Afra merely smiled. "That"s for me to know and you to find out!"
"Why, you ornery yellow-eyed Capellan-"
"Kitchen timer"s ringing, Mother," Zara said, pointing.
"Oh Lord . . ." Damia moved so quickly she might as well have "ported.
"Do you, Dad?" Zara asked in a whisper.
Afra"s response was another chuckle.
"Oh, you!" she exclaimed in disgust when he refused to answer.
The clatter of horses" hooves, yells from jubilant hunters, provided an additional distraction.
Tke Tmi arid the Hive MS "I can"t believe Ewain and Petra hunt for the family now," Laria said, rising.
"They"re pretty good at it too," Afra said, unfolding his long frame. He peered out the window. "They"ll need help."
Which the young hunters did, their horses laden with avians and scurriers.
"Did you bring me in any fresh greens and tubers?" Zara demanded, her expression somewhat censorious as she watched the unpacking.
"Sure, sis." Ewain tossed her a sack that had been tied to the front of his saddle. "Not much at this time of the year, but there"s enough for your needs."
In the absence of any of the family Mrdinis that enjoyed helping in the kitchen, the Humans all pitched in, Kincaid electing to dress down the carca.s.ses outside the back door. Avians particularly were best eaten fresh and the scurriers lightly grilled. Vegetables were prepared, and with so many to help, dinner was ready in a very short s.p.a.ce of time: a dinner to which Laria and Kincaid did full justice.
"You three go on now," Damia said. "We"ll clean up . , ." She included Ewain and Petra.
"Aw, Ma, we hunted," complained Petra. "And I"ve studies . . ."
"You may "port to save time," Damia said, "but don"t you dare show off or break a single dish."
Zara beckoned for Laria and Kincaid to exit quietly before Ewain could start his protests.
The main hibernatory on Iota Aurigae was in the hills above the city and had been built with considerable care by the first "Dinis that came to the mining world. Damia and Afra had insisted on, and "ported in, the favorite woods and other materials preferred by the Mrdinis. A special "growing" tank had also been constructed, though until very recently no Human had known what was grown in it. Only that the substance was essential for a good hibernation.
Zara did not park the airsled in front of the entrance, but swung around back, landing on a ledge that apparently had been built for discreet and private use. Two other small craft were parked. Zara neatly took the single remaining empty s.p.a.ce. Emerging, Laria and Kincaid could see no visible entry.
Zara grinned. "They"ve left nothing to chance," she said, and walked right up to the apparently seamless rock. She touched something and instantly a door opened outward. She ducked inside, for the lintel was low, gesturing urgently for Laria and Kincaid to enter quickly. The door shut and Laria felt her ears pop.
Zara turned on a wrist light. "I know the way, but it"s narrow and I don"t want you falling."
Laria caught the unusual odor and had to cram a finger under her nose to keep from sneezing. Then she became conscious of the incredibly humid heat.
We"ve only a few steps to go. Door"s to our left. Slip in as fast as possible. That smell can get to you real fast.
Her wrist light showed them the door and they followed close enough that they nearly stumbled in their effort to enter. The panel slid shut so fast it just missed Kincaid"s heels. They were on the landing of a flight of stairs, lit from a brighter light below, and Zara led the way down to yet another door. This opened into a laboratory of considerable size, filled with smells that made Laria very nauseous-those pheromones Zara had been talking about? There were busy Humans and "Dinis, diligently peering into microscopes or other instruments at their workstations. Zara"s entry with her companions was noted only briefly by those they pa.s.sed.
"Your "Dinis are in the private infirmary." Zara pointed to her right, to the side aisle in which closed doors were unevenly s.p.a.ced. "Third one on the left." Again a swift parting and then closing of the door. LR AND K.NCD HERE NOW, she said, pointing to a viewing window that gave onto a dimly lit inner room.
Instantly a panel slid aside and her parents" two "Dinis, Tri and Fok, emerged. As they embraced her, their heads at her shoulder level, Laria was immediately surprised at how much larger they"d become.
He I nun and the Hive Ml YOU ARE SO BIG NOW, she exclaimed, leaning only slightly down to hold them tightly against her. THANK. YOU FOR HELPING TLP AND HGF.
AND NPL AND PLS, Kincaid added, spreading his fingers on their shoulders.
THEY DO BETTER NOW, Fok told Kincaid, turning to hold out its flipper and squeeze Dano"s hand firmly. SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN TAKEN THERE IN FIRST PLACE. WHY WERE YOU NOT TOLD?
WE DON"T KNOW WHY, Laria said. THEY NEEDED TO GO AND DID NOT ASK TO BE TAKEN UNTIL WE REALIZED THEY HAD TO GO.
