by Dale Furse
‘Did you see me own that dance floor?’ Sam said.
Nell threw him a grimace. ‘Yes, show off.’
‘You can ask your questions now, Nell,’ Melt said.
No sooner had Gradarg stopped than Nell asked, ‘Why did the s want to hurt Pren?’
‘They didn’t mean to injure him, the dart was meant for you, child.’
‘They were to take you to a waiting skark,’ the youngest Elder said. ‘Or if that was not possible, they were to obtain a sample of your blood.’
‘My blood? Why on earth would they want my blood?’
‘That, we don’t know,’ the Elder with a large belly said. ‘Nor, I’m afraid, do the perpetrators. All they know is what they were employed to do. Their sole contact with their employers was by messages and coins left in various places on Corl. They were also under instructions not to harm you while carrying out their orders. It was an accident you were injured with the knife.’
Nell thought about the s. They didn’t seem to be too bright. She could believe that they botched the plan. ‘Can I speak to them?’
‘Yes,’ Gradarg said. ‘We have them in cells below the council chambers.’
‘We thought you might want to meet with them,’ the younger one said.
Nell turned to Pren. ‘What do you think?’ she asked.
‘I will bow to you, child of Wexkia. We do not want war with the s. If what they say is true, you will find this out.’
‘You bet I will.’ Nell grinned, patted Pren’s neck and winked at Melt.
Pren flew to the waiting Krolls and told them to break up and go about their business.
‘Okay,’ Nell said to the head Elder. ‘Lead the way.’
Gradarg smiled a crinkly smile and walked to the door at the side of the podium. The other two Elders didn’t accompany them. Nell stopped and turned around. They had moved in front of Lesel, Sam and Tanat, stopping them from going with her. Sam raised his eyebrows and nodded for her to go. Nell hurried to catch up to the Elder. The crowd’s cheers followed her but quietened when the door closed behind her.
Gradarg took her to a room that looked more like a comfortable sitting room than a cell. The two s who invaded Pren’s cave sat in two of the four luxurious armchairs placed around a low table of okfor. Books and papers were strewn over the table. Nell couldn’t believe they had a simulator in the wall behind the old ’s seat.
‘This is what you call a prison?’ Nell asked Gradarg.
‘They are incarcerated,’ he said, as if not understanding her meaning. ‘Isn’t that what prison means?’ He waved a hand in their direction. ‘They are separated from their families, friends and their work. That is punishment enough.’
‘But,’ Nell began. Gradarg’s expression told her it would be no use arguing. s obviously viewed punishment in a different light from Humans.
‘You are safe here,’ Gradarg said, as he opened the door. ‘I’ll leave you to talk.’
Nell moved to the table and perused the books and other reading material without a word to the s. Many of the books were about Linque and a few showed other worlds. The papers were essays on everything from politics to religion of all the known worlds. At the bottom of the pile, Nell found two translated books of Wexkia. She knew they wouldn’t contain the missing pages but she couldn’t help but check anyway. She pushed a book into each of the ’s faces. ‘Trying to hide them, were you? I’m assuming they and everything else here is for you to study?’
The men nodded silently.
Nell put the books down. What an apt form of punishment. ‘I’m not going to muck around. Who sent you to Pren’s house and why?’ She stood between their chairs and held a hand out to each .
They gawped at each other. The oldest gave a nod and took Nell’s hand. The young ’s eyes nearly popped out. He gulped loudly as he gingerly placed his hand in Nell’s.
She sent a mind-thought to both men. ‘It’s okay, I won’t hurt you.’
The old one spoke first. ‘Who? We do not know. Why? We were to obtain a specimen of your blood.’
‘I know that, but why?’
‘We do not know the answer,’ the young sniffed. ‘However,’ he said, claiming his hand back and crossing his legs. ‘I’ve thought about that and I have a theory.’
The leader scowled at him. ‘No one paid you to think. Keep you theories to yourself.’
Nell let go of the remaining hand and placed her fists on her hips. ‘Spit it out,’ she said.
The young prisoner threw the other half a shrug, dropped his bottom lip and said, ‘It’s apparent that your blood will reveal much to a scientist educated in DNA and ...’ He paused as if for effect, ‘The finest scientists in the known universe are Corl.’
‘Of course,’ Nell said, jumping to her feet. ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’
The older had somehow managed to look even older as he hunched his shoulders and lowered his head.
‘You’re scared,’ said Nell.
‘Wouldn’t you be?’ he mumbled into his chest.
