Laria hadn't had many lovers and the fulfillment they gave her had been satisfactory enough. But nothing was like the climax she achieved with Kincaid, and she felt the surprise in him, the exaltation, when he collapsed against her, shuddering in release. They lay together for a long time in the sweet aftermath, his mind wondering at his response to Laria, hers savoring the fullness of rapport with the personality that had taken refuge in irony and detachment.
That was rather more than I expected,
he said wryly.
And exactly what I needed, dear friend.
I am more than your friend now, Laria.
Are you?
You can see that easily enough, Prime.
Yes, but is it right for you?
She could feel his mental shrug, vividly accompanied by the lingering astonishment of completion with a woman.
You would consider that aspect, dear heart,
he said in a
droll tone. I feel we should explore the possibilities without prejudice. Certainly I have never felt such rapport with anyone since Josh died.
Because he still had all his shields dropped, she knew who Josh was, how deeply they had loved each other and how Josh had died in a sporting accident that happened so quickly Kincaid had “seen” only when it was too late to save his lover. Struggling to find equilibrium after such a terrible loss, Kincaid had welcomed the assignment to the
Valparaiso
in an effort to distance himself from increasingly painful memoriesâonly to find himself torn in two directions by the officers who vied for his company.
One thing sure,
Laria said sternly.
I cannot hurt you as those two did.
Of that I'm sure,
he responded with one of his soft chuckles, and he gave her a hug. “Now get some sleep. Tomorrow will be busy.” He made a move to sit up.
She made a sound, closing her mind quickly lest he see how reluctant she was to have him leave her.
“On second thought,” he said. settling back down, wedging the pillow under his head and replacing his arm around her shoulders, “that would require more effort than I care to make right now.”
Thank you.
Don't mention it. Now sleep, Prime.
Yes sir,
she said in a meek tone, and wove her fingers into his hand.
Beyond them, on the wide bed, the 'Dinis also sank into a deeper, more restful slumber.
Â
“That swim did you good,” Lionasha remarked as Laria started up the steps to her Tower the next morning.
“Yes, I think it did,” Laria replied as casually as she could, because Kincaid let out a burst of laughter in his room, and let her hear it.
“That's good,” Lionasha said with obvious relief. “We've a very busy day. Oh, the generator wasn't as much of a problem as Vanteer thought.”
“I know. He wasn't here when I got back,” Laria said over her shoulder, unperturbed.
No, Lio can't read us, my dear,
Kincaid said, and then as he swung into the Tower hall from the private quarters, added: “Morning, Lio. Good evening?”
“Yes indeed.” And the other two Talents caught the unmistakable smugness of her satisfaction with her evening's pleasure.
“Good for you,” Kincaid said affably, trotting up the stairs. “At least you didn't get a bum yesterday at the river,” he added, grinning at Laria as he reached the Tower. The mischief in his smile made Laria quickly stifle her amusement lest Lionasha catch it. He shook his head, indicating that he was not projecting his ebullient mood.
“Morning, all,” said Vanteer, striding into the Tower. He leaned into the stairwell, calling up to them. “Fixed the generator, Laria. Did you have a good swim?”
“Yes, thanks,” she called back cheerfully. “Start 'em up, Van, we've a busy day ahead. Got two hours before that sun starts scorching again. Let's get to it.”
Kincaid touched her with approval as he settled back on his couch and got into position for the work ahead.
Â
They had had a very full day by noon and took time off for a siesta. Even their 'Dinis grumbled about the heat on the plascrete of the landing field. There were not as many loads for the late afternoon, but enough to tire them. Laria made a salad for supper with fresh fruit that Yoshuk had sent them from Sef. They all ate together, while Lionasha sorted out the orders for the next day's teleportations. Soon after Van had wandered off by himself, Plrgtgl arrived, its poll eye draped in vivid magenta lace, with endless questions for Laria and Kincaid about the progress of the explorations.
