Free Short Stories 2013

by Baen Books

  Now – well things had changed when he'd come out of hydropnics, where he was back-up to the injured Trahn. Trahn's legs... not good. One was broke just below the knee, and the other was ankle sprained. Falmer had seen one of those problems for real in life, meaning everything gettting done doing was by the file and devices, not from experience.

  Rusko had cornered Klay yesterday, he being the mobile one of the high command at the moment, a finger-to-lip followed by beckoning motion bringing them both outside to the rough camp still in place beside the ship. They stood well within the clearing, the usual camp followers lounging watchfully around the fringes of the three new paths they'd made for themselves, and sometimes watching the path to the fight-scene.

  "I see seven of them," Klay'd offered, not trusting that there weren't two dozen more sitting behind the weeds laughing at them. It wasn't that they were malevolent – but that they were so quiet and sneaky when they weren't talking to themselves or each other.

  "Quick eyes, Pilot," Rusko said then, "really quick eyes. Squithy tells me that there's seven of them here most times but not the same seven – that three of them hang out all the time together and – she says they are living here – but the others change off. She's being a regular field biologist!"

  "But she's not here with them right now . . ."

  Rusko smiled a wan smile – "No, I had to come get her and ask her to talk to the Captain. She hasn't had a word to say to him, seems like. We need to get some stuff cleared up real soon . . ."

  He'd let that sentence go reluctantly, and took up again, with a sudden urgency.

  "Normally, on most ships, this is something command ought to know but not official. But since this is all so odd, we need to get things clear. Can you tell me what you've done – I mean, are you and Squithy playing pair?"

  Klay shook his head as the recalled, remembering that he'd burst out laughing and then shook his head at the time.

  "Muddy tracks, have you lost your mind?" Rusko'd sighed, and held his hands up.

  "It doesn't matter to us, really – you're split cousins far enough away that's not a matter. But here, understand where we're coming from. And I mean we in this since it has been bothering Trahn so fierce."

  Klay'd waited, maybe not patient, and Senior Pilot had made hand-talk of something like clear glide path before speaking again.

  "Something happened. We know something happened. It wasn't just that you shot that thing, hard as that must have been, but did something happen between the pair of you before then? Because we all know that Squithy now isn't the Squithy she was before. And if she got that way because you paired in the bush that'll do for us. We just need to know . . ."

  Klay knew it, he'd known it for sure the moment she'd stepped in front of the guns between her cousins and the clearing. She was changed – and he was afraid he knew why. He'd played it over a bunch of time in his head, wondering if the shock of the attack had done it, or if the air had done it.

  "All we did was what I told the crew we'd do. Hadn't heard from you, so we walked out the trail you'd marked to the clearing, partly for some exercise, partly looking for you. Comms were coming up empty – not even time signal – and we figured, that is I figured three hours overdue was pushing things. It was on my head since you'd told Susrim and Falmer to stand tower watch.

  "Got out the trail, and there you weren't. Hiked on to the clearing with three paths out, like you said, but the clearing wasn't empty – there were all the creatures there, trying to get some of them out of the webs, the rest quiet and waiting and watching, and then Choodoy's monster came in and –"

  "The fight stuff, we have that recorded Klay, what you told us, and what you told Susrim right then. There's a couple things we'll need to talk about there, but some of it I'll have to clear with Trahn anyhow before I can say a word on it."

  Klay hand signaled acknowledge.

  "I mean, it all happened so fast. The thing broke out of the woods of a sudden, and it was like it looked at the littles and was just going to eat them all – I mean, we knew that's what was going to happen, we could feel it! – and then it looked at us, and Squithy yelled, 'No, you can't, Tobor! Klay, stop it!' and it looked at us and made that charge..."

  He'd done the rehash twice more, from different directions, the while they walked the perimeter of the clearing. By the end of their walk one of the creatures, the one Klay called Oki, the one who'd done the most to free him, had come to them and walked as if part of the conversation for a turn, and then natural as could be grabbed Klay's hand and pulled himself on Klay's shoulder, the usual low murble of greeting suffused with the gentle mental touch he thought was a hello, or maybe a request for news or – something.