Tri looked up at LarJa, its poll eye unblinking. CAN GUESS.
GUESS WHAT, TRI? Laria insisted.
YOU SEE THEM NOW, Tri said, and pulled her with it. YOU TOO, KNCD.
Go with them, Zara said. *"** tell you one thing: The four of them got chewed to small pieces and spat out when Tri and Fo^ first spo^e to them. Never heard "Dims speaf{ li%e that. Even older "Dinis.
Tri and Fol{ have grown so much . . .
They"re four-letter "Dinis now too, by the way. Congratulate them when you can.
Then they were inside the dim room and could make out the four tanks, smell the astringent odor of the fluid in which their "Dinis were floating. There were other odors mixed in with astringency, as well as traces of the strong smell that had a.s.sailed them as they entered the hi-bernatory.
Despite the immersion of her friends almost to the poll eyes, Laria had no trouble identifying Tip and Huf, and knelt between their tanks, reaching out to stroke the sides of their heads, below the poll eyes.
WE HAVE MISSFD YOU AS MUCH AS WE WOULD MISS OUR HEARTS, Kincaid murmured, one hand on each "Dini"s neck.
BETTER NOW, Nil muttered in a voice just barely above a whisper.
OH TIP, HUF, WE ARF HERE FOR YOU. Laria felt Zara touch her mind with rea.s.surance and great affection.
MUCH BETTER, SINCE NOT SILLY NOW AND DO AS TOLD, Tri said quite firmly, coming around the tank to its head and emptying a small pail of something whose fumes came close to making Laria gag. She felt Zara instantly depress the reaction.
YOU SLEEP, SLEEP WELL, Huf said, before Fok emptied a pail into its tank and a second wave of nausea nearly overwhelmed Laria.
YOU COULD HAVE WAITED, FOK, TRI, Zara said with some impatience.
CANNOT WAIT, Fok said, trotting off, empty pail swinging in its hand. EXACT ON TIME is IMPORTANT. YOU BRING THEM BACK BETWEEN PAILS. ENOUGH FOR NOW. SHORT VISIT BEST.
They have seen you and felt your touch and love, Zara said, putting a hand under Laria"s arm and lifting her up.
Kincaid rose too, swallowing convulsively. His reaction made Laria feel less weak-stomached.
** affects all Humans that way, Zara said drolly as she pushed them toward the door. "But it"s always good to breathe fresh air again," she added as they were once more in the anteroom. OH, THERE YOU ARE, she added to the four "Dinis who were sitting on stools. THESE HAVE GROWN TOO, SO YOU MAY NOT RECOGNIZE EWAIN"S VTL AND BFR AND PETRA"S IN AND THV.
IT IS GOOD TO MEET THE FRIENDS OF MY BROTHER AND SISTER, Laria said, executing a bow appropriate to young "Dinis. THIS IS KNCD, WHOM YOU MAY NOT REMEMBER.
WE KNOW NIL AND PLUS AND HELP ALL WE CAN, Vtl replied, bowing more deeply.
WE ARE MORE GRATEFUL THAN WE CAN EVER EXPRESS AT THE CARE AND ATTENTION YOU ALL ARE GIVING OUR SICK FRIENDS,.
Kincaid said, and his bow was deeper than Laria"s. Vtl was almost embarra.s.sed, and Thv, the youngest of them all, slid quietly behind Jn, DO NOT BE EMBARRa.s.sED BY THE GOODWILL OF KNCD, Zara told them. OTHERWISE HE WOULD BE WITHOUT HIS FRIENDS, AND YOU KNOW HOW PAINFUL THAT IS.
WE DO. All four of the young "Dinis now bowed as deeply as Kincaid had.
Laria was still experiencing nausqa and she could see the odd greenish tinge to Kincaid"s face.
EXCUSE US, GOOD MRDINI FRIENDS. WE LEAVE, Zara said, and "ported all of them out to the clear, crisp cold air of the ledge.
Laria leaned weakly against the airsled while Kincaid stood, inhaling and exhaling in deep drafts.
"That"s the best way to clear your lungs," Zara said. "I"m so used to the stenches that I don"t even smell them anymore."
"You mean"-Kincaid pointed to the solid cliff-"you can get used to that smell?"
"I"ve smelled a lot worse lately," Zara said with a wry smile. "C"mon, Laria, climb into that sled before you fall in. They"ve seen you, you"ve seen them and Flkm and Trpl have rea.s.sured you. Those two could have waited until you"d left before they slopped your "Dinis again," she added irritably.
