fortuneswheel (34 page)

* * *

Vanna answered the door to Kusac, moving out into the corridor to speak to him in private.
"Kusac, I have to say this quickly. She's scared. Scared of us and of being without you. She's not adjusting as quickly as we thought. You've got to help her, Kusac. Watch for the mood swings in you both and make allowances. You've the training and experience to cope with it, use it."
"Vanna, I don't know what more to do," he said.
"Take her out among our people. Let her see life, don't spend all your time in that damned suite! She feels isolated. And why haven't you told her about the torc?"
He shook his head. "I had to give it to her too soon. I can't tell her yet."
"I think you should. She needs the security of knowing what it means." She felt the door move behind her. "Leave it for now. We'll speak later."
The door slid open as she turned round. "He's here, Carrie," she said, moving back into the room.

PART 2
SHOLA

Anxiously Mito paced her room, waiting for a call from her contact in Security. If it took much longer, she'd be on the bridge before she heard, and she'd have to take the message from the
Rhyaki.
Then the comm chimed. She rushed over to her desk and activated the unit. It was Personnel.
"Sorry to have taken so long to get back to you, Lieutenant, but I've been able to secure you an appointment in Medical. If you report there now, the on-duty medic will examine you for the records. Don't worry about missing your shift, I've allocated a replacement."
Baffled, Mito sat down and blinked at the secretary. She opened her mouth to speak, but she was forestalled.
"You look confused," said the secretary with a frown of concern. "These fevers can take you like that. Have you a companion who can accompany you?"
Mutely, Mito shook her head.
"Is there someone I can contact to join you there? You really shouldn't be on your own for the next twenty-six hours at least."
Then Mito realized what was happening. "Yes," she said with the faintest of grins. "I have a companion. One of the Keissian Terrans. Anders."
Why not? It was worth a try. Because the humans' movements about the ship were still restricted, she'd never had the chance to be alone with him. He was always pleasant to her, ready to accept her invitation to accompany her when she was involved in an outing with Carrie and Kusac. It wasn't exactly a lie. With any luck, he would be her companion shortly.
The young male turned his head, obviously listening to someone out of sight of the screen. Mito held her breath.
"We'll contact him, Lieutenant," he said, turning back to her. "If he's agreeable, he'll meet you at the medical section."
Mito tried to rearrange her grin as she headed for the door. She was supposed to be suffering a fever, not celebrating.

* * *

When she arrived there, she was ushered straight into the physician's examination room.
"Good evening, Lieutenant," he said, scanning his comm. "Take a seat on the examination couch, I won't be a moment. Ah, yes, you were one of the crew that was stranded on Keiss for several weeks." He turned round to face her, getting to his feet.
"Right, open your mouth," he said and gave it a cursory look. "Yes, definitely inflamed. You can close it now." He felt the palms of her hands, then touched her nose. "Palms hot and nose dry; definitely signs of a fever." He turned back to his comm.
"I see your companion is human and has recently recovered from a dose of Terran flu. There's no doubt in my mind that you contracted it from him." He sat down and made an entry in her files. "You'll be quarantined in your quarters for the next five days, but that shouldn't be a problem for you since your companion will be with you. We don't want this flu to spread."
He turned to glance at her again. "Plenty of rest and plenty of fluids. You can eat what you fancy." He passed her a small container. "Take two of these every five hours if you have any aches in your joints or muscles. Come and see me again in five days." Nodding to her, he turned back to his comm.
Dazed, Mito slid off the couch and with a quiet "Thank you," left his room for the waiting area. She barely noticed Anders hurrying over to her.
"What's the matter?" he asked, his tone concerned as he took her by the arm. "They said you were ill and would I come down to Medical to look after you."
Her eyes focused on him and with great presence of mind, she leaned against him. "Thank you for coming," she said in a faint voice. "I didn't know who else to call."
"Don't be silly," he said, supporting her as they made their way slowly to the elevator. "I'm glad I could help."

* * *

The door of her room safely shut behind them, Mito let go of his arm and stood up. Across from her a red light blinked on her comm. Hurriedly, she crossed over to it, switched it on, and keyed in the command to download a hard copy.
"The dispenser is over there," she said, pointing to a covered hatch in the wall beyond her. "Why don't you get us a couple of coffees?" She turned her attention back to the comm.
It was his turn to be baffled, but realizing that there had to be a good reason for her deception, and that he was likely to find out sooner rather than later if he played along with her, he fetched the coffees. He put hers on the desk.
"Thanks," she said, taking the mug and handing him a sheet of paper. "This is for you. It should explain everything."
She watched him read the document through twice before he put it aside.
"Five days' quarantine," he said, "for Terran flu, which I, as your companion, am supposed to have given you."
She nodded.
He finished his drink, putting the mug down by her full one.
"A companion is...?"
"Your partner of the moment."
"Uh. I presume since I haven't been ill, that neither are you."
She shook her head.
"Do I get to know what the security reasons for this are? No? I thought not. Well, five days off is five days off," he said with a slight smile. "It gives me a chance to..."
"No more questions about Shola!" she said in mock exasperation, reaching forward to touch his face. "There are things about you I'd like to know."
Anders' arm went round her waist, gently pulling her closer while his other hand stroked her cheek. "I was only going to say it gives me a chance to get to know you better," he said quietly.

