by T. J. Quinn
Many followed as the woman called Esim led them to the dugout shelter built from some metal sheeting and other salvaged materials. The dusty soil was its floor, and it barely offered protection from the desert heat and cold. Esim's husband lay delirious on a makeshift cot, covered with a clean but shabby blanket. Hankura knelt on one knee in the dirt beside him and gently pulled back to cover to look at his leg. The semi-conscious man moaned with pain that this slight disturbance. Hankura's stomach churned at the red and oozing wound, but he kept his face coolly masked of any of motions.
The infection was approaching gangrene stages, something Hankura's had rarely seen on Velran or Aledus accept on holo-viewer. He quickly took readings on the bio scanner while Chelle silently chose the instruments and medication he would need. As he carefully cleaned the ugly wound and applied a dressing, Chelle gave two injections with a needleless syringe. When the infection subsided, they would close the wound cleanly without leaving a star.
“Djon has a serious infection," Hankura told Esim. It has spread through his body from the leg wound. Did you clean it carefully when it happened?"
"Yes, and many times since. But, we only had water and little of that, it only grew worse."
Hankura gave a look of understanding and handed her a few peel away med-dots. "Do you know how to use a med-dot?"
“Yes," she nodded and looked at the tiny disks in her hand.
“Good. Apply one this evening and at sunrise. We'll be back tomorrow to see how he is doing," Hankura added.
“Will he die?" She asked worriedly. “I can't bear to lose Djon, too. I won't have anyone if he dies. My brother is dead; our children have died. Don't let him die, too.”
“Don’t worry, Esim. I don't think he'll die," Hankura told her gently. "The medication we gave him should stop the infection and ease his pain. He’ll rest more quietly now. That will help a lot."
Before they'd finished recording the information about Djon on their hand held record computer, other Zevians came to ask for Hankura's help. He and Chelle walked with different ones to a multitude of pitiful shelters, treating them with the meager supplies they carried with them. They were appalled that the Zevians were returned to Zevus Mar to live in such squalor. Angrily, they blamed the Federation until they learned from Marn that the Zevians had demanded to be returned as soon as construction crews were OK'd to start moving in. It was still their home, and they had the right to be there for the rebuilding---all of it.
Darkness had long fallen by the time Hankura and Chelle had seen everyone who asked for them. They were exhausted when they finally climbed into Casir's hovercraft to return to the construction operations center. The desert air was cool, and the moons shone brightly overhead. Preprogrammed to return to the construction base, Hankura only needed to press a button for the vehicle to take them back to the barracks. As the craft lifted, he leaned back in the seats and draped a tired arm around his wife's shoulders. “Now I see why Casir is in such a hurry to finish the Starport. His empathic nature makes working among these people hard on him."
It isn't easy for either of you, love. She laid her head on his shoulder.
Harder than I'd like to admit. Conditions are a lot worse than I ever imagined, and we have so little medicine. We packed the Mran to the limit, but it's not enough. I don't know if they can wait for supplies much longer. He mused. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes wearily, cuddling her a little closer. And things seemed so bad for us. We were warm and comfortable in the barracks, while they are living in hovels with hardly enough food to go around.
I know. And Marn and Tira are worried about us it's like my brother Jerry always used to say: when things look bad, look around. You'll always find somebody worse.
“Oh, yes, I remember. But it seems like every time you said that we turned out to be that somebody," he murmured a little ruefully, but he felt less bitter than he had in the weeks since their escape from the Tregans. Even exhaustion felt good.
“It does feel good, doesn't it," Chelle murmured. “They needed us, and we helped them at least a little. Maybe by helping them, we can help ourselves learn how to live again. They are all so brave, and they appreciate what little help we gave them so much."
"But, you’re still thinking about Oltarin---and Orion."