  The expression on Rusko's face went from horrified to resigned with a shake of his head.

  "Susrim told me that you and Squithy have both been too friendly with these things. I didn't believe you'd let them up in your face, though!"

  Klay shrugged, the paw on his shoulder support enough for his rider.

  Rusko stepped back with a sigh.

  "I can't believe I need to ask you this, now. But I do. First, please put the creature down."

  There followed a modest contest of will, and in fact the creature came down, leaning for a moment against Klay's leg until a strong glance and hand motion chased Oki away. The creature retreated a dozen or so steps and Klay looked meaningfully toward the nearest of the three paths, and waited until Oki started in that direction.

  "He's down."

  Rusko saluted the obvious and went on alert pilot status, pulling away his quiet and putting on the command aspect he seemed to shun when it came to people.

  "Tell me this. This is professional evaluation, this is a command evaluation. Could you feel confident as a Pilot in Charge, assuming neither Trahn nor I was available? Could you take Dulcimer to the next port with current crew? Could you finish a cargo route with current crew sans Pilots One and Two?"

  Klay'd blinked, thought to the boards, thought to the ship, thought to the crew.

  "You're asking if I'd have taken – could have taken the ship on if we hadn't walked out from the clearing and found you? Or if you'd been killed instead of just have bruises and breaks?"

  Rusko nodded, said, "Yes, exactly. If the cave in had killed us both, would you have been able to survive – either call in Choody or just get to the next port, which might have been better."

  Klay harrumphed, sighed, nodded.

  "Yes. The first – just to the next port – It wouldn't have been pretty, but it wouldn't have been hard, really, other than bodies or lack of 'em. The second thing – moving on – would be harder and we'd need some signature cards we don't have so I could sign for cargo and expenses – I hadn't got that far. But crew from number three down, yeah, we can run the ship. Shall I make a report for you?"

  Rusko's turn to blink. Then: "You're positive?"

  Klay's nod brought a quiet whistle from the pilot, who'd surveyed the ship and the landing zone solemnly, and echoed a nod.

  "I'm going to be asking everybody the same question and so will Trahn. The ship's got to be sure of itself. Don't discuss this with anyone until were decide what we're going to do."

  The stuff about Squithy … he thought on that some more. Hadn't much thought of her as a partner possible. Hadn't much thought about anyone being with Squithy. Wasn't impossible, but you like to feel the person you were talking to was on the same wavelength, and that didn't happen all that much with Squithy, in his experience. Or hadn't. But once they'd secured the clearing she'd been right there in helping find their way, and keeping the furries out of their way. More, she'd even told him she asked the creatures if they'd seen Tranh and Rusko, and they'd pointed the way. Then they'd walked them all the way back to the ship and circled 'round the clearing like they owned the place, trying to take Squithy to the three paths. She'd been patient with them, like she was paying attention and knew things that weren't just if her blood pressure was good or if she'd seen
77 red things on the day.

  So really, if he ran the ship he'd just put her on breakfast once a week, just to test her….

  The rarely used PA system burped a scratchy high volume tone, bringing the startled Klay to his feet. Following the noise came the pfffft of some quick huffing test of the microphone link, and then Rusko's quiet matter-of-fact voice.

  "Dulcimer crew meeting for all hands begins in five minutes. Bring with you any local plants or wildlife in your possession, please. All crew members includes you, Squithy, no matter what you're doing. Five minutes, be prompt."

  #

  On the third day of Jump, Rusko on Board One and Klay on Two, Falmer was still sitting with Tranh. The break swelling wasn't going down so well for Tranh and he had some infection, so he'd been hit with heavy duty antibiotics and general relaxants to make him be quiet. He'd been able to hold the basic meeting before the lift, using the logbooks that Klay'd pointed out to him and some agenda templates Squithy'd dug out of ship-files. Basic meeting was a promise to make longterm changes – and a Captain's apology for having screwed up a run.

