T-47 Book II (Saxon Saga 6)

by Frederick Gerty

  “Better not. I still need some protection, got to go back down the gravity well, and I’d just as soon have you there as not.”

  “Even after this?” he said with a wave toward the wreck.

  Lori nodded, slowly. “Yeah. Even. Especially. You gonna be ready?”

  “I’ll be ready.”

  “Good.” Lori extended her hand. “Good work, there, Major. You and your people did a fine job in difficult circumstances. Remember that.” She held his hand a moment.

  Squeezing her hand, Morales said, “I will. Thanks.” Their hands held a long minute.

  Releasing his hand, she went to the back of the AG chair, began pushing it away, and said, “Where to, Major? I hear the Captain is having a hell of a party up in the dining room, and I’d like some dinner. How about you?”

  “Well, I could use a drink, for strictly medicinal purposes, you understand,” he said, letting himself be led away by the Expedition Leader herself. “To settle my stomach,” he added. Calm my nerves. Restore my energy.”

  “That sounds like three drinks. I didn’t think that was allowed in the case of a whack on the head, but I’ll see what I can do,” Lori said, as they entered the corridor, and found the elevator.

  Wearing a bathrobe, and still fluffing her hair, Lori walked out into the main room of her quarters. Captain George stood there, waiting for her, two drinks in his hands. She sighed, looking at him. “Nice party tonight. Everyone enjoyed it, a good idea. Thanks for setting it up.”

  “Well, it sorta evolved itself. Word spread, among the fleet, you know, soldiers talking to one another, and wanting to relive and review the battle. Ancient practice, actually.”

  “Yeah. But you know great to see all the races getting along so well. You ever think that’d happen?”

  “Yeah, doesn’t surprise me, we’ve been doing it for years, me and the crew, and Morales, too, actually. When you get to know people one to one, they’re pretty much the same, some good, some bad.” He handed her the cordial glass, held it up, and said, “To your safe return.”

  “And the others,” she added. “Those who did.”

  She sipped the liquor, and moving towards a chair, and waved him to the couch.

  “Man, I sure hate this planet,” she said, sitting down.

  “Is there any you like?” he said, his face neutral.

  She started to frown, but couldn’t. He’d read her books, all of them, and knew of her status on various planets in the past. Instead, she smiled, then chuckled. “Yeah,” she said, “A few.”

  The amaretto felt nice, smooth and warm. They sat facing each other.

  “Yes, you know, Lori, your lack of concern for your own personal safety gave us all fits. You belonged up here, or at least far away from the action.”

  She shrugged. “I go where my people go. I don’t want them out there by themselves. Besides, I always thought it a duty of those in command to show a certain...disdain, for the danger,” she waved a hand, “you know, to be somewhat casual before the enemy. That’s all. A British trait, I believe.”

  His shocked look surprised her.

  “You thought that?” he said, his voice low.

  “Yes, and it seems to me you have done the same on more than one occasion I can think of.”

  The Captain looked at her. “Maybe so. But did you ever think how we’ll all feel if you were lost, what we’d do?”

  Again a shrug. “Go on back home by yourselves, I guess.”

  “Yes, and do you know what an incredibly sad and lonely journey that would be without you?”

  “Me? Really?” In fact, she hadn’t considered it, was surprised by the comment.

  “Yes. Really. You. You are the heart and soul of the expedition, and we need you so.”

  She looked at him a long minute, nodded, and said, “Thanks. I’ll...remember that.” She sipped the liquor. “So, how much more time do you need on this planet?”

  “Me? We? We’re done, we can go.”

  “You got your fuel?”

  “Yes, tanks are being topped off.”

  “Good. And the other ships? They ready, too?”

  “Getting there, mostly, but not yet. The boat load of booty you got from the battlefield will more than satisfy the bigboys, and the illi-illi, too. The Pokos don’t give a shit, and the Kobi are pretty well out of it all anyway.”

  “Yeah, there’s that. Nothing like some antique, gunpowder weapons to thrill the hearts back home, huh?”

