by Caro Soles
Marselind’s calm face was finally showing signs of annoyance. “There is much more at stake here than the private lives of two alien dancers,” he said coolly. “You must understand that there can be no guarantees.”
“So how do I know your great and glorious leader won’t kill Chami before we even get there?”
“Because I have his word,” replied Marselind simply.
“Oh sure! I should take the word of a murdering outlaw!” cried Triani.
“You have the word of a Hunter,” said Marselind. “You will have to make do with that.”
“One more thing.” Triani’s voice sank almost to a whisper. “Did you see him? Is he really okay?”
“At first he threw up a lot and refused to eat,” Marselind said, “but he’s all right now.”
“He looks thin,” murmured Triani.
“We leave at one o’clock,” said Marselind, turning away.
Eulio looked startled. “At night?” he asked incredulously.
“Of course. In one hour.” Marselind fiddled with the dial on the transmitter. He flicked the switch on, then off again. He turned to Luan and his eyes were suddenly gentle. “Are you sure, Lu?” he asked softly. “There is still time to change your mind.”
“I’m sure.”
“Well, I’m not,” muttered Beny to himself. On the other hand, what choice did he have?
FIFTEEN
Two very large and shaggy animals stood blowing and snorting in the moonlight, their breath smoking in the cool night air. Marselind and Luan stood beside them, holding the braided bridles. Nearby, Triani waited beside Nevon. Now that they were actually about to do something, Triani was feeling more relaxed. Eulio, on the other hand, was shivering with cold, nerves and apprehension as he looked up at the huge animals.
Beny slipped his arms around Eulio’s waist and pulled him close. “You know I can’t go, dearest,” he whispered, his mouth in the blond hair. “I would if I could.”
“I know, love.”
“Have you got everything? Your pills? A sweater? Legwarmers?”
Eulio nodded and hugged him. “I love you,” said Beny and kissed him on the lips. He was aware of the others waiting patiently in the shadows. Eulio’s hair gleamed silver in the moonlight. For a moment, a shocking memory flashed through Beny’s mind of another time when Eulio had made a valiant and unexpected gesture that nearly got him killed. “No!” Beny breathed and held him closer.
Eulio gently pulled away. “This time it’s different,” he whispered. “I’ll be fine.”
Beny turned an anxious face towards Luan.
The boy met his eyes and nodded. He helped Eulio to mount, then leapt up in front of him. Triani was already sitting behind Marselind, his arms wrapped securely around the man’s waist.
“You’re a big boy, aren’t you, sweetie?” Triani remarked appreciatively.
“I thought you only go for the young fish,” countered Marselind, urging the animal forward.
“That depends what’s in the sea, doesn’t it?”
“Not to me,” said Marselind curtly. “And see that you keep your hands where they belong.”
“Ah, sweetie, don’t get mad,” Triani cooed softly.
Eulio was hanging on for dear life. The rocking, swaying motion already made him feel sick. “Does one get used to this?” he asked breathlessly.
“Sure,” said Luan. “It’ll only be for a few hours and then we’ll camp for a while.”
“Thank the gods!” said Eulio with feeling. Both Merculians had taken pills to keep them awake, since this was far past their rest time. Eulio glanced over at Triani. His pale face looked tired and dissipated in the fitful moonlight. His dark head rested against Marselind’s broad back, the black eyes staring. Eulio shivered and pulled his long coat around him.
There were no lights in the windows of the silent houses they passed and they met no one in the streets. To one side, they could see clearly the ruins of the reservoir.
“I suspect my father’s agents did that,” said Luan.
“Possibly. It certainly wasn’t Yonan.” Marselind’s voice was firm.
“I don’t suppose the precious man ever blows up anything, does he?” snapped Triani irritably.
“Of course. The Waterfall Bridge, for example, just last week. There was no loss of life.”
Eulio and Triani exchanged glances. Eulio didn’t care who blew up what. His body was already aching with fatigue and he had cramps in his legs because of the cold. He pulled out a pain-killer and swallowed it. “How much further?” he whispered.
