by neetha Napew
“Couldn’t be better,’ she said, looking fatuously down at the
sleeping Zane. ‘Thank you.” And then she added, to keep him in his place, ‘I think.” Pete Easley gave a wry chuckle at her amendment and gave her shoulder a squeeze before he moved away. She would almost rather that he had stayed because the wait was a long one. She bet anything that Zainal was making sure the Eosi knew he’d been outside the Balloon, probably spinning the scout on its axis around the orbital as well as the geo-synchronous satellite. Just like him! Although what she thought he could accomplish, she wasn’t sure. She was certain, however, that he did have some sort of a new Phase Three plan.
And cocking a snoot at the Eosi was part of it. Of course, that blew the painstaking false trail he had laid to get them to believe he was elsewhere in the galaxy.
But wasn’t he taking an awful risk for all of them? What if the Balloon would give way to the Eosi warship now, In her arms, Zane sighed and snuggled closer to her. No, she thought, he would do nothing to jeopardize his son.
“Ah, he’s back inside!” Bert let out another loud crow which caused Zane to stir uneasily. ‘Heading home!” Relieved that Zainal had succeeded, Kris decided that she could now leave discreetly. Zane would need to be fed when he woke this time, and changed, and she’d run out of fluff pods.
She was tired, too, with all the excitement of meeting the Farmers, and then the re-hash of who had heard what and where. Once she’d fed her son, she’d have time for a rest before Zainal touched down.
The orbital duly recorded the emergence of a small vehicle from the protective veil: its emergence, its brief run around the fixed satellite and then its insertion. Nothing could be recorded past the obstacle, but this brief flight was enough of a phenomenon for the orbital to send an immediate message to its Home Base.
The report, when it was received, went immediately to the Ix Mentat who was enraged. Very quickly the vehicle was identified as similar in design to the scout-ship in which Zainal was supposed to have exited the system.
“Removing the markings fools no-one,’ the Ix said. ‘And if a
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scout with limited power can penetrate that obstacle in both directions, so can we!” The warship, the AAI, plus its sister ship which had just passed its test flights and been commissioned, were supplied and crewed for the fastest possible return to the system in question.
Twice the fire-power of the previous visit would certainly punch a hole through whatever it was that had impeded their exit and then refused to readmit the AAI.
“This time Zainal will return for appropriate punishment,’ the Ix Mentat said, turning over in its mind the kinds of physical abuse that would wreak the worst pain and humiliation on the chosen who had failed to present himself at Eosi command. It savoured scenes of dismemberment, of flaying alive, of the application of noxious substances to the few tender portions of Catteni anatomy.
Meanwhile, the impetus to reach new heights of technological development extended to every single Eosi. They had been idle too long, complacent in their mastery of seven solar systems, their exploitation of the riches available to them, but with so many worlds still to be discovered and turned to Eosian advancement and enjoyment.
They were on the threshold of a new era in Eosi domination! Let no one curtail their pleasure in achievement. The galaxy would eventually be theirs!
When attacked by the might of Eosian naval strength, the barrier remained impervious to any combination of the missiles, beams and force available. The attack was useless against the barrier, and the bombardment of weapons of all kinds provedI insufficient to pierce it.
Only those on the planet remainedI
unaware of the attempt.
Throughout the Eosian-dominated systems, captains and governors were
apprised of this unexpected insult. Word filtered down to the
suppressed on Rugarian, Deski, Iginish, Turs and Terran home worlds, and
on the compulsorily colonized planets. Hope was reborn! Reborn and
thwarted by the savagery of Eosian frustration which now focused on
extracting some means of penetrating that barrier from whatever source
that
l
might come. The Eosi had been unpleasant at any time; now they turned vicious. All effort was aimed at combating the first real test of Eosian supremacy since the Mentats had sloughed off their corporeal forms to find a type of mmortahty by usmg the strong Catteni bodies.
And still the barrier remained impregnable.
