“No, I can’t, but then I’ve not traveled much around Shola on foot. I’m Sholan,” he added, his eyes catching Jurrel’s. “That much I’m sure of. But the pain in my side had nothing to do with that, I know it didn’t. That’s something completely different.”
Jurrel’s hand stroked his forehead again. “It could be a vision of when this traveler finally gets the medical help he needs. Maybe he’s reaching out mentally and you’re picking it up.”
“I don’t know, Jurrel. I just wish the visions would stop,” he said tiredly, closing his eyes. “I can’t go on like this. I’m a danger to myself.” He was remembering other dreams he’d had, about being cold and floating in an empty darkness.
“That’s why I’m here,” said Jurrel quietly, continuing to stroke his forehead and smooth his wet hair away from his face. “We’ll go and see Guardian Dhaika tomorrow and tell him about this.”
The touch was soothing, made the nausea retreat. Right now he didn’t care that the hand was male, just that it was comforting. Sholan males were something of an enigma to him anyway, lacking some of the masculine qualities he was used to, yet having the gracefulness he associated with femininity. Some of them sent out all the wrong signals, as if they were a third, as yet uncharted sex all of their own.
“There are more,” he said, beginning to relax under Jurrel’s touch. “The room I saw was part of them, but they don’t make sense. Fear, there’s always a sense of fear. I don’t want to go to Dhaika yet. I haven’t enough to tell him that sounds believable.”
“It’s your choice, but please, keep talking to me about them. There’s no need to shut everyone out. Between us we might discover what they mean. You’ve not had an easy time since you came to Shola. First a Leska Link, then these visions. It must have been incredibly lonely. You need friends, people you can turn to. I can be here for you if you wish.”
“What’s your Talent, then?” he murmured, noticing the stroking had stopped. He was relieved to be able to talk to someone at last about the dreams, someone who wasn’t going to ridicule him. “Empathy?”
“Among other things,” Jurrel agreed, getting to his feet.
* * *
Rhyaz sat down on the chair beside Lijou’s desk. “The Rhijissoh’s reached Jalna,” he said.
Lijou looked up from his work. “I heard. I take it we’re in full communication with that world now.”
Rhyaz flicked an ear in assent. “Yes. Just finished speaking to Captain Kishasayzar and the four Human agents we left there.”
“So we now have up-to-date news on the situation there. Good. About time. Relaying it through the Sumaan ship took far too long. What news is there on the Profit?”
Rhyaz picked up the crystal paperweight on Lijou’s desk and began toying with it. “Contact negotiations have started, and the Cabbaran and U’Churian delegates are arriving in a few days to endorse the temporary agreement that Kaid reached with them on board the Rryuk’s Profit.”
“Be careful of that, Rhyaz, it’s an antique,” warned Lijou. What was it with this paperweight? Everyone seemed to need to pick it up and handle it for some reason. He remembered the last time had been when Ghezu. . . .
“The news is bad.” Rhyaz put the crystal down with a thump that made Lijou wince, even as he realized that his mind was suddenly going off into irrelevancies. He knew he didn’t want to hear this news.
“Still no word from the Profit, and Kaid neglected to tell us that Carrie was seriously injured.”
Lijou picked up the paperweight, finding comfort in the smooth surface. “How badly?”
“Bullet lodged against her spine, an archaic Jalnian one with a soft tip. It’s serious. She needed specialized surgery, that’s why they put her in cryo on the U’Churian ship.”
“Then Kusac’s in one, too. And they’ve been missing for three days,” said Lijou slowly, trying to take it in. He roused himself. “What are Raiban and Chuz going to do?”
“I had words with them. As of now, Rryuk’s Profit is officially listed as missing. A search has been implemented along their last known route. The U’Churian delegates’ ship is due at Jalna in two days. They plan to join us in the search, same with the Cabbarans they’ll be bringing with them. If the Profit is there, we’ll find it, Lijou. Could be nothing more than a comm breakdown. They might still turn up on schedule at Tuushu in four days’ time.”
