Rissa and Tregare

by F. M. Busby

  His lips pulled apart in a snarl. "Not right away. I-" Then his face went blank of all expression, as Rissa had seen it at Erika's.

  "Ivan? There is something? Something you need to say?"

  His voice was dead monotone. "One thing Erika couldn't fix. I'm not potent with women-and not interested in meny for that matter. In Welfare the worst punishments the pain-shock reinforcements-were done by women. And the way they did it-wel, two years didn't cure me; I think it's perma-nent. So I gave Shelda Fainsway a little-only a litle-of what she'd helped authorize doing to me."

  "Ivan-" Rissa shook her head. "I cannot blame you-such beasts-and as you say, my arrangements for Newhausen were hardly gentle. But do not surrender yet to what was done. You are-how old?"

  "I don't know-let's see. Forty-seven chrono, I'm told; probably only about twenty-two bio. But what good does that do?"

  "Your mind is hardly more than two years out of Welfare. Give it time to heal."

  "Well, maybe." He looked at her. "How come you seem older than I do? I don't mean looks, but the way you think."

  "I have had the chance to do more and learn from it. As you will now, also." She poured more wine. "Now let me tell you of my life since leaving Erika and Earth."

  She told it briefly, then said, "Did I omit anything, Spar-line?"

  The other woman shook her head. "Not that I know of."

  Ivan said, "They make mistakes, don't they? You, me, Tregare-they let us live. I suppose they can't kill everyone who might be dangerous.''

  "I-" Rissa began; then the door opened and Tregare entered. "Bran!" She ran to him. "Here is-"

  His kiss sealed her mouth; then he reached a hand to the other man. "Hello, Ivan Marchant. I'm glad you made it to here."

  "Bran-you knew? Why did you not tell me?"

  The handclasp done, Tregare shook his head, grinning. "I didn't know-I found out when you did." He gestured for everyone to sit. "You fooled Liesel's alarms, Ivan, but you missed one of mine. A gadget in my pocket started buzzing, and I came back here on the run." He turned to Rissa. "You two had already gone up here-if it was trouble I'd be too late to help. So I unlocked a special monitor circuit-when you came in I was watching, with one finger on the sleepy-gas but-ton. Right at first I almost pushed it-but I knew you'd be mad as hel, Rissa, if you didn't get a chance to handle things yourself." She returned his smile. Ivan said, flat-voiced, "Then you heard it all?"

  "No. First, just to where Rissa knew you. Then I had to reassure the clerk so he didn't cal for help, and missed some. Then you were saying the Underground uses my name to scare UET with, and I want to hear more about that-so I switched off and locked the monitor again. Now, then-what kind of thing do they say?"

  Ivan relaxed. Rissa thought, If Bran knew his trouble, he would feel shamed-but it is all right now. Her brother said, "Anything and everything-the wilder the better. Let's see-that you have fifty ships, maybe a hundred, and all armed. That you've begun exterminating UET colonies. That you're force-growing zygotes from extracted sperm and ova and have millions of fanatic troops on a world UET never heard of. That you've allied with aliens that have faster-than-light travel. You name it; it's been said." He paused. "Is that the kind of thing you want to know?"

  Tregare grinned. "Exactly-and it helps my purpose. Because the one thing they've missed, apparently, is what I do plan." He drank some wine. "And that part, if you don't mind, I'll tell you after we've had a little talk-on the other side of the Big Hils."

  The truth field, Rissa thought. Wel, Tregare could hardly accept, on faith, a man whose mind had been mauled as Ivan's had. Her brother said, "Of course. Not before you're sure. I understand, Tregare."

  "Good. Well, then-anybody else ready for dinner? I am."

  after the meal, Sparline left to fly to the Lodge. Ivan ar-ranged for a room of his own. The next day, with Tregare stil busy obtaining supplies, Rissa took her brother on a walking tour of the city.

