Authors: Lisanne Norman
* * *
On the pad beside his ship, Tirak's head swung suddenly round to look at his companion.
"Captain?" asked Sheeowl, her face creased in concern. "What is it?"
Turning, he hurried up the ramp back into the
Profit
with her hard on his heels.
"Captain! What is it?" she demanded, catching him by the arm and pulling him to a halt.
His eyes blazed with anger he could barely contain. "Another such as that Kate!" he snarled. "A mind reader!"
"Telepath," she corrected him automatically, using the Sholan word. "Another Human?"
"Yes! She touched my mind, tried to read me! She came in on the Sumaan ship," he said, heading for the upper decks where his guests were being held. "I need to know where that ship came from! Get Manesh onto it."
Sheeowl sprinted after him. "Where are you going? Not to the kids, Captain, it isn't their fault!"
"Yes, to them! I need her to stop this happening again, and if she won't do it willingly, I'll..."
"Captain, they're children!" she warned him again.
"I'll shake her till every tooth in her head rattles," he finished with another snarl of anger.
* * *
Shocked, Carrie almost dropped her pistol. "He sensed me!"
Kusac watched the retreating U'Churians with interest. "He did, didn't he? Can you still pick him up?"
She shook her head. "No. He's angry and confused— his thoughts are too jumbled for me to make sense of them. He recognized the touch of a telepath, though. That much I did get before he panicked."
"The touch of a telepath can be intimidating the first time," said Kaid. "Where could he have felt it before? Are his own kind Talented?"
"Too many coincidences," said T'Chebbi. "Most likely he's met one of our missing ones. Need to speak to him."
"Did he know it was you?" asked Kusac.
"I couldn't tell."
Kusac felt a heavy hand on his shoulder and looked up to find Captain Kishasayzar looming behind him.
"We debark now," he said. "Rooms are already booked for you at the inn we use this night. Port Controllers wish to speak with me later about landing
Hkariyash.
Merchant Chikoi goes to their office already."
Reaching past Kusac, he stretched a bony arm in the direction of the starboard air lock where Assadou was emerging from the shadow of the ship. His powered chair was now docked in a sled with room for his Sumaan guards to stand behind him. It was speeding toward the gateway.
"Rifles to be left on the ship. Sidearms only allowed, and blades. Give, and I will pass them back for stowage."
Kusac glanced at Kaid, who merely shrugged. They handed their rifles to Kishasayzar who in turn passed them back into the
Hkariyash.
Kusac hefted his pack over his shoulder and continued down the steps. At the bottom, they waited for the rest of the crew, then began walking toward the illuminated spacers town that existed between the two perimeter fences.
"It looks exciting and exotic, and it's so warm after Shola!" murmured Carrie as they came closer to the gateway.
T'Chebbi snorted. "Doesn't smell good."
"I expect we'll quickly become desensitized," said Kusac as the sharp sounds and smells reached him. He wrinkled his nose in distaste. The underlying odors of poor drainage and sanitation were overlaid with the aromas of food vendors' wares. A sudden gust from behind them added the heavy smell of machine oil to the noxious combination.
Beside him, Carrie sniffed, her enhanced senses picking it up, too. "I hope so, but it still
looks
exotic!"
Lights strung above the stalls swayed in the breeze, sending dancing shadows over the holders. Beyond them were the ever present shops and taverns common to all ports.
"Get used to it," said T'Chebbi. "All same. Seen one, seen 'em all."
"This is my first, T'Chebbi. I refuse to be put off," she said firmly.
Kusac, do we need to read the guard to check the language?
No need. Our Jalnian at least will be accurate because of Kris sending it to Vryaka.
Assadou could be seen heading away from the gate to the east where a modern building stood several hundred yards away from an imposing stone tower. Access to both buildings was also controlled by guards and a checkpoint like the one for the spacers' town. They were set in the wide area between the two perimeter fences.
"A hotel for those merchants and traders who can afford to use it," said Kaid, following her gaze. "Assadou's staying there. The other is Lord Bradogan's residence."
"Thought Assadou was seeing the Controllers."
"He is," confirmed Kishasayzar, his neck snaking down to gaze at her. "There is office there, too."
"What's the history of the place? Who found it and built the Port?"
Kusac looked at the Sumaan. "Captain? Do you know?"
His head swiveled to look at Kusac before he returned his gaze to Carrie. "U'Churians say the Port built on old site some two hundred years ago, Alliance time. Built by TeLaxaud, Cabbars, and U'Churians. Controlled inside by us and U'Churians, and in spacers' town, by Lord Bradogan."
"TeLaxaud. Don't remember hearing of them before," said Kaid, slowing down as they came to the gates.
"Come rarely. Cargo unit in now but leaving in few hours."
