“I’ve missed you,” I said with quiet sincerity.
“I’ve missed you, too.”
We sat looking out over the park. I use the term loosely for a park, to me, involved lots of grass and flower beds and bushes and trees and a children’s play area and maybe a football pitch. There were trees, or what passed for trees here, and there were things that could be described as bushes. But there was no grass. The Geretimalian equivalent of grass didn’t grow in this part of the world. And there were no flowers. It was, apparently, the wrong season. The ground was basically sandy dirt with covered with a small plant like ivy that sent out tendrils which, every inch or so, sprouted a number of glossy dark green leaves. Still, it was better than looking at four walls and there was a pleasant breeze.
“Believe it or not, there are some very nice parks on Geretimal,” Hermes said as if divining my thoughts. “This is not one of them.”
“It beats looking at my sitting room walls,” I said.
“There is that.”
“I assume you had a reason for making us rearrange our busy schedules at the drop of a hat and assemble in this desert?” Honesty-in-Trust said.
“Naturally,” I replied. “I was missing your insults.”
Flerrionna laughed. “Behave yourselves, children.”
“He has a point… sort of,” I said. “While things have been going much better since Taragis Hlawch’s Damascene conversion, I needed to get away. I feel very isolated and needed to find out what’s really going on. Also I wanted to be able to just say what I think without having to constantly watch my words and hunt for the hidden agenda behind other people’s words. And there’s that bloody spaceship. When do they need an answer, Hermes?”
“Whenever. It’s up to you. The quicker you decide, the quicker it’ll be finished.”
The other two were looking interested so I explained about having to design the interior of my new ship.
“Don’t look at me,” Honesty-in-Trust said with a horrified expression.
“How does the classic hotel look appeal?” Flerrionna said.
“You two are a fat load of use.”
“I’ll do what I can,” Hermes said. “In fact I’ve already made a start. But you have the final say.”
“It’s the fact that I have to decide how many rooms to have and who they’ll be for that gets me. At the moment there’ll be three of us… four if you decide to join us, Honesty-in-Trust. How the hell am I supposed to second guess the future?”
“Think grand,” Hermes said. “Servants quarters below and eight bed rooms on top.”
“Make that seven. You’re getting two of the big ones to make into a suite. I insist.”
“I won’t say no. I’ll finish my ideas and let you see them. Remember you can always change your mind later. Nothing’s immutable.”
“I suppose so. What’s new in the sordid legal world?”
“Ah. Well your money’s come through. I’ve been in touch with Flerrionna’s friend. She’s really good, by the way. I need your power of attorney to commit but I recommend you follow her advice.”
“Go for it.”
He fished out his communicator and I recited the required formula that allowed him to spend my money.
“O hope you won’t take offence,” Hermes said, “but you’re putting a lot of trust in Honesty-in-Trust.”
“I know but, for a start, if it hadn’t been for him I wouldn’t have any money anyway. Besides, when you think about it, I haven’t much choice. I’m stuck in the hotel when I’m not facing the media zoo and I know nothing of your financial system. He’ll just have to live up to his name.”
“Very droll,” Honesty-in-Trust said. “Actually I agree with Hermes and I agree with Crawford’s reasoning. It’s not something I would normally do but I can’t see a viable alternative. By the way, Crawford, if you do need money, just use your card.”
Hermes shrugged. “I just wanted us all to be clear.”
“Other things.” Honesty-in-Trust said. “The Commission. I’m very pleased to hear they’re behaving themselves. It’s chaos at their headquarters. The investigation panels are digging like demented moles. And Sir Devoted-Acolyte is a man on a mission. Having his precious breeding programme interfered with has upset him more than a bit. He’s already fired at least ten people. Madam Brabicoso is creating upheaval on her side. If girls weren't eager to meet you before, they will be now. Finally, your stock is rising among the neutrals. Your tour-de-force at the restaurant and today’s hospital visit have raised the Lottery’s profile and its Jabwak rating.”
“Come again?”
“Jabwak rating. A measure of media popularity. As I say, it’s climbing and some who were previously listening to Sir Inner-Piety and his cronies are starting to think again. Even the Chairman is alleged to have mentioned your name without putting a swear word in front of it. I still haven’t been able to find out who’s behind Inner-Piety, though. I don’t believe he’s the mastermind. It has to be someone on the Board.”
“What about the demonstrators?” I asked.
“What demonstrators?” Flerrionna asked with concern.
“Last night and today there were groups of beings who appear to have taken a dislike to me and are quite vociferous about it,”
“Forget them,” Honesty-in-Trust said. “I noticed them today. I even recognised some of them from police records. Someone, Sir Inner-Piety probably, is paying petty criminals and layabouts to make a noise. It’s a publicity stunt, that’s all.”
Hermes said nothing but his expression suggested he believed they were more than Honesty-in-Trust believed. The conversation turned to more general topics. We were four beings from widely different backgrounds and, of course, we didn’t see eye to eye on many things but, underneath, I sensed there was a mutual respect and friendship. It’s unlikely that, under normal circumstances, the other three would have ever met but they seemed to complement each other somehow. For the first time in a while, I felt relaxed.