  “‘Antique’ weapons? What, exactly, was that you held in your hand in the midst of the fire fight?”

  “Yeah, well, it’s the family savior. Been with us from the start, even before.”

  “You should really get a modern sidearm, a needle gun, at least.”

  Lori nodded. Actually, she liked the heft, the weight, the dark steel, the smooth, quick action, the blast and recoil of the pistol, the smell of cordite, and the spent cartridge flipping away. It felt more serious than the lightweight plastic laser models everyone else had.

  “Yeah, maybe I should, we do have one, you know, and Hunter took the rifle. A backup? But I do like that old pistol.”

  “So do the natives. We have a few somewhat like it in that collection of arms we took off the field. Only thing, they sure don’t fit human hands very well.”

  “Yeah, but the action that resulted in adding that material to the larder, as we did, is hardly conducive to good impressions for the traders back home, you know.”

  “Oh yes, I do.”

  “And Angara, and V’ming?”

  “Them, too. And most of the rest of the well developed places here. Hence the concerted little military action going on, actually nearly done, down below. They are well aware of how hostilities will look to those outside, and are trying mightily to mend that wrong.”

  “Well, maybe that will help.”

  Tari rushed in with a wiggling baby, and placed him in Lori’s reaching arms, who opened her robe, and gave him a nipple.

  Captain George said, “Lori, before we go, there’s some indication they all want to see you down below again.” He held up his hands, fingers wide, to her annoyed look. “They’re all chagrined, want to offer apologies, and even some restitution, whatever you want.”

  “Well, let’s talk to Morales, he’s some pissed about his lighter. And the illi-illi, and the Kobi, they lost air cars, and people. More people. And the rest, too, everyone took hits.”

  “You did too.”

  She waved it away, producing a wiggling baby in her arms. She moved him to her other breast. “I’m due to attend the signing ceremony for the Pleiades Agreement, had hoped that would be it. And maybe another place. But I suppose, if it’s necessary, a few more wouldn’t hurt. Schedule’s shot to hell, anyway.”

  The Captain said, “So can I commit to another landing, or two?”

  She looked up at him, then nodded. “Yeah, all right, but not all over the country. One or two, maybe. Angara lead the rescue charge, him for sure. Maybe let him invite anyone else, to a,” and she held her hands up and made quotes in the air, “‘Farewell Reception.’ Or something. It’ll add to his prestige. Let ‘em know, that’s it. I want to get going back home again. And sooner rather than later. And give me a day or so–Earth days–to rest up a little.”

  Her son wiggled out of her arms, and slithered down to the floor, moved immediately to the table and the plate of cookies sitting there. Lori let him grab one in both hands, sit, and stuff them in his mouth. She wiped at her dripping nipples with a tissue, and looked down at her bruised front, two, round, dark marks there. They hurt.

  “Thank goodness for body armor,” she said, seeing the Captain looking at her.

  Nodding, he said, “Amen.”

  She leaned back, robe still askew, rubbing the bruises, and George saw how weary she looked. Noticing his glance, she stopped, tried to perk up a little.

  “How soon will the fleet be ready to go? They all coming with us at the same time?”

  �
��Probably. Captain Kanuri of the bigboy ship, the Sharika, is negotiating for some fuel–he used a lot when he dropped orbit to shell the Vorkyta HQ, and back again.”

  Nodding, she said, “He should get it from them.”

  “He is, or most of it. Should be done in a couple of days.”

  “Let’s shoot for the end of the week, then. How’s that, enough time? Then let’s hit the road.”

  “Should be more than enough. We’ll notify the UN diplomats, too. See if they still want to come.”

  “Yeah, tell them it’s optional, and will be a while before they can get back.”

  “They know that.”

  “OK, good.” She smiled at him, and he saw again the beauty, and the strength, she possessed. “Anything else for now?”

  Standing, Captain George said, “No, thanks, Lori, I think we’re all set.”

  “Good. Soon as my husband gets back, I’m going to bed.” She stood, too, looking into the bedroom. “Ah, hell, I’m going now. Tari!” she said, looking for the Kobi.