"Why build a port they don't use often?" asked Carrie, stopping behind the group of Sumaan. She reached into the thigh pocket of her one-piece jumpsuit for her ID and landing papers.
The captain's mouth opened vertically, exposing teeth like tombstones and a thick, pink tongue as he smiled. "Are aliens, unlike Sholans and Sumaan; who knows their motives?" He made a jerky, guttural sound which Kusac realized with surprise was laughter. This was a trait in the Sumaan he'd been unaware of despite his dealings with them through AlRel.
Everything's different in the field,
sent Kaid, a touch of humor in his mental tone.
As you should know, you come across the strangest allies.
"Cabbars— they're the vegetarians, aren't they?" Kusac asked.
"Yes. Two cargo units of theirs are being here, but seeing them in spacers' town not usual." He held his three-fingered hands about a meter apart. "Short people; long bodies but close to ground. Dangerous for them." He let his hands drop again and pointed to his large clawed feet. "Say we might step on them." Again the strange laugh. "Hotel keep lower level rooms for them. Crews often gather there."
With barely a glance at their papers, the guard waved the Sumaan crew through. Then it was their turn and Kaid, T'Chebbi at his side, stepped up first.
Where's the dog Jo's party warned us about?
asked Carrie.
Looking around, Kusac noticed several Jalnians with large quadruped creatures on the end of leashes, patrolling the dead area between the fences.
To your left, twenty meters away. They've got several of them. Must be used for tracking and hunting, too. Vicious looking brutes,
he added.
He could see the creature's head was on a level with the nearest Jalnian's waist. Round its neck was a ruff of stiff spines.
Gods, it's huge! It does look like a wolf,
Carrie sent.
A wild one at that.
She shivered.
An equally cursory glance at Kaid's and T'Chebbi's papers had been enough for the guard, and he waved them through.
Kaid turned to look at Carrie, his eyes glowing slightly in the gathering darkness.
That is the creature you mistook for Dzaka on the
Khalossa
?
He was grinning broadly and she could sense his amusement.
He frightened me!
she sent in justification.
I wasn't used to Sholans then.
"Papers," the guard said, holding his hand out imperiously for them. His eyes roamed across Carrie's slim figure, noticing the sword pommel protruding above her left shoulder.
They handed them over and waited.
Armed to the teeth with an array of bladed weapons, the guard still carried a pulse rifle slung negligently over one shoulder and a pistol in the holster at his hip. His face, an old battle scar creasing one swarthy cheek, looked Human but there were subtle differences to the planes.
Kusac's papers were given the same cursory glance and returned. Carrie's documents, however, he retained.
Trouble,
she sent to her mate.
We expected this,
he replied, standing his ground to wait for her.
"You're Jalnian," said the guard, his voice deep and gravelly. He reached out to take hold of a lock of her hair, rubbing it between callused fingers. "No aliens like you exist. Posing as one is a serious offense. These papers are a forgery. I reckon you're one of the rebels we've been hunting. You should have waited an hour, then perhaps we could have come to some arrangement." Mouth widening in a slow smile that held no warmth, he let her hair go. "Carrying weapons, too. Women face the death penalty for that alone."
"She's a Solnian," said Kusac. "First of her kind to visit Jalna. Look at her papers."
The guard glanced at him, frowning. "Collaborating to smuggle her in? That's serious, Trader. I suggest you leave the lady to me and get on your way." His free hand moved to rest negligently on his pistol butt.
"Look at her eyes," said Kusac. "What Jalnian has eyes like hers?"
Taking her roughly by the chin, the guard tilted her face up and studied it. "Her eyes look normal to me," he said, beginning to get angry.
Kaid reached out and took Carrie by the arm, pulling her into the full glare of the gatehouse lighting. "Now look."
Again the guard took hold of her face. Carrie's irises shrank rapidly to narrow vertical slits rimmed with a faint touch of amber. Her dark brown eyes blazed back furiously at him as she reached up to catch his hand and twist it away. As the guard yelped in pain, she released him.
"Solnian, is she?" he snarled, looking at her papers. "I'd keep a close watch on her if I were you, or you'll lose your comm officer to one of the Port's whorehouses! Many a man would pay good money to beat some decent respect into the likes of her!"
Radiating fury in every direction, Carrie snatched her papers from him and stalked through the gate.
Kusac let his own anger show as his hackles rose around his face and neck. "She's under my protection," he growled, his voice a low, menacing rumble. He opened his mouth, lips curling back to reveal an array of carnivore's teeth that stood out starkly against his black pelt. "I have no fears for her safety." Then he followed her.
As if by some unspoken agreement, the Sholans found themselves at the center of their Sumaan crew as they turned toward the lights of the spacers' town.