“We’re not out of the city yet,” Luan replied, patiently.
Eulio sighed. After a while he felt himself slip sideways and snapped awake with a jerk. Luan felt it too, stopped the animal and traded places with him. “This way I can hang on to you in case you fall asleep,” he explained, his strong arms encircling the slight Merculian protectively. Sitting in front proved even more frightening for Eulio. It was impossible to avoid seeing the countryside lurching towards them. The shadows of the trees danced threateningly in the breeze, bringing back nightmare memories he thought he had banished for good. “I’m not a very brave person, you know,” whispered Eulio, cowering against the young Abulonian.
“Yes you are,” said Luan seriously. “You volunteered to help. You did what you had to do.”
Eulio grimaced into the darkness. “I did it for Orosin,” he said. “I did it for love, not because it was my duty. Typical Merculian reaction, I suppose.”
They were in the forest now and Eulio’s terror increased. Both his small hands clutched fiercely at the woolly neck of the beast under him. His body tense and rigid with strain, he pushed against Luan. Even the air smelled different in the menacing darkness.
Finally they came to a break in the trees and turned off the trail into a small clearing. Luan slid down and pulled Eulio into his arms, setting him on the ground with great care.
“We can catch a few hours sleep here,” said Marselind, prying Triani’s arms from around his waist.
“A few hours!” cried Triani, waking up.
“By that time the sun will be up and the going will be a lot easier.”
The Merculians looked at each other in consternation. Then Triani shrugged. “Well, you insisted on coming, sweetie.”
“You can’t be center stage all the time,” muttered Eulio crossly.
Marselind was unloading the saddlebags, his movements calm, unhurried. Casually he tossed a flat green rectangle to each of the Merculians. “Self-inflating sleeping bags,” he explained briefly. He removed the colorful blankets from the animals’ broad backs and then suspended their food bag from a low-hanging branch of a tree. “Good night,” he said courteously and went over to join Luan. They stood talking together for a moment before taking off their boots and crawling into the sleeping bag together.
“Nothing to it,” remarked Triani, watching.
Eulio sniffed. “Have you ever slept outside in a forest before?”
“Of course not, asshole.”
“Don’t be vulgar.” Eulio stared numbly at the green bundle in his arms. With stiff fingers he started untying the tabs.
Triani soon had his spread out on the ground and was trying to figure out how to get inside. He discovered a pillow and fluffed it up. “Oh, the joys of nature,” he muttered. Eulio burst into tears and dropped his bundle on the ground. Triani sighed. “If you wouldn’t take so many pills, your brain wouldn’t go numb,” he remarked.
“At least my brain isn’t pickled in alcohol!”
“Look, sweetie, which one of us is doing all the work around here?” Triani looked at Eulio, standing there helplessly, his face wet with tears, shaking with cold and fatigue. “Oh, shit!” He spread out the bag full size on top of his. “Come on, baby. Get in here with me.” Eulio stared at him blankly. “Come on! You’re safe with all those clothes on. It’s the only way to get warm. Trust me, for once.” Eulio wiped his eyes on his sleeve. After a moment’s hes
itation, he sat down and worked his way into the sleeping bag beside Triani.
“You’re awfully bony,” he complained, wriggling around to find a more comfortable position.
“At least it’s warm bones.” Triani pulled the sleeping bag up under his chin and put a cautious arm around Eulio. There was no reaction. Triani chuckled softly. “My, my! What a fascinating story to tell the folks back home! My night under the alien stars with the Conte Eulio Chazin Adelantis.”
Eulio jabbed him in the ribs with an elbow. “Shut up.” After a moment he said, “Triani, do you ever think about what happened on the Wellington?”
“Never,” said Triani firmly. “I’ve blocked it all from my mind.”
“I wish I could,” murmured Eulio. He sniffled miserably.