  Tari hurried in, and Lori said to her as Captain George approached, “Watch the baby, please, I’m calling it a day.”

  Standing before her, the Captain said, “I’m sure glad you got back OK, Lori. We were sure worried there for a while.”

  “I am too, thanks for your concern. See you tomorrow?”

  “You bet. Good night,” and he extended his hand. Taking hers, he raised it, and bent and kissed it softly. She returned his smile, and slowly walked to the bedroom. She dropped her robe and slipped into the sheets naked.

  Captain George watched her leave, and turned to Tari. She held the baby, his face a mess of smeared cookie. They looked at each other. “That was close, wasn’t it?” Tari said.

  “One close call after another on this planet, it seems. We’ll watch her a lot more carefully now, too.” He shook his head. “We said that before. But we’ll be leaving in a week or so, anyway.”

  Tari walked him to the door, saying, “I shall not miss this place, interesting as it may be. I want to get home, too. That will be most nice.”

  “We all do. See you tomorrow.” And he left.

  Some time later, Hunter joined her in bed, clean and cool and fresh from a shower. He leaned toward her, his hand caressing her.

  “Oh, you’re cold,” she said sleepily.

  “And you’re nice and warm...” His hand roamed on her, wound up on her breast, holding it.

  “And I was sleeping, too. How about in the morning?”

  “I can wait. I love you darling.” He kissed her twice.

  Chapter 32 - Hospital Visit

  “You can’t be serious,” Major Morales said, shaking his head. A few others, Damai, high and low, stood nearby.

  “I am.” Her face showing she was, in fact, serious, Lori stared at him across the small room. Others there, staring too, held their breath.

  “I’d like to plan another visits to Magadana. I will go to Vorkyta, to the military hospital, and visit the wounded from the Oxbow Battle.”

  One of the Damai said, “You would go to the very den of those who attacked you.”

  “Yes.”

  “And visit the wounded, those soldiers from the battleground? Those who tried to kill you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  Lori smiled, and said, “To confound them, perhaps, to confuse them. And to show them we, the Sky People, are not without honor, or compassion. Or mercy.”

  More silence. It went on.

  “Well, you will do that, for sure. That is not the way of our people.”

  “Yes, but it is of ours.”

  “Were we to go, to do so, to visit, it would be to extract tribute, or vengeance, to seize those who attacked, and administer justice.”

  “That is no longer our way.”

  “This isn’t done here, just is not something the culture, or tradition, follows.”

  “All the more reason to do it, to show we are different, and compassionate.”

  An Anawoka interjected, “The natives may think it a sign of weakness, to visit the injured. Most Damai maintain a stoic indifference to battle wounds, indeed, carry them for life with some pride, and rarely complain.”

  Lori turned to him, and said, “I’m not looking to change any of that. Indeed, my visit may reinforce their beliefs. I’m only going to show that after a battle, opponents can meet, and go on with life, without endless hostility. And in fact, in peace.” She waited. “Think it’ll work?”

  The Anawoka gave a fine mimic of a human shrug, his wings popping up and down. “I cannot say. Hard to predict their reaction, the race is a strange one.”

  Lori looked at the major again, and said, “Can I prevail on you and your people one more time, for high security? It’s something I’d like to do.”

  Earning yet more admiration from the expedition leader, to add to the mountain already accumulated, Major Morales said only, “How soon do you want to go?”

  “As soon as you can be ready.”

  “Let me check on the surface conditions, and I’ll let you know. You have the coordinates?”

  Lori nodded, and the major hurried out, without a backward glance.

  Two and a half hours later, Lori dropped through scattered, dark rain clouds, and approached a two story, U-shaped building, in the midst of greenery, somewhat isolated from the rest of what was a sprawling military base. Air cars hovered everywhere she looked. A squadron or two of fighter escorts, on patrol overhead, circled about.

  “Eagle One, are all the air cars from the entire fleet down here?” Hunter asked.

  “Negative,” it said quickly. “Sixteen remain in orbit in reserve.”

