turningpoint

by Lisanne Norman

  "Their hierarchy is different from ours. Age and maturity don't matter as much as the ability to win a Challenge if you're an enlisted man or a Junior Officer."

  "There, that should be better now," she said, sliding her hands off Skai's shoulders.

  He caught hold of her before she could move away.

  "Let me do your shoulders," he said persuasively. "You've been doing as much trailblazing as Kusac and me."

  Carrie hesitated, then shrugged. She twisted her hair out of the way and turned her back to Skai. It was a risk, but she ought to be able to sense in advance if he planned to make a sudden move against her.

  Despite herself, she relaxed under his gentle massage.

  "What's Challenge?" he asked.

  "When they feel they have the ability to move up a grade in their own field, they Challenge their immediate superior. It's a fight to submission."

  "A bit barbaric, isn't it? Not to say stupid. How do they make sure that intelligence and brawn go together?"

  "I've no idea. I do know they have a family caste system. Some are born to their professions. For instance, Kusac's family are all telepaths."

  "Seems very haphazard to me. What about people from one family who have a talent for another craft? What do they do?"

  "No idea. I haven't studied their sociology. I've only been really aware of them as Aliens for a couple of days, but their infrastructure seems based on more of a pack system. We don't have an analogy because we evolved on a different planet," she said dryly. "Thanks for the massage. My muscles don't feel quite so rigid now."

  "Just remember that on Shola, Kusac's people are the dominant predators, probably more efficient ones than we are on Earth," she said.

  Carrie began to move, but Skai stopped her.

  "I haven't finished yet. Your neck is still very tense. Now, doesn't that feel better?" he asked, his tone as gentle and caressing as the fingers that moved lightly up and down her neck.

  Caught unawares, Carrie found her body responding to the massage as faint thrills of pleasure coursed through her.

  Having finished his hunting, Kusac paused in the bushes at the edge of their clearing. Silently, he observed their interchange, sharing through the link her reactions to Skai's touch. This was how it should be. She needed a close relationship with a male of her own species, a mate of her own kind. This bond of theirs— Vartra alone knew how it had happened!— was not right, not natural. What would happen to her when he had to leave the planet? The only way the Leska bond was broken was by death.

  He tried to remember what his father had said about it. He'd only mentioned it once. It didn't happen to every telepath, he'd said, only to a few, but when it did it was like lightning, it struck where it would.

  Not much help, but then no one, least of all himself, had imagined he would find a Leska from another species, millions of miles from home. Maybe the fact that she wasn't Sholan would make a difference to the bond. Maybe they would be able to part when the problem on Keiss was over...

  His thoughts were interrupted by Carrie pushing Skai away.

  "Thanks, I'm fine now," she said brusquely, getting to her feet.

  Kusac tried unsuccessfully to repress his delight. She didn't like their guide either. If Skai continued to bother his Leska, he'd be forced to Challenge him. Shocked, he tried to stop that chain of thought. Telepaths couldn't Challenge, and he was reacting as if Carrie were a true Sholan Leska. What was he to think and do? What was really at stake here, them or two different worlds?

  The politics of the situation he couldn't begin to gauge; whichever way he looked at it, everything seemed disastrous. A new species is contacted and they are fellow Telepaths of potentially amazing abilities. They've been brutalized for years by these Valtegans, and when first contact is made, what happens? He bonds Telepathically for life to one of them.

  Suddenly his spirits lightened and he grinned. Well, he'd run away to find adventure, hadn't he? Not even he could say his life was boring now.

  His mind was made up. They were what mattered, not all the Allied World Councils nor the Terran equivalents. He'd speak to the girl, find out what she felt, and explain what a Leska bonding really entailed. It was their problem; only between them could it be solved.

  Kusac pushed through the bushes and handed Carrie two small deerlike creatures.

  "This should give us more than enough for tonight as well," he said, the Sholan equivalent of a pleased grin on his face, "just in case the rest of the crew are late reaching the rendezvous."

  "Wonderful," said Carrie. "Real food again."

  "I'll help you skin them," Kusac said, getting his knife out of Carrie's backpack.

  Soon the carcasses had been skinned and gutted, and were set to cook above the small fire. Skai made up a little of his tea, all of them preferring to save their resources and drink a weak brew now with the prospect of more later.

  * * *

  Carrie leaned back against a tree trunk, feeling replete at last. Giving her fingers a final lick, she sighed.

  "We haven't left much for later," she said wistfully, "but it was so nice to eat properly. I'd almost rather starve than eat another piece of dried meat or a trail bar, no matter how well your crew mates make them."

  Kusac grinned, displaying a row of white, even canines that made Skai wince.

  "They should be at the meeting place well before us, and they won't come without meat, believe me."

  "I hope not," she said. "I suppose we'd better contact them before we start off again."

  "You contact Vanna. You spent quite a lot of time with her yesterday, and if I know you, you were tuning in to her every now and then. I'll give you the extra power you'll need."

