fortuneswheel (44 page)

* * *

Vanna watched them leave, then turned to Khafsa. "Was the scan adequate?"
"Yes, we've got the data we need. It'll take some time to interpret it because I don't know what a Terran aura should look like, but on first appraisal, I'd say you're right. Much of the scan has a Sholan look to it, more than one would expect from a different species."
"We need Kusac's as well," she said. "I want you to compare them, see what, if anything, they have in common. Meanwhile, I only hope that Carrie hasn't picked up a serious infection. I've no real idea how our viruses will affect a Terran system."
"I thought that would have been checked out on the
Khalossa."
"It was, in theory. I was able to give her some shots to protect her against our most virulent infections. Thankfully, the serums worked, but that doesn't mean to say she's immune to everything. A simple infection for us could be serious for her."
"I'll see if our readings show anything."
"Thanks," she said. "I'll be in the lab if you need me."

* * *

It was over an hour later before Vanna arrived at their apartment. Kaid let her in.
"You got my message all right?" she asked as she followed him toward the bedroom door.
"Yes, thank you."
Vanna glanced curiously at him, but he said no more, merely opened the door for her.
Kusac was crouched on the bed beside Carrie, trying to calm her as she moved restlessly from side to side.
"Thank the Gods you're here," he said without looking round. "She's been like this for the last half hour. She's burning hot and she's delirious."
"She would be," said Vanna, going round to the other side. "It's nothing serious. She's managed to get a dose of ni'uzu. There's nothing I can do, I'm afraid, but treat her symptoms."
From her medikit, Vanna had taken a smaller version of the sampling unit she'd used downstairs. Unsealing it, she placed it around Carrie's arm and closed it.
"Ni'uzu?" he repeated. "How did she manage to catch that? It's usually a winter virus, not a summer one." He reached out to take Carrie's other arm as she feebly tried to dislodge the unit. "None of us are ill."
"She could have caught it anywhere," said Vanna, noting the readings from the unit in her comp pad. "It's a common enough virus. She'll have aches and pains in her joints, and a high temperature for a couple of days. Hopefully, it won't be severe enough to cause any chest or throat infections. The lab's working on a vaccine now."
Kusac looked up at her, eye ridges creased in puzzlement. "Why a vaccine? Surely it's too late for that."
"For her, yes, but remember her system is different enough from ours to mutate the virus. You'll likely go down with it, too, not to mention anyone else she's come into contact with over the last three or four days. Can you get me some water, please? I've got a rehydration formula here. I want her to drink as much as possible. Make it a whole jug," she called out after his retreating figure.
Brushing back the damp hair from Carrie's forehead, she concentrated once more on pushing the worries she didn't want Kusac to feel deep down into her subconscious. Time enough for them later, if her fears proved to have foundation. There
was
a vaccine, for the purely Sholan virus, not the one Carrie had caught. What neither she nor the lab could work out was how and why the virus had mutated into the form that Carrie had caught.
Once more, she didn't dare treat the human girl. Instinct told her to let it run its course— with both of them, because without doubt, Kusac would contract it, too, if he hadn't already.
Kusac returned with the jug and a glass which he put down on the night table beside Vanna.
"Thanks," she said, tipping a packet of powder into the jug then waiting for the effervescence to subside. She poured a glassful for Carrie. "You go down and see Khafsa, I'll stay with her." She took a couple of tablets from a container and dropped them into the glass. "It's just a febrifuge," she said, picking up his concern. "On you go," she urged, swirling the pills round in the glass to make them dissolve more quickly.
When he'd gone, she lifted Carrie's head and slowly encouraged her to drink the mixture. Replacing the glass, she went to the bathroom to fetch a dampened towel and began to wipe the girl's face in an effort to cool her down.
"Hush, cub," she said soothingly as Carrie's hand plucked ineffectually at her wrist, trying to push her away. "You're safe, I'm here."
Carrie continued to toss and turn restlessly, muttering in a mixture of Terran and Sholan, trying to evade Vanna's touch. Gradually, the drug began to take effect and she became calmer.
Vanna took the opportunity to talk to Kaid and get him to bring in a more comfortable chair for her. She also arranged for him to prepare a meal for them when Kusac returned.
She'd just begun to relax when Carrie began to moan again, her head tossing from side to side on the pillow. Vanna leaned forward, taking one of the girl's damp hands between hers.
"Carrie, it's all right," she said."Hush, you'll feel better soon."
"It hurts, 'Lise," Carrie moaned. "Don't do it, it hurts me." She began to move restlessly, trying to push the covers aside. "Don't go back to them, please."
'Lise? Does she mean Elise?
thought Vanna.
"Don't go back to them. They'll catch you."
Gods, she's reliving her sister's death!
Vanna thought furiously for something to say that wouldn't upset the girl even more.
"Carrie, it's over, cub. The Valtegans are gone. You're safe with me."
The girl became more agitated, her movements more determined as she opened her eyes and tried to get up.
"I have to stop her! It hurts me when she's with them," she whimpered, looking round with wide, staring eyes. "If she goes back, I know she'll get caught this time. You mustn't go, Elise! Come back!"
By now, Vanna had her hands full trying to stop Carrie from getting up. The human had very little strength, but she seemed to have more than two arms as she tried to push Vanna away.
Suddenly Carrie went rigid, then began to tremble convulsively. "Blood," she whispered in Terran, looking at her arms and hands. "There's never been blood before!" Tears began to roll down her face as she tried to wipe her hands on the covers.
Panicking, Vanna attempted something she'd never have thought of trying under any other circumstances. She reached for Kusac, crying out mentally for him.
Kusac!
I'm coming,
he sent.
Carrie had begun to struggle more strongly now. "Elise!" she cried, trying to escape from Vanna's grip. "No! I won't go with you! Let me go!" she screamed at Vanna, trying to hit the Sholan female. "Leave me!"
She was so busy trying to defend herself from Carrie's sudden attack that she didn't hear the door burst open behind her. All she was aware of was Kusac reaching in front of her and taking hold of Carrie, imprisoning her flailing arms in his hands.
Go!
he sent, waiting for her to leave.

