by neetha Napew
“He’s all right, Kris. He survived. He’s on his way back. The cruiser that’s going to land here was just faster and came on a direct line.. :’ Her hands, when he took them, were freezing.
“Kris, he’s all right,” he repeated and, without thinking what he was doing, he embraced her, patting her shoulders and stroking her hair as she burst into tears. Ordinarily tears were enough to drive Ray Scott as far away as he could take himself, but this was Kris. The long and difficult wait was over. “He did it, Kris. He did it and Earth is free. Botany, too.” He held her off. “Do you understand? Earth is ours again as well as Botany.”
“Botany, too?” She’d taken a deep breath as he started to cajole her.
“Botany, too. And they asked... asked... for permission to land, which is damned well the first time they’ve done that.” He wondered if Zainal had traded rank in the new government for the freedom of the human colonized planets.
“That’s a change,” she replied with a crooked smile. And burying her face in her hands started to weep again.
“Come, Kris, my dear.” Dorothy Dwardie took her off to one side, giving Ray Scott the dirtiest look he had received since he got his junior grade bars.
So THERE WAS TIME to plan a proper ceremony when the cruiser landed. Drums, pipes, and two bugles were assembled, and the Council put on their best clothes since they now had some from the same shipment of purloined materials that had gone to clothe the Catteni exiles. Kris decided to keep on her Catteni uniform since she would officially hand over that duty to Captain Tiboud. And relieved to do so.
The cruiser was so new that there was not so much as meteor gashes on its side, and it bore a much different design on its prow than vessels had displayed under Eosi management.
Not very artistic, Kris thought, but probably the Eosi hadn’t encouraged the arts and at least the runes used were in different, bold colors. She just ached to be able to ask Zainal what they meant.
When the crew, Captain Tiboud leading the formation, drew up in front of the Botany deputation, Ray embarrassed her somewhat by introducing her first. High Emassi Captain Tiboud startled her when he bowed with unexpectedly deep respect to the female introduced as Zainal’s life companion.
“Excellent Lady Emassi,” Captain Tiboud said, his eyes keenly inspecting
her. Then, with an unexpected show of Catten amusement, he pointed to
her shoulder tabs. “These are incorrect.” He snapped his fingers,
rattled a command to the aide who jumped to his side and then bounded
off to the cruiser, almost hitting the top of the hatch he had so
misjudged his stride. “Zainal is on his way here or so the Supreme
Karoiron himself told me when he dispatched his fastest ship to retrieve
all those you were good enough to protect:’
Kris couldn’t stifle her reaction but hoped Tiboud would not see that relief was the main one. “We secluded them in the safest place on Botany but I fear that the accommodations could not meet what they are used to.”
The aide was back, bowing as he opened and presented a large box with many pairs of fancy rank tabs. But the pair he selected was the most lavish in terms of the use of platinum, gold, and a fine dazzling diamond.
“I was ordered by the Supreme Emassi as well as High Emassis Nit/n,
Kasturi, and Tubelin that you, Kris Buyorzen (which was near enough for
a Catteni trying to enunciate a Scandinavian name) be the first to
receive the honors which I have brought:’
With a quizzical look for permission, he stepped forward and made a quick job of replacing her shoulder tabs. The new ones sparkled with the diamonds that capped the platinum half-spheres. She saluted, feeling that was an acceptable gesture. He bowed very low and she followed suit though did not bow as low. After all, she figured, an Excellent was higher in rank than a High Emassi.
Then he stepped to Ray and frowned slightly as he realized that Ray was not wearing a uniform-type tunic on which it would be easy to af pounds the rank tabs. But Ray held up one hand before the Captain could start any presentation speech.
“One small matter, Captain Tiboud,” Ray said, clearing his throat.
“You mentioned that Earth has been returned to its rightful owners and governments and that Botany has independence. There are three other Human settled worlds that we know of. What disposition has been made of them?”
High Emassi Captain Tiboud managed an expression of amused understanding.
