Lyon's Pride (14 page)

The darker-pelted of Kincaid's two sable-colored 'Dinis turned most politely to Laria. “
KNKD HAS TIRED WITH TOO MUCH STRAIN. YOU WILL LET HIM SLEEP, LR LN
?”

“
UNTIL HE WAKES, MOST EXCELLENT NPL
.”

There was a moment of excitement between Nil and Plus, for neither had been formally introduced to Laria, and her being able to identify one from the other pleased both immensely.

“
LR LN KNOWS MRDINIS WELL
,” said Tip with as much pomposity as a 'Dini of its longevity could manage. Huf, Vanteer's Dig and Nim, as well as Lionasha's Fig and Sil, were convulsed in 'Dini giggles. It took all three Humans to herd eight wriggling 'Dinis out the main Tower entrance. They were still reeling with laughter until they reached the outer gates, when suddenly all eight assumed the usual dignified postures of 'Dinis of reasonably high rank.

*   *   *

Laria Prime?

The summons must have been repeated on gradually increasing levels of urgency before Laria woke, unable in her sleepiness to identify the caller.

Who?
She was surprised as well as slightly annoyed to have a deep slumber broken into.

Kincaid. I apologize but I am rested sufficiently now
to make an extremely important and top secret report to Earth Prime.
There was a hesitation that Laria interpreted as both embarrassment and necessity.
I am unable right now to make so long a 'path and ask for your assistance
.

What he did not say, and which alerted Laria as nothing else could have, was the fact that the secrecy of the communication was crucial. None of the Tower staff must know of the 'path, the generators must not be used.

Kincaid might say he was sufficiently rested but Laria knew by the edge on the words he spoke that he was by no means as rested as he would like her to believe.

I'll collect you on my way to the Tower
, she said, and slipped into the loose light long robe that most of the Humans living on Clarf preferred.

He was standing at his closed door, still wearing the shipsuit he had arrived in although he was barefooted. She nodded approval and led the way. It was four in Clarf's morning and the floor under their bare feet was almost cool. She took the stairs two at a time and realized that he did so, too. Another nice change from Clarissia who had been prim to the point of the worst excess of methody. Laria pointed to the couch which, she also noted, they would have to lengthen to fit his frame comfortably, but he sank onto it now without a murmur.

Have you merged often enough to be comfortable with the procedure?
she asked. There was a great deal she would need to learn about this man before they did many 'portations.

More with other T-2s and T-3s than with a Prime…

It's as well you're still too tired to resist then
, she 'pathed, and firmly took control. Deep inside, she wondered again what the Navy had been doing to the man to reduce him to this level of nearly total mental and physical exhaustion. Then she caught edges of anxieties, deep loss
and disillusionments. So he'd had a rough emotional time on the
Strongbow
as well as overwork. Despite that, the merge was as easy as slipping a hand into a perfectly fitting glove. More to admire in the man.

Laria-Kincaid merge to Earth Prime, urgent
.

I'm here and I've been expecting Kincaid's contact, Laria. Just support him, will you?

That was surprise enough for Laria and she immediately assumed the secondary position of the merge, deft enough with all the practice she'd had with her parents at Aurigae Tower, bolstering the strength of the merge.

I had my orders, as you know, sir, but there were other ways in which I was asked to assist the Squadron and since there was no specific limitation, I used my own judgment when the matter was presented to me
.

Properly done, Kincaid. Proceed
.

Laria tried to keep herself from tensing: this sounded suspiciously like what had happened to her brother; no
specific
orders
against
an action which had disastrous consequences. Judging by what she had empathed of personal distress, even Kincaid's maturity and a wider scope of experience had not prevented a trauma with which he was trying to cope.