“It takes longer than four days for them to get there,” said Lijou. “I know, I read the reports. They aren’t officially due there for another seven days.”
“The Profit can get there faster because of their Cabbaran navigators. They’ve got . . .”
“I read that report, too,” interrupted Lijou. How was he going to break this news to Konis? It had been bad enough when the message at the palace had been given to him by mistake, but now he had problems enough with that younger daughter of his. And Rhyasha. It would break her heart to lose them both. “Don’t try to convince me you believe it’s a comm or engine failure. You wouldn’t be insisting on a search now if you did.”
“We’ve got one of our own ships posted near the jump point at Tuushu. When they emerge, we’ll see them. We can’t afford to lose them, Lijou,” said Rhyaz quietly. “There’s also the fact that they’re aboard the ship of two new allies to be taken into consideration. That was my lever with the High Council. We can’t let any of the species that trade at Jalna think we’re slow to respond to one of their missing ships at this stage in our treaty talks.”
Lijou nodded. “When do I tell Konis and Rhyasha?”
“Can you delay it? No need to worry them any sooner than we need to. As you say, we’ve seven days before we need to tell them.”
In his hands, the crystal suddenly seemed icy cold, and its chill went straight to his heart. He put it down just as hurriedly as Rhyaz had done. “You realize this could be what Vartra’s warning was about. Not them, but why they’ve gone missing.”
“I’m already working on that assumption. All our people in the field have been contacted and put on alert. I’d be doubting the sanity of following the vision you had, but there’s no way I can rationalize that coin you gave me.”
Lijou shivered. “Don’t remind me,” he murmured. “I’ve been visiting the temple more often than usual, hoping for an answer, another vision, even another visitation, dammit! But nothing! It’s as if Vartra has left us to get on with it!”
“What about any of our other visionaries?”
“Nothing. No, wait. Dzaka came to me two days ago with a tale of Kashini screaming in fear for most of the night. He said he and Kitra had the distinct feeling she knew her mother and father were in danger. I dismissed it as pure fancy. Seems I might have been a little too quick in my assessment.”
“Contact Dzaka. See if he or Kitra have picked up anything more. And make sure every vision or dream, no matter how trivial or unrelated it may seem, is reported to you.”
Lijou nodded. “Is there anything else I can do?”
“You’re doing plenty as it is by using the priesthood to pass on messages to our people,” said Rhyaz, getting up. “This remains between ourselves for now, Lijou. Chuz and Raiban don’t exactly want it common knowledge either. Let’s see where we are when the U’Churians arrive.”
Chapter 6
Day 8
A yowl of terror had Kaid leaping from his bed before he even realized he was awake. In his haste, he stumbled, his blanket caught round his legs. Cursing, he bent to free himself, flinging it behind him as he raced into their common lounge. He passed Mrowbay sitting slumped asleep on the couch but more important matters claimed him. The shriek sounded again, and this time he knew which room to go to. The middle door was open as, T’Chebbi now behind him, he headed into Rezac’s and Jo’s room.
Zashou was crouched beside the two beds, keening.
Reaching down, he hauled her to her feet. “What is it?” he demanded, shaking her. “Stop that damned racket, Zashou! You’re not helping anyone, and I can’t
hear myself think!”
She continued to howl, oblivious to his presence. He shook her again, and when she still didn’t respond, he slapped her, a hard, stinging blow that made her gasp and put her hand to her face in shock.
“You hit me,” she faltered.
“Damned right I did! Now, what’s happened?”
She pointed at the empty beds. “They’re gone,” she whimpered. “I came in to talk to Rezac, and they were gone!”
Pushing her aside, Kaid joined T’Chebbi, who was already kneeling on the floor examining one of the empty beds.
Pulling the cover off the other, he found what he was looking for. A red stain on the sheet at chest height. “Blood. His wounds were bleeding again.” He let the cover fall back and stood up.
“He’s dead!” Zashou wailed. “They’ve taken him because he’s dead!”