Two minutes later they were both asleep. The forest sighed around them. Now and then a pair of curious eyes gleamed from the branches. The moonlight was cold and glittering where it was caught in the dew on the grass. Gradually the sky lightened. It seemed only moments later that someone was shaking Triani by the shoulder.
Marselind grinned down at him. “Sun’s up,” he said cheerily. “Time to get going.”
Luan had started a fire in the middle of the clearing within a circle of rocks. There was the smell of cooking meat on the air. Eulio moaned and snuggled closer. Triani considered various dramatic ways of waking him up but dismissed them all. Finally he laid his mouth close to the fine membrane covering the sensitive inner ear and whispered a few words.
“You’re disgusting!” cried Eulio, wide awake.
“I love you too, sweetie.”
They crawled out of the bag. Eulio stood up, rubbed his eyes and yawned. “Oh, I’m so tired!” Triani was trying to roll up the sleeping bag. After watching him for a moment, Eulio knelt down beside him. He wasn’t much help. The bag kept slipping away from his fingers and unrolling again.
“Along with that title, it’s a pity you didn’t inherit any brains,” snapped Triani.
Eulio pushed him over and jumped to his feet. “What’s that awful smell?” he asked, looking around, his nose wrinkled in distaste.
“Some diplomat you are, Conte. That’s meat. You should be able to recognize it by now. And watch who you’re pushing around!”
Luan was coming towards them, the gold ring in his ear catching the light. He looked relaxed and rested. Baggy leggings were stuffed into his scuffed boots and he wore a long knife at his belt as well as a hand weapon of some sort. As he smiled at the Merculians, Triani realized he had never seen him look happy before.
“Congratulations,” said Triani, grinning up at the boy. He glanced over at Marselind who was squatting over the fire wearing the red and white headband of the rebels.
Luan blushed and kicked at a pebble with his boot. “Thanks.”
“You mean you two are a couple?” Eulio was confused. “I thought if you’re a man you get together with a woman. Isn’t that the idea of two sexes here?”
Luan shrugged. “If that’s what’s you want. You can choose anyone you like for your Life’s Companion.”
“Is that like being jewelled? Like Orosin and me?” Eulio touched the jewel, glowing deep green at his throat.
“I guess so. We swear vows to each other.”
“So do we.”
“Well, Marse and I haven’t had time to talk about that yet.” He knelt down and with a few deft movements rolled up both bags and fastened them securely. “I’m sorry we had to get you up so soon. I know you need a lot of sleep but we have to avoid the patrols and the safest way is through the forest. Unfortunately, it’s also the longest.” He handed Eulio a small blue box. “Here’s your breakfast, compliments of the Ambassador.” He went back to the fire.
Eulio watched him go, turning the box around and around in his hands. “Isn’t that interesting. What happens if you want a baby, do you suppose?”
“How should I know. I guess then you choose a woman.”
“But then you end up with three people, Triani. I don’t think I’d like that.” Eulio sat down on the blanket and opened the box. “It certainly wouldn’t work for Merculians. Things are complicated enough with one sex, don’t you think? I couldn’t handle two.”
“You don’t have to. Anyway, it’s not the first time we’ve seen something like this. Don’t you ever pay any attention on tour off planet? Give me one of those biscuits.” Eulio passed over a biscuit and dug out a cylinder of pills at his belt. “Here. We’d better take one of these, too.”
Triani looked at the small triangular stimulants suspiciously. “This doesn’t look like your usual,” he said.
“It’s stronger. You don’t want to fall off your beast, do you?”
Triani shrugged, threw back his head and swallowed it. “This is going to be hell.”
He was right.
For hours the sun stabbed at their tired gritty eyes making them feel as if they were crossing a desert instead of the rocky field. When they came to a stream, they jumped down and drank greedily, cupping their hands in the clear water. Luan gave them a canteen to fill and helped them mount up again. They shared one of the animals, this time, Eulio sitting in front because he was shorter. Luan assured them that the animal was a docile creature who would follow its mate without urging. He and Marselind rode ahead, talking quietly together, obviously enjoying their closeness.
