Joat knew a moment"s sympathy for her, realizing that Silken must be broken indeed if she was too weary to make threats.
Eventually the promised med-techs came and suited them up in quarantine outfits like the ones they were wearing. They lifted Nomik and Bros onto pallets. Each of the women walked beside one, looking down.
Joat wavered, wondering if she should try to find and destroy Belazir"s store of stolen virus.
Then Bros opened his eyes and looked up at her and she found herself taking his hand and walking beside the pallet.
Ah well, she thought, she thought, if I did find it Vand would only take it away from me. Whereas if they don"t know if I did find it Vand would only take it away from me. Whereas if they don"t know about it then they"re very unlikely to find it. Joat was uncomfortably aware of how unlike her it was to hope for a miracle. Joat was uncomfortably aware of how unlike her it was to hope for a miracle.
Then again, sometimes they happen, she thought dazedly. she thought dazedly.
There were other pallets waiting at the lock, with med-techs working around them. One in particular seized her gaze. A thick-bodied blond man lay on it; the uniform had been cut away from most of his body, and devices hummed over it She could see broken bone on one flank where the ribs had been hammered as if with a maul, and the tech"s fingers were straightening the left arm above and below the elbow, so that the positioning sleeves could be fastened. Inflatable casts already covered the whole lower half of his body, and it was only just possible to tell the color of his hair, because something had ripped half the scalp off his head as if it were a wig.
She walked to the side of the pallet. Incredibly, the blue eyes were open.
"Joe," she whispered.
He tried to smile. She bent closer.
"No . . . pain," he whispered. "Drugs . . ."
Joat closed her eyes. "Thank G.o.d you"re alive."
"Thank ... the G.o.d indeed."
"Who did this to you?"
"Belazir . . . t"Marid."
Joat"s hands clenched. That debt keeps building up and up! That debt keeps building up and up!
Joseph saw her expression, and tried to smile again. Blood ran down his chin and his eyes rolled sideways. Joat looked down on the floor.
The head was quite recognizable, despite the cuts. She could never forget those eyes, and they were open and staring.
CHAPTER TWENTY.
Buster Rauchfuss chewed his lip and considered this second request for clarification and/or credits from their contact on New Destinies.
Mancini had never bothered to get back to him. Obviously he hadn"t dealt with the situation either.
Typical, Buster sniffed. Buster sniffed. Kick somebody up a notch and they think they"re too good to answer their mail. Kick somebody up a notch and they think they"re too good to answer their mail.
Well, Paul would answer this one.
Dear Mr. Mancini, Buster wrote. Buster wrote. This matter is growing more urgent. Perhaps you should look into it yourself. Surely I shouldn"t even know about this. After all, when Mr. Sperin was removed from my department you"ll recall that I was told nothing for security reasons. I must say that it worries me, therefore, that I keep getting these messages. This matter is growing more urgent. Perhaps you should look into it yourself. Surely I shouldn"t even know about this. After all, when Mr. Sperin was removed from my department you"ll recall that I was told nothing for security reasons. I must say that it worries me, therefore, that I keep getting these messages.
Let me know if I can be of any help on this.
That oughta shake Mancini up.
Buster received a reply that same afternoon, lightning speed for interoffice communications at CenSec.
Buster, it began. it began.
All I know about your man Sperin is that he was taken off a Kolnari battle-cruiser in the company of Nomik Ciety and that he"s in security quarantine.
You can tell your contact on New Destinies that wehave no intention of giving that many credits to a station notorious for graft and bribery. Certainly not on the say-so of a man under that kind of a cloud. Word it however you like, but the answer is no.
I would hate to see you pursue this. Buster noticed the "your man Sperin" and the lack of signature and he felt a little frisson of alarm tickle the back of his neck. Buster noticed the "your man Sperin" and the lack of signature and he felt a little frisson of alarm tickle the back of his neck.
I can"t believe that Bros would have anything to do with the Kolnari, he thought dubiously. he thought dubiously. The guy hated them. The guy hated them. But the bare facts were d.a.m.ning. He frowned. But the bare facts were d.a.m.ning. He frowned. It sure looks bad. It sure looks bad. And it was rumored that Ciety could convert a saint to the devil"s cause. He shook his head. And it was rumored that Ciety could convert a saint to the devil"s cause. He shook his head. Enough credits can get to anybody. Enough credits can get to anybody.
Certainly with this to go on he couldn"t be expected to stick his neck out Buster chewed his lip, then sighed and began composing a note for Dana to send to Sal on New Destinies.
Clal va Riguez was not authorized to make this kind of payment.
Short, sweet and to the point. That oughta take care of that, That oughta take care of that, Buster thought with satisfaction. It had the virtue of being the absolute truth, too. Buster thought with satisfaction. It had the virtue of being the absolute truth, too.