* * *

Carrie continued to struggle with him, but more weakly now. "I won't go, Elise! Leave me!" she whimpered.
Kusac released her, one arm at a time, pulling her close against his chest, reaching for her mind with his.
Carrie, I'm here,
He took one of her hands in his, pressing it against his face.
Elise has gone. She's left you with me.
Touch me, feel my fur,
he sent, moving his cheek against her hand.
She's gone, cub. You're safe with me now. Safe.
She became still, her hand curling round his cheek of her own volition. She let it fall lower, moving down his shoulder to his arm before stopping.
"Kusac?" she said quietly.
"Yes, cub?"
Her eyes closed wearily. "She's gone without me?"
"She's gone," he said. "You must rest now."
Her head moved in a slow nod as he laid her back on the pillows. He touched her forehead. It was cooler now. He waited while she relaxed into sleep, ignoring the aches that had begun in his limbs. He couldn't afford to be ill yet.

* * *

"Are you sure you want to see the body, Sub-Lieutenant Draz?" asked the coroner, hesitating before pulling out the refrigerated drawer. "It isn't a pretty sight, I warn you."
"Just let me see it," said Draz impatiently. "I need to be sure that it's a reasonable assumption he's the missing member of the scouter that blew up several weeks ago."
"If you're only missing one male, then it's him." The physician pulled the drawer out, then lifted the foil cover off the corpse.
Draz took a quick look then turned away as the Coroner replaced the cover and slid the drawer back.
"I did warn you. He was found lying in the open on the edges of swampy ground. The indigenous amphibians have been dining off him since the crash. You're lucky," he said, turning back to Draz who was still looking an unhealthy color around his nose and eyes, "you didn't have the smell as well. You think he's a mess now? You should have seen him before I cleaned him up. Funny thing is, though, there was no water in the lungs. You'd think there would be if he was still alive when he hit the ground. Then, maybe he wasn't."
"Are his injuries consistent with being flung from an exploding vehicle?" asked Draz.
The coroner laughed, ears giving a flick of amusement. "They're consistent with having been chewed on by the local wild life! How the hell do you expect me to tell when there's as little of him left as that? As I said before, if you're only missing one male, then it's him. That's what my report'll say."
"Thanks," said Draz, moving toward the door with relief.
A week later, a copy of the report was waiting on Kaid's comm for him. He read it carefully, wanting to believe it was Chyad, but there were too many convenient anomalies. Like the lack of ID tags and the implanted locator device, either of which in the absence of enough physical evidence would have identified him. However, the scenario was believable. It could be the remains of Chyad. Though there wasn't enough proof that it was him, equally there wasn't enough proof that it wasn't. The coroner hadn't ordered a DNA test on the grounds it was unnecessary as he had no doubt as to the identity of the body. Thoughtfully, Kaid filed the report in his desk.

