“Well… I think I’ll go and see Hermes.”
“I’ll come with you,” Jarmasin said. “We need to talk,” she hissed and pulled me into one of the empty rooms. “You need to do something about Triss.”
“Why?”
She looked at me as if I’d crawled out from under a stone. “You were in the kitchen. You saw.”
“And?”
“Are you being deliberately dense? Are you trying to wind me up?”
“Neither. I’m trying to find out why you think I need to do something about Triss.” She stared at me open-mouthed. “You’ve made an announcement, no you’ve just demanded that I ‘do something about Triss’. I want to know why you, personally, think I need to do that and what it is you think I should do. Simple, really.”
Her mouth settled in a thin line. “For some reason, she’s taken an intense dislike to you. She came to the trivee room last night. The rest of us felt sympathetic about your situation even if we don’t understand your attachment to your animals. But all she did was make disparaging noises and sarcastic comments. Watching her is scary. It’s like she’s… I don’t know… like a vessel under pressure, you know? On the surface she’s calm but, inside, she’s about to explode. You know she’s some sort of fighter? Lashak’ka is terrified of her and I’m, let’s say, uneasy around her. I think, no I fear, she’ll go bananas and we’ll all get hurt, you most of all.”
I nodded. “Thank you. I understand where you’re coming from. Now, what do you suggest I do about it?”
She exhaled explosively. “I’ve no idea. I’m not used to dealing with situations like this.”
My grin was rather forced. “And I am?”
Suddenly, she pressed herself against me, clutching me tightly. “Crawford, I belong to you, remember? It’s you I’m worried about. If something isn’t done and done soon, I don’t know what’ll happen.” She sounded genuinely worried.
I stroked her hair. “As it happens, Lorca and I talked about this last night and she said virtually the same as you.”
“So you’ll so something?”
I sighed. “I don’t know. I think I’ll have to.” I disengaged her gently. “We’d better go and see Hermes.”
Hermes was working hard. His feet were up on the control console, his chair was tilted back and his hands were clasped behind his head. He was snoring.
“I think I need to find another pilot,” I said loudly. “This one keeps falling asleep on the job.”
His eyes opened and he tilted his head back to regard us balefully.
“Here I am, taking a momentary rest from my constant vigil to guide you safely through the perilous reaches of sub-space and all I receive for my troubles is insults.” He swung his feet down and swivelled to face us. “Do you know,” he said pleadingly to Jarmasin, “this stony-hearted Scot hasn’t even paid me yet?”
Jarmasin regarded him thoughtfully. I could sense she was suppressing the giggles. “I’d say more fool you for accepting the job without demanding payment up front.”
He threw his hands dramatically in the air. “Infamy. Infamy.”
“…they’ve all got it in for me,” I finished Kenneth William’s famous line. “Hermes you’re watching altogether far too many bad films. They’ll rot your brains. I’m surprised that joke works in your language. It’s a very ‘English’ pun.”
“Actually, it doesn’t. Understanding humour is a little hobby of mine. You can tell a lot about a culture by their humour.”
“One day, when we’ve several weeks of boredom facing us, I’ll ask you to expand on that idea but not now. Right now I need your opinion on Madam Hunter.”
His face clouded. “Trouble.”
“Well, that was blunt.”
“No point in beating about the bush. That’s a very mixed-up young being. Right now she’s got it all bottled up but, at some point, she’ll crack and it’ll all come bursting out. Now, with anyone else, I’d say beware of hysterics and tears but with her…. You know about her abilities?” I nodded. “Someone will be hurt, possibly fatally.”
Jarmasin was nodding. “That’s exactly what I was telling him.”
He regarded her owlishly. “I knew you were an intelligent lassie.”
I sighed. “So, what do you suggest I do?”
“That’s not…”
“…your problem,” I finished for him. “I know. I wasn't asking for chapter and verse merely if you had any thoughts on the matter.”
