Part 18 (1/2)

Study in opposites!

Keepiru answered in Anglic, a pathetically unoriginal ”Good to see you, Gillian. You too, T -Tom.”

Sah'ot settled down, uncomfortably aware that he had a reputation to live up to. Unlike Keepiru, he would have to come up with a greeting that matched Gillian's.

He would rather have gone someplace to think about Gillian's remark, especially that part about being ”ever so man-like ....” Was that a compliment, or was there a touch of pity in Gillian's upper register when she had whistled it?

Thomas Orley stood quietly next to Gillian. Sah'ot felt as if the man were seeing through him.

Sah'ot drew a breath.

Look here!

A monogamous Miracle!

A pair of lovers!

Silhouetted against The wide sky. *

Gillian clapped her hands and laughed.

Thomas Orley only smiled briefly. But apparently he had things on his mind.

”I'm glad you two fins are back,” he said. ”Gillian and I arrived here last night, she from Streaker and I from the site where Tos.h.i.+o's tsunami s.h.i.+p crashed. Jill brought you folks a monofilament cable, so you can stay in touch with the s.h.i.+p. She'll work with you for a few days on this vital matter of the Kiqui. Also, I understand there are some folks back at the s.h.i.+p who'd like to ask you to collect some data for them. That right, Gillian?”

The blonde woman nodded. Word of Charlie Dart's demands had not delighted Tos.h.i.+o and Dennie.

Orley continued.

”Jill's other purpose in coming here was to deliver some gear to me. I have to go away this morning. I'll be using a solar glider.”

Keepiru sucked air. He started to object, but Orley raised a hand. ”I know, it's risky. But there's an experiment I have to try in order to see if the escape plan we've put together will work. And since you people are the only ones available, I'm going to have to ask you for your help.”

Sah'ot's tail thrashed under the water. He clamped down to hide his feelings, but it was hard. So hard!

So they were truly going to try to escape! He had hoped for better from Orley and Baskin. They were intelligent and experienced, almost-mythical agents of the Terragens Council. Survivors.

Now they were talking madness, and expected him to help! Didn't they realize what they were up against?

He swam up next to Keepiru, wearing the mask of a faithful, attentive client. But inside he felt a turmoil as he listened to the crazy ”plan” that was supposed to save them from the bug-eyed monsters.

29 ::: Takkata-Jim ”The s.h.i.+p's council meeting was a disaster. It is worse than I thought,” the vice-captain sighed.

They plan deception To fool deceivers, And veils To cover whales!

K'tha-Jon tossed his great blunt head in agreement.

”I hear the codeword for thisss project is the 'Trojan Seahorse.' What does that mean?”

”It's a literary allusion,” Takkata-Jim replied. He wondered where the bosun had gone to school. ”I'll explain some other time. Right now I must think. There must be another way than this suicide plan Creideiki and Orley have devised.

”I had hoped Creideiki would see reason. But now, I just don't know.”

”He didn't lisssten?”

”Oh he's very polite! Blowfish Metz swam in my wake point by point, and Creideiki listened so nicely to both of us. The meeting lasted four hours! But the captain decided to go with Orley's scheme anyway! The Baskin fem has already left with supplies for him.”

The two Stenos drifted quietly for a long moment. K'tha-Jon waited for the vice-captain.

Takkata-Jim's tail slashed. ”Why won't Creideiki even consider broadcasting the location of our find and have done with with it! Instead, he and Orley want to try to trick sophonts who have been trapping each other for millions of years! We'll be fried! Compared with this plan, even your idea of blasting forth with all guns blazing is better. At least we'd be able to maneuver!”

”I only offer a gloriousss alternative to his mad venture,” K'tha-Jon said. ”But I would go with your plan. Think, if we were the ones to find a way to save the s.h.i.+p and crew, would not the benefits go beyond simply preserving our livesss?”

Takkata-Jim shook his head. ”If I were in command, perhapsss. But we are led by this mad, honor-bound genius, who'll only guide us to doom.”

He turned away, deep in his thoughts, and swam silently down the corridor to his quarters.

K'tha-Jon's eyes narrowed as they followed the vicecaptain. The bubbles from his blowmouth came out in tiny, rhythmic pops.

30 ::: Akki It wasn't fair! Almost everybody who counted had been allowed to go with Hikahi, to go join the crew working on the Thennanin wreck. The repairs to Streaker were nearly completed, and he was still stuck here, where nothing important was happening at all!

Akki drifted at his study-station, under an airdome near the top of the central bay. Bubbles from below pa.s.sed unhindered through the pages of a holo-text displayed in front of him.

Of all the dumb ideas! Making him study astrogation while the s.h.i.+p was stuck at the bottom of an ocean!

He tried to concentrate on the subtleties of wormhole navigation, but his mind wandered. He got to thinking about Tos.h.i.+o. How long ago had it been since the two of them had had time to pull off a decent prank? It must have been over a month since they'd stolen Brookida's gla.s.ses and replaced them with Fresnel lenses.

I sure hope Tos.h.i.+o's okay. But at least he'd doing something. Why did Creideiki insist I stay here when they need every decent engineer out at the wreck?

Akki tried one more time to focus on the text, but was distracted by a sound. He looked down toward a noisy altercation at one of the food stations. Two fen were taking turns swatting at each other with their flukes while a circle of others watched.

Akki backed out of the airdome and dove toward the disturbance.

”Stop thisss!” he shouted. ”Cut it out, now!” He struck out with his own flukes to knock Sth'ata and Sreekah-jo apart.

The observers backed away a little, but the combatants ignored him. They bit and flailed at each other. A kicking fluke struck Akki in the chest, sending him spinning.

Akki gulped to catch his breath. How did they find the energy to fight in oxywater?

He swam up to one of the observers. ”Pk'Tow ... Pk'Tow!” He bit the fin on his flank and a.s.sumed dominant stance as Pk'Tow whirled angrily. It wasn't easy to face him down; Akki felt very young. But Creideiki had taught him what to do. When a fin reverts, make him focus!

”Pk'Tow! Stop listening to them and use your eyes. Look at me! As a s.h.i.+p's officer I order you to help me break up this fight!”