From beside him, Kishasayzar's head snaked down to look at Kusac. "Though unwelcome, the guard's advice is sound. She is too like the Jalnians for comfort. Had your mate been of your own species, would not be this problem." There was a curious look on his face, but he didn't pursue the matter.
"We anticipated this," said Kusac, replying in the same Jalnian-based patois they'd grown used to using with the Sumaan. "Carrie, now might be a good time to try protecting the discouragement field we've been working on. Try not to direct it at us."
Carrie nodded and gradually there grew about her an alien coldness, an air of grim purpose, that though it wasn't directed at them was felt by everyone.
Tone it down a bit,
advised Kusac as their Sumaan colleagues made startled noises and looked at her in puzzlement.
It was put to the test almost immediately as a couple of drunken Jalnians came out of one of the nearby inns. Laughing, they staggered backward into the center of the group, knocking into Kusac, then Carrie. One of them turned to apologize, but the look on his face swiftly changed to one of horror as he caught sight of Carrie glowering at him, gun half drawn. Then he saw her companions.
"Your pardons, Lady," he stammered, backing off hurriedly, dragging his friend with him.
As he reholstered his own weapon, Kusac realized Kaid and T'Chebbi had been just as trigger ready as himself. They were all twitchy because of the episode at the gate.
Good, but try toning it down a little. It'll be too strong for the inn,
he sent to her.
As Carrie reduced the force of her sending, the Sumaan began to relax.
It's just a matter of fine tuning.
The main street in the shanty town wasn't wide. One side, that nearest the inner perimeter fence, belonged to the stalls selling all manner of foods and trinkets. On the other, the permanent buildings stood— the inns, the taverns offering entertainments, the various shops and currency exchanges. The milling, bustling crowd of aliens and Jalnian port workers parted easily for their Sumaan escort and within a few minutes they had reached their destination— the inn usually frequented by the crew of the
Hkariyash.
"Stay with us for the moment," said Kishasayzar quietly in Kusac's ear as they threaded their way through the Jalnian section of the tap room to the area where the spacer crews were seated. "The U'Churians will approach you soon. They are a curious species, unable to keep their snouts out of business not concerning them. A bit like yourselves. Your tale will carry more conviction if you are seated with us."
"A sensible suggestion," agreed Kusac as they followed the captain over to a partially vacant table where another Sumaan crew sat.
As they settled themselves on the benches, Kusac was aware of Carrie mentally scanning the nearest group of U'Churians.
Found one. Link, and we'll have their language.
Kusac strengthened their mental link, letting her use him as a reservoir of energy. Kaid's mind, brought in by Carrie, joined them, and on the extreme outer fringes, he could just sense T'Chebbi. Moments later, the chatter from the U'Churian tables began to make sense.
I don't think T'Chebbi got it all. Will you make sure?
she asked, raising a weary hand to rub her eyes as she let the intense link fade.
She's not quite sensitive enough to absorb it without help.
T'Chebbi's surprised look made him smile as he redid the transfer carefully, mindful of the fact that she wasn't a telepath.
"Is good," she nodded. "Have it now."
A barmaid came over and took their orders and while they waited for the food and drinks to arrive, friendly relations were established with their table companions and news began to pass between the two crews.
During their meal, one of the U'Churians padded up beside Kusac. Resting a huge pawlike hand on the table, he bent down toward him.
"Mind if I join you?"
Kusac nudged Carrie in the ribs and they slid up the bench to accommodate him.
"You're from the
Hkariyash,
I see," he said, pointing to the emblem they all wore on their clothing. "Working for the Chemerians. Why?"
"My family wish it," he replied with a shrug of feigned indifference. This was the cover story the Chemerian authorities had provided for them. He prayed it wouldn't come unstuck. It wasn't unknown for the younger males in leading U'Churian families to be apprenticed to a Chemerian to study the language and to learn the art of trading. The price of such tuition was high, but when balanced against the future gains, it was acceptable.
The U'Churian nodded and indicated Carrie, leaning past Kusac to sniff the air in her direction. His mobile nose, more of a muzzle than the Sholan's, wrinkled with the effort. "This one. Does she travel with you?"
"She does. Like me, she learns the trade."
He sat back again. "I don't recognize the scent. She smells too strongly of you and..." He indicated the Sumaan. "A new species? She's not Jalnian, I'll wager that. They wouldn't let their women become involved in trading."
"A Solnian. The first of her kind to visit Jalna. Assadou Chekoi says she's an honored visitor in his House. Her people hope to be trading in the open market here soon, so she travels with us to see what goods are preferred." Carefully he touched the edges of the other's mind with his, backing off hurriedly as he sensed a strong mental barrier that prevented any contact.