Rissa nodded. "You are right, but there is more. Tregare-?"
Quickly, Tregare summarized the news from Charleyhorse. "So that"s why we need to a.n.a.lyze your course-data-and fast. Want to come along?"
"Like I want to wake up alive tomorrow. Give me a minute first, though." Limmer gave a few brief orders on his intercom, acknowledged the response, and turned back to Tregare.
"All right; my First"s briefed to handle things while I"m off-ship." He opened the control console and brought out a tape module. "It"s all on here. I"m ready to go if you are."
67.Outside, at the aircar, Tregare said, "Tari? Do you know the air traffic rules in the city?" She shook her head. "Then I"d better drive it this time. You watch; see if you can figure the system." With Rissa beside him and Limmer in a seat behind, he raised the car to perhaps fifty meters and took a circuitous path-Rissa saw no clear pattern-to Maison Renalle.
Inside, Tregare spoke briefly at the admission desk and they went to a room Rissa recognized as security accommodations. The computer terminal sat in a corner; Tregare worked at its controls for some time before inserting the tape module. "First we"ll see if this is the same ship that was at Charley-horse-at least, if it came directly, we will."
"Charleyhorse?" Limmer frowned. "You mentioned that one, earlier-it"s not on my charts, Tregare."
Tregare nodded. "None of us have all the new ones-ever. If there"s blank at the end of your tape, I "11 add it. If not, I can fill it in for you later. All right, here we go."
Lacking detailed knowledge of Tregare"s programming, Rissa did not try to interpret the readout. She waited; finally Tregare said, "The angle"s off a little-enough to indicate a slight course change. But ten to one, this is the ship that hit Charleyhorse."
"And can you see where it is bound?" said Rissa.
"Hold on-I"m punching for extrapolation." He looked at the result and shook his head.
"They were slowing-maybe to take a group of sightings and locate themselves better. Or who knows what?"
He turned away from the terminal. "Considering that Charleyhorse probably isn"t exactly loaded with navigational talent, my best guess is that the Shrakken found their directions were a little off-and were correcting course for here."
Rissa said, "Then let us hope they arrive well before your deadline for leaving."
He stared at her. Then he laughed, and Limmer said, "You married well, Tregare."
RETURNINGto the port, Tregare took a different routing. This time he showed Rissa the indicators-arrows painted on roofs 68.and paved streets-that guided him. "Those tell you which way to go, and the way they"re drawn-solid, dotted round or square, or double line-all in different colors, you"ll notice- the four alt.i.tude lanes they apply to. Above those, you needn"t follow any pattern, but for local hops it wastes time to go that high." He gave her the alt.i.tude figures; she repeated them and nodded.
"Yes, I can remember that easily enough."
At the port Limmer shook hands with both. "I"ll refuel and sell off cargo I don"t need, as soon as I can. Should I buy anything-for the sake of appearances-so n.o.body thinks some- thing"s funny?"
"Let "em think what they like." Then; "Or say you intend to load up at an outer-planet mine. You"re stocking food anyway, so that"d fit." Limmer"s perpetual sneer came close to imitating a smile; he threw a half-salute and turned away. Tre-gare lifted off and headed north, toward the Lodge.
After a time, Rissa spoke. "Limmer-was he one of your men on Inconnul"
"Not at first. A lot of our people Escape by jumping ship on a colony planet and hiding out until one of us comes along. It"s a big help-otherwise we"d always be short of trained people for newly Escaped ships. I found Limmer on UET"s iceworld colony Hardnose; for a few years they had a regular Underground Railroad there. I was short a Second Hat, then, and he filled the bill until we got him a ship of his own."
"At first he gives a poor impression-but he improves with acquaintance."
"Too right. His face, Rissa-he got those scars at UET"s Academy when he was fourteen years old."
Between her teeth, breath hissed. "UET! Always UET- and the Presiding Committee, its puppet. Tregare, Imust go with you-to Stronghold and then, peace willing, to Earth."
He looked at her; low-voiced she added, "Some there-it will be hard to grieve for their deaths."