“Enough,” snapped Kaid, pushing past her and the group that had materialized around them. “If he were dead, you’d be as well, you know that!” He headed back to the lounge, reaching out mentally for either of the two missing people, and encountered a barrier he couldn’t penetrate. “What the hell?” he muttered, then Tirak claimed his attention.
“I heard Zashou. Who’s missing?” the U’Churian demanded, clutching at the blanket he’d wrapped around himself for modesty.
“Rezac and Jo. They’re not with any of you?” asked Kaid, trying to catch the eyes of the circle of half-dressed U’Churians and Humans. He felt a flash of annoyance, then remembered their nudity taboos. They’d soon lose them, living in such close quarters.
A chorus of negatives answered him.
“Not in the sanitary facilities either,” said T’Chebbi.
“Have you seen these?” asked Taynar, holding a wrist comm out to him. “Our stuff. It’s been returned.”
Automatically, Kaid took it from him.
“They’ve been here while we slept!” said Zashou hysterically, pointing to the pile of assorted personal possessions that lay on the low table beside Taynar. “How could they come in here and take two people from their beds without us even knowing? What kind of beings are they?”
“I was on guard,” said Mrowbay quietly. “I don’t remember seeing anyone.”
“Were asleep when I came through,” said T’Chebbi.
All eyes turned on the helpless Mrowbay. He shrugged, ears flattening briefly. “I don’t understand it,” he said. “I wasn’t even tired.”
“He’s not to blame,” said Kaid. “His sleep couldn’t have been natural. To take two people out of here without waking any of us is virtually impossible.”
“Why? Why have they taken them?” demanded the distraught Zashou.
“Is obvious,” said T’Chebbi, looking through the pile of possessions on the table. “His wounds were bleeding, and she’s pregnant. Maybe something happened to her in the night, too.”
“I know what they were doing, damn him!” said Zashou hysterically. “That’s all Rezac’s good for, fathering cubs!”
“Why not?” countered T’Chebbi, looking up at her. “You don’t want him or his cubs. Why should he waste himself on you?”
“Enough, both of you!” Kaid roared, losing his temper. “Zashou, don’t be so damned stupid! Neither of them was in a state to do anything last night except sleep! T’Chebbi, leave her alone. Am I the only one to see the real implications here?”
“How’d they know they needed medical attention?” asked Mrowbay.
Kaid rounded on him. “Right! They must have some kind of monitoring devices on them. Dammit, I should have thought to search them both!”
“I’d not have thought of it either,” said Tirak. “They were in such a bad way, who’d have wanted to disturb them with a search?”
“Not the point,” said Kaid, sitting down. “I should have.”
Manesh indicated the pile on the table. “No, it’s my responsibility. I’m the security officer. Everything they give us, including all of this, we should now consider suspect.”
“They’ll be clean,” said Sheeowl quietly. “When they can knock out our watch and possibly the rest of us as well, come in and remove two injured people without waking us, they don’t need to plant devices in our wrist comms.”
“She’s right,” said Tirak, hoisting his blanket more securely around himself.
“I’ll check them anyway,” Manesh said firmly, holding her hand out for Kaid’s wrist comm.
“What now?” asked Tallis. “What do you intend to do to protect us? We’re civilians, not part of your military forces. We have a right to protection. Who’re they going to take next?”
Kaid sighed. “We’ll put two people on watch tonight. It’s unlikely they’ll take anyone else, Tallis. Rezac and Jo obviously needed medical attention, that’s why they’re gone.”
“There’s some books and vids among this lot,” said Sayuk, who’d been looking through the pile. “No use without a vid unit, though.”
“Like that?” asked Taynar, pointing to a squat object sitting in what had been one of the vacant niches in the far wall.
“Like that,” she agreed, looking over at it. “It’s ours, from the Profit.” Her tone was frankly incredulous.
Tirak sat down in the nearest seat. “I don’t understand this. Why keep us prisoners yet provide us with all the comforts of home?”
“Boredom increases the need to try to escape,” said Kaid. “This makes us hope the Primes will get around to releasing us if we cooperate with them.”
