "Let's say, Ms. Gustaf-son, that I'd appreciate it if you-and anyone there with you
-doesn't repeat it."
Gustafson nodded. "Don't worry. I neither meddle nor tattle. And Felcie-put it firmly in your mind that anything you see on that side of the Hills-except the scenery-isn't to be talked about when you come back."
"Yes, Ami, I will. But-maybe I'm not coming back!"
The woman half stood. "They won't let you? But-"
"No, it's nothing like that. I-I want to go to space, and maybe they will let me!" Ami shook her head. "Well, I like you-like having you work for me, too-but peace knows I don't own you. You're young to make such a choice but old enough to have the legal right, if you want. Think it over, though-carefully." Felcie nodded; the woman said, "Now, then-when do I get
my gear back?"
Felcie looked to Tregarei He said, "If you need it, I'll have it to you tomorrow. But if you can spare it for a while-"
"The need's not urgent. But how long do you mean?"
"Is a month too long?''
"What have you got over there-a full-sized army?"
"No. Sometimes I wish I did. But-not all I do hope to have, are here yet."
"Oh? Well, it's your business. I won't ask further. Let me see-all right, you have the month. But if I should need to use it, will you provide me transport?"
"Sure. This scout carries a dozen or better in reasonable comfort-more than that if you don't mind riding cramped."
"Agreed, then. Felcie-any more to add?"
"No. That's all."
"All right-report acknowledged. Thanks, and out."
The screen darkened; Tregare said, "Anyone getting hungry besides me?"
"I'll call you when it's ready," said Rissa. "Come on, Felcie." Then she paused. "Where are Hain and Anse?"
"Down at Two, in the other aircar. Now we need it, Anse has it working solidly again. They'll stay the night, I think."
"Oh. I only thought, if they were here, we would all eat together again." She shrugged and led Felcie off the scout and into the cabin, the girl insisted on helping in the kitchen. At first, ignorant of the arrangements, she was less help than hindrance. But eventually the dinner was ready. Rissa caled Tregare and they sat and dined. Afterward they had wine and coffee; Felcie ac-cepted only the latter. The conversation became awkward-Felcie would begin a question, then stop and withdraw it. Finaly she excused herself and went outside. "I'l be back in a few minutes."
Tregare gestured after her. "Real question box, isn't she? Likable youngster, though." Rissa smiled. "She has lived in a friendly world, apart from the power struggles of the oligarchs. She has not had to learn, as we did, to guard what she says. And-"
He held up a hand. "The aircar-they came back after al." He stood and went to the door.
"What is it?"
"I'm remembering last time an aircar came and we thought it was them." As he opened the door a crack, he had the big energy gun in one hand, but after a minute or so he replaced it and closed the door. "This time it's all right." He came and sat again. Rissa frowned. "I had hoped-but in fairness to Hain and Anse, we cannot have her sleep on the scout."
"What are you talking about? The bed's big enough. On Inconnu-"
"That was different. It was-mechanical-except, some-how, for the last night. But only you have seen me in full response." Felcie's entrance cut off his reply. For a moment, Rissa thought the girl had eavesdropped, for she said, "My-that's a good big bed. Looks comfortable."
"Yes," said Rissa, "but we-"
Felcie laughed. "Tari, I slept in mixed beds al my life, until I got a job and could afford a room to myself. AH us zoom-wombers did-things were crowded. And when we got old enough, some would be having sex and some not-nobody paid any mind. So don't worry-you won't embarrass me any."
No one answered; she looked hard at Rissa and then said, "Oh, I see-it's you who needs privacy." She laughed. "Well, I've never understood that problem-but just say when and I'l go take a bath and won't come out 'til you cal me."
Solemn-faced, Tregare said, "That'll be fine-won't it, Tari?"
"I-I suppose so." Then; "Yes, of course it will. Thank -you, Felcie." But later she could not, at first, escape the f
eeling of being watched. She had almost despaired when her body's habit dissolved her inhibition overwhelmingly. When Felcie rejoined them, she said, "If that was as good as it sounded, I envy you two." Neither answered, but Rissa smiled and squeezed the girl's hand.
next morning, Rissa flew the aircar; Kenekke stayed with the scout while the rest went to Base Two. On inspection they found No Return's installations nearing completion-ready, in a few more days, for the hull plates to be replaced. These would need to be cut and divided into permanent and dis-posable sections, for the weapons had to be camouflaged-no UET ship carried the turret pattern Rissa had designed.