‘The only way they, whoever they may be, will find out you’ve helped me is if you tell them.’
‘I won’t.’
‘I fear they have eyes and ears everywhere,’ the old one said.
Nell thought for a moment. ‘I can tell you with all honesty, I would know if they could see or listen to us in this room. They can’t.’ She wasn’t going to feel too bad for him. He wasn’t sorry for what he’d done, he was scared. Turning to move to the door, she changed her mind and pointed to the Wexkian books. ‘You two better study because I’m coming back here in a week to test you.’
The s looked at the books as if they were hunks of revolting food. Nell danced out of the room.
Emerging back into the bright sunshine, Nell noted that all the Krolls had dispersed except Pren and Melt hovering beside Sam. The crowd applauded once more at the sight of her and Nell wished they had as much sense as the Krolls. Sam grinned at the face she made.
‘Make them stop,’ Nell begged Gradarg.
Gradarg joined the other Elders on the podium, held his hands high above his head and spoke with authority. ‘Thank you for coming,’ he said, projecting his voice for all to hear. His words echoed around the arena. Gradarg continued, ‘Dar-Nellen, the first Wexkian, also thanks you for your reception. However, it is now time to return to your duties.’
The mass cheered once more before disbanding.
Nell kissed Pren. ‘Why did you tell me to go back to Corl? Aren’t I safe here now?’
‘You are safe here. However, you have duties on Corl.’
‘Duties?’
‘Shahs.’
‘Shahs?’
Pren laughed a honk. ‘Yes, help Shahs. No more questions, child. I am weary.’ He lowered his muzzle to her cheek then flew away.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
AS NELL TRAVELLED TO CORL WITH TANAT AND Sam, she tried to think of a way around her promise to her grandmother to speak to Kandar’s replacement in the Three World Council. She remembered his name. Jenker. But was he nice Jenker or nasty Jenker? What she had to do was find out who and why someone wanted her blood. Maybe Nadar would be well enough to talk to her. He must have had accomplices when he tried to kill her and they might be the ones responsible now. Maybe Nadar was working for someone. If she could get names, she would have a starting point.
Tanat left Nell and Sam at Dar-Seldra’s door.
‘We’re ba-ack,’ Sam sang as soon as they crossed the threshold. The house was silent. ‘Looks like nobody’s here,’ he said with a shrug of his shoulder.
Mekie breezed into the room. ‘Good morning,’ she said too brightly with that sing-song voice of hers that told Nell her cousin had some gossip she wanted to share.
Nell was about to come up with an excuse to leave the room. She didn’t want to hear the latest scandal.
Mekie detoured. ‘We heard what happened. I’m glad you are both well. Did you like your visit, Sam? And how was your grandmother, Ne
ll?’
Although she asked all the right questions, Mekie spoke quickly as if she wanted the niceties over.
‘Lesel is lovely,’ Nell said, heading to the kitchen. ‘I’m going to make some tea.’ Nell hadn’t thought of a way around her promise to Lesel. If she couldn’t, what would she say to Jenker?
When she finally returned to the dining room, Sam and Mekie were still there, deep in hushed conversation. They stopped and eyed Nell, a small grin playing at the corners of Sam’s mouth. Now what?
Sam was the first to speak. ‘Your cousin here has been talking with Cay-Reace.’
‘What?’ Nell said.
‘I went to the restoration and spoke to my uncle,’ Mekie said. ‘And I don’t care what you have to say about it. He’s the best physician I know other than Mother and you cannot tell me what I can or can’t do. He said he would listen to your concerns.’
Nell was speechless, unsure whether she should strangle her or hug her. She had to admit Cay-Reace was her only chance of saving Shahs. He was nice, but he was Cay-tatel’s brother and his loyalties would lie with his family no matter how they had treated him in the past. She silently weighed up her thoughts.
Sam huffed. ‘Come on,’ he said, and marched toward the entry. ‘Let’s go to the Kafir restoration and talk to the man. I don’t see anybody else knocking down the doors to help.’
Nell hesitated.
Mekie followed Sam. ‘Are you coming?’
Cay-Reace was also Mekie’s family and Nell knew without a doubt that she could trust her cousin with her life. Consoled with that thought, she jogged after them.
‘We should pick up Kale,’ Nell said.
‘Why?’ Sam said.
‘Because I think a Corl could back up my story more than you two.’
‘Thanks for the vote of confidence,’ said Sam.