Over and over, Laria repeated that as soon as she heard something she would most certainly inform Plrgtgl. Kincaid brought up the files on their lounge screen, showing Plus, as Laria called her 'Dini contact, what was so far known about the four planets that he had found, paraphrasing Laria's reassurances with his own. Their 'Dinis, of course, served Plrgtgl the juice drink it preferred and got whatever their Human partners asked for, as well as some of the bits and nibbles which Plus had come to like.
SEF IS MUCH LIKE THAT, Plus said in 'Dini, pointing its flipper at the surface of Talavera.
THE PLANET COULD EASILY BE SEF-RENEWED, Kincaid agreed. IT SUFFERED DAMAGE BY HIVERS WHICH MUST BE REPAIRED AND WILL NEED LIFE-FORMS FROM THE SMALLESTâ
NO, said Plus firmly. THERE ARE SOME THAT WE CAN DO WITHOUT THIS TIME. LIKE THE LICE, AS YOU CALL THEM, AND THE STINGERS. NO HARM TO THE ECOLOGY BY LEAVING THEM OUT.
HOW CAN YOU BE SURE? Laria asked, amused at Plus's vehemence as well as its wish to leave behind such bugs. She saw that Tip and Huf as well as Nil and his Plus were keenly interested in both queries and answers though they did not voice their own opinions, not in the presence of such a senior 'Dini.
WE HAVE STUDIED CAREFULLY, Plus said, shaking the lace on its poll eye until Laria was afraid it would come loose. WE USE THIS AS PROBLEMS IN TEACHING THE YOUNG. WHAT MAKES A GOOD PLANET BETTER. WHAT IS NEEDED TO SPREAD POLLENS AND SEEDINGS. WE WOULD BE UP AND RUNNING, AS YOU SAYâPlus's large frame shook with its delight in using Basic slangâBEFORE YOU CAN SAY BOO? IS THAT WHAT YOU SAY ... BOO?
“Boo” came out in Basic. Laria and Kincaid agreed that Plus had used the slang properly and then listened as it enumerated the various plans for the revitalization of the planet.
Full night had settled on Clarf before the two Talents tactfully managed to get Plus to leave.
“I thought it'd never go,” Laria said, exhaling with exaggeration.
“They've been doing a lot of research on reviving Talavera's ecology,” Kincaid said thoughtfully.
“From the way Plus was going on, that must be their latest game to play at night.”
“As useful an occupation as many, certainly,” he agreed.
“I'm for a shower and bed,” she said, waving over her shoulder at him as she left the lounge for her own room, Tip and Huf following on her heels.
“I won't be far behind.”
She was tired, and when she had soaped and rinsed herself, turned the shower to cool to reduce her body temperature. Wrapping a towel about her body in sarong fashion, she left the bathroom. Her 'Dinis were already curled up.
“Let's have nice dreams tonight, shall we?” she said, but they did not answer.
She had no trouble falling asleep. But once again, early in the new day, she woke with the same panic syndrome, gasping for breath, unable to remember what had roused her so thoroughly.
Again?
Again, and worse this time,
she said, tears dripping down her cheeks.
Kincaid seemed to step into the room at the bedside and was enfolding her in his arms, mentally soothing her alarm and helping her control the ragged breaths and agitated respiration.
“What are they doing to you?”
“I don't know. They've ... never been like ... this before. And I'm in much better shape ... after you ... last night,” she said, leaning her head against his shoulder, gripping his arm with both hands and trying to still the shudders that ran up and down her spine.
“You were fully asleep, weren't you? I wasn't.” He said the last ruefully. “I couldn't seem to get comfortable. Odd smell in my room the circulator isn't removing.” His hands smoothed down her back, as if he were trying to push the shudders from her.
Gradually they ceased and she lay limply against him, her hands still on his arm, keeping her by him. When he felt her totally relax, he shifted slightly and she grabbed reflexively to keep him close, as if he were the talisman to ward off the frightening dream.
“Don't worry. I'll stay. Perhaps you can help me get to sleep?” His voice was oddly wistful and she giggled.
“Why not? We both got to sleep last night.”
“This could get to be a habit,” he said, chuckling as he put one hand on her chest and pushed her back into the pillows.
“Not if it has to start with me scaring myself to death,” she said as she reached out with her hands to collect him to her.