  About mid-afternoon, they heard a rumble and turned to see Graf Spee lift to cross the Big Hils. She accomplished her businessquickly, thought Rissa, and reflected that unless Ilse Krueger had stayed behind, she would not be joining them for dinner. Reminded, she told Ivan of the evening plans; they turned back toward the Maison. So when Tregare arrived with Norden and Ressider, al was ready. They had dinner in a small private room off the Maison's main dining hal. Tregare, Norden, ard Reisider dominated the talk, pooling information on colonies and Hidden Worlds each had visited. Rissa paid close heed and occasionally asked a question. Ivan spoke litle; she could not guess his feelings. He drank sparingly, as did she; the others ended the evening in jovial, reminiscent mood. But afterward Tregare drove his guests to the port-Ressider to Valkyrie and Norden to a near-by hostel-and brought the aircar back safely. rissa and Ivan, next morning, rode with Tregare to the port. He landed alongside two new aircars. "These are the ones I said I was ordering," he said. "Quick delivery, and all checked out. Make free with one today, if you want. I'l leave word for Hawkman, when he arrives, to take the other to the Lodge. And I'll use Old Reliable, here, and see you at the Maison."

  "Yes," said Rissa, "when all our today's businesses are concluded." She kissed him and he walked away toward Valkyrie.

  Flying back over the city, Rissa explained the traffic indi-cators. Ivan nodded. "Yes-with your light traffic here, it's a good system. When you come to need more levels and get into diagonal routes, the transitions get harder to indicate." Explaining her mission as they flew, she went to the Delayed Reproduction Center. Estele Marco drew forth the ovum suc-cessfully and assured her that the first zygote was frozen at an optimum stage; the second would be formed and join it shortly.

  Rissa introduced the doctor to Ivan but did not mention their relationship. When the older woman was absent for a few minutes, Rissa said, "Ivan? Why do you not deposit sperm here? You can, can you not?" Expressionless, he nodded. "Then you should do so-your genes are worth pre-serving, and in case-" Scowling, he said, "What for? Oh, I can-and Erika had my plastic valves opened, thinking there'd be a psychological difference or something. But they'd gotten that from me several times already, back at Welfare. You must know that much."

  "But that was to breed slaves-here you would sire free per-sons."

  Estelle Marco returned. Rissa raised eyebrows to her brother, and finaly he nodded. She made the request for him. Marco agreed, and a few minutes later they left the building.

  In the aircar he said, "You know-it's been a long time since I'd even done that."

  "You should. It is healthier than nothing at all."

  He said nothing; when she looked at him, his face was pale and tense. "If I could kil all of them-maybe then-"

  "To take away their power is better-and that is what Tregare plans to do."

  she flew south, along the rise of the Big Hils to their left. Far in the distance they saw the beginning of that gigantic fal of stone monoliths piled like matchsticks-the Slab Jumbles. She said, "I wish there were time to see that place more closely-I have not been there. But now it is time to turn back."

  They had flown a long way; noon was past. Expecting disappointment, Rissa opened the compartment in which sealed snacks were usually kept, and was pleasantly surprised to find that Tregare had provided them. They ate in flight. Halfway to One Point One, they saw Valkyrie lift. Rissa took the car higher; they watched the ship cross the Hils and 206

  begin to drop again. "Now I see better," she said, "where Tregare's base is, from the city. I have gone usually by a roundabout way-and once so busy with other matters that I did not pay heed."

  Ivan did not answer; when she turned to see him, he said, "Let me fly this thing for a while?"

  "Of course. When I find the proper switch-the older model does not have this feature-I will change the controls. Yes-it is here-are you ready?" He nodded, and she gave him control.

  The car wiggled briefly as he tested its response. Then he dove full out, pulled up short, spun to one side, and climbed steeply, until th
e propulsion unit labored. She was reaching for the oxygen tube when he laughed and began a steep de-scent that gradually leveled at breathable height.

  "That was good," he said. "At least there's still a few

  things I'm good at." He shrugged. "I'm done with it; take

  over?"

  She did so. "Ivan?" He said nothing; she spoke again. "Twice while you flew, I thought you meant to kill us both. Is it as bad as that for you?"

  "It shouldn't be, I suppose. But you're right-if I'd been alone, I might have taken it all the way straight down."

  "Ivan-I say this again-give yourself time to heal."

  "Maybe, maybe not-heal, I mean. Two years at Erika's didn't do it."

  "But you have many years. Do not throw them away."

  Finally he said, "All right, Rissa. I won't-that's a prom-ise."

  "Good." She looked ahead. "And now we approach the city. See? Beside Maison Renalle-I believe that is Tregare's car."

  when they entered the room, Tregare was at the viewscreen. The picture was unrecognizable; Rissa was not surprised to hear Limmer's voice.