Joat left the Wyal Wyal glumly; she ignored the cl.u.s.ter of newshounds and floating pickups-even on Rohan, you couldn"t avoid the media, lies and distortions would be flying all over the human part of the galaxy, many times faster than light. At least on Rohan, they didn"t try to grab her arm to force an interview. glumly; she ignored the cl.u.s.ter of newshounds and floating pickups-even on Rohan, you couldn"t avoid the media, lies and distortions would be flying all over the human part of the galaxy, many times faster than light. At least on Rohan, they didn"t try to grab her arm to force an interview.
She smiled bleakly. Not with Enforcer Vand backing up The Rules; The Rules; the b.l.o.o.d.y lesson taught the Kolnari had shown just how seriously the Family took them. She forced her legs onward. the b.l.o.o.d.y lesson taught the Kolnari had shown just how seriously the Family took them. She forced her legs onward.
Not a word since we got back to Rohan. She wondered uneasily whether Silken intended to honor Ciety"s stated intention of canceling the She wondered uneasily whether Silken intended to honor Ciety"s stated intention of canceling the Wyal"s Wyal"s debt; maybe she"d just been waiting to recover fully before putting in the knife. debt; maybe she"d just been waiting to recover fully before putting in the knife.
Joat had been relieved that Silken hadn"t required her to do anything blatantly illegal. Several times, she"d been ordered to ferry some rather creepy pa.s.sengers to equally creepy destinations. And who knew what contraband they had in their personal luggage? But no outright smuggling.
Joat sighed. She"d been so sure that Bros-her mind shied away from the fierce disappointment she felt in him-or someone representing him at least, would have released her from the debt that bound her to her uncle and his concubine. So much for being a hero. Not even a message. much for being a hero. Not even a message. Beyond the pain was a sadness that frightened her. Beyond the pain was a sadness that frightened her.
They"d been separated by the med-techs as soon as they were brought aboard the Family ship. Despite her protests she"d been taken into a cubicle to have her own wounds treated. Then a sedative had been pressed on her and she"d been escorted, dizzy and sleepy, to a berth and sealed in. She"d slept through most of the journey.
When they reached the quarantine facility she woke up in a Spartan room wearing nothing but a pair of plastic slippers and a disposable shift. They kept her locked up for three weeks, until her wounds were well healed and they were certain she carried no trace of contagion. She was able to communicate with Al and Seg, Amos and Soamosa right away. Then Joe, when he"d recovered sufficiently. But never Bros.
Joat sighed. Maybe he thought it was fair turnabout. She"d abandoned him on Belazir"s ship, after all. Nol I went back! Nol I went back!
She"d attempted to relay messages, both directly to CenSec and through her old contact at The Anvil on New Destinies. To be blandly told that they had or would be forwarded to Sperin.
Not that she"d expected them to be eager to contribute that many credits to Nonuk Ciety and Rohan"s burgeoning economy. In fact, it would seem to go against their charter.
But d.a.m.n d.a.m.n this was like being a slave! Joat hung on, hoping that Silken was at least crediting the work she was doing against the debt. this was like being a slave! Joat hung on, hoping that Silken was at least crediting the work she was doing against the debt. At At least that. If she won"t return the least that. If she won"t return the Wyal to Wyal to me outright, at least let me work it off. me outright, at least let me work it off. Though so far, Joat was paying her own expenses. Though so far, Joat was paying her own expenses.
She"d seriously considered enlisting Simeon"s aid in getting through to Bros, but had been too ashamed to send her father anything from her Rohan address. Or from any of the other ports she"d been in lately.
I will not whine.
When she entered the bland waiting room at N. Ciety, Research and Development, there were two rather nondescript individuals seated in the lounge area, but no one was behind the reception desk.
She huffed impatiently and put her hands on her hips, frowning.
"Excuse me," one of the men in the lounge said, rising and coming over to her. "Are you Captain Joat Simeon-Hap?"
A sort of icy foreboding swept over her in a numbing tide.
"Who wants to know?"
They looked like accountants, mild and innocuous, with smooth, chubby faces. They smiled little, amused smiles at her response. Joat was willing to bet they were carrying weapons and that they weren"t amused at all.
"Why don"t we just cut the c.r.a.p and get right to the point," the taller man said. "We represent New Destinies and we"ve come to repossess your ship in lieu of the debt you owe for a fine levied against the Wyal." Wyal."
Her mouth went dry and it felt as though all her blood had run down into her extremities.
After what seemed a long time she croaked, "What?"
"We"re foreclosing on your debt," the smaller one said slowly.
"But . . . Nomik Ciety bought the debt from New Destinies. I was working it off for him."
"I"m sorry," the tall man said. "We have no record of any such purchase." He actually did look marginally sympathetic. "You can file a complaint, and if there"s been an error, you"re certainly ent.i.tled to recompense." He paused. "Now, we"ll require you to vacate the Wyal Wyal immediately. Obviously you"ll only be allowed to take personal possessions. Any items which might be considered integral parts of the ship will naturally have to remain." immediately. Obviously you"ll only be allowed to take personal possessions. Any items which might be considered integral parts of the ship will naturally have to remain."