So the Ix Mentat sent out every available scout, far beyond previously explored sectors, to find any trace of those whose advanced technology prevented it from achieving the revenge it now craved.
- ,F
“Baby slipped through like an eel,’ Marrucci said, grinning broadly as he wiggled his clasped hands in demonstration.
“Mind you, Zainal had us at dead-slow and that might be the trick.
Come charging at it and it bounces you, back as it did the first time we nosed around.” ‘I think we were a little speedier re-entering,’ Beverly said on consideration.
“We could have blasted the Eosi orbital. Baby’s armed. Blown t out of the skies as a warning,’ Balenquah said, sullen as ever.
“We should have, you know! Proven we can do something positive against their surveillance! And we didn’t get so much as a whisker sensor stripped off.” He added a ‘Ha!” of satisfaction before wandering off to grab some of the sandwiches set out on the table, then left the office.
“Glad you were along, General.” Marrucci said softly, ‘That guy grosses me out.” ‘He is a good pilot,’ said Beverly, but without much enthusiasm.
Scott leaned across his desk, gesturing for the other two to do the
same. ‘Is what Balenquah said accurate? You weren’t beyond the Balloon
long enough to be seen by the orbital?” Beverly grinned. ‘Of course we
were. Zainal even booted us past the geo-sync sat. That was his main
object in seeing if he could breach the Balloon, to get the exit and
re-entry noticed.”
“Won’t that just make the Eosi madder’n ever?”
“Frankly, I hope so. With Farmers protecting us . . .” ‘Now, wait a minute.” Scott sat bolt upright. ‘What makes Zainal think they will if we pull damn-fool stunts like that?” ‘If you’re on the top of the pile by many light years, you don’t need to do “species’ injury” to maintain the position - not with the technology the Farmers have. But the Eosi don’t. That’ll piss them off, according to Zainal, and I think he’s right. If they keep trying to storm Botany, won’t the Farmers object?” ‘Damn Zainal. He’s going to get that Phase Three of his started one way or another,’ and there was a touch of admiration in Scott’s tone. ‘But damnation, he should take us into his confidence on such decisions. We have the good of the entire community. And where is Zainal? I need to do more than debrief him now.” ‘Oh, he dropped us off and went on to check the Catteni valley, to see if the Farmers visited them. I thought you knew.” The? I certainly didn’t suggest it.” Scott’s frown deepened.
“That damned Cat!” ‘Frankly, Ray, I’d like to know if the Farmers did appear to them. Mind you, I’m comfortable enough here on Botany, but there were a lot of things left undone on Earth and I’d expected to have a major part in their doing,’ Beverly said, giving his head a final nod of emphasis.
“A soldier’s first duty is to return to his unit if at all possible?”
Scott said with a slightly condescending smile.
“You got it! As far as I’m concerned,’ Beverly folded his hands together, ‘I’m not stopping until Earth is free of the Eosi. A lot of us here feel the same way, and I suspect more than you’d guess would back Zainal in an attempt to get active Farmer support.”
Scott considered that and sighed. ‘If we could . . .” Then, in an
altogether different voice and with a rueful smile, he added, ‘
Not that I haven’t learned some very valuable lessons here on Botany.” ‘We all have,’ Beverly agreed with a wry expression, and he looked down at the callouses on his hands.
When Zainal returned, he immediately reported to Ray Scott that the Farmers had appeared to the Catteni and scared them so badly that two were still in shock. The others refused to believe that they had not been visited by Eosi, and pleaded with him to take them to a safer place.
“I told them these were not Eosi but the true owners of the planet, and
if they tried to leave the valley
“What would be worse than Eosi?” Scott asked with a snort.
“What they do not know is always worse,’ Zainal said with a shrug. ‘They will never leave the valley.”
“Had they been trying to?”
Zainal gave another of his shrugs. ‘No. The Drassi has authority over them only on the ship. They will do nothing.” ‘You stayed long enough outside the Balloon to let both satellites have a good look at you?”