  "Choody got me to go where he wouldn't go, and now that I'm injured won't come through on the pay for us having been there. So this is a ship-rule: Dulcimer don't deal on bar-deals without crew input. That a rule. Also, Dulcimer's not dealing with Choody, nor coming back to Thakaran, as long as I'm on the deciding side. That's a rule.”

  He paused then, having shifted slightly and then gone white trying to move his leg a little with his hand. “I'll put you two”– that was said to Susrim and Falmer– "to finding long-range replacement runs for us to think on. Given Choody and his connections we're going to be dropping as many of the old runs as we can – Da never did make it big, and he kept rubbin' against the underside figuring he'd get a deal. But we're out of that side now – another ship's rule, no dark trading. I got some stuff Da and Jenfer left us, and … some other things … that we ought to be able to move quick as can and be good. Then straight cargoes, all."

  At that he'd said, "That's after Port Chavvy," leaned back in his seat with half closed eyes, and said "Rusko's got the rest of it. It'll be a boring run out cause we're not for Choody's station, but we're set foodwise. Rusko's on after me."

  At that he'd stared at Falmer and smiled. "Now I'll take that painloss you gave me, right?"

  With that he pressed a patch against his wrist with a sigh, and waved his command hand one more time, wiping a little sweat off his forehead, and said, "We're going to Port Chavvy because we still have a Founding Member share there, so we can port as long as we need to while we spook up more business. You guys got work to do!"

  Rusko'd done well, all things considered, and they'd planned their shifts as best they could, including Squithy in some, including the business of trying to shoo away the norbears, which Susrim had named by accident.

  "I tried looking those things up," she said, "and all I got is images and notes – and they never was mentioned to be here on Thakaran. Couple of entries that they've been seen with scouts. Warnings from a couple sectors that they're contraband. Standing offer from Crystal Biogenics, and a competing one from University. Biogenics is paying a haul of cash for a Standard's visit, and University's looking for a breeding pair but don't talk money –

  "And more, couple smuggler's myths that they showed up around old tech sites on a couple planets, no sense why, but that's it. A dozen different names, calling them shore dogs and green apes and some Liaden stuff that translates into sleepy bear Terrans. But they're not. They're mammals, but they are not dogs nor green apes nor bears!"

  She'd scrunched up her face when she'd said it, and Squithy had laughed out loud without it sounding like hysterics for once, and repeated the words, pushed together.

  "Norbear. If they aren't dogs or cats or dragons they're norbears!"

  Which had put a cap on the all together part of the discussion since Tranh had fallen asleep.

  Klay was still sore from some bruises, but that was minor compared to Rusko's –he tended to complain about the stiffness in his arms, and Falmer's suggestion that pulling Tranh out of the fallen cave roof had strained him apparently annoyed the pilot to the point of snippiness.

  Still, ship stuff was going on and it being just before shift change he wasn't surprised entirely to see lights showing movement....

  "Where's Falmer?" he asked, watching the lights.

  "You need analgesic? Falmer's sticking with Tranh."

  "Isn't Squithy on breakfast?"

  "She is – you can go first if you need..."

  "So that means Tranh's in with Falmer, Squithy's doing breakfast, you're here, I'm here, and Susrim's on sleep."

  He'd gotten Rusko's attention, saw raised eyebrow and quick glances to housekeeping boards.

  " 'ponics door has opened a couple times here …"

  Rusko made a noise that might have been a complaint, and reached to touch a tab.

  "Susrim?"

  Klay thought he'd heard motion over the connection, but the sound ceased.

  "Pilot Rusko here, is that you Squithy?"

  A light noise then, and another, and –

  "Murble . . ."

  Klay was out out of his seat instantly –

  "We've a 'norbear" stowaway!"

  "This isn't good! Take it," Rusko ordered. "And get Squithy to help you."

  Klay ran, half-bouncing off the slide-door on his way out.