“Your altruism is only to be expected of a Human, Ray Scott. It is not in my authority to deal with that issue but, since so much is owed to Humans in general, I would anticipate a similar courtesy of independence may well be granted those three.”
“Thank you;’ Ray said, barely heard above the cheers and shouts and whistles from the crowd of settlers.
“You are welcome. But to the matter at hand, Admiral Scott, for your
assistance to the Supreme and High Emassi in their bid to overthrow
Eosian domination, please accept these and the honorary title of Highest
Emassi:’
The Captain then handed Ray a splendid set of tabs, crowned by rubies that flashed in the sun.
The rest of the presentations went all the way from High Emassi Leon Dane for saving Kamiton’s life down to Emassis Sally Stoffers and Beth Isbell for their translations and to Emassis Dick Aarens and Peter Snyder for jury-rigging the com sat on the wreckage of the Catteni array.
By then, everyone welcomed the drinks and other refreshments, which the cooks had managed to make and serve on the two hours’ notice.
“They don’t seem in a very great hurry to get those bitches and leave, do they?” John Beverly said in Kris’ ear.
“Do I have to do the bloody honors there, too?” she asked.
Beverly grinned down at her. “Oh, I think you should, Excellent Lady Emassi. Duty before pleasure.” Then his grin faded, and he gripped her shoulder firmly, his expression reassuring. “If everyone says Zainal lived through it and even got promoted, he’ll be here soon now.”
“How soon is soon? Damn it:’
Chris, Is WAS NOT GIVEN AN OPTION, except that she was escorted on board the cruiser with Leon Dane, Ninety, Ray Scott, Dorothy, and Judge Iri Bempechat who would make the journey with her. Raisha followed in the KDL, using a quickly assembled skeleton crew to take the Botanists back to Retreat. CaptainTiboud had requested permission to launch on his return flight once he had the refugees safely aboard.
“I trust you have suitable accommodations for the Emassi ladies,” Kris couldn’t resist asking.
The Captain’s yellow eyes glittered. “They will be made comfortable, I assure you. They will find their new quarters on Catten all, or even more than, their fondest dreams.”
“Have you a mate, Captain Tiboud?”
“I have,” and there was that in his eyes that suggested to Kris that perhaps all Catteni women were like those he was required to restore to their men.
They, especially Sibbo and Milista, did not wish to be collected, even after repeated assurances, and handwritten rune messages from their respective male partners. They were terrified that it was some kind of Eosian trick.
“Is your com link strong enough for direct contact with Catten?” Kris asked, thoroughly fed up with these antics. “Then call . . . High Emassi Nitin and have him confirm your orders to Milista. She’s the one who has to be convinced.”
Milista said nothing when High Emassi Nitin, annoyed at being interrupted and taken out of an important government meeting to reassure his mate, gave her what had to be a tongue-lashing. She blanched almost ecru and began to bow apologetically, her bows getting lower and lower to exhibit her willingness to comply. She said several short, sharp, low-voiced phrases to the other women which Kris thought she must have misinterpreted.
Did Catteni women know such language?
As soon as they were boarded and being led to their qu
arters by obsequious junior ranks, Kris signalled to her companions that their duty was done. Perhaps Zainal had made it home while she’d had to dally here with the wretched ungracious Catteni females.
The captain, however, paused, looking out OVer the valley, once again tranquil, despite bits and pieces dropped or discarded en route to the cruiser ramp.
“I do not think the females will have appreciated the beauty of this valley,” he surprised her by saying. He sighed. “But I would.
Good-bye, Excellent Lady Emassi Kris;’
They exchanged bows, she keeping hers to the shallow dip that indicated the difference in their ranks. Then she went down the ramp. Maybe the Farmers had used the valleys as vacation spots for corporeal enjoyments.
That wasn’t such a wild notion. Raisha was circling above in the KDL because there wasn’t room enough for two ships to land without knocking down either the houses or the lodge-pole groves. The cruiser lifted over the retaining wall and discreetly sped up, allowing the other ship to land. That was when Kris noticed that someone had painted new ID let ters on its prow: BSS 2. Was Baby to be BSS I ? And where was Baby? Her momentary lapse into amusement at the newly styled ship quickly dissipated.