“As John told you,’ Zainal said.
“Tell me, Zainal,’ and Scott made himself lean back, as if totally at ease, ‘is it wise to aggravate the Eosi this way? How can we be sure the Farmers will protect us if we taunt our enemy?
We know very little of their philosophy and society, or their
technology, except that it is superior to everything any of us have
seen.” Zainal grinned, and the look in his eyes was menacing. ‘Right
now, the Eosi are very worried. Some other group is more advanced than
they are - they will not stand for that. They will be doing two things:
searching for the Farmers and trying to take as large a technological
leap forward as they can.” ‘Yes, but are they capable of it? I mean,
matter transmission such as the Farmers used is a. have
Scott said.
“Wars have a habit of improving technology,’ said Beverly.
“We should know that better than most, Ray.” ‘A lot of good our improved technology did us when the Catteni landed,’ Scott said with a bitter laugh.
“Did they ever track down the subs?” asked Beverly.
Scott glared at him, tilting his head at Zainal.
“Whose side is he on, Ray?” Beverly said.
“My own,’ Zainal said with a grin. ‘I go home now.” Kris was asleep and she roused briefly when she felt him slide under the blankets beside her.
“You’ve planned Phase Three, haven’t you?” she murmured and, before he could admit that he had, she was asleep again.
Zane woke them as night was falling, ready to eat and play awhile.
“Well, you have, haven’t you?” she said as she was nursing the baby by the fire while Zainal sat in his big chair, watching the process as he idly stroked one chair-arm.
“I have what?”
“Planned Phase Three.” He grinned at her. ‘It is only logical to complete what Mitford started. To get the Farmers to notice us and come to see what we have done to their world. That Eosi came is very good. We upset their plans, and that has needed doing for many generations.” “Don’t tell me other Catteni have wanted to do away with the Eosi?” That surprised her.
“It has been talked of, privately,’ he admitted, and the stroking turned to a drumming of his fingers. ‘I was on Barevi to speak to . .
. a group about a plan.” ‘You were? And I ruined all that for you?”
Kris flushed with chagrin. ‘Did you mention that to Chuck? Or anyone?”
Zainal shrugged. ‘No reason, until now.”
“Is that why you wanted to be able to leave the planet?” ‘I am thinking that to have a base for those who resist the Eosi would be a very good thing.”
“More Catteni here?” Kris could think of several hundred
people who would object to that. Or maybe they wouldn’t, now that it was pretty well established in people’s heads that it was the Eosi who were masterminding Catteni activities. The problem with that was that so many Catteni enjoyed far too much what they did to subject races.
“That would cause trouble if it was known,’ Zainal agreed, instantly following her thought. ‘There is that desert continent.
No-one goes there.” That’s true. And if folks didn’t know there were Catteni . . .
but you can’t keep something like this from the brass-heads, Zainal. They trust you now, they wouldn’t . . .” ‘Do not worry. I respect their trust. I will tell them if I think I can do what I wish now to do. I would need much assistance from Beverly, Scott, Easley, Yowell, Bert, Raisha. We must rescue more from Earth, too.” ‘The transport ship?” She startled Zane and had to comfort him.
Zainal nodded. ‘On board the KDL is much we would need.
The star maps, the codes . . .”
“Wouldn’t the Eosi change codes? Just in case you get loose?”
Zainal shook his head, his yellow eyes dancing in the firelight.
“Drassi learn too slowly to do that quickly.”
“So you must move more quickly, and soon. Is that right?”
He nodded. And her heart pounded in fear for him.
“You’re planning to infiltrate Earth?” He gave his head a quick shake. “Barevi is safer for me. Many coming and going, and we can find out much information from new prisoners. And “transport” those we need.” “You, Emassi Zainal, can just walk in and demand the worst of the prisoners, and they’ll be handed over to you?” Anxiety made her sarcastic. ‘You with a crew of . . .” ‘Desk) and Rugarians, and friends hidden from Emassi and Drassi eyes.”