We parted, declaring we must do this more often and even Honesty-in-Trust agreed that an afternoon of doing nothing very much was a good tonic. Flerrionna and I went back to the hotel and visited the cats. They were pleased to see us though not very lively. I suggested some alternatives to chicken and tuna for their diet. Flerrionna and I made gentle love. I knew she wasn’t entirely happy with my involvement in the breeding programme but, as she’d poached me knowing it would happen, she tried not to let it affect her. I felt a bit guilty knowing that Jarmasin was going to talk to her, and probably try and seduce her, but had made my mind up not to interfere. If Flerrionna wanted a one-woman man, that was what I’d be.
Taragis didn’t appear to brief me about the evening. Instead, Barbita arrived with my escort.
“Sir Hlawch is having a night off,” she explained as she introduced me to Ymar Kyarm. The ‘y’ was pronounced half way between ‘ee’ and the ‘i’ in ‘pit’.
Ymar was as different from Cherevine and Jarmasin as it was possible to be. Physically she was attractive. She had red skin; red in the sense that a Red Indian, or Native American or whatever the current politically correct term is, only redder. She was tall and slender with an elongated oval face dominated by large grey eyes. Her nose was long and thin and her mouth generous and mobile. Her hair was dark but shot with paler streaks. She was wearing a simple, shift dress of silvery blue which shimmered as she moved.
Having been told she was shy, I didn’t make any flamboyant gestures but welcomed her cordially. Barbita confirmed that this really was going to be a quiet dinner for two. The ubiquitous protectors would accompany us, but that was all.
“That’s good. You know this will be the first time I’ll have had a chance to talk to my escort,” I said to Ymar. “Conversation isn’t easy when you’re surrounded by media people, waiters and other diners.”
She smiled shyly. It was a nice smile. “I’m glad, too. I don’t know how you cope with it all.”
“It sort of go
es with the territory,” I said with a laugh. “Shall we go?”
“Have fun,” Barbita said.
The car journey was longer tonight, the restaurant being in one of the suburbs of Bartimarm. I tried to get her to talk about herself but she seemed reluctant so I blethered about myself and my impressions of Bartimarm.
“You know, the thing I miss most is subtlety,” I said. “It’s green where I live and every plant is slightly different. And the sky changes colour at different times of the day. And…”
“The fyantay’s will be in bloom now,” she said in a quiet voice. “They’re beautiful. One day there’s none and the next everything is blue; from so pale it’s almost white to blue so deep you want to drown in it. They only last a fortnight. Then they’re gone for another year.”
“It sounds beautiful. I wish I could see it.”
She sighed. “I’m sorry, I’m not being a very good escort, am I? I was feeling homesick. I thought I was the only one who was. All the other girls seem to be much better… adapted.”
“I’ll tell you a secret. I detest this place. I know it’s supposed to be the greatest city in the Galaxy but I haven’t seen any of it. I can’t go outside and I can’t wander about. I wouldn’t know where to go or what to do if I could. And even if I did, I don’t have time.”
She touched my arm sympathetically. “I didn’t realise. I just assumed, because you were the Lottery Winner, you could do what you wanted.”
“Nothing could be further from the truth. The only positive is that my prison is a lot more luxurious then yours.”
She regarded me shrewdly. “Is it true we’ve you to thank for the changes?”
I shrugged. “I took exception to that horrible Bossiness-Personified being. If her departure has improved things, I’m glad. I didn’t personally demand improvements.”
Another calculating look. “I think you’re being modest but thank you anyway. It’s a lot better now that Madam Brabicoso is in charge. And if that bit’s true then the rest of it probably is, too… like the fact that not all of us are real.”
“How do you mean?” I said cautiously.
She gave me a ‘don’t be dumb’ look. “I mean that there’s at least six of us who weren't selected because they were compatible with you.”
“How did you work that out?”
“So it’s true?”
“I’m saying nothing either way. I’m interested in why you think it’s true.”
“Being quiet has its advantages sometimes. People tend to think you’re stupid and say things they shouldn’t.”
“You’re anything but stupid.”
“You don’t know that.”
“The fact we’re having this conversation proves it.”
She looked startled as if the idea hadn’t occurred to her before then smiled. It was a full-blown smile and it transformed her from being merely attractive to being beautiful.
“You should do that more often,” I said.
“What?”
“Smile. It does marvellous things to you… and to me.” She pulled a face. “Don’t knock it. You are truly beautiful when you smile. You might not think it’s important, that people should respect you for your mind rather than your looks, but the combination of brains and beauty can be devastating.”
“You’re a strange man.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“Which is more important to you?”
“Ouch. I suppose I deserved that. The cop-out answer is ‘both’. Tonight looks are important. If we’re to fulfil the terms of our contract, physical attraction is paramount. The fact that behind the beautiful face there’s an intelligent person only increases the attraction.”
She smiled again. I grabbed her hand and kissed it.
“Two more smiles like that and I’ll be putty in your hands.”
“That will never do. Aren’t you supposed to be hard as steel?” She giggled. “And you haven’t succeeded in your ploy.”
“What ploy?”
“Of diverting me so you won’t have to answer my question.”
