"I know, I know. That Wilson refuses to admit to logic. Spock, if she has a logical reason to be worried, I'm even more concerned."
Kirk caught a glimpse of a bright flash of fur through the milling crowd and moved to get a better look. Brightspot and Jinx stood in the spot where Catchclaw's tent had once been, staring down at the oval of blackened groundcover that confirmed a lengthy stay. Brightspot bristled her amazement; Jinx looked frightened.
Chekov brought his shashlik- the aroma made Kirk realize how hungry he was- and gave them each a skewer. "I hev some for Lieutenant Uhura and Dr. Wilson, too," he said. "It was just es easy to make enough for five."
Wilson and Catchclaw came from Stiff Tail's tent. Chekov started toward her, but Jim Kirk held him back. "I'm not sure you should interrupt them at the moment," he said; but when Wilson spotted Chekov, she gave an easy wave and came to collect her breakfast.
"Mr. Chekov," she said, "thank you. You have just saved a life. I'm ravenous." She demonstrated by tearing into the food. Aside from her thank you, she did not turn her attention from Catchclaw and Stiff Tail.
"Brightspot's here, Dr. Wilson," Kirk said. "You wanted to speak to her?"
'Where?' she said. He pointed, and she waved and called out. Brightspot immediately joined them. Jinx followed, her attempt to remain unnoticed making her seem clumsy; Jim Kirk had no doubt now that she was badly frightened.
Brightspot said excitedly, "Catchclaw's leaving!" and Jinx flinched.
Catchclaw and Stiff Tail were still having words with each other, tail tips quivering. When Catchclaw saw Jinx, however, she walked away from Stiff Tail and called the youngster to her. Jinx dashed to her; Catchclaw caught and wrapped her comfortingly in her tail.
Jinx brightened and straightened. Catchclaw said a few words to her, and Jinx arched her whiskers forward in assent. Tails still entwined about each other, the two walked toward the Enterprise landing party. Stiff Tail followed at a distance, tail twitching.
"Dr. Wilson," said Catchclaw, "I go to Sretalles. I hold you responsible for Jinx to-Ennien."
Whatever Wilson had been expecting, Kirk thought, seeing her startled expression, it wasn't this. She said, "By my custom, I must ask, Catchclaw, does this meet with Jinx's approval?"
"Keptain," said Chekov urgently, "she's esking Dr. Wilson to beby-sit!"
Jinx looked at Catchclaw, then at Wilson. "I don't mind," she said unsurely and then, as if realizing something, "No, I don't mind."
The other Sivaoans, to judge from their reactions, did mind. Stiff Tail's tail whipped. Ears were laid back all through the crowd and more tails began to lash. "Captain," said Spock in a warning tone.
"I see it, Mr. Spock," he said. "Stay alert, Mr. Chekov."
He called out, "Dr. Wilson, you can't accept the responsibility for Jinx. We have no idea how long Catchclaw will be gone."
Wilson did not turn. She regarded Jinx and Catchclaw gravely.
Catchclaw repeated, "Dr. Wilson, I go to Sretalles. I hold you responsible for Jinx to-Ennien."
"Captain," said Wilson, "I sincerely hope that wasn't a direct order. I accept the responsibility, Catchclaw, and I thank you."
Pandemonium broke loose. Stiff Tail rounded on Catchclaw, hackles bristling. "No!" she said. Half a dozen others in the crowd echoed her sentiments but no one made any move to interfere.
Catchclaw gave Jinx a lick on the forehead and released her, nudging her toward Wilson. Jinx immediately wrapped her tail around Wilson's wrist and Wilson stroked the tip reassuringly.
Then Catchclaw groomed the fur on her right shoulder, the one facing Stiff Tail. The action was remarkably contemptuous, and Kirk was not the only one to think so: Stiff Tail raised her arm as if to strike. Catchclaw jerked her head back, her eyes wide, her ears flattened to her skull. A low growl went through the crowd and Stiff Tail, as if startled by her own actions, immediately let drop her arm. She stepped away from Catchclaw and turned her back. "No," she said again.