* * *

The following day Vanna called the suite to speak to Kusac. She got Kaid instead.
"They're out at present," he said. "She's seeing Tutor Rhuso, and he's with his mother."
Vanna grunted. "Well, let's hope Rhuso's less heavyhanded this time. How did things go last night after they got back?"
"I believe they sat up late talking. This morning they both seemed more relaxed. He asked me to fix up a visit to the Storyteller's Theater and to ask you and Garras if you'd like to accompany them."
"That sounds like an excellent idea," she said. "When do they want to go?"
"Tonight. I'll get back to you when I've made the arrangements."
"I hope you're not overdoing it," she said warningly. "I'd prefer you still in my sick bay, but I expect there's no chance of that."
"None," he said, "but be assured, I know the futility of fighting against nature's time scale when it comes to the healing of wounds. I will take proper rest and exercise, Physician Vanna."
"See that you do," she growled. "Ask them to meet me in my lab at the sixteenth hour today. You can come, too. I'll have a look at your leg after I've seen them."
"Wouldn't it be better for you to come here, Physician? I'm concerned about them mixing too much with the rest of the ship's crew. I don't want any more incidents."
"No, it's better for them to come to me," she said firmly. "They need to get out and mix. Carrie has to feel at ease with our people and she can't do that stuck behind the doors of that suite."
"Very well, Physician," he sighed. "I'll pass on your message."

* * *

Garras was the next one to call.
"They're out," said Kaid.
"I know. It's you I came to see. It's time we had a chat."
Kaid nodded, and closing the door, led him toward the food preparation room.
"I'll make us a drink," Garras grinned, watching Kaid limp toward one of the tall stools by the c'shar brewing unit. "How's the leg?"
"Sore," he said shortly, moving aside to let Garras pick up the jug. Wincing, he pushed himself up onto an adjacent stool.
Garras filled the jug at the sink then returned to the counter. "Pass the c'shar," he said, filling the brewing unit with the water.
Kaid handed him a pack of fresh leaves.
Garras ripped it open with his teeth and poured it in at the top of the unit, closing the lid and switching it on. He tossed the empty packet at the disposal unit by the sink then sat down.
"Vanna knows we're ex-Brotherhood," he said. "I didn't tell her, she told me."
Kaid raised an eye ridge. "How'd she find out?"
"She's being catalyzed by her association with Carrie and Kusac but she doesn't realize it yet. She thinks she worked it out by logic."
"Is she going to be a problem?"
"No, I can take care of her. She's suspicious and is watching us, though. Look, Kaid, I need to know how you feel about Carrie and Kusac. What report did you make to Ghezu?"
Kaid's look was thoughtful as he pulled a stim twig out of his jacket pocket and began to chew it. "I gave my report to Dzaka, then called Ghezu myself yesterday."
"What did you tell him?"
He took the twig out. "These are overrated," he said, looking at it briefly before putting it back in his mouth. "Their only ambition is to be together. If they're pushed by one or another of the guilds, then they're likely to become dangerous out of a need to protect themselves. I said I would continue to work with them when we leave for Shola."
"So you said there was no need for any action."
"Ghezu's involved Dzaka."
Garras frowned. "Dzaka? Why?"
"He's Brotherhood. I'm not."
Garras let out his breath in an explosive hiss. "Then we could find ourselves working against him. Ghezu just doesn't give up, does he? Why does he keep targeting you?"
"He needs to know where he stands with Dzaka."
"Where do you stand with him?"
"The c'shar's ready," he said, nodding toward the nowfull jug.
"Don't avoid me, Kaid."
Kaid took a couple of mugs off the shelf beside him and passed them over to Garras.
"Kaid!"
He gestured to the brewer. "Pour the c'shar."
Garras' ears flicked in exasperation as he picked up the jug and filled the mugs.
Kaid took his drink and added whitener and sweetener. "Dzaka still resents me leaving without him."
"Will it cloud his judgment?"
"He's a pro. He'll do his job."
"Dammit, Kaid! Will he let it cloud his judgment?" Garras grabbed the arm that held the mug. C'shar spilled over the countertop.
"I don't know!" Kaid said angrily, spilling more of his drink as he pulled his arm free. "I don't know, Garras."
"Is Ghezu likely to order their termination?"
Kaid shrugged. "The Telepath Guild and Ghezu want the same thing— data on human telepaths. At the moment we only have one available. Carrie Hamilton. I think they're safe for the moment."
"Until we have another human telepath," said Garras thoughtfully. "Gods! I didn't know what I was getting us into when I sent for you."
"Vartra knows what they would have done if you hadn't," said Kaid. "They're not safe yet."
"So what do we do?"
"What you asked me to do in the first place. Guard them closely," said Kaid. "It's as well you took Carrie to Dzaka. At least he's got the chance now to see them at first hand."
"Vanna says the meditation is helping Carrie. She's becoming more able to cope, more relaxed."
"Her mind must be very similar to ours, then. I wonder if our techniques would work on a Terran who didn't have a Link with one of our people," Kaid said thoughtfully.
"You know my opinion," said Garras, taking a mouthful of c'shar from his mug. "The sooner the Telepath Guild uses some of our mental training techniques, the better. There's been too much inbreeding among the old families, most of them are way too highly strung. Our litanies would help them handle life outside their guilds better."
"That'll be the day! You were right in your initial assessment of these two younglings, Garras."
"Hmm?"
"They're a true blending of the Brotherhood and the Telepaths. They could mean full guild status for Ghezu, if they survive long enough for him to recruit them, and if he thinks he can control them. They'd be a powerful weapon in his hands. He could break the telepaths' dominance of the World Council with them."
"I know. And if Esken gets them, then he's got his own loyal private army, hasn't he? One that's faithful to his guild and makes him independent of both the Warriors and Stronghold."
"His position on the council would be unassailable," agreed Kaid.
"Then there's Vartra."
"I wonder what fate He's planned for them. Rulla says the God's been walking the halls at Dzahai. Some of the Brothers have been having visions."
"Did he say what they were?"
Kaid shook his head. "No, but he said some of them preferred to follow the God rather than the figurehead. Sounds like there's some disaffection spreading among the Brothers." He sighed, leaning forward on the counter. "I tried to reach the God myself, but He's been beyond me for some time now."
"He'll come to you when He's ready," said Garras sympathetically.
"Can you contact Rulla for me? I want to know if he's picked up anything from the troopers. I'm not convinced Chyad died in the explosion. I want to be sure."
"No problem," he said. Draining his mug, he got to his feet. "I've got to go now anyway. I'll be in touch."