He did not answer; during the flight neither spoke again.
IN their room at the Lodge, viewscreen and intercom set to record incoming calls but not to interrupt, they proved again that Rissa"s climax the night before had been no fluke. Then 69.for a while they shared the tub. Out of it and dried, while Tre-gare still steeped himself, Rissa checked the intercom and found a recorded call from Liesel. She dressed, told Tregare where she was going, and joined Liesel in her office. She reported Tregare"s conclusions about the Shrakken; then the talk turned to Rissa"s business affairs.
The board meeting of Bleeker, Ltd., had gone as expected. Rissa now owned the warehouse complex; her recommended changes were under way. Fennerabilis would sell the North Point area but wished to speak with Rissa directly-by screen, at least. Ami Gustafson could help her in hiring a patrol boat for the fishing season to control poachers. Rissa was not in- vested into Hulzein holdings, as such, so as not to waste the control value of her moneys.
And when Rissa and Tregare left on Inconnu, Hulzein Lodge would handle her affairs on commission as Erika did on Earth.
"And we"ve covered all the small stuff," said Liesel. "Now, then-has Bran told you his plans yet?"
"Some of them. Has he told you?"
"Not enough for my liking, but I won"t ask you for them."
Rissa laughed. "Good-then I will not have to refuse you or risk breaking confidence."
After a moment she said, "And while we were gone, how has it been with-with all of you here?"
"Us?" Liesel grinned. "Same as always, except that in a few days Hawkman"s leaving-be gone a month-for Big Icecube"s moon."
"The sixth planet, yes. But on what ship? At the port I saw none but Lefthand Thread, and-""
Liesel nodded. "And that"s Bran"s. I guessed it was. Well, Number One has a ship of its own-only colony I know of, UET or Hidden, ever to build one. Just short haul, for in- system work, but it makes a difference in what we can manage. And the last I counted, we own better than a third of it."
"I see. But why does Hawkman go?"
"A ship"s out there-Norden"s Valkyrie-loading towing-pods with frozen methane and ammonia."
"To speed organic development on a marginal planet?"
"Right! But after delivering that load, Valkyrie"s headed for a drop point. So Hawkman"s taking our latest messages and moneys-yours, as well-for forwarding to Earth."
70."That is good news-though we shall all miss Hawkman. And what else occurs?"
Liesel grinned. "You won"t ask straight out, will you? All right-Sparline pretends to think I don"t know what she"s after with young Ernol. She got her nerve up to move him into her room openly, and she"s been waiting to see what I"d do."
"What will you do?"
"Nothing, of course. His work was improving, and still is."
"Then what is your att.i.tude-your intentions?"
"Sit back, make no decisions until I have to. How I feel- oh, no! You"re too involved; you couldn"t keep it from Spar-line, and that"d spoil the game."
"Such games are not mine. Enemies are too plentiful to waste the joys of friendship in deceptions and stratagems."
"I like to keep in practice-and keep Sparline on her toes, too."
"As you like. For me, I do not think I need practice."
"Just so you don"t find out the hard way, that you"re wrong." Liesel shrugged.
"Now, then-how is it with you and Bran?"
"As couples will, we have differences. Now that he has agreed that I go with him, I think we will solve them. If you mean, am I glad in the marriage, the answer is yes. For no political reason, but from coming to know the man better."
"I"m relieved-do you know why? Neither of you could stay with a weak person. But I was afraid you couldn"t put up with each other"s strengths. Does that make sense?"
Rissa thought. "Yes-very much. It gives me an insight I had lacked."
"That"s good. I-" The intercom"s buzz interrupted. "Yes?"
"Bran here. You done pouring figures in my wife"s ear with a funnel?"
"Sure. Matter of fact, we"ve been swapping stories on you. How you can face either of us after this-"
"Bran! She-"
He laughed. "I know. Look-Rissa, could you come up here?"
"Of course." Liesel waved her away; as she left, they were still talking.