Though he'd managed not to catch the full-blown version of the fever, Kaid hadn't escaped without suffering some of the symptoms. A day later, though, he was up and about again. With Carrie and Kusac still laid low recovering, he was free to follow up Garras' message. Personnel from the
Khalossa
due planet leave had landed earlier that day, so leaving Meral and Sevrin on duty in their apartment, he left the Telepath Guild.
He threaded his way through the busy streets toward the outskirts of Valsgarth, skirting round the groups of exuberant younglings on their leave day. As he sidestepped one group, one of them stumbled against him, righting himself quickly with an apology. Pocketing the note thrust into his hand, Kaid continued to head for the aircar park.
Once in a vehicle, he fished the note out of his coat and read it. Satisfied, he screwed it up and pocketed it again. It merely confirmed the information sent to him by Garras. Powering up the aircar, he took off and headed for Nazule.
As the bay came into sight, he skimmed lower, listening for the landing beacon in the center of the city. Once locked onto it, he let the city's traffic system guide his craft in to land.
Climbing out of the aircar, he stepped off the conveyor belt, leaving the vehicle to be swept off into the interior parking area. An elevator took him down to the street level. As in all Sholan towns, no traffic was allowed from dawn till the twentieth hour. However, because of its size, Nazule boasted an underground transport system.
Kaid headed purposefully to the ticket barrier and inserted his personal card into the maw of the access machine. Once his details had been scanned and the requisite cost deducted, it spat the card back at him and opened the gateway. Loping quickly down the stairs, he just made it in time for his shuttle.
It wasn't a long ride, but as the ancient monorail jolted and hissed to a stop at each station, he idly wondered if Carrie's home world possessed equally antiquated transport systems. He had a feeling that their worlds had more similarities than they guessed. Funds for civic works were always scarce if one believed the politicians. Earth with its lack of centralized government would probably fare worse than Shola.
With a howl of compressed air the shuttle came to a standstill, doors sliding open to disgorge the passengers. Kaid joined the living tide that swept along the platform and up to the fresh air above.
He hesitated a moment, getting his bearings as he looked along the busy street. This side of the city, so far from the Warrior Guild, the streets weren't restricted to specific crafts. Everywhere was a jumble of different kinds of stores— restaurants rubbing shoulders with clothing and jewelry shops.
Accommodation Guild Houses, catering to those from every guild, were allowed generous numbers of premises since the actual Craft Guilds had chosen to keep to the outskirts of the city, preferring the quietness and room for larger premises. The only exception was the Warriors' Guild situated close to the town center.
The place Kaid was looking for was located in this area. He headed off to his left, looking for the food bar beside an Accommodation Guild House.
It was in one of the more rundown areas of Nazule, not a place where one would expect folk on planet leave to want to spend their time. The food bar's exterior was dingy; sunfaded paintwork on the facade with the awning permanently rusted in an upright folded position. Several letters from the boldly displayed sign above the window had fallen off and never been replaced.
Kaid pushed the door open and entered, making his way up to the seats at the counter. Sliding onto one, he wrinkled his nose as he caught a whiff of stale cooking.
At the far end, the one assistant stood talking to a faded female of indeterminate age. He looked toward Kaid, then returned to his conversation. Kaid sighed, pulling out a packet of stim-twigs. Taking one out, he stuck it in his mouth and put the pack away in his Forces jacket.
After a few minutes, he hit the counter with his fist, glowering down at the assistant.