Â
The third night was worse as both Laria and Kincaid woke at the same instant, both feeling the shafts of intense emotion. Sobbing, Laria was struggling out of the twisted sheets of her bed when Kincaid arrived, tripping over the sheet he had 'ported with him in his haste. Laria shot up, reaching to steady him, and then they clung together until the spasms gradually eased.
I think both sets of 'Dini pals
âhis tone was sharper than she had ever heard from himâ
need to go to the hibernatory. That smell ought to have alerted us. I remember it from 'Dinis in our squadron. They've been having fun and games with us.
They have?
Laria was astonished. She didn't want their new intimacy to be anyone's fun and games, even her devoted 'Dinis'.
Can you explain this any other way?
Are you angry with them?
Ah!
His arms tightened about her, his lips turning up a soft smile as he gazed down at her.
I can't say that I am, dear heart, but I'll be damned if I'll let them manipulate us like this. I can do without the panic triggers and I know you can.
She glanced over her shoulder, half expecting to see two bright poll eyes watching them.
They're fast asleep,
she said, seeing only the two lumps to one side of her wide bed.
And so were Plus and Nil when I staggered out of bed, but that doesn't keep them from conniving dreams. You'd have had more experience with 'Dini dreaming than I.
Not I. My parents were the first to have 'Dini dreams. Tip and Huf have always given me nice dreams.
My pair kept me from going crazy on the
Valparaiso, Kincaid allowed, his tone puzzled now.
Tomorrow we'll take all four to the hibernatory and see what their condition is. D'you want to bet they've used their sex drive to stimulate ours?
Laria tried very hard not to giggle at the outrage in Kincaid's tone. Of course, he could feel the rising laughter in her under his hands, and he held her off to look into her face.
And it worked,
she said meekly just before a chuckle broke from her lips.
All right, all right,
he said, rocking her from side to side in his arms.
I'll give in. Will you?
She hesitated, not quite sure how to handle this because she had no intention of forcing herself on Kincaid, despite how deep her feelings for him had become. She felt him begin to withdraw and tightened her arms about his neck.
I just want to be sure you want to too.
I do.
And she couldn't doubt he meant it.
Â
The next morning, just as false dawn lit the skies, they hauled all four 'Dinis into the ground car and drove them to the nearest hibernatory. The large keeper, unusually gaunt for a Mrdini of its age, took one look at the quartet and started scolding them.
HOW DARE COLORS GET INTO SUCH CONDITION, MAKING SUCH DEAD SMELLS! NPL, PLS ARE YOUNGER, BUT TLP AND HGF KNOW WHEN SMELL TOO BAD. WHY DELAY? THIS SPECIAL TIME AND SPECIAL PLACE THIS TIME. DELAY CAUSE PROBLEMS. COULD BE ALL WRONG. TIMING IS ESSENTIAL NOW OF ALL TIMES. Railing at them angrily, the keeper pushed them ahead of itâswatting first Kincaid's Plus and then Tip, Nil and Huf because they weren't moving fast enough to suit itâthrough the door, which was emphatically slammed shut.
As much amused by the scolding their friends had received as relieved by the knowledge they had acted properly, Kincaid and Laria locked arms and made their way back to their ground vehicle.
Such dead smells?
Kincaid said rhetorically, grinning.
Could cause great problems?
They did smell and they were trying to put something over on us.
And succeeded very well, didn't they, dear heart?
I concur, dear man. I concur.
He stopped and, in the peculiarly pellucid light of Clarf, looked deeply into her eyes and touched her mind.
If they were the problem, Laria
...
She caught his hands.
I haven't asked for any promises, Kincaid. I am first and always your friend.
Yes, that you are, dear heart. That you always are.
Then he gave her a gentle push toward the ground car and he drove them back to the Tower.
three
The
Washington
hung behind the largest of the three moons that circled the subject planet, while probes began their exploratory flights. Thian had control of those investigating the planet while Clancy and Semirame Kloo had sent theirs to the sphere set in a geosynchronous orbit above what appeared to be the same sort of flat field used for Hiver scout ships on the Xh-33 Hiver world.