  #

  "I thought so!" was what Squithy said, her step light behind his as they squeezed into the right angle passage. There were marks in the passage, in fact all up and down the passage, some scuffed over, some clear, near handlike foot prints in white.

  Klay looked toward the lower corner where the door would open first – but Squithy was moving in that direction.

  His palm hit the waist-high release, wondering of the faint hand-shaped mark there was dangerous far too late, and the door slid open, Squithy on one knee, ready to catch …

  Ready to catch the norbear, who, rather than rushing to escape was sitting quietly in a comfortable pose on top of Growcase C, staring at the greens, sipping from a wide-mouthed sampling bowl, a trail of splashes and white spots leading back to the push-spigot. Both arms were white, and there was a vague halo whitish about the chest.

  "Oh, good!" said Squithy. "Holdhand herself!"

  "Holdhand? You know this one?"

  "'Ponics? What's happening?"

  "Murble lamurbla," said the norbear, using bright care to sit the cup down without spilling, it, and glancing at the speaker. Then, she reached toward Squithy, offering her hand to hold.

  "Norbear is in here in 'ponics, Pilot. Admiring the carrots, I'd say."

  "Capture it. We'll have to put it out an airlock I guess."

  By then Squithy had the norbear in her arms, and stared up at the speaker, the murbles almost drowning out out her denial.

  "You can't, Rusko. They saved Klay." Her voice quavered then and rose in volume to a whine dangerously like Squithy of old.

  "Squithy, don't start now. We figure out a way to make it quick but …"

  "Stop talking!"

  That sounded even more like Squithy of old....

  Klay ventured "Rusko, let's …"

  Squithy held onto the creature, cuddling her …

  "It's my fault she's here! She believed me when I told her we'd be leaving and never coming back to that planet. And now she's here. She's a widow and she came here because Klay's here to keep us safe and … Oh no!"

  Klay saw her stare behind him and turned as a chorus of murbles broke out behind him. He heard Squithy, but it didn't sink in immediately, she was going on and on about something –

  "Rusko, Pilot! Don't you see, they think slow and it helps me thinks slow. And they saved Klay and they make me real crew! And it isn't all of them, just …"

  Klay saw two more of the norbears at the door, these even more covered in white, the flour falling off of them and falling on to the floor and on the tiny
creatures they held to breast and who clung to their feet, the trail of flour down the passage toward dry stores….

  "The widows, Rusko, only the widows came."

  Squithy looked hard at him, but he'd already noticed the shy touch of a hand at his knee, heard the murbles.

  "We'll have to talk, Rusko," Klay said steadily. "We'll have to be convincing for Trahn!"

  "What's Trahn got to do with it? This is on my—”

  "That Crystal Biogenics, Rusko. I'm guessing they're about as dark as you can get and still be seen. But they'll probably take Trahn's old tech, and whatever you're hiding from that cave, too."

  "Murble?"

  "What?" The last speaker was Rusko, the former was the norbear climbing to be held, and the reaching for the beaker of water Holdhands had left on the greens case.

  "I'm thinking we've got a little clean-up to do... might need some help. The widows and kits, they're a little dusty. Guess the place is a little out of true."

  #

  Port Chavvy was being a challenge for Dulcimer, both internally and externally. They'd been on port four days, and the problems …

  Rusko'd been threatening calling sabotage and spacing the lot of the norbears, and Squithy and Klay with them. While he wasn't quite serious only the slowly improving health of Tranh cheered him at all – while he swore they'd not lift ship until the stupidity of several generations of Smiths and Patels was cured.

  They'd rented a tool rack, which sat here externally – it had taken cash up front to get it delivered, and promise of a full-time responsible guard to let it stay. That stricture had Squithy get all antsy because she thought, it being "all her fault for thinking too fast and thinking too hard" she ought to be guarding it – which no one wanted beside her, since the norbears were all over her wherever she went. She could be gone a few minutes at a time, but after that, they got restless.