  ". . . and that's the size of it, Tregare. Krueger says the truth field's an insult. No contact with her since she walked out, and all her people with her. She's doing her sulking on GrafSpee. Naturally, I haven't started work on that ship."

  "Good-and don't, until I clear it. I'll call her direct, on scramble. Now, then-how about Ressider and Valkyrie! Any trouble there?"

  "Not a bit. He was there-just arrived-when Krueger blew up. As soon as she left he said, he and his people were ready for the interviews, so we could get to work. He's all right, Ressider is."

  "Yeah, he is. Well-so's Krueger, but she takes some handling. Look-I'l cal her now-be back to you as soon as I can." He cut the circuit and turned to Rissa. "Everything go al right at the Hatchery?"

  "Yes, Bran-there are no difficulties. And then we flew south, within view of the Jumbles-not near to them, of course, in the time we had. But-here, there is trouble?"

  "No-and there won't be. Just a minute-I have to call Krueger." He punched out the cal code. First the Lodge, then Kenekke on the scout, and finaly a smudged screen speaking with Ilse Krueger's voice.

  He cut off her protests. "Ilse! One of two things, and no argument. First-will you do the interviews in Limmer's shed?"

  "No! Tregare, this is outrageous. If you don't trust me-"

  "No argument, I said! So the second thing-take off, and right now. You're out of it." He is bluffing! He needs that ship!

  "Tregare! You can't-"

  "Your hull's intact and you're fueled. So in-let's see-fifty minutes, either you're lined up for questions, or you've left for wherever you want-and no hard feelings-or Limmer has a missile with Graf Spee's name on it so you can't take off, and we'll talk about buying you out. There's your choices-make up your mind."

  She tried to speak again; he said, "Except to Limmer, I'm done talking. He'll tell me how it came out." And he cut the circuit.

  Ivan whistled. "You don't play around, do you?"

  Rissa said, "Bran-were you not overly abrupt with her?"

  Tregare laughed. "If Ilse Krueger were a foot taller she wouldn't be so ungodly picky about everything. She's been chewing at command-no, not like Peralta, but trying to get a wedge in. Yesterday at the port she wasted more time, that way, than not. So I've been waiting for her to make a real issue. Now we find out once and for al if she takes orders or gets out." He gestured silence. "Hold it-I have to call Limmer back." When he had me circuit, he repeated what he had told Krueger, then added, "I told you this way because you have to know, if she calls, But one thing, Derek-if you hadn't guessed already, the missile's a bluff. If she calls it, fire a dum-my, so she'll think it's a miss. Right?"

  "Yes. But for a minute there, Tregare-you had me wor-ried."

  "Sure. Now another thing-if she does show up for inter-views she'll be spitting mad, so alow for that in reading the in-dicators. If you're not sure, pass her but say it's routine I do a repeat on al top personnel. Got it?"

  Limmer chuckled. "Tregare-it's a good thing nobody else gets to question us under that gadget."

  "Yeah. Al right-I'l get off your channel so you're free to deal there." When the screen darkened, he turned to Rissa. "Now do you like it better?"

  She nodded slowly. "Yes-of the four possibilities, two add the ship to your mission; the other two at least let it escape harmlessly. I did not see past what you said to Krueger." She smiled. "But then-with luck, neither wil she." Some minutes later, Limmer's Second caled. The crew of GrafSpee had reported for questioning, and Use Krueger was certified trustworthy. "That calls for a drink," said Tregare. "I thought she'd come around, but peace knows she had me sweating." Several drinks later, he said, "It's been a day; I'm ready for bed." Ivan excused himself and left, and Tregare said to Rissa, "Now that ovum's out of you, I hope you didn't think I meant sleep, right away."

  "No, Bran-I did not think that."

  the next morning, the three flew to Hulzein Lodge. Tregare went ahead; Rissa stopped at the spaceport with Ivan, to pick up the rest of his luggage. Castel met them at the Lodge, guided them to the room assigned to Ivan, and said,

  "Madame Hulzein will be in her office now." They found Tregare there also.

  He said, "Liesel, meet Rissa's brother-Ivan Marchant." Ivan stepped forward and shook her hand. Liesel gestured. "Sit down, sit down." Then; "Ivan-you'll have newer word from Earth. How much newer, since Rissa left? And tell me how things are-were-with my sister Erika."

  Ivan cleared his throat. "You look so much like her-only younger-it's a shock. Rissa's told you-and I left only two years after-in that time, Madame Erika hadn't changed much."

