The Tower and the Hive (26 page)

Harry gestured to his team, who bowed respectfully. The team, Harry and the three remaining limp bodies 'ported out of the room.

“I should review security features,” Gollee said with a grim expression.

“Three kinetic-strong T-2's could, and did, manage it,” Jeff said, rubbing his jaw.

“Who'd've expected we'd be bearded in Blundell after all,” the Rowan said, grinding the words out, obviously still coping with her anger over the attack.

“I'll see it never happens again, no matter how many dissident T's they can assemble,” Gollee said in a tight, implacable tone.

“I shall discover
why,
which I believe to be even more important,” Elizara said, “there are dissident T-2's at all.”

“Consider me available, Elizara, if necessary,” the Rowan said.

Elizara nodded in compliance.

“Now that that's all settled ...” Jeff gave himself a shake, indicating he had been more upset about the incident than he was willing to admit. “How far had we progressed on the agenda, Admiral Tohl?”

“Item nine,” Mekturian said, blinking slightly in reorienting his attention as he touched his notepad. When he looked up, his expression suggested that Jeff knew exactly what the next topic should be. “Having a surface team investigating the Hiver-occupied planet named Ciudad Rodrigo.”

“Yes, we could do with more comparative samples of pheromones and soil,” Elizara said. “As has been remarked, the Hivers might test the air and remove any life-form large enough to be considered a predator, but they don't seem to test soil for its components. They just dig in, as it were.” She gave her mouth a quirk at her phrasing.

“We'll be taking Zara from the
Soligen
and Talavera Tower,” Gollee Gren said, scrolling down on his notepad.

“Flavia can do the surface inspection of Ciudad Rodrigo?” the Rowan asked.

“Hmmm, I'd thought to send Rojer—” Jeff began.

“Not without Asia,” Elizara interrupted him, waggling a finger.

“I know, I know,” he said, nodding his head to the caution and holding up one hand. “I want him to have some surface experience as well. with Asia.” He turned to Gollee. “Is that mixed team you've been training ready to tend Talavera Tower? If they work out, that'll free Rojer ... and Asia ...” He held up his hand before anyone could remind him.

“Five?” the Rowan said.

“Well, if three T-3's can't handle ‘porting and two good T-2 'pathers can't manage in the Tower. we'll have to see just how much support they'd need in a larger merge,” Gollee replied. “Denebians too.”

“Really?” Elizara said with a sly grin at Jeff.

That's quite enough of that, if you don't mind.
Out of deference to the two High Councillors. he added, “How soon does the
Washington
make its next destination?”

“Two more weeks, I believe.” Gollee said.

“Mmmm.” Jeff murmured ambiguously.

 

“I can't reach any of them. Neither can Mother,” Laria told everyone in the Tower who had rushed up the stairs at her scream. Kincaid, who had been in merge with her, was clutching his temples in pain. Morag and Kaltia quivered with reaction to the fright they had felt all too clearly. Vanteer and Lionasha had rushed up the Tower. Now Lionasha passed restorative beverages to everyone with the firm advice to drink first, talk later.

Laria was still too full of the panic she had sensed, despite the distance between Clarf and Earth, to do more than take quick sips between phrases.

“Somehow ... they were all ... Grandfather, Grandmother, Gollee, Elizara ... and I'm sure I felt the presence of the two High Councillors as well ... had all been in danger. I do apologize for broadcasting to all of you too.” She swallowed the rest of the drink, rose and started to reduce the headache she had given Kincaid.

“We all felt surprise, distress, not so much panic,” Kincaid said, gratefully allowing Laria to heal the splitting headache. He felt that his eyes were crossed and kept them closed.

“You shielded us,” Morag said to him almost accusingly. “Nice of you, but
we
should have been shielding you,” she added.

“Habit,” he said, his eyes still closed and his shoulders slumped.

“When will we get any details?” Kaltia asked softly, more distressed than any of the others as she kept wringing her hands. “It's awful not knowing.”

Morag and Lionasha both reached out to comfort her physically, nearly bumping heads in their effort. That bit of nonsense in itself relieved some of the tension.

Where is everybody?
Yoshuk demanded.
I gave the coordinates, but I can't
...
Oh, something's gone very wrong.

So they had to explain to the Sef Tower Talents what little they knew.

I'll just get the coordinates, Yoshuk.
Lionasha hurried down the stairs.

“Morag, Kaltia, you 'port with me,” Laria said, glad to have something to do. “Kincaid's mind's in no condition to merge.”

“I...” Kincaid got that far before he was flattened by three T-1's gently but firmly to his couch. “I yield.”

So what happened at Blundell, sis?
Rojer asked.
Grandmother and Mother shut me up.

When I know, I'll tell you. I suspect we'll all be told at the same time, but if we aren't... Here comes your shipment, Yoshuk,
Laria said, taking her two sisters into merge as gently as she could.

Hey, save your strength, Lar... Oh, you have Morag and Kaltia? What happened to Kincaid? ... Ah yes, well, if he was merge, it's to be expected. I'll keep 'em pacified here,
Rojer went on.

Despite the nagging worry about how under all the Star League suns hostiles had invaded the conference room at Blundell Tower, the other Primes continued with their duties.

No one felt much like eating any lunch, but they were all present when Jeff reported the whole incident.

“Clarissia Negeva?” Laria was so surprised that she spoke aloud, although all the other Talents were listening to Earth Prime's explanation. “She said she'd get even with us ‘weasel lovers' the day she left here.”