“The thought never entered my head. But it’ll have to wait.”
It would have to wait for the car was slowing to turn into an underground car park. We drew up at an entrance and hand-in-hand and flanked by our bodyguards, we ascended to the restaurant. The owner and his wife met us at the entrance. They were not Capellans. In fact they were the most human-looking beings I’d met if you ignored the fact that their hair was a glossy blue, their eyes were slitted and their hands had only three fingers. If you’d seen them walking down a street, though, they would be past you before you were aware that there was something odd about them. They welcomed us with quiet dignity and led us to a quiet table in a corner. Several patrons looked up as we passed and I was aware of nudges and whispers behind us. Ymar was aware of them too and looked uncomfortable. I squeezed her hand reassuringly. The disturbance passed as quickly as it had begun. Discretion was obviously a by-word here.
“You may be wondering why we wished to host the Lottery Winner and why we wished to do so discreetly,” the owner said with quiet modesty. “The simple truth is that our daughter is to be one of your companions and we wished to meet the being who is to become the father of her child.”
I was non-plussed. Ymar seemed taken aback as well.
“I have caused you offence, Sir. I apologise. No offence was intended,” the owner said.
“On the contrary,” I hastened to reassure him. “No offence is taken so no apology is necessary. Your concern for your daughter does you much credit. I hope I can live up to your expectations.”
“We have no expectations, Sir. By that I mean that we pass no judgement. This is not a test. Our daughter has made her decision and we respect that. It is simply…” he shrugged, “…something that is necessary.”
I was impressed with his obvious sincerity even if I didn’t know what was going on. I couldn’t remember seeing his daughter on the presentation but there were twenty three attractive girls so that was hardly surprising. As Hermes had said, I had to stop thinking and just accept things as they came. They had their reasons for wishing to meet me and this was a perfect setting for getting to know Ymar.
I inclined my head. “I accept your necessity, Sir. If your wife and you would care to join us later, I would be pleased to have your company.”
“I regret that will not be possible.” He gestured at the room. “As you see we are fairly busy. I assure you no-one knew of your arrival.”
“It speaks well of your food that you’re busy.”
“Thank you, Sir. I hope you will enjoy the selection we have made for you both tonight.”
He described the dishes we were to eat. None of them meant anything to me but Ymar seemed familiar with them.
“I’ve heard of this place,” she said quietly when he’d left. “It has an excellent reputation. I think we’re in for a treat.”
We were. The food was much simpler than the Kitchen of the Gods but it was lovingly prepared and perfectly cooked and it was exactly right for the simple, intimate atmosphere of the restaurant. We didn’t say much while we were eating but, as the first course was cleared away, Ymar picked up where she’d left off.
“I’m still waiting for an answer to my question.”
“What question was that?”
“You know perfectly well what question. The one you refused to answer in the car.”
I was about to tease her some more but the look in her eye restrained me. “Your guess was right. There are a number of girls who are here because someone pulled some strings.”
She pursed her lips. “Details. Give me details.”
“I don’t have any details. There are eight. I don’t know who they are and I don't want to know. As far as I’m concerned you’re all equal.”
She nodded. “Of course. It would have to be that way. You couldn’t be seen to play favourites. How did you find out?”
“Deduction. The proof was the Q
urarqut-Gratz’chni Index, if I’ve remembered that right. It showed there were too many of you with too low a rating to breed successfully.”
“Deduction?” Her look said she didn’t believe a dumb Earthman could deduce.
“I may not be as brainy as you but I have a nasty suspicious mind. The Lottery, in fact the whole of Capellan society, is very old and very stable. I suspect it’s also very conservative. Religious organisations tend to be conservative. So the possibility of corruption had to be high.”
Her eyes gleamed. Here was a topic she could get her mental teeth into. The conversation didn’t go far. It wasn't that she didn’t believe it but she was a girl who liked an argument to be backed up with facts. The problem was all the examples I could think of; the Roman Empire, the Catholic Church, Islam, were Earth based and unknown to her. When she talked she became animated and her face lit up; a far cry from the shy girl I’d been introduced to. In the end I had to suggest she find her own examples.
“What did you study?” I asked to change the subject.
“Xeno-forensic biology.”
“I won’t even ask what that is as I wouldn’t understand a word. A very specialised subject, I assume.”
It was and she was good at it. Her problem was a classic one… men… or lack of them. She was highly intelligent and shy. Her brains and rather aggressive attitude put most men off. Those it didn’t were people like her and were either spoken for or were, in her words, weird. She’d had one disastrous affair with an artist; one of the few non-scientists who appeared not to feel threatened by her mind. When his first major exhibition was panned by the critics, he took to drink. She tried to help but, to her, drink was an escape and you didn’t solve your problems by running away from them. They fought, the arguments becoming more and more bitter until, one day, she returned from work to find her belongings in the street and the locks changed. It took her a long time to recover from that experience. To her, the Lottery was a natural choice. It allowed her to have a child, which she desperately wanted, without the emotional turmoil of an unsatisfactory relationship. I wasn't convinced that her reasoning was sound but it was her decision.
I Won A Spaceship Page 29