He grinned. “You’re learning. As I see it, she’s confused. I suspect she’s led a fairly sheltered life. Now she’s finding that the big bad universe won’t conform to her notions of what’s right and proper and she doesn’t know how to handle it. I think you need to show her that, despite appearances to the contrary, it really does.”
I turned to Jarmasin. “On my world there is a legend of an Oracle. People would endure great hardships to come to it and ask it a question. It always answered. The trouble was that answers were inevitably so cryptic no-one could understand them. You are privileged to meet the galactic equivalent.”
She giggled dutifully though I was fairly sure she didn’t know what I was talking about. Hermes did, though.
“I think, my boy, if you consider it, you’ll find my answer wasn't cryptic at all. Those with the will and the strength rise to the top. The rest of us follow.”
He was right. I understood what he was saying only too well. It was the same message as Lorca had given me. The trouble was, it wasn't the message I wanted to hear.
“I hear you, Hermes. I need to think on it. I’ll be with the cats.”
I left so didn’t see Jarmasin turn to Hermes with a worried expression nor hear her say, “Do you think he’ll do it?”
I’m glad I also didn’t hear Hermes reply, “I hope so, my dear. For all our sakes, I hope so.”
Chapter 23
I sat for a long time stroking the cats and thinking. It was clear I had to do something about Triss and it was equally clear that something had to establish my authority over her. I still couldn’t bring myself to hit her, in part because I wasn't convinced she’d let me and I had this vision of ending up with several broken bones if I so much as tried to lay a finger on her and in part because hitting a woman went against the grain, no matter that the woman in question could easily kill me with a single blow. I knew I was probably being foolish and a bit of a wimp but I wanted to exhaust all other possibilities before I considered that option. The trouble was that I couldn’t see any other possibilities.
I sat and thought for a long time and gradually the inkling of a plan began to form. I sounded out Julian who informed me it was physically practical. As I talked to him, the idea crystallised in my mind and I knew I had to try it. It might not work but at least it was an alternative to physical violence. I gave Julian a series of instructions, collected a piece of equipment from a storeroom and went to find Triss. I stood before her door a long moment, clearing my mind and focussing on what I needed to say and, almost as importantly, how I needed to say it, before instructing Julian to open the door.
Triss leapt up and was instantly in a fighting crouch as I stepped through the door. As calmly as I could, I pointed the gun at her.
“I know your abilities,” I said. “This gun will hurt you but not kill you. I will use it if you so much as twitch.”
She clearly didn’t believe me for her face curled into a contemptuous sneer and she took a step towards me. I had the gun set to its minimum force which, Julian assured me, would be painful but not incapacitating. I pointed it downward and pressed the ‘fire’ button. Nothing appeared to happen except that Triss’s expression changed to surprise then pain. Her knees gave way. She staggered and half fell onto the bed.
“You are a very silly girl,” I said, proud that my voice didn’t waver. I’d never shot anyone before and the experience wasn't pleasant. “You persist in underestimating me.” I ostentatiously adjusted the control to a higher setting. “The next one will be much m
ore painful. Now, do I have your attention?”
She glared at me. I pointed the gun at her knees again.
“I asked you a question. I expect a reply. Or don’t they teach you manners on your planet?”
That got to her. She started, winced, then muttered a surly, “Yes.”
“Yes what? Yes, they teach manners or yes, I have your attention?”
“I’m listening.”
“Good. I am most displeased. I was willing to overlook your uncivilised behaviour at the Charity Ball and put it down to over-enthusiasm and misunderstanding but you don’t appear to have learned anything from the experience. Since you’ve been on board my ship, you've abused my hospitality, insulted me publicly and upset my other guests. That is unacceptable. Since you’ve proved you can’t behave like a civilised being, you won’t be treated like one. From now until we return to Bartimarm, you will not associate with or talk to anyone on board this ship unless they choose to talk to you. You may talk to Julian but he will accept no orders or instructions from you. You are confined to this room, the bathroom and the kitchen. All other doors are shut to you and this door will remain closed. If you wish to visit the bathroom or the kitchen, ask Julian. If these rooms are free he will let you out. You will be watched at all times. Any attempt to enter my suite, the control room or Hermes’ suite will be taken as an act of piracy and dealt with accordingly. Do you understand?”
