Authors: Mark G Brewer
"The two on either side of the women
are my half brothers," Marin said, breaking her concentration, "Brun
on the left and Sarin on the right."
"Be careful of that one Regan, Sarin
is an apt name, he's poison." Ham sounded wary.
"This isn't the normal happy welcoming
party," Marin said thoughtfully. "You're right Ham, something is up.
Well, let's get this party on the road, open up!"
Smoothly the floor and hull in front moved
forward carrying them with it. Regan looked behind and realized the whole level
was sliding across in one section, the effect being to produce two gaps, one on
either side of the wall they were facing. Regan had the impression the floor
could slide out even further allowing full access to the storage area. On this
occasion it stopped when the gap was large enough to walk through and Marin stepped
out while Regan hesitated. On the wall she could still see the images and
watched as the two children on seeing Marin immediately squealed and made for
him, only to be pulled back by their mother. She wasn't successful and the girl
broke free, running to Marin and jumping into his arms.
[Regan, be careful of the gravity, eighty
five percent remember, walk softly.]
"And carry a big stick!" she
muttered as she stepped through the gap.
All eyes in the group were on Marin as he
carried Buela forward, both of them laughing. Beria's look and demeanor was severe
as she regarded the pair and she appeared about to speak when a gasp escaped
someone's mouth. Regan felt their eyes burn into her as they all turned. Beria
stopped in mid sentence, her mouth still open. When she turned to Regan her
face paled and her jaw tensed with a look that could freeze water. Very slowly
she turned her head back to Marin.
"You fool!" She turned in one
abrupt motion and stalked from the deck. As she entered a corridor at the rear
Regan could hear her yell, "In . . . my . . . quarters!" With that
she was gone.
[Well, that went well.] Regan silently
processed the thought, shaking slightly with anger. [It's ok, you can talk, and
this is the 'youme'. It might help you get through this to vent when you need
to, I'm used to it.]
Regan ignored him [What is wrong with that
woman?]
Marin turned, and walked back to her.
Taking Regan by the hand he gently prompted her to follow and led her toward
the remaining group, still standing stunned and alarmed. She caught Buela's
eyes as the girl peered curiously over his shoulder. Marin made for Sindali,
only to be confronted by his brothers who stepped quickly between them.
"What have you done Merali?"
Sarin sneered. "You are an idiot! This will be the seal on your coffin."
Marin paused, glaring at Sarin until the
brother looked away and then, shielding Regan, he pushed past him to his sister.
"We need to talk Sin, preferably somewhere private."
Sindali's eyes were fixed on Regan and without
looking at her brother she spoke. "My quarters, we'll go there, then you
must speak with Mother."
She turned and taking the boy by the hand
walked to the exit. They moved to follow and as Regan turned Brun reached out
one arm to squeeze her breast. In a flash she spun and slapped him so hard he
was knocked from his feet. As they exited following Sindali she could hear
Sarin laughing.
[Well, it wasn't a punch, and you did miss
his nose.] Ham sarcastically commended her restraint, [Feel better?]
[Stay close Ham, I may need those calming
influences yet.] She took deep breaths as she walked, shaking her sore hand and
slowly draining the tension with every expulsion of air.
Dear God,
she
thought.
Is this what it's like to be short? I feel like a child.
Not far down the corridor doors slid open
at Sindali's touch and they entered a tube compartment with bench seats, as
usual just too high for her. The five of them sat with Regan beside Marin and to
Regan's surprise the girl, Buela, squeezed between them and held her arm. She
could sense Sindali's disapproval but she said nothing.
Without conversation it proved a long
fifteen minute journey but Regan didn't notice, she was occupied in her head.
At a thought the schematics of the area were there for her and she tracked
their progress as if following a GPS at home.
Home,
she thought
wistfully.
[Are you homesick?]
[Some. . .] She replied, [But make no
mistake Ham, I wouldn't miss this for a minute.]
When the doors finally opened they exited
straight into an apartment, very austere but lit up in strategic places with
lights and flowers. It was restful.
Sindali gestured for the children to leave
them. They shuffled off to the side but didn't leave, preferring instead to
huddle behind a couch. Marin walked to the large table in one corner, clearly
comfortable in the room and Regan followed, taking a seat without asking.
Sindali joined them and they sat at opposite sides of the table, each waiting
for the other to speak.
With a nod Sindali indicated Regan and
raised her eyebrows. Her features were striking and every look seemed to convey
so much information,
a woman of few words perhaps,
Regan thought.
"She saved my life." Marin also
didn't waste his words.
Sindali simply cocked her head and raised
her eyebrows again.
How very human.
He continued, "I know, I know, yes, I
went down there again, I'm driven to visit that place, it haunts me. Anyway, there
was an accident and I was badly hurt." He gestured at Regan. "Without
this human I wouldn't even be here."
"Perhaps it would have been better if
you weren't." Her look was severe for a moment, and then Regan saw tears
well in her eyes and her head dropped. Sindali suddenly reached across the
table and took Marin's hand. "Oh Mer', you have no idea. Of course I'm
glad you're here but this could not be worse."
He took her hand in his, "Tell me,
what has happened?"
Sindali looked sideways at Regan, and then
continued. "Things were bad before you left, but they have escalated while
you were away. Things are much more volatile now and Mother has been threatened
by unknown rivals, hence the guard. There have already been two attempts on her
life. I've had approaches from the council, not associated with the attempts I'm
sure, but they do want to shut down the dissent." She paused,
uncomfortable with something.