  His thought followed immediately. We cannot risk merging for this contact, Leska. It would leave us unprotected with Skai, and I don't trust that one.

  Are you sure I can contact her on my own?

  I'll be with you. You won't be alone.

  "All right," said Carrie, making herself comfortable as Kusac took her by the hand.

  Crossing her legs, she rested their clasped hands on one thigh, letting the other fall limply in her lap. Eyes closed, she called to mind Vanna's face, trying to sense her presence. As the image sharpened, she saw the Sholan woman's eyes widen as she became aware of them. The picture began to fade slightly, and, hurriedly, Carrie drew on Kusac's strength. Vanna's face became clearer. Quickly, she passed on an image of the swamp and their meeting that evening. Feeling Vanna's acceptance, she let the link dissolve, breathing deeply before opening her eyes.

  "Vanna got the message," she said tiredly, releasing Kusac's hand and rubbing her eyes.

  "Well done," he said. "No one could have done it better. You progress well." He touched her cheek with his hand before starting to pack away their things.

  "You rest for a moment while we clear up. I'm afraid we can't afford the time to let you rest properly." He reached for her rucksack and pulled out a slightly fluffy trail bar. "Eat this. It'll help," he said, trying to pick off the fluff before handing it to her.

  "By my reckoning, we have about seven days till midpoint," said Skai, breaking his silence. "A reasonable safety margin."

  "It's too close for comfort," she said. "I have a bad feeling about this whole pod business. How long has it been on the planet, Kusac?"

  "About twenty years, I think."

  "That's a long time in the type of swamp that Skai has described." She shook her head as she got to her feet. "We know the pod's been partly disabled. How do we know there's anything at all working in it? The whole thing could be a mess of rusty wiring and metal by now."

  "No," said Kusac firmly. "It was designed to survive all reasonable types of climates and animal life. Even if the exterior sensors and transmitters have been damaged, there are still the manual units inside. As well as being a remote biosphere laboratory, it does have emergency life-support facilities on board. There's a manual transmitter, food rations, a medical kit— anything that
could be of use to an investigatory team in difficulty."

  "Let's hope you're right, because if we aren't in difficulty, I don't know who is," said Skai dryly, gathering his bits and pieces together.

  Getting to her feet, Carrie kicked dirt over the fire, stamping it down well. "Time to leave," she said, picking up her backpack. "Who's blazing the trail this time?"

  "I will," said Skai, taking the machete from her.

  * * *

  It was fully dark by the time they reached the fringe of the forest where the Sholans had set up their temporary camp. They were well back from the water's edge, under the cover of the trees so that their small camp fire could not be seen.

  "Captain," said Kusac, stepping into the firelight, followed by Carrie and Skai.

  There was a collective rustle as four guns were replaced in their weapons' belts.

  "We've been listening to your approach for quite a while," said the Captain.

  "I expect you have," replied Kusac, hunkering down by the fire. "Terran feet are not as quiet as ours, and we've had to hack our way through the bushes."

  The Captain nodded. "This is our guide?" he asked, pointing at Skai, who was still standing on the edge of the circle of firelight.

  Kusac turned round and gestured to the man to join them.

  "Yes. Be careful with him. He is an opportunist and I sense there are several things he is concealing from us, but my oath forbids me finding out under the present circumstances."

  "Your oath can be damned convenient at times," growled Guynor.

  "Also beware of the fact that this Terran, in common with all the others on Keiss, is not used to dealing with Aliens other than the Valtegans," continued Kusac, ignoring Guynor's interruption. "He does not trust us, and it will take some time before he does."

  "I will note your warning," replied Garras. "Before this state of war, I was involved in escorting Trade missions to the Chemer on the planet Terney. I have some experience of early, if not first contact."

  "Now introduce us. Vanna, give them some food. We'll talk while you eat."

  Vanna handed Carrie a chunk of roasted meat. "It's good to see you again," she said. "I was surprised to get your message."

  "After Kusac, I know you best," she said. "For now, I'm just grateful to sit down," she continued, settling herself next to Kusac. "If I never see another bush or tree, it will be too soon!"

  Skai's pallor was beginning to fade as he concentrated on breathing evenly. Somehow the Sholans, though about the same average size, seemed to mass larger and he felt dwarfed by their presence. He tried to concentrate as Kusac introduced them one by one, but he was only aware of the Alienness of them. Gratefully, he accepted the meat offered to him and bit into it hungrily. Life had ceased to be clear cut for him; it was full of gray areas of which he was unsure. Common sense took hold as he began to feel less ravenous and by the time he was offered a hot drink, he was able to look around at the assembled Sholans with a bit more equanimity.

  Laboriously, Kusac asked him questions in English, then translated his replies to the Captain in a language that was lyrical in tone, yet had many guttural sounds.

  He doesn't lose much of the accent when talking English, Skai thought.