After a pause for coffee with Hilaire Gowdy, Rissa took Felcie with her to the practice turret on Lefthand Thread, where she ran a full simulation sequence. She no longer checked her individual scores-only the average, an encouraging 65.
"Could I try that?" said Felcie. "Just a few runs?" Rissa agreed and explained the controls. As the simulations began, she saw that Felcie's reflexes and coordination were good, but that she was overeager-overcontrolling in her haste and slam-ming down the override in frustration when she could not get her shot. Finally Rissa stopped the sequence.
"You push too hard. You do not do so in driving an aircar, do you? Well, then-this is even more delicate. Try again, but moving more gently. And I suggest you do not use the override at all, at this stage of learning." The advice helped; Felcie's scores improved. But Rissa decided that gunnery would never be the girl's best skill, the time was near to noon; they went to the galley and found Tregare already seated. As they joined him, Limmer entered and also sat. His mouth bent into his sneer-smile. "It's going well." He looked to Rissa. "What have you two been doing? I didn't see you around anywhere."
Felcie was silent; Rissa said, "First, finishing inspections for today on No Return. Then I ran an hour of simulations in the practice turret, and Felcie tried it also."
"And how did you like it, Felcie?"
"I-I didn't do very well." Almost in a whisper she spoke.
Limmer frowned, then shook his head. Felcie said, "I'm sorry, captain."
"No, no-I don't mean that! What it is-but you can't help it, I suppose-I wish you weren't afraid of me. And you are, aren't you?"
"I_"
"This face-I can't blame you. But it's too bad, because you-you could almost be my daughter, if I'd had one. A few years too old, you are, but not much." He leaned forward; Rissa saw Felcie trying not to flinch. "You look almost like her, some younger than when we met-"
"Who-?"
"The woman who was with me ten years and more-from long before we escaped until-" He shook his head. "UET
caught us at Franklin's Jump. I got the ship away, barely, but they holed us-and that's where she was." The man had tears in his eyes. "You remember her, Tregare?"
"Vanessa Largane? Of course. And you're right. I only saw her-oh, about biological thirty, I'd guess, and her hair was longer. But take off a few years, and with a UET regulation haircut-yes, Felcie's practically her image." Felcie's eyes brimmed. She reached forward, hesitated, then put her hand to Limmer's scarred cheek. "I am sorry, captain. And I promise-I won't be afraid of you any more. It was just that-"
"I know." Rissa said it quickly. "I did not, myself, im-mediately appreciate Captain Limmer as he has shown he deserves."
Limmer rose. "I can't imagine what's holding up the food here. I'l go see." He walked away. Tregare began to speak, but Felcie interrupted. "Oh-I'm so ashamed!"
Tregare gripped her hand. "Don't be. You reacted the way everybody does. Then you made it up to him. Not everybody does that."
"But he's your friend-I should've realized!"
"Peace on a pedestal!" Tregare's hand slapped the table. "Quit flipping your string, Felcie-I tel you, you've nothing to regret." He smiled. "That's the first time I know of that he's been able to talk of Vanessa since-it happened. Now-" He looked around. "Here he comes-and likely wanting no more said about it."
Felcie nodded. Limmer sat and said, "There was a mixup. We'l be served now." His prophecy was a good one; they ate without conversation until food was gone and coffee into its second pouring. Then Limmer said, "What's on the afternoon schedule, Tregare? I'm free if you need me."
"Sure. Come along if you like but I'l only be checking the cutmarks on No Return's hul plates. Not the most interesting job of the lot." He turned to Rissa. "You have anything special you want to do?"
"I had thought, since Felcie is here, to take the aircar and let her see something of the plains below." Felcie said, "Thanks, Tari, but how about another day?" She turned. "Captain Limmer?" Rissa frowned, but Felcie ig-nored her.
"Do you have-pictures-of Vanessa Largane?"
"Why, yes-I guess so. In my quarters someplace. I haven't looked-for so long. But-" He did not ask the question that showed in his face.
"Could I see them? I mean-if it's all right?"
After a pause, Limmer nodded. "Sure." He stood. "Come with me. Maybe it's time I looked again, too." He took her arm as she rose and led her out. At the doorway he turned and said, "Long as you don't need me on those hull plates, Tregare-" Rissa shook her head. "I fear she pushes him too fast, Bran -as she did the controls in the practice turret." Tregare smiled. "People are more flexible than computers.