I was asked to send the new design plastic probes to those M-5 planets which we were passing when at a feasible distance for my ability. Captains Steverice and Hsiang were most anxious to establish some reason for such bypasses. The first had once
—and Kincaid paused significantly—
been occupied by Hivers, for the colony ship was in orbit and sufficient of the now identifiable Hive buildings and agricultural workings were visible—though the world did not show the same concentration of effort that was visible on the Xh-33. No activity was observed during the forty-eight-hour parabolic surveillance
.
The second world examined was completely devoid of life or vegetation but there was a ring of debris which both Captains Steverice and Hsiang decided was similar to the one observed by Squadron B. The third M-5 world was not yet dead but in such ecological imbalance that only immediate action could reverse the process. I have the coordinates and I suggest that an expedition be mounted—joint if that is politically sound—to save what could be a habitable world. Hivers were there; two small buildings remained, but in ruins. The fourth world is being colonized by Hivers
.

Was that probe seen?

Negative
.

Thank you, Kincaid. You've done more than you were required and we very much appreciate your efforts. Prime Laria, you are to be certain this man is completely recovered before he is required to take his position in the Tower
.

You can count on me, Earth Prime
.

I know I can, dear child. Now both of you get back to your beds. Especially you, Kincaid
.

Laria, still merged with Kincaid, felt him starting to reach out with another sentence and deftly, and as painlessly as possible for even the merge had caused his mind distress, eased away.

“You heard my grandfather. Enough is enough.”

Kincaid had swung himself sideways on the couch, burying his head in his hands, body sagging.

“Glutton for punishment, aren't you?” she said, a trifle annoyed with such dedication even as every ounce of her heritage approved it.

“You realize how important the messages are.”

“Yes, indeed. But, now, my friend…” and she paused just long enough to cause him to make eye contact at her use of the word. She smiled down into his tired eyes.
“…Friend Kincaid Dano of Altair, you're going to sleep yourself out.”

Then, without asking, she gently 'ported this long man friend back to the bed in his quarters, amused at her maternal attitude but keeping that amusement well screened. He made neither protest nor resistance to such manipulation. Too exhausted to, she thought. When she passed his room on her way back to her own, she “peeked” in. He had turned on his left side, cradling his head on one arm. She flipped the light cover over him. Dawn brought a cool breeze no matter how hot the night had been or the day would be. She didn't want him coming down with a ridiculously Humanoid cold.

*   *   *

Kincaid roused late the next evening and was instantly served a nourishing meal which Laria and Lionasha had spent some time concocting.

Thanks, whoever sent this
, he said when he had finished every scrap of the tray. He was asleep again before anyone working in the Tower could respond.

“Whatever
did
they do to the poor guy?” Lionasha asked.

“More than a T-2 should be required to do, I'd say,” Laria replied with some asperity.

“Like your brother, huh?” Vanteer asked.

Laria shook her head. “For one thing, Kincaid
is
aT-2 and didn't have the capacities either Thian or Rojer have, but he did a lot more than he should have. Pretty far off even for just normal catch and shove.”

Vanteer looked up at the tri-D galactic globe that was being updated almost monthly by the various squadrons, Human and Mrdini, exploring in every direction. “Yeah, he would have been dangerously close to his limit, even with the generators those Galaxy class ships have.”

Lionasha gave a sigh. “We
are
going to need his heist soon, Laria,” she said, patting one sheaf of the heavier materials to be sent to the moon spaceyards. “Those are big daddies.”

Laria had tested the state of Kincaid's sleeping mind and was reassured by the return of a healthy resilience.

“Another twenty-four hours and he won't know himself.”

“Then we can schedule the party for the day after tomorrow?” asked Lionasha, with just a hint of the eagerness she had for the project.

Vanteer and Laria laughed, knowing just why she was eager.