"Marin, they want me to take over, I
have refused, naturally, but Mother becomes more and more determined and she is
more and more unreasonable."
[What's this all about Ham?]
[Oh - food, money, power, influence and of
course jealousies, slights, infidelities, insults, the normal hotch potch of
humanoid failings.]
[Give me the Reader's Digest version.]
[Beria has ruled with an iron tongue since
Mariner was killed. She assumed the throne so to speak, as if it was hers by
right. Regan, this isn't a monarchy as you know them. Mariner was followed by
the people because of the man he was, Beria has no such qualities and she's
retained her control by threat and coercion. Not physical, at least not so far,
but with information, her spies are everywhere. In the beginning she intended
to do so only until Marin or Sindali took over, but increasingly she's become
more paranoid and it threatens to destabilize the orbital. There are many who
would like to control the trade with other tribal groups, other orbitals.
Instead, she gives nothing and shares nothing . . . it seems some have had
enough.]
While she internally conversed with Ham,
Marin and Sindali continued talking animatedly. The children had insinuated
themselves under the table and she felt a small hand on her leg. Looking down she
saw Buela's face, then Rhine's appeared. Regan reached down and drew them up
beside her, smiling. They touched her biceps and thighs, clearly intrigued by
her bulk, then scattered at a bark from their mother. Regan made as if to speak
only to be brought up short by a bark from Ham, [REGAN!] It caught her just in
time and she simply nodded to Sindali and smiled.
Marin stood and they followed. "Thank
you Sin, I must face Mother now. Before I do, there is something else,
something I need you to organize for me."
"Of course Mer, I'll do anything."
She replied
"In the accident, my web was damaged
in some way." Sindali's hand went to her face in concern. "I need a
specialist to look at it, it may be something simple but I can't function
properly without it. Can you organize that for me, urgently?"
"It will be done," She replied
without hesitation. "By the time you have finished with Mother I will have
organized a meeting."
"Thank you again sister, but one more
thing. For now, and if I go into treatment, please look after this woman,"
and he indicated Regan, as if there was any need. "I owe her a debt of honor.
No harm must come to her."
"Of course I will . . . again,
anything Mer." She looked reluctant but didn't hesitate to agree.
With that he turned to Regan, took both her
hands and smiled. He nodded to the table and the message was clear, stay here,
then he turned for the door.
Regan, alarmed, made to follow.
[Let him go Regan. He needs to talk to the
witch alone.]
[Can you track him?]
[Yes, from here and from the ship. We'll
always know where he is.]
Regan wrung her hands, and then sat back
down at the table as the doors slid shut behind Marin.
The boy, bolder now, looked up and extended
his arms,
another familiar gesture
she thought and smiled thinly before
picking him up.
What do I do now?
Sindali proved a gracious if nervous
hostess and not long after Marin left she returned to the room with a tray,
food and drinks. The food items were new to Regan but she ate with confidence,
knowing nothing she'd eaten so far had been a problem. They were tasty, things
that had recognizable flavors but unfamiliar forms and while it was
disconcerting she ate anyway, nervously. While the children were a delight, trying
to entertain her with their antics, largely Regan spent the time listening to
Ham explain more about the likely politics of the situation.
I probably look
like a zombie to them!
She knew Marin would know more and bring them both
up to date when he returned.
Sindali drifted in and out of the room
saying nothing, what was the point after all? She stole glances at Regan, observing
her from a distance and it was disconcerting until she realized Sindali's
concerns probably weren't about her, she was fretting about Marin.
The room, while comfortable was compact
open plan. It had no windows but neither had the ship so Regan hardly noticed.
Still, she itched to get outside; there were gardens and parks she knew,
hanging there in space! She wanted to explore, to experience.
Early days,
Regan,
she told herself,
be patient
.
The most interesting exchange in the whole
waiting period was asking for the toilet. She played her role and simply acted
it out, poorly. It was Buela, laughing, who first discerned her meaning and
everyone broke out in fits of laughter, it was a magic moment. Sindali looked
at her with compassion, a connection was made and she took Regan by the hand
leading her to the bathroom.
It was two hours before Marin returned,
looking haggard and emotionally drained. On his entrance the children
immediately ran to him. He swept them both up and swung them around, kissing
each before putting them down. He went down on his haunches so that he could
look at them at eye level.
"It is so good to see you, my favorite
niece and nephew."
"We're your only niece and nephew!"
Rhine laughed.
"That's true, but you are still my favorites."
Marin smiled warmly but Regan could see he was strained. "Now, I will
speak with you later and tell you my stories of travel, but for now I must
speak with your mother. Leave us for a while, I won't forget you."
The children surprised Regan by immediately
disappearing off to another area.
Try that at home,
she thought.
Sindali had been waiting and watching. She
came forward and embraced Marin, long and hard. "Now you understand?"
"I had no idea." Marin replied
and slumped into a seat, "How long has she been like this?"
"Oh Marin, she's been difficult for a
long time but you are so focused on your work you just don't notice. These last
few periods, with the threats, attempts on her life, she has become hardened,
not more reasonable. She's impossible."
He looked incredulous, "Who would
threaten her? What is there to gain? She talks as if the orbital is full of
traitors."
"Traitors there are, Marin, those who
have had enough of the sidelines, families with grandiose ideas of system
influence and power."
Marin shook his head. "This is all so
ridiculous; there is nothing to be gained. We do have influence and power but
we are no military power. All they needed was to be listened to, to
participate, to share in the responsibility. Mother has brought this on
herself."