If he couldn't face up to it, he wouldn't have agreed." He drank the last of his coffee. "You want to come see how we cut hul plates?"
"Not especially. But if that is what you must do, I will join you."
tregare erased a marking and redrew it. "It's not as simple as it looks," he said. "The hole has to match the trumpet-shaped funnel that seals to the projector's pivot mount. The funnel's not symmetrical-you've seen one?" She nodded. "So we set it for lefthand or right-simpler than making two models-and I have to compensate." He grinned. "The missiles, now-that's simpler. But for al of it we'l need duplicate covers-in case we have to use the camouflage trick more than once."
"And my idea, for extra turrets on No Return, makes it no easier."
"Worth it, though-if they surprise the hell out of some-body at the right time." She touched his arm. "Time, Bran-will there be enough?"
He shrugged. "Who knows? We'll keep pushing, as if we did know. Two more ships, though-I wish we had them already. That costs me sleep, some nights."
"I know-I wake to hear you breathing as no sleeper does."
His arm hugged her shoulders. "Next time, say hello."
Before she could answer, two men brought a drawing, argu-ing over its interpretation. Looking, Tregare found the flaw. "That circle's from somebody's coffee cup. Don't try to work on your break time-not with a sepia print." When the men had left, he said, "More likely they were sneaking breaks into work time-but the way I said it, they'll listen better." She nodded. "Yes. You have a good touch, Bran, with such matters."
"Maybe; I hope so. Hey-I'm done here! Let's us take the aircar down the hills."
tregare flew it; Rissa pointed and said, "There-toward the water, the Big Sink!"
"Al right, if you want-but we can't get al the way there and back before dark. How about the hummocks off there to the south? Want to see those?" She agreed.
The pattern of hummocks covered miles-each mound roughly fifty feet high and three hundred across, spaced irregularly and densely covered with short grasslike growth.
"Bran? Shall we land on one?"
"No. There's some odd stories from the early days-I don't know how true, and 1 don't want to find out the hard way. I'l set us down in that gap-looks like a river used to run there."
Aground, they walked along the dry canyon and looked up at the hummocks to either side. The sun's heat warmed them. They came to the edge of a cliff, where the canyon floor dropped, looked down into the shadows for a time, then turned back. Rissa's foot caught against a rock; she stumbled. Tregare caught her arm; momentum swung her to face him squarely. She broke the kiss. "Here? The ground is rough." A mo-ment later she laughed and said, "With our clothes on, Bran?"
&nb
sp; "Why not?"
"All right-but wait! There is a rock under me!
"Now-that is better."
she lay, his face against her shoulder, and looked into dis-tance; she felt joy that they shared peace. Then she saw it.
"Bran!"
"What?"
"Look!" She pointed; he lifted his head and turned to see. From the nearest hummock something had raised-long and thin, shockingly swift. It lashed the air, then swept the ground around the hummock. Rissa smelled a stench like stagnant swamp. The thing raised itself again, emitted a harsh, clacking sound, then retracted and was gone. Rissa said, "I am glad you knew not to land us there." He whistled, a short, tuneless burst. "I never saw that before. Don't know anyone who has-it was just Backhills talk. Wel, now we know."
As they got up, she said, "But we do not, Bran. We know it is big and looks dangerous. We have not seen it do any harm."
Now they walked; he reached to stroke her hair. "Let some-one else find out about that. You and I-we'll just leave it alone."
"Yes, Bran." And a few steps further; "I would like to fly the car now."
"Sure." When they got in, she lifted it and flew over a few hummocks, not high. Twice the ground split and something reached for them, but each time she sped away.
"What do you think?" she said. "Is the reaction defensive or predatory? And in either case, what possible natural target could there be?"
He shook his head. "I've got no idea, and I'm not inclined to investigate."
"Yes-we face enough dangers without seeking new ones."
Now she flew faster, rising to clear the ridge above, and the next. Her angle of approach was unfamiliar, but soon she located the peak with the slanted tip, then the half-circle ridge, and finally the crater. She landed near Lefthand Thread. As they stepped outside, Felcie came down the ship's ramp to greet them. Rissa said, "Are you ready to go upslope with us? Or are there things yet to be discussed here, first?"
"Well-I-"
Tregare said, "If we're invited to stay for dinner, I accept."
"That's not-well, maybe so-" said Felcie. "But let me say something." She took a deep breath. "I'm staying here-with Derek."