Since the early days of the Clarf Tower, when Yoshuk and Nesrun had managed however they could in the strange environment, many more Humans had moved to take up administrative or consultancy posts on Clarf, and on the two Moon bases. Close to three thousand Humans, some with varying degrees of Talent, though that was not a prerequisite, now formed a loose but agreeable social unit. Specialists came, integrated briefly, or stayed on as their work required them. The Tower facilities had been enlarged several times and into several levels to accommodate transients. A large tract of land, near the sea, had been allotted the more permanent Human colony. Lately Lionasha had been seeing a young Denebian servo-mechanics engineer, Buzbeth Hawk. While he was a T-5, he was only just marginally empathic with Humans. Lionasha didn't mind: she got through to
him
with no trouble. Vanteer preferred to “mingle” as he put it, though he was already contributing to the support of two children from different mothers of minor Talents. He was certain the girl was already a receiving telepath. Laria often wished that Vanteer would “receive” a little more from her
than he did. But you don't force Human relationships, especially among Talents. She knew
that
much from the story of her father and mother.

*   *   *

Twenty-four hours later, looking refreshed and certainly relaxed, Kincaid joined the Tower staff for their early morning meal. He had obviously found time to discover the working schedule to know that Clarf Tower liked to get as much of its heavy work done in the dawn hours as possible.

“Am I fit, Prime?” he asked as he pulled out a chair to sit opposite Laria.

“Yes, or I wouldn't have allowed you out of your quarters,” she said, passing him the coffee pot.

Appreciatively he sniffed the steaming aroma and grinned. “It's real! The Navy has some brew they insist is coffee but, believe me, it isn't!”

“We do have certain perks in this Tower that even the Fleet can't manage,” Vanteer said, passing him over the dew-fresh fruit which 'Dini farmers regularly left at the Tower gates.

“Clarf is certainly an improvement.” Then he gave a sudden jerk to his shoulders and looked about him frowning. “Where are Nil and Plus?”

“Helping the others,” Vanteer said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder toward the still shadowy Tower field. “We got big daddies to move. They've integrated so well you'd think they were the same color.”

Kincaid looked immensely relieved and began to eat his breakfast. “They've been…well, they were incredibly understanding on our tour with Squadron C.”

Lionasha leaned slightly across the table to Kincaid. “Don't be surprised if they keep their poll eyes elevated a while. They've been given heroes' welcomes. Their color
kin mobbed the Complex the first morning and they've been out every night since.”

“They need to be with their own. Both are close to hibernating.”

“Yes, we noticed, and Plrgtgl made very prestigious arrangements for them,” Laria said with a grin as she rose. “Bring your coffee up to the Tower, Kincaid. We've got to get started.”

He swallowed the fruit he was chewing, splashed more coffee into his cup and made for the stairs.

“Refills, whenever,” Lionasha said as she settled at her station.

“You've worked a Tower before?” Laria asked.

“Hasn't my file caught up with me?”

“Oh, it's in the banks all right, but I'd rather work with you,” she said, with a slight emphasis on “work.” “You had no trouble merging, even dead on your feet, and that's the hardest part of Tower work. Some never get the knack.”

As she chatted to put him at his ease, she settled herself on the couch.

“Hey, this one's new, isn't it?” he asked, running fingers along the suede-like covering and noticing the length of it.

“Well, you'd hardly have fit on Clarissia's old one.”

“Well,” and he mimicked her tone exactly, “it's much appreciated,” he said, sliding onto the couch and giving a sigh as his legs were supported beyond his long feet.

“With the stuff we'll have to shift today, Kincaid, comfort is as essential as placement. Lionasha,” and she raised her voice, “what's first?”

“The big daddy for the moon base…”

Laria pointed to the placement tri-D on the screens above the couches. “We've more inner-system traffic than most Towers.”

She saw Kincaid listening to the rising whine of the generators, then felt his mind touch hers.

“It's all of us today for one of these, Kincaid,” she said, and took first Lionasha and then Vanteer into the merge with the T-2 as backup. The generators reached the required strength and Laria pushed the merge to 'port the cargo carrier deftly to the cradle awaiting it on the moon base.

Kincaid turned his head to grin at her. “So that's how a real Tower handles mass.”

“The first of many. And thank goodness we've got eight 'Dinis for ground handlers. They really are the best!”