“It’s nice someone’s having a good time,” muttered Eulio. After a while, they helped each other off with their tunics and tied them around their waists. It was getting hotter and hotter, but the other two didn’t seem affected.
Suddenly their mild amax gave a wild, fierce snort and broke into a gallop, heading off the path through the dense forest. Eulio screamed. Triani pushed him down hard against the creature’s neck, hanging on to the beast’s long, shaggy wool. They both closed their eyes. The ground shook with the pounding of hooves and the air was filled with high, wild snorting. Eulio felt his fear rise in his throat. Triani’s body was pressing him down and he could hardly breathe. He fainted.
Triani was very much aware of what was happening but he was powerless to do anything about it. He looked over his shoulder to see if the Abulonians were following, but the wild plunging of the animal made it impossible to see anything but a blur of trees, sun and leaves. He turned back just as the animal veered off the trail and pounded through the dense undergrowth. Triani raised his head again to get some idea of where they were going. A low-hanging branch knocked him to the ground. The great beast plunged away. Triani sat there stunned, feeling as if his backbone had been rammed up into his head. Shakily he got to his feet and followed the trail of broken branches. There was no sign of Luan or Marselind. In front of him, the forest opened up and the ground stopped. It seemed as if the land had caved in suddenly, plunging down to meet the ribbon of water that curled through the dense greenery below. The stream was fed by a noisy waterfall that tumbled and splashed nearby. Nothing stirred in the warm air but a wide-winged bird, spiraling slowly downwards against the lavender blue of the sky. Far below, in an open stretch of rock and bare, red earth, a patch of bright, royal blue caught his eye. Eulio! The sun glinted on the gold bands on his wrist. “Ah, shit!” Triani was looking for a way down when the ground gave way beneath his feet. He clawed desperately at the empty air as he fell, landing with a thump on his backside, sliding uncontrollably towards the small, sprawled figure of his partner. The sky tilted crazily. Everything went black.
SIXTEEN
Beny stood at the window wringing his hands. In the open space below, the Imperial Hunters were engaged in some complicated and mystifying maneuvers, but Beny wasn’t aware of them. He felt as if things were closing in on him. If everything continued to move ahead on schedule, sixty-five Terrans would be arriving in three days. A week ago, he would have been delighted that all his careful planning for the Festival was working out so smoothly. Now he couldn’t let it happen. He couldn’t take the responsibility of letting more innocent people come to this plac
e expecting a safe environment. He should have made a move sooner.
He paced around the room one more time, ending up in front of his desk. His hand was shaking as he punched in the combination for the bottom drawer. It slid open silently, revealing the flat red communication device that was for emergency use only. It took two voice prints and three codes to activate it. It had never occurred to him that he would have to use it. He shut the drawer again, unable to face making the call just yet. It made him feel as if he had already failed. Everything that had always been considered a plus to him before, seemed a definite minus here; his height, his soft, androgynous good looks, his slender build, even his talent for music. Damn this place! It was worse than the I.P.A. Academy! It had taken disaster to make him fully realize that the term ‘Ambassador’ was more than a courtesy title, as he had thought. Abulon was an important posting and what did he have to report? One terrorist kidnaping; both the stars of the Merculian National Dance Company out in the woods on a dangerous and uncertain errand; his office manager close to revolt and the contempt of the Great Chief because he wasn’t doing one thing about any of it.
The door opened softly and the First Minister appeared, his dark face split by a wide friendly grin. “I am going against all the rules, no?” he said cheerfully. “I would not let them announce me. This is just an informal visit. Why stand on ceremony?”
“No reason at all,” Beny stammered, staring at his unexpected guest. “Please, sit down. Would you like something to drink? Eat?”
“No, no.” The First Minister waved his hand, dismissing the suggestion and began to prowl around the office, inspecting and touching the strange devices Beny took for granted. “You have so much equipment. So much amazing technology. It must be a fine place, where you come from.”