Once aboard the BSS 2, Kris sought refuge on the bridge while those who had come with her stopped at the mess hall for coffee and to unwind.
“He’ll be here soon, Kris;’
“Oh, yes,” she said in a weary voice. Half of her did not believe she would ever see him again. The other half wondered what his rank of Excellent meant in terms of the work he’d now have to do. Would he take Bazil and Peran back to Catten with him, to be raised properly as young Catteni males were? “Nice touch, renaming the ship,” she said after a moment and because she knew that she ought to make some reference to the alteration.
As RAISHA PILOTED THE BSS 2 over the hill above the landing field, she had a clear view. No Baby perched there.
“When you get your hands on him, eh?” Raisha said, cocking her head at Kris, as if she’d known how much Kris hoped to find them there.
“You’d better believe it!” Now she was angry with Zainal for this un-conscionably long delay. How could he keep her in such unending suspense?
Did he have any idea of how she had suffered during his absence? Especially since the moment she had figured out that he was going to be the sacrificial lamb? That he would deliberately put himself in the ultimate danger as the only way of gaining admittance to the Mentat Ix?
Raisha landed the ship and did all the after-flight checks.
“It can stay out tonight: the visible confirmation of our change of status.
Frankly, Kris, I’m exhausted after so much good news and emotion and all that wearying ceremony. Aren’t you, Excellent Lady Emassi?” She turned one of the shoulder tabs on Kris’s shoulder. “Those are really fine diamonds.”
Kris was as tired, too, weary beyond belief. Raisha had gone down the passageway and seemed to be gathering up the others for their voices drifted away.
Afterward THE NEXT TIME A FARMER UNIT scanned Botany, it reported that the population had increased five-fold. A decision was reached since these newest, and unexpected, protgs had proved so innovative and independent. When the maintenance vehicle reached the planet, it lifted not only the food that had been harvested on its cultivated continents but also all the equipment, vacating their premises to allow the indigenous population to expand as populations had a habit of doing.
An unusual species had done well, and they could devote their attentions where similar discreet and carefully limited assistance was required.
Kamiton’s messenger came in a Babytype fast scout, and Jerry Short, the duty officer in the hangar, immediately informed Zainal of its imminent arrival and request to land.
Zainal, in turn, called Kris, Peter Easley, and Dorothy Dwardie, as members of the Botany Management Board, to join him. He had good relations with Kamiton and wanted to keep everything “aboveboard,” Kris’s oftenused idiom for openness. He recognized the call sign of the scout as one that Kamiton frequently used so he was somewhat prepared for bad news but did not warn the others, preferring that they take whatever news came with this messenger without any predisposition. It might not be bad news. But why else would Kamiton be sending a messenger, which suggested something he did not wish broadcast on the Botany comm lines?
Kamiton had chosen a nephew of Zainal’s, firstborn son of Zainal’s favorite sister, which confirmed Zainal’s premonition that the news was bad. As Kris often did, she compared the new arrival to her beloved Zainal. She did not expect any familial resemblance, although she noticed as the young man probably in his midtwenties approached that he was slightly shorter than Zainal but still tall for a Catteni. He had the heavy build of the true Catteni, born and
adapted to Catten’s heavier gravity. His grayish skin and yellow eyes were expectable. Zainal’s Botany tan had altered his skin tone to a more vibrant shade of taupe and made Paxel seem drabber by comparison. But it was in the features that the main difference was plainly visible. She had always liked Zainal’s nose, which was not as fleshy as most Catteni. Certainly, Zainal’s mouth was better shaped, not as thick as Paxel’s and far more flexible, often giving her hints as to his mood. It was severe enough right now, though; she noted the little flattening of his lips, indicating that he found this situation disagreeable and wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. She suspected then that he was anticipating a problem.