* * *

Knowing the personal stress that Carrie and Kusac would face over the next few days, Vanna endeavored to keep them busy recording details not only of their Link but also about Terran life on Keiss. This served several purposes. It provided the Medical and Telepath Guilds with some basic information as well as augmenting Alien Relations' file. It also gave them each a project to keep them occupied.
As well as that, she and Garras encouraged them to develop a social life and the couple began to eat more often in the guild mess or at one of the two restaurants with Vanna and Garras. Kusac's mother helped, too, taking Carrie to the concourse and joining them for meals when her work permitted.
Carrie had a message sent to Meg and a few days later a case of clothes and board games arrived for her. One that caught on with their friends was Rithmomachia, a game of mental agility involving numerical progressions on counters. It attracted Meral's and Sevrin's attention, too, and before long had been adopted by many Sholans.
Finally, Vanna told them that their systems had leveled out as expected, uniquely parallel to each other. By then Carrie's training with Rhuso had progressed to the point where her shield was more than adequate, give or take the odd forgetful moment. Rhuso had also managed to make her aware of at least those portions of their ethics that made it possible for telepaths to live together in a community. Life was beginning to come together for them— among the Sholans.
During this time, Alien Relations had pushed on with their Attitude Indoctrination program, both with the visiting Keissian humans and the ship's crew. The Keissian peace delegation had been given the grand tour of the ship, then over the ensuing days had been entertained by visits to the Storyteller's Theater, a restaurant, and various competitive sports ranging from the Sholan equivalent of unarmed martial arts and weapons skills displayed by the Warrior's Guild, to elaborate games of tag. It culminated with a visit to the Wilderness, an entertainment area unique to the
Khalossa.
The Wilderness was a piece of Shola designed to cater to the Sholan need for wide open vistas. It was planted with trees and grassy areas, and it contained a river running into a small lake. Using computer enhancement techniques, it could portray any climatic region of Shola's surface. Game could be released for hunting and the lake was stocked with fish. The tree canopy could be navigated using the ropes provided.
It was one of the places Vanna had suggested that they visit. Mito had been invited and had accepted on the proviso she could bring Anders. Though reluctant, Carrie had agreed and found to her surprise that he had been good company and, like her, fascinated by the plants and animals that inhabited the Wilderness.
The tour broke the ice that had settled over the peace talks, and though still not completely happy about his daughter's involvement with Kusac, at least Peter Hamilton no longer make it an issue on which the talks depended.