"It's done," said Catchclaw. Without a further word, she walked toward the crowd.
It gave way before her and she stepped through, gathered up her children and plumped them on top of the packs. They clung and waved their tails; their excitement made them oblivious to the distress of the adults around them.
Catchclaw said, "Well, Settlesand. Are we going, or are we just planning to stand around all day with our tents packed?" Settlesand jumped and mounted. As they vanished into the forest, the welcome-homes set up a farewell racket.
Whatever protection Catchclaw had afforded Jinx and Wilson was gone. Kirk took advantage of the distraction and ran to her side. Spock and Chekov were right behind him. They made a small protective V around the two. "Phasers, Captain?" said Spock.
He hoped that wouldn't be necessary. "Not unless you absolutely have to, Mr. Spock. I want to avoid it if we can, but if we can't -" He saw Uhura through the shifting crowd. "Lieutenant Uhura," he called, "Here. On the double."
Uhura hurried to join them. "What happened, Captain?"
"I don't know, Lieutenant. Ask Dr. Wilson." He had meant it as a reproach to Wilson, but Uhura took it literally.
Wilson said- and Kirk could almost sense her shrug- "Catchclaw asked me to look after Jinx, and I said I'd be glad to."
Still the crowd made no threatening moves toward them. Brightspot padded over to Wilson and said, "Don't be scared. They're not mad at you."
Kirk said, "Are you sure, Brightspot?"
She flicked her tail tip at him. "Why should they be mad at you? Catchclaw did it. Catchclaw was right, but they don't believe that."
Winding Path crept toward Stiff Tail, making himself so small he almost groveled. He said, "Once to-Ennien is more tail than brain- and Catchclaw is twice to-Ennien." Stiff Tail whipped her tail twice; Winding Path shrank smaller.
Rushlight stepped in; and, unlike Winding Path, he made no attempt to minimize himself. "Tell me how it happened," he demanded, with a quick glance past Stiff Tail to Uhura; he seemed almost amused. Bristling, Stiff Tail gave him the details.
The longer he listened, the more his tail curled. Stiff Tail got angrier. When she had finished, Rushlight said, "Catchclaw does as she sees fit. You should know better, Stiff Tail."
That set her ears back, Kirk saw.
"Know better!" said Stiff Tail.
"You heard me," he said, and this time his tail stiffened to seriousness. "Look at them, all huddled together like a clutch of baby silverspots.... Smell for yourself!" Stiff Tail turned; her manner changed instantly.
As she started toward them, Jim Kirk tensed. She froze on the spot and thrust her tail forward, as if the group were surrounded by an invisible tent. He relaxed cautiously. "Come in, Stiff Tail," he said, hoping he was right. She took the fewest steps necessary and reached for his wrist with her tail.
"I apologize for frightening you," she said. "This was no fault of yours. You do not know our customs. Evan Wilson did not understand what she was saying, although she knew the correct words."
"Wrong," said Evan Wilson. Still holding Jinx's tail in her hand, she advanced on Stiff Tail fiercely. "I knew precisely what I was doing. I accepted the responsibility of looking after Jinx. I accept the responsibility and I will do it."
Stiff Tail drew her arm back to deliver a blow, but Wilson was fast- one arm shot up to block, the other to strike. Stiff Tail was so astonished, she froze. So did Wilson. It was just long enough for Kirk to catch Wilson's arm. Rushlight did the same to Stiff Tail, wrapping his tail around her wrist; he made the chuffing noise Kirk had come to associate with amused disapproval and said, "You see, Stiff Tail, you are caught in your own snare. You dare not strike if she truly does not comprehend her actions; and, if she does, you have no right."
His tail released her falling arm, then immediately looped up again. "Oh, this will make a fine song, Lieutenant Uhura. You'll see- you and your people will provide us with two nights' entertainment for the next festival!" Uhura laughed; it was the sweet sound of relief.
Then Rushlight perused Wilson slowly, from the set of her feet to the tension in her upraised arm to the glare she fixed still on Stiff Tail. "You are a tail-kinker," he told her. "I hadn't realized that someone without proper claws or sharp teeth could be so fierce." Without taking her eyes from Stiff Tail, Wilson bared her teeth in acknowledgment.