  Lori looked back at Hunter, and they shared a smile.

  “Sure looks like it, man we’ve covered the sky over that hospital,” Hunter added, looking out again, as Lori drifted slowly downward, passing over an obvious heliport near the center of the two wings of the hospital, a concrete oval spotted with puddles. She saw closed roads nearby, the intersections held by groups of heavily armed soldiers, and armored vehicles. A nearly solid line of more soldiers around the hospital, save for a small cleared area for a half dozen air cars to land. No one in or out for hours before hand. Armed human, bigboy, and Pokoniry soldiers patrolled the roof of the building, and more armed people from the expedition, illi-illi and Kobi, too, stood on guard on the ground. An impressive display, Lori again wondered at the attention her presence seemed to generate in all the members of her expedition.

  She flew on to the front of the building, to the circular driveway there, a flag pole in the center of a small lawn, wet pavement around that. She landed next to a wide ramp leading to a set of double doors.

  A delegation from Morales’ troops met the air car as the canopy opened, and escorted Hunter, Lori, an Anawoka translator, and Tarue up the ramp and into the building. An official group from the hospital met her at the main entrance, an Anawoka translated their words of greeting, and very brief history and information on the place itself. Two TV crews hung in the background, and several cambots, Lori’s, of course, floated overhead.

  She thought it could pass for one on any of a dozen odd worlds, the hospital, same odors of antiseptic and detergents, overcooked food, but with the added spice of different materials, and body odors

  The head administrator, who hung back and away, somewhat in awe of the “Sky Lady,” and her heavily armed bodyguards, greeted her, saying, “You wish to see some of the wounded from the Ox-bow battle of two brights ago?” he asked through the translator.

  Lori noticed the smooth, easy, and consistent voice of the Anawoka seemed to have a soothing effect on everyone they met. She told of her desire to see the soldiers wounded in that battle, and offer comfort and encouragement, in the spirit of camaraderie between opponents, and seek friendlier times in the future. The administrator looked at her, and said, “Such is never done here, it is unheard of in our culture.”

  “Ours is different. We reco
gnize valor when displayed on both sides, and honor, when armies meet on the field of battle. I do not seek to impose our practices on you, against your wishes, and will depart if you ask, or refuse admittance to your hospital.”

  That seemed to stun the administrator. “I may refuse you entry, and you will not use overwhelming force?”

  “This, good sir, is not a battle. It is a visit, a courtesy call on fellow combatants. You are free to deny me passage, and I and my party will depart, with no recriminations to you whatsoever.” No answer. “We cannot stay long, and soon depart this planet in any case, so tell me what you will allow.”

  “Never have I...” he started to say, stopped, shook himself, stood a bit taller, and looking directly at Lori said, “I am pleased to welcome the visitors from the far stars to my hospital, and grant you free choice of where to go and who to visit.” He waved an arm outward. “Where shall we start?”

  “We shall start with those soldiers wounded in the battle just past.” Lori waited.

  “This way, up one floor, there they will await you.”

  The route upward was lined with several expedition soldiers, who also guarded the doors to a ward, filled with short beds, usually in small clusters around a central nurse’s station. Absolute silence greeted Lori and her small delegation, faces, some covered in dressings, all turned her way, but none spoke. She looked to the right into a long ward, with low, short platform beds to either side, and people lying on them. Wounded people. Terribly wounded people. She wondered if she could do this after all.

  “We’ll start here. Can someone tell me the man’s name, and his injuries?” Lori walked to the bed, and stood looking down at the patient lying there, resting on one side, his other obviously severely burned, hair gone where the dressings stopped, one arm completely covered. Several IVs lead to his other arm, and he evaded looking directly at Lori. She approached and crouched next to the bed, as the Anawoka translated the report from a nervous nurse. In a slow and easy motion, one she would follow at each station, Lori reached for and gently took the wounded soldier’s hand. She introduced herself as the Sky Lady, leader of the expedition from the galaxy, and said she was there to offer comfort, and seek reconciliation, and friendship with better days in the future.