As she entered the room upstairs, Tregare was saying, "Yes 71.-you would, at that!" He cut the circuit and turned to Rissa. "Sometimes the Hulzein genes scare me."
"Then you must half-frighten yourself. Now-what is it?"
"Not urgent-but we have to arrange the zoom-womb thing, and we might as well do it early. So-when"s a good time, and how many do we want to set up?"
"My time is not planned. And how many do youwant?""
They decided on three, seniority to be by order of deposit. Tregare turned to make an investigative call, but the intercom sounded again. "Bran Tregare here."
Sparline answered. She wanted to see both of them but since Tregare had calls to make, settled for inviting Rissa to her room. When Rissa arrived there, she entered to hear Bran"s voice ending the talk. It was certainly her day, she thought, for being on both ends of the same conversations.
Sparline rose to greet her. "You"re looking fine. How"s married life in the wilds?" She sat again, and Rissa also.
"I am-happy, with Bran. I believe that tells all of it."
Sparline looked at her more closely and smiled. "I think you"re right. Well, I"m glad.
But what about when he leaves?"
Rissa explained-not Tregare"s plans, but the compromise they had reached. "So I can go with him and provide him heirs, also. That is one call he is making-to arrange it."
"Three times you"ll be cut open for those ova?"
"Cut open?"
"Rissa-I " v e seen the scar they gave you in Welfare."
"Oh-I forgot I had not told you," and she explained.
Sparline showed relief. "But even with this reversible, it"s no picnic, what I"ve heard.
Well, they can tell you more at the Hatchery."
"Hatchery?"
"Delayed Reproduction Center-Hatchery"s what we call it."
"Yes. Well, in any case," said Rissa, "the method must be less strenuous than normal gestation culminating in childbirth. Though if circ.u.mstances permitted, I would expect to do it that way. So I will not allow you to frighten me." But she smiled to show the rebuke was only jest.
"Point taken," said Sparline. "Well, you seem to have things in hand. Have you talked with Liesel about your new holdings?"
72.Rissa nodded. "She reminds me of Erika-and holding a greater proportion of wealth here than any group could hold on Earth, she is perhaps even more effective."
"Don"t sell Erika"s gang short-they may own South America by now."
"It would not surprise me. And now, Sparline-have things gone well with you, also?"
"Well enough. Rissa-did Liesel say anything about-?"
"You and Ernol?" Sparline nodded. "No, not really. And since she did not, I am free to air my guesses. Though they are only guesses, and I would not bet on outguessing Liesel."
"Well?" Sparline"s hands clenched together.
"She loads Ernol with responsibility-it is her method of forcing growth, and I think she is pleased with the results." No-I need not say that Liesel considers it a game. "When Ernol achieves some particular degree of status-you can guess better than I what it might be-I feel Liesel will agree to the marriage. Though not without making a show of resistance."
Sparline laughed. "Oh, she"ll make me fight for it-she always has; that"s all right."
Now her hands freed themselves of each other, flexed and relaxed. "Thanks, Rissa. I thought that was the story, but I"m too involved-too wanting-to trust my own judgment."
"And, as I said, you must not rely too heavily on mine."
"Don"t worry-I won"t push until the signs are right-when she gets impatient for the fun and starts to nudge. I"ll know..."
Rissa stared. " You enjoy it, also! I am lucky to be a Hulzein only by marriage."
Then; "No-I did not mean-"
"It"s all right-I know what you meant. By most folks" standards, I suppose we are strange. But that works both ways. Rissa-the mere idea of being you-it scares me spit-less!"
Which of them laughed first? Rissa was not certain. They stood and clung together for a moment; then Rissa left the room and returned to her own.
Tregare greeted her. "I got hold of the DRC-Delayed Reproduction Center-all right. But you know what? We can"t do it all at once-at least you can"t-you can leave one ovum every fertile period, and-"
73 "I know. Well, the question of seniority is settled."
"Sure." Then Tregare shook his head. "But at that rate, how in the name of peace did UET ever raise a cargo of sperm and ova?"