She nodded, rubbing her cheek against the hollow of his shoulder. "But I sensed Marn was tempting you with that agricomplex, saying we could file a claim to own it if we want.” They want us to stay. Mikal always said Zevus Mar was a good place to raise children and it was. But I don’t feel that this is the place I want to call home---even though I felt what you were feeling as you watched Marn’s and Tira’s sons playing in the dirt.
I still want children---but, we don't even have a place to call home. It's just a reckless notion. He frowned at the turn of his thoughts and tried unsuccessfully to push them away. Our child… It would be a wanted child… Beautiful… Enveloped in love… That's why we were going to take our discharge from the explorations ---before the Tregans took us.
“Ah, what a soft touch you are!" Chelle laughed delightedly.
“Touched in the head!" He asserted half seriously. “I would say ever since you wormed your way into my mind." But, to hear you laugh like that again… But it's crazy---especially now.
"Why?"
"Neither Oltarin nor Zevus Mar has a Nurtury."
“Who was born in a Nurtury? You weren't, and I certainly wasn't. I can carry, Hankura. We always said that."
“Oh, Mother! Psi-mated to a pregnant woman. Just what I need," he mused aloud. “And we have no Sepex."
“Well, I guess we'll have to forget it. We've got no home, no Sepex, and no Nurtury. What have we to offer a child?"
We both know what.
Then, why can't you just have the implant removed? I can do it. Plain old sex usually works to make a baby---maybe a little slower---but usually works just as well.
“But, it's pretty chancy. And besides, it hasn't been that long since" he stopped short. Without even looking, he knew they were tears welling in her big blue eyes. Damn, Chelle, not again! You know what I meant. We need more time to think it over and recover ourselves. It's just…
The steady beep from the craft's vid-com interrupted their train of thought when it had started to take a bad turn. A simple voice command brought Casir's platinum haired image up on the small screen.
“So you didn't make off with my craft after all," he joked. “Did you find Marn and Tira?"
“Yes. They’re in good shape in spite of everything. I had no idea they would be living like that. It's horrible. Do you have any bad ones in Medrin?"
“We took care of most of them before the droid got smashed. They've been told to let us know if they need you," he replied. “You’ll be glad to know that the primary pad will be finished by morning, ready for shuttles day after tomorrow we've got four shifts working round the clock to do it."
“What’s on the freighter?" Hankura asked.
“Heavy machinery, food, temporary shelter, medicine, and I don't know what all besides two more construction crews. One is set for Elran, and we just got the contract to start construction in Medrin as soon as we finish the Starport. I expect to be here for about six more weeks at least."
"Glad to have you." Having Casir round would certainly help him to return his life to sanity. Knowing Casir, he probably underbid the contract just to arrange it. “How is Cran?"
“Getting belligerent already. I don't think you're going to keep them down for long."
“That’s what he thinks. I'll see to him," Hankura chuckled. “We’ll be there in about three minutes."
“I’ll be waiting… Got some hot jern and some food. I'm not giving you anymore carava." Casir grinned. "I think we both had enough of that stuff to last a good, long time."
“Can’t argue that friend," Hankura agreed. “Nice, hot jern sounds pretty good. It's getting cold as hell out here."
“Meet you in the dining hall," Casir
said, ending the transmission.
“Chelle---” he began. Then he realized she'd fallen asleep with a single tear glistening on her cheek it. He wiped it away with his finger. Ah, my darling, we both have doubts about this, but it is what we both want more than anything. Take the implant out tomorrow. His lips brushed the silk of her cropped flaming hair. I have always been and always will be a soft touch for you.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
A Dark Secret
Lost in his own thoughts, Casir looked up as Hankura walked into the dining hall. He sank into a chair opposite Casir and stretched his long legs out under the table.
"Chelle isn't joining us?" Casir questioned and handed him a mug of hot jern from the mobile dispenser at his left. "What will it be?"
"Trelp's as good as anything, I guess," Hankura responded absently, and Casir pressed the button on the machine. "Chelle was pretty upset when she saw Jess, and she's exhausted."