“You don’t know that they won’t,” countered Tallis. “They’ve not questioned any of us, not offered us any violence. They may well let us go.”
“You were the one demanding to be protected a moment ago,” said Manesh. “Now you think they’re harmless. Make up your mind, Tallis!”
“Stop ordering me about! Who do you think you are? I don’t have to do what you tell me! I’m Sholan, not U’Churian!” His tail was beginning to lash from side to side angrily.
“Stow it, Tallis,” said Kaid sharply. “We’re in this together. As you said, you’re a civilian. You’ll do what you’re told and like it.”
* * *
As Sheeowl had predicted, their belongings were clean. Lighting and heating they already had access to, but now that they could keep track of time, they felt more in control of their environment. The door to the corridor outside let in only faint sounds, but they were able to hear when people were passing by.
At first, Tirak kept his crew close and alert, but as the hours passed and they remained undisturbed, he allowed them to relax, realizing they’d be burned out long before the need for action came, if it ever did.
As their day wore on, Kaid watched with a detached interest as the two crews formed social groupings. It gave him something to do other than worry about the continued absence of Rezac and Jo and the fact that mentally, he couldn’t reach beyond their suite. The return of his wrist comm had given him cause for concern because his, unlike those of the other Sholans who wore one, was fitted with a personal psychic damper which was still working. Although the feel of the mental barrier wasn’t the same, he wished he could be sure that the reason he couldn’t penetrate beyond the walls of their suite had nothing to do with the Primes finding the device.
As they began to settle after their last meal of the day, he noted Giyesh and Jeran finally move quietly off to a corner of the lounge on their own. He knew of their night together on Jalna and had seen them meeting for odd stolen hours together on the Profit. Sensing Tirak about to interfere, Kaid reached across the table to touch the other’s hand, flicking his ear in a negative before he realized the captain wouldn’t understand the Sholan gesture.
“Leave them,” he said quietly. “They strengthen each other. He needs her even if she doesn’t need him. He’s been through a lot recently, and just lost two of his companions. They’re not undermining any discipline, quite the reverse. They’re showing the rest of us we can work together.”
Before Tirak had time to rep
ly, the door slid open and J’koshuk entered. Instantly, Kaid was up and moving toward him. As the door slid shut, his hands closed around the Valtegan’s throat, slamming him against it.
“Where are they?” he demanded, ears laid sideways and lips drawn back from his teeth in a snarl of extreme rage.
“Who?” hissed J’koshuk, clawed hands scrabbling at Kaid’s forearms, his voice barely audible because of the pressure on his throat. “No one is missing!”
Shifting his grip, Kaid was surprised to feel metal under his hands. Hooking the fingers of his left hand round the band, he hauled the priest into the center of the room. A quick glance told him all he needed to know about it for the moment.
“Two of us are gone! Where are they? When will they be returned?” he demanded, shaking him by the collar.
“They’re back,” wheezed J’koshuk, trying to keep his voice calm as he clutched at Kaid for support. “They were only gone for a few hours.”
“Liar!” shrieked Zashou, bearing down on them, claws outstretched. “We’ve spent the day watching and waiting!”
Kaid fended her off until T’Chebbi ran over and grabbed hold of her, then he hauled J’koshuk closer. “Where are they?” he asked again, staring into the other’s bulbous green eyes.
The priest flinched and looked away. “I watched them being returned myself not thirty minutes ago.”
Kaid felt a cold knot of fear grip his lower belly. “Check it out, T’Chebbi,” he said calmly. Suddenly, he was afraid to discover J’koshuk was telling the truth. The seconds stretched interminably as he waited for her to return.
“They’re back. Are sleeping,” she said.
Zashou whimpered in fear, then Kaid heard a dull thump as she hit the ground.
“Fainted,” said T’Chebbi in disgust.
Knowing her as he did, Kaid could hear the note of uncertainty in her voice that the others would miss. He returned his attention to the priest, smelling the stench of his fear. “You’re their creature, their servant. What manner of beings are the Primes? What did they do to my people? Why did they take them?” he demanded.
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