"Are they getting even with us then, for not taking good care of ours?" Laria wanted to know, carefully fastening the seat belt since she still felt woozy. She heard Kincaid"s belt click too.
"No, just being officious. They"re actually enjoying the celebrity they"ve acquired by being able to effect a rapid improvement."
"How many did die at Clarf?"
"Too many." It was obvious to Laria from Zara"s tone that she was not going to give statistics. "The very young and the oldest. The midage group seemed to have more resilience and are responding to treatment."
"The same ours are getting?"
Zara nodded, flying carefully around the back of the hibernatory. Of that Laria was just as glad, for the route they"d taken on the way in had required some dips and veerings that she was not certain her innards could have handled.
"I"ll give you something for nausea when we get home," Zara said kindly. "The big if," she went on in a grim voice, "is whether or not your friends-and the other survivors-will be able to create again. So essentially we have two diametrically opposite problems to solve: contraception and restoration of the creative function."
I I Q Am Ittifhij "And?" Kincaid asked gently.
Zara gave a shrug. "If we succeed in finding which pheromones can be withdrawn to provide contraception, the top Mrdini will be happy. We"ll try to concentrate on the majority. We"ll do the best we can on the other."
With that to mull over, no one spoke on the flight back. Zara parked the sled but before the other two could descend, she offered Laria a shot gla.s.s with a pale green liquid in it. "Drink. Then go watch the sunset. That"s as much a part of restoring your equilibrium as the potion." She shooed them off toward the steps that led up to the little garden created especially to view the sinking sun of Iota Aurigae.
Very few on Clarf ever knew that there had been a subst.i.tution of Tower Primes. At first, quick-witted Lionasha inferred that Laria and Kincaid were exceedingly busy helping the poor unfortunate victims of the Clarf Tower disaster. "Which actually isn"t a lie at all."
"Fiasco, not disaster. You can prevent fiascoes," Vanteer grumbled from his engineering station.
The official story spread by Mrdini keepers was that power had failed at the hibernatory and all attempts by the keeper to repair the damage had been in vain, causing the death of 405 of the 789 using the facility. Very few knew that this had been an attempt to interrupt conception. On Clarf, of course, everyone knew that one did not interrupt hibernation and the keeper had been overly confident in its ability to cope with the emergency. By the time it admitted failure, the damage was done. Top technicians from other Mrdini planets were called in to restore power and cleanse the building. If a discreet new facility was added on one of the upper ranks, it escaped notice in the general confusion of repair. The head keeper and its staff were permanently reduced to menial rank. Three-the oldest, who had also been head keeper, and its two immediate subordinates-went into an osmotic failure and turned into mush. From old age, it was said. Whatever their shortcomings were, their records had been meticulously kept so that it was known which I.
the Tour M! tki Uiie Ml pairings should be repeated to restore many of the lost Mrdinis. When the next group of"Dinis arrived for their two months" hibernation, an entirely new, younger management was in charge: the new head keeper had just finished advanced training on Iota Aurigae.
Very few q^" Clarf in fact knew that subst.i.tute personnel were in charge of the Tower for nearly three weeks. The a.s.signment of a third hot planet, a mere two light-years away from Clariflor, to relieve the overburdened Mrdini homeworlds provided an additional distraction. Other Primes receiving or sending material to Clarf were too busy to query any minor differences they might have discerned in "porting techniques. Quick to learn and already well versed in Tower protocol, the Lyon sisters got the hang of the workload within four days. Morag and Kaltia were quite as diligent in the performance of their duties as Laria had been. To share the learning experience as well as the loads they were having to "port, they took turns being the merge mind. Lionasha was punctilious about serving them the restorative drink and they had youth as well as innate strength to support their heavy duties.
Lionasha took it into her head that Laria would have introduced the girls around, and seen that they enjoyed the social life of the Human Compound. She told Vanteer quite bluntly that he would have to act as their male escort. Mrdinis worked longer hours than most Humans- considering their hibernation as their vacation-but Prime Towers kept to the normal Star League eight-hour working day with two rest days in seven.
"You can do what you like the five other nights, but those girls are not going to be immured in the Tower," she said, so firmly that Vanteer did not argue. "They"re going to Sixth Day dances and the vid nights, and if they meet someone whom you and I both consider proper, they have every right to enjoy a night off. They aren"t nunnies, or whatever hermits were called."
"Nuns," Kaltia corrected, having been silently cheering Lionasha on in recruiting Vanteer as escort. While the Human society on Clarf was conducted in a relaxed att.i.tude, neither girl had reached adult status. As juveniles on a foreign world, they ought to be properly accompanied.