  "What was the situation there, as you saw it? And call me Liesel, if you please."

  "All right-Liesel. Erika wasn't much for formal, either. Well, let's see-she had to be over seventy, but she kept in good shape, active. And she had things well in control. UET tried a putsch in South Western-Hem but Erika's govern-ment-and she owned it, by then-cut off the main body of Committee troops in the Matto Grasso. Erika collected quite a big ransom for them."

  Liesel slapped her desk and laughed. "Always make a profit when you win!"

  "Yes-I know." Ivan frowned. "Toward the last, I didn't see much of her. She had some project going-I don't know what. Frieda took charge." He looked at Liesel. "You know Frieda?"

  "My sister's daughter? Of course. She was about fourteen when I last saw her. But what's your impression of her?

  And how old was she when you left?"

  "How old? Between thirty and thirty-five, I'd guess. But there's something wrong with that one; to tell you the truth I was glad to get out of there."

  "For any specific reason?" said Rissa. She remembered the incident of Maria Faldane.

  "Well-she was trying to reproduce. When she miscarried, she ordered her doctor killed. Erika intervened, but-" He shook his head. "She just wasn't stable. You never knew-"

  Liesel sighed. "The Hulzein genes gone to seed; I was afraid of that. We may as well forget any effective liaison with her group. I wish-"

  Tregare-said, "Before I was born, Erika closed the door. And if you could be on Earth right now-never mind the ob-jective travel time-she'd be nearly a hundred, or more likely dead a while." He saw Liesel wince, and said, "You know what the long view means; you knew it when you left Earth. Liesel-you can't reshape the past, so face what is." She nodded, the heavy crowning braids bobbed with the motion. "Oh, you're right, Bran. But-if only Erika could have realized! We could have-"

  Tregare reached to grip her hand. "We still can. She can't; that's all." Liesel turned to Ivan. "Then Frieda has-or had-no daughter?"

  His hand gestured negation. "The rumors-nothing but monsters, mostly born dead. There was talk that one was kept alive for a while until she gave up on it. From what I heard, that was a bad time-I'm glad I wasn't there then." Rissa said, "This would have been before I was there? But I heard nothing."

/>   Ivan shrugged. "Erika kept good security in her own circle. The story didn't leak until you'd left-and then by someone who wanted to start trouble." He shuddered. "He got it, all right. It was then I knew I had to get out, and fast. It's a good thing we're all out of there."

  "The Argentine Establishment itself," said Liesel. "Was it in danger when you left?"

  "I don't know. A lot of rumors, was all-nothing solid. Power plays I didn't understand, and Frieda in the middle of them. For all I know, the Establishment could be wiped out by now-or it could own the planet. That's Frieda for you."

  "I see. Well," Liesel turned to Tregare, "we have to be alert for any word from Earth, don't we?" He nodded, and Rissa asked Liesel, "Have you no later word through Osallin?" Then she gasped. "But I have not told you! He came here-to Base Two, rather-and was killed in the fighting." She shook her head. "I shall miss him. He was a good friend." Then; "But, Liesel- have you later in-formation?"

  "I'm not sure; I'll have to check the dates. Graf Spee brought a dispatch-it's stil being decoded-and it's signed by Frieda and initialed by Erika. I figured out that much."

  She sighed. "Sorry to hear about Osallin; from his reports that I've seen and from what you tel me, I think I'd have liked the man. Wish I'd met him. As for Earth-I suppose we can only wait and see. And by the way-with Osalin gone, what about Far Corner?"

  "His successor is named Kirchessel; Osallin brought the new codes. And there, too, we can only wait." Tregare stood. "Nothing we can do now; that's certain. Rissa-I haven't had any real exercise since forever-or since I got burned, anyway. Want to hike uphil a way if I get a lunch packed for us? And how about you, Ivan?" Ivan nodded. Rissa said, "Yes, of course." She went to her room and changed clothes, then met the others downstairs. at first, until their muscles loosened, they walked slowly. Then the trail steepened; the three began to exert themselves, becoming short of breath until they gained second wind. Tregare turned left onto a narrow, overgrown trail Rissa had not noticed before. It bent sharply uphill, so steep that they needed to grasp bushes to help keep balance. Panting now, they continued until the slope eased-cresting a ridge to see, ahead through the trees, a smal dark-blue lake. Rissa said, "Bran-did you know this was here?"