“I didn’t know Deski and Rugarians crowed for Catteni.”
“They will not be the entire crew, only the ones most seen,’ said Zainal. Then he rose, in a smooth graceful movement for such a big-boned man, and began to pace. ‘We are not transport ship.
We are from mines at K’daskt Nik Sot Fil,’he said as he paced.
“We need certain workers, strong, with perhaps some mechanical experience. We get what we need - and certain things Botany needs . .
.”
“And no-one will be the wiser?”
“The grey skin stuff ? How long will it last on a man’s face?” ‘I don’t know,’ she said, though she was beginning to see just how he would be able to cope, ‘but you can take as much as you need with you.” She ran over in her mind those who had been fake Catteni when the KDL was captured. ‘But won’t the Eosi be watching everything? What if they’ve already seen the scout getting in and out?” Zainal chuckled, pausing by her chair to stroke her cheek and looking down at the hungry baby.
“I hope that they have.”
“Yes, but you can’t meet them sneaking out the back door, can you?” ‘Bert Put goes up and takes a quick look to see if . . . the shore is clear?” He lifted his eyebrows in query.
“Coast is clear . . .”
“Good, and I take Catteni speakers, too.” Now he started pacing again, rubbing his hands together as he thought out loud.
“Have you forgotten all Barevi?” he asked in that language.
Startled, she replied in the Barevi affirmative. Could she go with him?
Did she want to go with him? She certainly didn’t want to stay behind.
But Zane?
“Chuck would be useful,’ she added. ‘And Jay Greene . . .”
He had paused by her and looked down at Zane who had nursed himself to sleep. ‘I need you, too.” She almost burst into tears, her heart so full of love for both.
her responsibilities pulling her in two directions at once.
“Sandy has more milk than a cow,’ she said, not daring to look at Zainal just then. She added more briskly, ‘And this is the sort of situation we set up the creche system for, isn’t it?” She heard Zainal tap out call numbers. ‘Chuck? Are you free to talk over an idea this evening?”
* * *
Chuck Mitford immediately said they had to talk this over with the brass-heads.
“Only
a few of them, at that,’ he added, grinning and rubbing his hands together because Zainal had included him as the crew foreman.
Chuck hadn’t even taken that as a slur, because he was indeed the build and height of many Catteni. Handsomer than most, however, as Kris could not resist saying.
Scott had to be consulted - especially as Chuck wanted him to play Catteni, too. John Beverly, Gino Marrucci, Ninety Doyle, Dowdall; Matt Su for his electronics knowledge; Yuri Palit and several others who had been in the original commando group because they had some knowledge of Catteni.
“I don’t see why we can’t go straight to Earth,’ was Scott’s first objection.
“I do not have codes for Earth . . . KDL is Barevi-based. I figure that we speak with latest transports from Earth . . .” ‘What about stealing another ship with the right codes?” Marrucci wanted to know, flexing his fingers as if already settled in a cockpit and about to take off. ‘I sure would love to get back to good ol’ Terra Firma!’ Zainal grinned. ‘That is also a possibility. If one just happens to be ready to fly.”
“You can’t leave the crew around . . .” Scott began.
“There are other valleys here,’ Zainal said. ‘The KDL can get in and out of Barevi without difficulty. That is important. I know I can get supplies that we need with no problem.”
“We get to make a wish list?” Rastancil asked, brightening.
“No, a “need” list.” ‘Medical supplies?” Chuck asked hopefully, taking his pad and pencil stub from his pocket.
“If we can find any,’ Zainal replied, reminding Mitford that Catteni medicine was rudimentary at best. ‘Good steel we can get,’ he added, knowing that the fabricators needed better materials to form proper surgical instruments.
Chuck wrote ‘steel’ and underscored it.
“This time, can we have clean Catteni uniforms to wear?” Yuri Palit asked, wrinkling his nose.