The expression on her face was one of utter disbelief. “No, I don’t understand.”
“It’s perfectly simple. Since you’ve proved you’re unfit to associate with civilised beings you’re being ‘confined to quarters’, as we say. You’re permitted the minimal access to essential services but may have no contact with anyone on the ship.”
“For… how long?”
“Until we return to Bartimarm.”
“When will that be?”
“About a week. Possibly less.”
“I’m to stay in this room for a week?”
“Yes.”
“But… that's barbaric.”
“Is it? I suppose I could just kill you. That would be much simpler but embarrassing questions might be asked and that would be a nuisance. I have enough problems without adding to them. So…” I shrugged.
“You wouldn’t kill me?” she gasped.
“Why not? It’s what you’d do to me, isn’t it?”
“No,” she shouted, jumping from the bed.
Almost without thinking I pressed the fire button. She screamed and clutched her leg and fell back on the bed, sobbing.
“Let them in, Julian.”
The door swished open. Hermes and Lorca entered. Lorca gasped at the sight of Triss clutching her leg and rocking back and forth, the tears streaming from her eyes.
“She jumped and I had to fire,” I said apologetically. “Get your stuff quickly.”
Hermes watched impassively as Lorca hurriedly packed her belongings. Her eyes constantly strayed to the sobbing girl on the bed. She hurried from the room. Hermes gave me a cool nod and followed.
“Triss,” I said sharply. Her head came up, her eyes full of misery and incomprehension. “I’m sorry I have to do this,” I continued in a gentler voice. “Underneath I think you’re a nice person. I respect your courage and I respect your abilities. But you have to realise you can’t go around behaving the way you do. I don’t want to have to keep you locked up so please think about what I’m saying. Courage isn’t just about heroic gestures. What defines a being, male or female, isn’t just the ability to strut around making a loud noise. Is a being who rescues a baby from a burning house less courageous if he doesn’t brag about it afterwards? On my world people who boast about their feats are generally regarded as empty windbags and treated with contempt. If… when you think you really understand that, I’ll listen.” I backed towards the door. “Oh, and if the pain doesn’t go away in an hour, speak to Julian and we’ll get some medical attention. I’m sorry I had to hurt you.”
Outside the door, I leant back against the wall and closed my eyes. My hands were shaking so much I dropped the gun. Fortunately it didn’t go off or, if it did, it wasn't pointing at my feet. I picked it up, thumbed the control to ‘off’ and slowly made my way to the kitchen. It was empty. I made a strong cup of coffee and sipped it slowly. I was committed now. Either my plan would work or it wouldn’t. If it didn’t, I’d have to keep Triss confined until we were back in Bartimarm. Perhaps I could get her sent home. Ah, well, I’d worry about that when the time came. For now I’d better find the others and explain what I was doing.
They were in the lounge. The atmosphere was cool.
“I suppose I owe you an explanation,” I said as I entered.
“Only if you want,” Lorca said. “It’s your ship, after all.”
I sighed. “You’re being difficult, Lorca. That isn’t helping.” She shrugged. “Are you going to do a Triss on me and go all huffy because I didn’t behave the way you wanted me to?”
She looked up in surprise. “I suppose I deserved that. Okay, Mr Boss Man, please tell us why you’ve done whatever it is you've done.”
“You’ve all told me that Triss was potentially dangerous and you’ve all said I had to impose my authority on her. Now, I know exactly how dangerous she is. She gave me a demonstration as soon as we’d met. Contrary to what you believe, I don’t believe she’d quietly accept some sort of physical beating. I accept that she might if she respected me and my authority, but she doesn’t. I also accept that I had to do something to make her see she was out of line and her behaviour was unacceptable. What I’ve done is what we call being confined to quarters. She can go to the bathroom and the kitchen provided we’re not there. Otherwise she has to stay in her room. She is not allowed to speak to or see any of us. Julian will keep an eye on her.