"You're not a whole lot better." Casir looked at him perceptively and passed him a plate of what looked like a spinach egg casserole. "Jess? Some of the other women have been insensitive, but I never expected anything from Jess. I warned them all.”
"It wasn't her fault." Hankura began to pick at his food with a three-pronged fork and related the incident to him. “Jess looks so much like Kaara it's scary. That's what set her off---Kaara died in her arms.”
"Mother, I didn't know that," Casir murmured when he'd finished. "I was the one who told Jess to ask Chelle about the micro-discs. Jess is such a sweet little thing; I thought she might cheer Chelle up. It shook you, too---I can feel it."
"Yeah, a little."
"A lot," Casir admonished. "You can't fool me."
"Okay, a lot. Seeing Jess brought back bad memories for both of us---and we're just starting to feel in sync with things again." He took a sip of his jern and ate with a little more relish.
"I still wonder if maybe you should have stayed on Aledus a little longer to give yourselves more time to put this all into perspective."
Hankura shook his head negatively. "Not with Marn and Tira and the others fighting to survive here, waiting for the Federation to send them help." He took another bite of trelp. They treat us like undesirables there, anyway. I'm not meant to live there. I can't spend my life in pursuit of pleasure just like you told me before I left Velran. Nor can Chelle.
"So, how was your visit? Is your mother okay, now? "
She fully recovered from her breakdown. The Wholaskans de-programmed her on Velran. The breakdown was a delayed reaction to her childhood conditioning at the Aledan Psi Institute.
Does she remember trying to take over your mind?
"No," Hankura said quietly. She knows what she did, but she doesn't remember actually doing it.
"You're too damned stubborn for even a grade ten like her to take over your mind," Casir asserted with a wry grin.
Yes, but I blanked out nearly fifteen days after she tried. I went half-crazy---said terrible things to Chelle ... at one point I---I almost killed her.
Hankura still found that last very hard to face, and it had been five years since those moments of insanity after she had gently drawn him from the blackness.... but he also felt relieved to finally share the memory---the black rage that overwhelmed him when she told him his mother's psi attack had nearly killed them---his fingers closing around her throat and how she almost surrendered to death at his hands...
"Goddess!" Hankura jumped up from his seat and paced a couple steps and turned back to face Casir. "I almost killed her because of Mother.
"The last thing I remember after that was staring down at my hands. It was as though I were possessed---and I was, by Mother. She hated Chelle that much---before..."
"Mother of Life, man! You need a keeper. In seven years, you've found more trouble than any ten men I know." It must be about time for your luck to change.
We are hoping. Hankura smiled faintly. We are planning to go back to Oltarin once we help get the new Elran clinic started---and maybe have a child.
Are you ready for that? Casir raised a white brow.
"We loved Oltarin," Hankura pointed out. "The clan feuds were settled, and they need medical clinics there, too.”
“But, you and Chelle are going ahead with trying to have a child even before you leave?” he asked, concerned. “Hankura, there isn't even a Nurtury."
"Chelle will carry to term."
"Can she?"
"Of course, I did the surgery. She wouldn't let anyone else near her," Hankura explained calmly. It wasn't so sudden a decision. Our discharge was near, and we were planning to conceive and find someplace to settle and have the child---before. We decided to go ahead with our plans. Of course, there's not a drop of Sepex© on Zevus Mar so conception may take a while."
"You mean you're just going to take your chances on conceiving?" Casir looked at him incredulously. Well, that's a hell of a way to go about it, especially coming from you! It's almost barbaric.
"That's how they still do it on Earth. They've fallen behind the rest of us in a lot of ways, you know---and Chelle is a Terran." Isn't half the fun in the trying? Hankura chuckled good-naturedly.
"It depends. Failure could be even more trying," Casir pointed out.
"Yes. I realize that. I've only just had the implant out today. It takes a week or two for the effects to wear off without Sepex. Right now, we've just simply stopped preventing conception. I don't anticipate any problems. My implant was due to be changed, anyway. It's been ten years."