Don't blame yourself for her bigotry,
Jeff said sternly.
You warned us that she was xenophobic, and that was vital information. We simply didn't realize how vital. That she was able to enlist other Capellans is not surprising. To have got to a member of the High Councillor's staff is more unusual.

So, what's happened to them all?
Laria demanded without a shred of pity.

Don't ever get on the wrong side of Elizara, my dear,
her grandfather said in a droll warning.
There are limits to even her famous compassion and understanding. The “invaders” have been unable to keep any of their sordid little machinations from her searching mind. They also have been deprived of whatever Talent they once enjoyed and are being sent back to Capella to serve their penal servitude as menial laborers in frontier garrisons. ,

It is performing the same salutary function as did the unlamented Prtglm, on Kif, its planet of origin,
Jeff replied dryly.
Gktmglnt pronounced sentence. Gollee is full of plans for
more
advanced security on this level too.

For the first time in her life, Laria heard a puzzled, almost uncertain note in her grandfather's voice.
Her
grandfather insecure?

Kincaid reached over and clasped his hand tightly about hers, broadcasting reassurance, shaking his head.

Yes, you would appreciate that better than anyone else, Dano,
said Jeff with a chuckle not too far off his usual irrepressible humor.
We all had a bit of a shock that we're making very certain cannot be repeated. All right?

Then the presence of Jeff Raven was gone from their minds.

“Perhaps that was needed, Laria dear,” Kincaid said, leaning toward her and capturing the other hand as well. “Nothing happened beyond a nasty shock...”

“And the punishment of those who dared violate Blundell!” said Morag, her eyes sparkling with anger. Kaltia still looked uncertain.

“We Talents get so we feel we can lick anyone with hands and feet tied down, Kaltia,” Kincaid said gently. “It isn't true. We all have limits. Even Jeff Raven, the Rowan and the very efficient Gollee Gren.”

“But can you imagine what chaos would result if the Blundell Building had been ...” Lionasha began.

“It couldn't be,” Vanteer said, so stoutly and angrily that Lionasha recoiled. “It's far too well protected from the outside ...”

“That's what I mean. They were
inside
!” Morag said.

“And they were Talents,” Kaltia said, outraged and appalled.

“T-2's and only kinetics,” Morag went on. “You heard Grandfather. Three could get just about anywhere in Blundell except his office. The meeting was in one of the conference rooms.”

“Clarissia would have known where all the conference rooms are,” Laria said, but her voice did not have its usual firmness. “And she left here threatening ...”

“Did I or did I not hear your grandfather say that you are not to blame yourself, Laria?” Kincaid said, making her look at him when he deliberately pinched the hands he still held. “Then listen to him.”

“Yes, do, Laria,” Lionasha said, her eyes angry. “Van and I couldn't believe how tolerant you were of that methody Capellan and her prissy ways.” Lionasha did such a good imitation of Clarissia's long-suffering expression that Laria managed a weak smile. She turned to Kincaid. “And we thought that idiot Stierlman was ineffectual!” She rolled her eyes at her understatement.
“You”
—she cocked her finger at Kincaid—“know what you're doing and you do it. How's the headache?” she added.

“Gone, thanks.” Kincaid used that reply to release Laria's hands and lean back. “If I may be so bold as to suggest a siesta today, I think we'd all benefit.”

“I know I would,” Laria said, and rising, left the room.

Morag and Kaltia exchanged anxious looks.

“She'll be all right,” Kincaid said, “but a rest is a good idea for all of us.”

“Indeed it is,” Lionasha said briskly. “We've more cargoes, and I don't know how many message tubes to be sent all the way to that new planet, Clariflor.”

“Who's receiving?” Kincaid asked, frowning because he couldn't remember.

“Right now, Xahra, one of David of Betelgeuse's kids.” Morag grinned. “He must be seething to have had to let another of his precious children leave his control. She's a Prime and has T-2 and T-3 support.”

“Then it'll be all right,” he said with some relief, as he too walked down the hall to his quarters.

Once out of sight, however, he 'ported into Laria's room. She was curled in a little ball, weeping.

“Oh dear, I was trying not to broadcast,” she said, lifting her head to show her distressed, contorted face. Instantly, he picked her up, sat back down on the bed and arranged her comfortably across his legs, tucking her head under his chin and exuding quantities of sympathy.

I know misery rather well,
he said gently.

It's just that it hit me so unexpectedly.
She lifted his free hand to her cheek.
I can't imagine a world without Grandfather and Grandmother there and available to us ... to all of us.

Ha! Kincaid dismissed that with a laugh that bounced her on his chest.
One day, dear heart, they simply won't wake up. They will, however, never suffer the debilities that used to depress and make our ancestors demand the mercy of euthanasia.

But no one gets that sick nowadays,
protested Laria, still fighting inwardly against the demise of her beloved grandparents. And her parents. Afra was much older than Damia ...

If you're going to continue to torture yourself with such thoughts, I'm leaving.
He made as if to move. She held him there with both hand and Talent, immobile.

Remind me not to try to depart without your full permission,
he said with mild reproof. Then, as she immediately lifted the restraint, he put one hand on her belly. Here, love,
is the real immortality... the continuance of the genes which made both your grandparents and parents. This is your hope and their eternal renewal. I think such news would be good for them to hear right now.

Then don't think so loudly so close to me.
He hugged her affectionately, to indicate absolution.
The child will be yours, and mine, and Talented. That is the salient fact that will render any minor details superfluous.