"No fight," said Stiff Tail. With that, she simply walked away.
Brightspot happily looped her tail around Wilson's waist, entangling it with Jinx's. Wilson laid a small hand on the shoulder of each and exhaled a deep breath. "Elath bless me," she said, "I have never been so scared in all my life," and then she laughed too.
"You stood up to her!" said Brightspot, a little awed. "You offered to fight her!"
"Yeah- and for one awful moment I thought she might take me up on it! I didn't want to fight her, Brightspot; you should know that."
The crowd was slowly drifting away. Kirk realized there was no longer a threat and said, quietly, "People, I think perhaps we shouldn't be standing in the middle of the camp."
"I agree, Captain," said Spock, taking his cue. "We will attract less attention if we retire to our shelter."
Brightspot, Jinx and Rushlight took this as an invitation and walked along beside them. With two tails wrapped around her, Wilson was forced to coordinate her walk; it made the trio oddly triumphant. When they reached the shelter however, Wilson paused. "Jinx, Brightspot, you'll have to let go for a minute. I think the captain wants a word with me in private."
The captain certainly did, thought Kirk. He wondered how he would have managed if she hadn't suggested it herself. "This won't take long, Mr. Spock. Keep your eyes open. And, while you're waiting, you might explain the concepts 'brig' and 'insubordination' to our friends here." He followed Wilson inside.
"I shall be happy to, Captain." Why, thought Kirk, do I always get the feeling Spock is not taking this seriously?
Inside the shelter, Wilson stood at strict military attention. There was no mockery in her attitude, as there would have been with some; the stance signaled her full acceptance of her fate.
"At ease," he said, and she snapped into the formal at-ease pose, legs spread, hands behind her back. "Sir," she said crisply.
He looked her over, falling into the manner himself. "You will explain your conduct, Dr. Wilson," he said.
"No one treats me like a kid, sir!"
He was taken aback. "Explain yourself," he said and added, "Sit down, Evan, before you bring out the martinet in me."
She smiled. Reaching for a stool, she said, "I doubt that's possible, Captain, but..." She sat.
He pulled up a stool of his own and said, "I do want that explanation."
"Captain, when a person is much smaller than average, she often finds herself treated, consciously or unconsciously, as if she were a child. You might not notice, being the height you are, but I'm sensitive to it; and I've been treated as a child ever since I stepped into this camp." She shifted on the stool and jammed her chin onto her fist.
In that pose, she did look like a small, gravely serious child. Kirk stared back at her as he realized exactly what he was thinking. "I see!" he said, more in reaction to his own image of her.
She straightened instantly, as if the pose had been a deliberate demonstration. "I thought you would. At any rate, Chekov told me about the ritual for taking responsibility for a child. Only an adult can do it. When Catchclaw and I were in Stiff Tail's tent, she barely glanced at my back. She wanted to tell me that she had thought of something that might help us." Evan Wilson threw up her hands. "That was all she said, Captain, and she said that with a grudging reluctance...."
"Go on," said Kirk.
"The rest you saw. Catchclaw asked me to take the responsibility for Jinx. Stiff Tail didn't want her to- and that implied that she didn't think I was old enough or responsible enough to handle the job properly. The only way I could prove my maturity was to accept Jinx's care."
A small frown crossed her features briefly. "I don't know if I did the right thing, Captain, but it felt right." The frown became a rueful smile. "And yes, I would have disobeyed even a direct order to refuse the responsibility." She offered her wrists, as if for restraints. "Take me away, Captain. I knew the possible consequences."
"No doubt," he said, not able to resist a slight smile. "You also know I can hardly afford to return you to the Enterprise for three days on bread and water, not when you're babysitting one of the native children."
The sparkle was back in her eyes now. "The thought had crossed my mind, Captain."
Kirk threw back his head and laughed. "I'll bet it did- tell me, Evan, does Starfleet Medical Academy give a course in insubordination to all its students?"