Lionasha did not mention Vanteer"s reputation, but she would be along to ensure the proprieties.
"Actually, I think she meant "nannies," but they didn"t have much fun either," Morag said, looking forward to meeting new people, dancing and having some fun.
"All work is wrong," Lionasha told Vanteer. "We need a break and so do they. So, because Laria and Kincaid are far too occupied with Tower management, we"ll escort the girls. It"d be d.a.m.ned funny if they weren"t allowed out of here now and then, you know." To that Vanteer had to agree.
So they escorted their charges to functions in the air-conditioned Human Compound. Lionasha took them shopping-Tower personnel had the advantage of knowing in advance if there was anything worth looking at-and both Lionasha and Vanteer escorted them to the dance evenings. The girls were good dancers and rarely sat out. They had the good sense to make themselves as popular with their own s.e.x in the intervals, especially when they tipped the girls off to special imports. They also dropped little clues to support the fiction that they were on an apprenticeship level: Morag moaned a bit at how hard it was to keep track of all the message tubes. Kaltia fretted about getting chapped hands from the cleanser that removed the grease of Clarf s generators.
"We were sent here to learn Tower management, and we are," Morag said, with such sincerity that Lionasha had all she could do not to laugh at her long-suffering pose. "Sis may be strict, but I can"t fault her for that."
Although they admitted to Talent, they were careful not to mention their actual rank, intimating that they were destined for less glamorous positions than Primes. If any of the more knowledgeable from Terra had suspicions, they kept silent. Since the girls were Primes, they deftly, and shamelessly, used that advantage in "pathing just enough from the minds of those they met to take the right att.i.tude that would lead to friendly, rather than envious, relationships.
"Well, we never look below the public mind," Morag admitted to Lionasha and Vanteer. "But we can"t afford to make mistakes with Humans or "Dinis. We only read surface stuff. That"s usually more than enough when people are out to have fun." Morag grinned. "They are under the distinct impression that I am training with you, Lionasha, and Kaltia"s getting some hands-on experience with the station generators."
"Yeah, [ heard you talking to Scott Attenboro," Vanteer said with reluctant admiration. "You know more than he does about station generators."
"We both do," Kaltia said flatly. "Xexo trained us, you know."
"He did?" Vanteer"s eyebrows raised in surprise. "I didn"t think he"d let anyone touch his generators." The Iota Aurigae engineer was a legend in his specialty.
Several times Morag and Kaltia made courtesy calls at the Clarf homes of their "Dinis" colors and gained much favor from their impeccable manners to the elder "Dinis. Sim and Dar, who were gray, and Kev and Su, who were blues, consequently enjoyed more prestige in their color houses.
When the sisters were asked about the absence of Laria, they had ready answers: "Sis is pretty tired right now with all the traffic. You"d think half the planet was emigrating." "She and Dano have to do some Tower adjustments." "There"s a huge shipment to go tomorrow and we"re even going to have to help."
To the amus.e.m.e.nt of all three women, Vanteer took a very responsible att.i.tude about which males he"d introduce to the sisters. If he was the victim of some joking about chaperoning, he ignored it.
"He"s almost worse than Dad," Morag complained. "He practically hauled that gorgeous Leonard Perutz away from me, and all Leonard wanted was a dance."
"Ha! That one!" Lionasha said. "And if he hadn"t kept Perutz away from you, I would have, and a thump for being so stupid."
"But he"s so handsome," Kaltia said with a wistful sigh.
"And about as trustworthy as ... as ..." An appropriate comparison failed Lionasha. "Laria won"t acknowledge him whenever he"s sent here as a troubleshooter. If she snubs him, you will too. Don"t ask the other girls about him either. Ignore him."
"Oh!" Morag and Kaltia exchanged thoughtful glances and sighed In unison. Lionasha went on. "Now, young Vince Studebaker may not have Perutz"s looks or charm, but he"s a good dancer, as funny as "Dinis on a mud slide and worth much more of your attention than Perutz."
"I danced with him, and you"re right, Lio, he"s quick on his feet and he is very funny. He"s got some of the most hilarious jokes. Nice ones too."
"Just take it from me, girls, and if Vanteer cuts you out from a partner, he fynows what he"s doing."
"Even if we"re wrecking his game?" Morag said with a wicked glint in her eyes.
"We both promised Laria we"d take care of you. Frankly, I think I like Van the better for being so vigilant. Takes one to know one.1" Then Lionasha chuckled, her tawny eyes twinkling. "Though it"s good Laria and Kincaid are due back. The strain on Vanteer"s beginning to show."