"Hey! What's a male gotta do to get some service around here?" he demanded.
The assistant looked round and scowled at him before returning to say a few words to the female. With an air of indolent arrogance, he walked up the counter to Kaid.
"You want something?"
"Yeah. C'shar, and make it strong," said Kaid, reaching into his coat pocket for a handful of coins which he flung down on the counter.
The assistant gathered up the coins, then turned to the kettle and poured Kaid his drink. The mug was banged down in front of him, the contents slopping over onto the countertop.
Kaid picked it up and turning round, surveyed the rest of the bar. There were only a handful of customers. The bulk of them sat at the back of the bar grouped round a table. One of them still wore the uniform of the
Khalossa
and had a kit bag lying by his feet on the floor. The male opposite him wore the uniform of the
Rhyaki.
Pushing the twig to one side of his mouth, he took a swig of his drink and half-turned back to the bar. He jerked his head at the assistant.
"What y'want now?"
"Plate of stew," said Kaid, putting more coins on the counter. Reaching up, he scratched his right ear enthusiastically. The pickup in place, he could now hear their conversation.
The stew was placed before him. "You on planet leave?" asked the assistant, handing him eating utensils.
Kaid disdained the knife, pulling his own from his belt. "Yeah. Just off the
Khalossa.
What's it to you?"
"Nothing, just curious. We got quite a few Forces people in today."
"So I see," said Kaid, taking the twig out of his mouth and pocketing it before starting on the stew. It tasted rubbery and undercooked, but he'd eaten worse.
"What's going on up there?" the assistant asked, jerking his head toward the ceiling. "Seems like there's trouble from what I hear."
"Who you heard that from?" asked Kaid, looking up at him.
"I keep my ears open," he said evasively.
"And I keep my mouth shut," Kaid said, scooping up a forkful of the gravy-soaked bread.
With a muttered oath, the assistant moved back down to where the female still perched on the bar stool.
"So how're you planning to stop this treaty with the Terrans?" asked the male from the
Khalossa.
"T'Chezo will tell you her plans when we meet up with her later, Rhudi," said one of the civilians.
"The original idea of taking out the Sholan telepath and his mate is still as good as any," said the other spacer.
"I think so, Niaza. Chyad's plan was to recruit an antiSholan Terran. Where can we find one on Shola?" Rhudi asked.
"There's only the one," said Vrall. "Liegen Aldatan's Leska."
"More Terrans are due on Shola in eight weeks," said Niaza.
"Why, Niaza? Why do they want to bring Terrans to Shola?" asked another of the civilians.
"They're Terran telepaths, Faikal, but I wouldn't expect a grounder like you to know that. If they're anything like our telepaths they'll be no use to us," said Rhudi, the sarcasm heavy in his voice.
"How do the Terrans on the
Khalossa
view this alliance?" asked Faikal, ignoring Rhudi's comments.
"The Keissians want the treaty. We don't. A treaty with either Terran world will leave our back door open to another attack from the Valtegans. We need to do something that will enrage either the Terrans on Earth, or our own people against the Terrans, if we're to stop this treaty."
Faikal looked round his little group.
"How many of us are committed to this course of action?" asked Rhudi, leaning forward on the table.
"Considering that nearly every Clan on the planet has lost at least one member of their family from the colony worlds, very few of them are interested in anything but retribution against the Valtegans," said Faikal.
"Don't they consider this alliance with the Terrans a danger? Aliens as potentially powerful as our telepaths mixing freely with our people? Can't they see that we have no reason to trust them? The humans on the
Khalossa
were just as suspicious of us as we were of them," said Rhudi.
"They don't think about it at all," said Vrall. "Most are content to let the Governor and the Council make the decisions."