Rand! she thought for the first time. she thought for the first time. What"s going to happen to Rand? What"s going to happen to Rand? This wasn"t supposed to be happening. She"d never believed that CenSec would let her down like this, not once. This wasn"t supposed to be happening. She"d never believed that CenSec would let her down like this, not once.
"Let me talk to Silken," she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. "She"s running things here, perhaps she can explain this." And it had better be good or I"m going to rip her pretty, little face off. And it had better be good or I"m going to rip her pretty, little face off.
She sat behind the receptionist"s desk and after a moment got the comp to release Silken"s private number. A few moments later Silken"s face, looking thinner, sharper and deeply annoyed filled the screen.
"You!" she said in astonishment.
"Me," Joat confirmed. "There are two men here claiming that there"s no record of Ciety"s purchase of my debt from New Destinies. Do you know what"s going on?"
"Ah, yes," Silken murmured, leaning back with a half-smile. "I"ve been so busy that I"d forgotten. When Mik told you that he"d bought your debt he had every I intention of doing so. But," she made a little moue, "your extremely negative reaction changed his mind." She shrugged and said indifferently, "Too bad. But its not like it makes any difference. You never could have paid it off in any case."
"I notice you didn"t forget to use me to ferry your friends around," Joat snapped.
"I told you, I forgot." Silken"s eyes were disdainful, as yielding as stone. "Even you have to admit I have a great deal on my mind,"
"Yeah, like how to keep my Uncle from drooling on the carpet."
Silken went white.
"You heartless, spiteful, cruel, vicious b.i.t.c.h," she said, each word a separate insult, sincerely meant.
"You"re right," Joat said, ashamed. Suddenly, she understood Silken"s malice so completely that she was utterly disarmed. Enough so that she couldn"t forgive her own. "That was uncalled for, I"m sorry."
"There"s nothing that could happen to you that would make you sorry enough to appease me," Silken told tightly. "That d.a.m.n ship is the only thing you care about and I"m glad glad you"re going to lose it. It"s not enough, it"s not nearly enough, but it will do for a start. you"re going to lose it. It"s not enough, it"s not nearly enough, but it will do for a start.
"I"ll be watching you," she continued, fire beginning to kindle in her cold green eyes. "And whenever it goes sour for you, whenever you lose or miss out or get pa.s.sed over," she tapped her chest with one slender finger, "- that"s me. My work. I promise you. You don"t know what sorry is, you slime-hag. But you will."
The screen went blank and Joat just sat there, staring at it.
One of the repo-men cleared his throat awkwardly and she looked up.
"We . . . might as well get this over with," he said.
She nodded, feeling freeze-dried inside, hard and brittle and shredded. Joat rose carefully, weirdly numbed, and began to ask pertinent questions as the three of them left the office, headed for the Wyal. Wyal.
They gave her permission to download her logs and personal correspondence and to tell her crew herself.
Joat sat in her pilots couch for the last time, listening to Alvec curse.
"I never would"ve believed it," he said for the twelfth time at least. "Jeez, he seemed like an all-right guy. Y"know? This isn"t right!"
"Excuse me," the taller repo-man said. "We"d like to get our own crew on as soon as possible. Could you speed this up a little, please?"
Joat started to speak and merely squawked, she cleared her throat. "I"d, ah, like to leave the Wyal Wyal as ship-shape as possible. You know, tidy her up." as ship-shape as possible. You know, tidy her up."
He smiled knowingly.
"Yes, we get a lot of that kind of thoughtfulness. One of our debtors was so "tidy" that his ship didn"t blow up for three weeks. Killed a family of five. So I"m afraid you"ll just have to pack and go, leaving things just as they are."
She nodded coolly.
"Just a few more minutes," she said.
"Five," he said, holding up his spread hand for emphasis.
Alvec rose and walked directly towards him, as though he didn"t exist, leaving the hapless debt collector to leap aside or get walked over.
"I"ll meet you on the dock, Boss," Alvec called over his shoulder.
Joat turned her chair and looked at Rand"s blinking "face."
"What about you, Rand?"
After a moments silence, it said, "Obviously I can"t leave, can I?"
"No," Joat said, her voice soft with shame. Even if they would allow her to download Rand"s personality she had no access to a computer powerful enough to receive it. Through all of their troubles and misadventures, she"d somehow managed to overlook this. this. She"d failed to protect a friend, one who had done far more than his share to help her. She"d failed to protect a friend, one who had done far more than his share to help her.
Yes, his share. share. Rand was most certainly not an "it" any longer. Rand was most certainly not an "it" any longer. What a fardling stupid time to realize that! What a fardling stupid time to realize that!