So, in his capacity as one of the governors of Botany, Zainal greeted his nephew Paxel affably and offered him coffeea great new favorite of Catteni. Paxel grinned, showing three gold caps, a sight that caused Kris to have to hide an astonished grin. Zainal covered her astonishment by introducing Paxel, name and rank, first to Dwardie. “This is a sister’s firstborn, Emassi Paxel. I make you known to Eminent Dwardie, and my mate, Excellent Lady Emassi Kris, and Peter Easley.” He reached for the message, which Paxel somewhat reluctantly handed over.
It bore Kamiton’s name, plus the characters that confirmed that other Catteni officials were aware that a message had been sent to him. That did not bode well. He waved Paxel to a chair at the table in the hangar office. Then he broke the seal and could not suppress a grunt of dismay. When he had digested its import, he tossed the letter across the table to Kris, who could read some Catteni, though probably not all the diplomatic terms and courtesies. The gist of the message stood out as if written in red: “Barevi merchants will not surrender any Terran goods retrieved by the Eosi or Catteni captains.”
Paxel’s eyes had mirrored astonishment when Zainal gave the message first to Kris, rather than to Peter. Very few Catteni women were ever consulted on matters of significance.
“You mean, they need a bribe to give us back anything?” she demanded, outraged. “And sent your sister’s firstborn with the news so you wouldn’t kill him out of hand?”
Zainal managed not to grin at her quick understanding of the ploy. She flicked the message across the smooth table toward Peter. “What?” Dorothy Dwardie was equally incensed. She read the note over Peter’s shoulder.
“They’re very acquisitive, the merchants of Barevi,” Kris said, having dealt with them during her enslavement on the trade planet and more recently during her clandestine visit disguised as a Catteni officer.
“They don’t mind dealing in stolen goods?” Dorothy asked, frowning at the message that Peter peered at in a total lack of comprehension, for it was in Catteni script.
“Most if not all of what they sell has been ‘acquired,’ one way or another,” Kris said, watching Paxel’s reaction.
“Business is at a standstill now that there is no new material coming in from Eosian”Paxel cleared his throat” development.” “Development?” Peter echoed, glaring at the young man. “Polite terminology for forced acquisition,” Kris translated composedly. “However, knowing how Barevi operates, this doesn’t surprise me,” she said, indicating the message. “I didn’t think we’d get any
thing back without a quid pro quo.”
“A what?” Zainal frowned at words he didn’t understand.
“Old Latin saying. Something for something,” she told him in a low voice.
“But we must have the loot returned to us,” Peter said, “since the production lines for many essential parts are no longer functioning. The spare parts that the Catteni ‘acquired’ could rectify a great many useless vehicles:’
“Agreed, to the necessity to repossess the parts, especially those communication elements,” Kris said.
“Business on Barevi is at a standstill, and the merchants refuse to surrender trading goods,” Paxel repeated, as if that was the most important consideration.
“Even if we used the same technologies . . .” Peter began, irate. Kris held up her hand. “It’s a fine sample of Catteni psychology,” she said, smiling at Paxel. Being a firstborn was some protection for Paxel as far as his treatment as the messenger was concerned, but Kris did not intend to mince words or exchange false courtesies. “It drops, it staysuntil it’s paid forone way or another,” she went on, using the slogan facetiously in an effort to relieve the tension in the office. “We were promised restitution of materials forcibly removed from Earth’s manufacturing facilities,” Peter said. She gave him a long, cool look.
“The merchants require compensation.” “That’s piracy,” Dorothy said, equally annoyed.
“That’s business,” Kris said. “I know the merchants. They love haggling. It’s a way of life. Besides which, we’ve already made use of many pirated commodities that the first Barevi expedition brought back.” She gave Dorothy a quelling look. Dorothy probably hadn’t considered those goods as “loot” since they had been paid for, at least at the Barevi market. Now Kris could wonder if the merchants had been paid for the tab run up against a bogus ship’s account. Oh well, that was for the Catteni accountants to resolve.