Rhudi let out a string of oaths. "How many of us are there?"
"About a dozen," replied Faikal. "We'll take you to meet T'Chezo later tonight. She'll bring you up to date on her plans."
"Having a Terran kill the Terran female and her Leska sounds the best way of enraging the Governor and the Council to the point where they at least cut off communications with Earth," said Niaza thoughtfully. "The Terrans have won no friends on the
Rhyaki
with their demands and arrogance. Do we actually need a Terran, though? What if it was merely thought that a Terran was responsible?"
"How do you propose we do that without a Terran?" asked Rhudi. "It isn't as if we can pass any of us off as one of them. They're too physically different. We need a real Terran."
"If we kill the Leska pair already here, wouldn't the Terrans feel their people were at risk on Shola and refuse to let any more come here?" said Niaza. "We could achieve the same object without involving a Terran."
Rhudi nodded slowly. "Possible," he said. "Easier than trying to subvert a Terran. If we're working with our own people, less can go wrong."
"It solves the problem of us only having a month's leave and the fact that the Terrans won't have arrived by then."
They were so intent on their own conversation that they missed the uneasy looks the civilians were exchanging.
"You'll have to try this one out on T'Chezo," Vrall said. "She's our leader after all. I think you'll find she has definite ideas of her own."
"Just what are her plans?" asked Rhudi. "You obviously know them."
Faikal looked uneasily at Vrall.
"Well?" demanded Rhudi.
"She wants to take a less offensive stance, at least at first," said Faikal. "Holding demonstrations and handing out leaflets, only resorting to violence if we have to."
"Then why involve us?" demanded Rhudi. "We've got the military experience to plan a strike on them and we've told you we're only here for a month."
"You'll have to talk to T'Chezo," said Vrall uncomfortably.
"Let's take you to your room," said Faikal, getting up. "We can't solve this without her."
"Fair enough," sighed Rhudi, reaching down to pick up his kit bag. "Where's this room you've got for us?"
"Just next door," said Faikal, getting up to stand in the aisle between the tables.
As they got up to leave, Rhudi pulled Niaza back, letting the others go in front of them. "If this T'Chezo doesn't see it our way, we'll do the job ourselves," he said in a low voice.
Niaza flicked his ears in agreement.
As Kaid watched them file out, he finished his c'shar and got to his feet. The assistant and the female looked up as he walked past them.
"Finished?" the male asked.
Kaid ignored him and with a swirl of his long coat, swept out of the door into the street. He saw them enter the Accommodation Guild House next door.
He hung around for half an hour looking in the windows of the stores opposite, keeping an eye on the guild doorway, but the group remained inside. He wanted to see the trooper from the
Khalossa
again. There was something about him that jogged at his memory. He needed information, an agent placed within the group. It was something he couldn't do himself because of his need to guard Carrie and Kusac.
He headed back the way he'd come, collecting his rented aircar at the parking lot. This time he headed for the Warrior Guild, landing in their parking area. Flinging off his long coat, he headed into the Guild House, going straight to the office.
The secretary looked up at him, taking in his uniform with the Warrior's flash of red at the shoulder.
"How can I help you?" he asked.
Taking the chain from his neck, Kaid held it out to him.
The secretary reached out and took hold of the disk that hung from it. He let it go as if it had burned him.
"Brother," he said, eyes wide as he tried to move further away from Kaid. "What may I do to help you?"
Kaid watched the young male's ears twitching with a look of wry humor on his face. He put the chain back over his head. "I need a room with a secure comm in it. I want to contact Dzahai Stronghold."
"Of course," he stammered. "Down the corridor, first on the left."
"Thank you."