After a moment, Casir laughed. It's a good thing you've settled down from the old days. Otherwise, half my crew women would end up pregnant.
Are you kidding? Chelle offered to break Shara's nose for what she was thinking with yours truly in mind.
"You put up with that shit?" Casir knit his pale brow together.
Hankura grinned and took another bite of food. We are psi-mates, and I am probably even more possessive than she. How do you think I got into so much trouble on Aledus?
And you wouldn't have it any other way. Casir laughed. "That's really archaic. If you'd said anything like that back on Velran, I'd have thought you were touched in the head."
"You think I am not?" Hankura said brightly, then more soberly, "But, is it really so crazy, Casir?"
Casir shrugged noncommittally. "It's your life." A pause. “Have you thought about where you will settle on Oltarin?”
Hankura finished his food and nodded. "We thought we’d settle on just below the high plateau in the Cerulean Mountains about sixty klicks from Brandt McKell’s ranch. I have contacted him about the availability of property. That particular area has no settlements.”
“When do you think you'll start construction?"
"Depends on how soon we can afford have it built. We are going to use natural materials---stone and wood found on the property. We won’t have credits to start construction until our yarrel crop is sold from Aledus."
"Don’t you worry about that. As soon as our kids come out of the Nurtury and can travel, I will get a crew together and come to Oltarin and build it for you.
“Who's going to pay the costs? Certainly not you! You're talking at least three-quarters of a million credits."
"Hell, we've got a lot more than that. What'll you get from the yarrel?" Casir asked.
"One point four million---in seven months."
"So, then you'll pay me back. It’s going to take a while to get there, and you'd do the same for me," Casir told him assuredly. "Don't worry about the crew. With what you’ll save on materials, you’ll be able to afford it."
"You sure?"
"Am I?" Casir grinned. It's the least I can do. I certainly couldn't have saved Cran without you. Luran would have been crushed.
"And I know how unhappy people affect you," Hankura grinned his thanks.
"Especially my friends," Casir added meaningfully. We both remember a time when we thought we would never have any. Friends, that is. "I want to make sure you have a home to ta
ke that child to before Chelle delivers. And I know Jana and Delara want to see you again and meet Chelle."
“That would be great. The way you tramp around the Galaxy, it'll probably be ten years before I ever see you again."
"Knowing you, I'll wager you and Chelle will be headed out in five," Casir returned with a laugh.
"Could be," Hankura shrugged. "But we won't be running next time."
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Long Nights and Longer Days
The night was crisp and clear with the stars twinkling brightly above the Zevian desert plain. Casir walked aimlessly through the rebuilt spaceport, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his warm, quilted jacket.
He stopped under the newly constructed observation tower, took out a mildly euphoric cigarette, and lit it, sucking its pungent smoke deep into his lungs. He'd worry about the side effects later; right now he needed its mellow euphoria.
Mother, he missed Jana and Delara---especially on a cold night like this. It certainly didn't help to remember how they had pleaded for him to join them when he commed them earlier. They made him wish he hadn't extended his stay on Zevus Mar. They hadn't wanted him to come in the first place, and he'd almost changed his mind until he learned Hankura was coming, too.
He just couldn't leave Hankura now, not when his friend still needed him. Jana and Delara understood, even though they weren't quite happy about it. Hankura was their friend, too. Casir had hoped they might come join him on Zevus Mar, but the time was drawing near for their babies to come out of the fetal Nurtury. They wanted to be there. Casir didn't blame them; so did he. They were excited about Oltarin and seeing Hankura and Chelle. His wives sent him their hugs and kisses and told him how much they both loved him and missed him. But the words didn't give him much comfort as he stood alone in the darkness under the stars.
Casir threw the remainder of his cigarette on the ground and smashed out the embers with his boot. Shoving his cold hands back into the warmth of his pockets, he walked on toward the com center to check in with his foreman Bren before he turned in for the night.