“What do I think this will accomplish? Well, first of all it removes the immediate threat of her exploding. She can trash the bedroom if she wants but she’ll have to stay in it anyway so that won’t accomplish much. What I hope she’ll do is think. I’ve encouraged her to talk to Julian and suggested strongly that there are other yardsticks by which to measure a man’s worth other than bragging about taking stupid risks. I’m hoping that she realises she’s helpless. She can’t even go to the toilet without asking Julian. I hope she realises that, because this is my ship, I hold all the cards. I can control her completely without strutting up and down and beating my chest. I hope she’ll come to see that there’s all sorts of power in the universe and large quantities of ‘chavis’, I think it’s called, are so much empty wind. I’m praying she realises this quickly as I really don’t want to keep her locked up. Dammit, I like her.”
“But you hurt her,” Lorca protested.
“That was an accident. I knew she could attack me and probably cripple me so I took this gun as insurance. I told her what it was and said if she made any sudden movement, I’d use it. She didn’t believe me so I had to use it on her knee. It was only in low; just enough to let her know I was serious. I thought that would be it but she suddenly jumped up. I don’t think she was going to attack me but I reacted and fired it. Possibly the setting was too high. I don’t know. I’m not comfortable with guns. I wish I hadn’t had to do it.”
“You are a nasty and devious being,” Lorca said. I wasn't sure if she meant it as a compliment or not.
Hermes was nodding. “I agree. Crawford has a very devious and suspicious mind. It’s stood him in good stead up to now. I have to say I wouldn’t have thought of his solution to the problem and I confess to being uncertain about what he was trying to accomplish. However, now he’s explained his reasons, I agree completely. I don’t know if his actions will have the desired effect but the logic’s impeccable.”
“But she’s shut in there all alone,” Jarmasin protested,
“Precisely. Triss is a fighter. Crawford has removed all her reasons to fight. She has no direct enemy so she can’t fight. I have found that fighting is generally an excuse f
or not thinking. Not being able to fight, she’ll be forced to think. Triss is not stupid; naïve and misguided, perhaps, but not stupid. She will think and we can hope her thoughts will travel along the paths Crawford has indicated.”
“Well, we can only wait and see,” Lorca said with a shrug.
“We can’t wait too long,” Hermes said. “We’ll be safely tucked up behind Rhea in less than eighteen hours.”
“Wow. This ship is fast,” I said, impressed.
“Told you.” Hermes was smug.
“Then what?” Lorca said.
“Then what what?” I asked.
“What happens once we’re ‘safely tucked up behind Rhea’, whatever that is?”
“A moon of Saturn,” I said without thinking. “What happens is that I take the cats to Earth using a steegee and find a vet.”
“That’s a plan?”
“It’s what I need to do.”
She gave an exaggerated sigh. “And here I thought you were an intelligent being.” I looked at her crossly. “That isn’t a plan. What do we do when you’re gallivanting around on Earth? Stay here and twiddle our thumbs? For how long? What happens if you can’t find a vet? What happens if he can’t find a cure or says your pets need long-term treatment or something? Are you going to stay? If so, how do we get home again? You need to start thinking, Crawford. You’re the one who’s abducted us. We’re your responsibility.”
“Shit. You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ve been so focussed on getting here, I haven’t thought beyond that. I take it you all want to come with me?”
The girls nodded but Hermes demurred. “I’ll stay here. As you know my metabolism’s not entirely compatible with yours. Attractive as your planet is, an extended stay does not appeal.”
“I appreciate that, Hermes. You can keep Triss company.”
“Ha. I’ll keep my door locked and we can converse via Julian. That’s a dangerous female.”
“Perhaps she’ll see sense before then.”
“Perhaps but I wouldn’t count on it.”
“Then the four of us are going,” Lorca said firmly.
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