  After some time, Carrie interrupted Kusac.

  "Why don't you give Skai the knowledge of your language telepathically? We can't pronounce yours very well, but what's to stop us understanding it?"

  Kusac looked at Garras. The Captain's ears dropped and his eyes narrowed. "No," he said. "I don't want him understanding all we say. He knows enough about us for the present if your reading of his character is correct."

  "This exchange of information is taking too long. If we need to know something in a hurry, the delay could be fatal," said Kusac. "I can give you the ability to speak their language. You could then understand and talk to him, but our language would remain Alien to him."

  "That makes sense, but give all of us this knowledge. If the swamp is as dangerous as he says, we will need to heed his warnings immediately. Yes, go ahead and do that," nodded Garras.

  "It will be less of a drain on me if Carrie helps."

  "As you wish. This is your field, not mine."

  "Carrie, you deal with Vanna, please. Hold her hand. It makes the transfer easier," said Kusac, reaching for the Captain's hand.

  "What do I do?" asked Carrie. "I've never done this before!"

  "Tune in to her brain pattern and project a concept of your language to her. It's similar to what you did earlier today. You'll know how to do it when the moment comes. Use your intuition," he said.

  It took several long minutes for Carrie to find the right level from which to work, but once found, the rest was easy. She could feel Vanna's initial resistance fade, to be replaced with a sense of wonder.

  So that's where the main differences lie! Carrie heard her think. Look, this is us.

  Almost immediately, Carrie received a flood of information about the Sholans' schema of their world. She broke contact when it was done and sat there stunned while her subconscious mind tried to assimilate what she had learned.

  "It must be marvelous to work directly with the mind itself," said Vanna, in a tone that Carrie now recognized as one of awe.

  "I don't know," she replied, pulling her scattered thoughts together. "I'm new to this myself." She gave a shy laugh as Vanna squeezed her hand. Carrie withdrew it hurriedly when Vanna's claws pricked her flesh.

  "Oh, sorry," said Vanna contritely. "I keep forgetting you haven't got fur to cushion our touch."

  "It's all right," said Carrie, surreptitiously rubbing her hand against her trouser leg.

  Kusac had finished with the Captain and, like her, was recouping his energy.

  "That's some Talent you have," said Garras, his ears twitching rapidly as he blinked to clear his head. "Skai, can you understand me?" he asked, his tongue stumbling over the unfamiliar sounds.

  "Ah, yes," said their guide. "How come you've learned English so fast?"

  "Kusac has given me your tongue. We will all be given it so we can talk more easily, yes?"

  "Yes," said Skai hesitantly, unsure of himself again in this new world of rapid changes.

  "Kusac, teach Guynor and Mito."

  "No," said Guynor unequivocally.

  "You will not disobey my orders," warned Garras.

  "I will not let his thoughts pollute my mind, nor will I let the language of such hairless beasts pollute my mouth!" he growled, rising to his feet.

  "You will do as you are ordered," repeated Garras, his voice a low snarl as his ears flattened and flicked out to the side.

  "Why do you order me to submit to these... animals? Are we not superior? I say again, I will not!"

  "Are you Challenging me?" Garras' eyes had narrowed to vertical slits as he prepared to leap to his feet. "If I can learn from these people, then so can you. Submit!"

  "It is your fault! You caused this corruption!" Guynor lunged toward Carrie.

  "You cannot Challenge the girl," said Vanna urgently, rising to her feet and blocking him with her body. "She is not of our kind. It would only bring you shame."

  "Kusac, then!" Balked of his prey, he wheeled round on Kusac. "He is the one who sank so low as to pair with this creature. I Challenge him!"

  "Nor Kusac!" shouted Vanna, grabbing at his upraised arm. "He's not your Grade. You cannot in honor Challenge him!"

  Gods, thought Kusac, his mind spinning as he leapt to his feet. It's happened. The confrontation he had feared, and it had come too soon. He wasn't ready for it. Neither was the girl.

  He glanced at Carrie. She was ashen, her face a mask of shock. He thrust her behind him as he felt the adrenaline surge into his system. His head began to swim and his stomach turned over.

  "Honor?" growled the enraged Sholan, crouching lower. "Where was his honor when he entered her mind and used her? Or when they paired? I claim the Blood-rite Challenge, to purge the crime!"

  "Denied!" snapped Garras, leaping to h
is feet. "We're at war. I can't afford to lose any more people. If there is a crime to answer, he will face a court-martial, not you."

  With a snarl of rage, Guynor launched himself at Kusac, talons ripping across his exposed flesh, knocking him to the ground.

  From far away, Kusac heard Carrie start to scream, but he was too busy fighting for both their lives.

  Chapter 7

  Kusac hit the ground hard, barely noticing the chest wounds as Guynor landed astride him. Automatically, he raised his hands to protect himself. Guynor's face was a snarling mask of fury inches from his throat and it was taking all of his strength to keep him from getting closer.