‘She’s right,’ Mekie said. ‘Most Corls are respected for their honesty and Cay-Reace knows Kale is Kandar’s son and not given to lies.’
‘I’m glad you said ‘most’,’ Nell said.
***
As they approached Cay-Reace’s office, Nell recognised Dar-Seldra’s voice. She and Cay-Reace were discussing one of her patients. Both physicians sounded worried and Nell hoped the patient would be all right. She stopped her companions and searched for somewhere they could hide. If her aunt saw them, she would know what Nell was up to.
‘Thank you.’ Dar-Seldra’s voice wafted through the doorway.
Nell panicked and clumsily turned on her heel. Sam stopped her from falling.
Dar-Seldra continued, ‘I’ll meet you in room five after lunch.’
Mekie and Kale had already ducked into another room. Mekie held the door open. ‘Hurry,’ she hissed.
Sam pulled Nell over the threshold and silently closed the door. Dar-Seldra’s footsteps passed then faded as a deep murmur sounded behind them. They all spun around in one movement.
In the bed, a long, skinny form lay under the sheet. Its head was all that showed. At least, Nell thought it was a head. It was hard to see where his skin ended and the sheet began because they were both the same shade of white. Nell frowned. Another Eldorap? Huh. Or the same one?
She moved tentatively forward. His closed sunken eyes, as large as tennis balls, twitched. An enormous forehead spanned the gap between the top of his dark fur-topped head and his eyes. His prominent cheekbones strained against the skin. Had he done something with his hair? She was certain the last time she saw Deesc, he had honey-coloured curls not black fur.
Kale moved beside Nell and gasped. ‘It’s an Eldorap. I’ve seen their pictures in books. Their home world is in a galaxy so far away skarks cannot travel there.’
‘He looks in bad shape,’ Sam said, approaching the foot of the bed.
‘It’s difficult to tell. They are all white in colour,’ Kale said. ‘Don’t touch it.’
‘We shouldn’t be in here,’ Mekie said, not taking her eyes off the bed.
The patient’s eyes snapped open. Mekie jumped back with a gasp.
Once again, Nell stared into eyes so black they looked bottomless. He or she regarded the intruders with unblinking eyes as if piercing their souls. He, Nell guessed, looked like Deesc, but something other than his hair or his sickness was different. Fear and curiosity ran through her at the same time. Without thinking, Nell extended her hand. ‘Aagh.’ Flung back with such force, she landed in a heap on the floor at Mekie’s feet.
‘There is another like you, child of Wexkia,’ a man’s voice said in Nell’s mind. It wasn’t Deesc’s voice but it was close. Maybe his sickness had raised its tone.
‘I know,’ Nell said, trying to regain her senses.
Mekie fell to her knees. With eyes wide with terror, she asked Nell, ‘Are you all right?’
Sam and Kale put as much distance between the Eldorap and themselves as possible, nearly trampling on Nell and Mekie. The Eldorap let out another murmur and Nell hit Sam’s leg at the same time. Sam croaked and yanked the door handle but Nell and Mekie were in the way.
The Eldorap let out a loud groan and his eyes snapped shut. Nell found her feet and stared at the bed.
‘You mistake me for Deesc, child. I am not him. I am Haast, the true Eldorap.’
‘Huh?’
He didn’t offer any further explanation. Nell bit her cheek. He had said, the true Eldorap. What did that mean? Ugh. More questions.
‘It’s asleep again,’ Kale whispered. ‘Let’s go.’
‘Child,’ said the Eldorap. ‘Deesc knows much.’
‘Now,’ Kale said.
All agreed and scrambled through the door. Nell glanced back at the Eldorap and sighed. She shut the door. Room five. That was the room Dar-Seldra mentioned earlier. She hoped Cay-Reace and Dar-Seldra knew how to heal the Eldorap. He looked like Deesc but surely, they all couldn’t look exactly the same. He was probably delirious when he said he wasn’t Deesc.
Nell followed Mekie into Cay-Reace’s room.
‘Ah, I’ve been expecting you,’ he said, and locked his arms behind his head, waiting for them all to file into the room.
He looked just as Nell had remembered with his fair hair and brown-bronzed skin. One thing was different though, he had put on some weight. Oh, he wasn’t fat, but he was sturdier than he was on Nadar’s ship and somehow appeared taller.
‘Hello, Cay-Reace,’ Mekie said. ‘You remember Nell and Sam? And you know Kale.’
‘Yes. Come closer, Nell.’
She did, trying to read behind his friendly expression.
‘You look well,’ he said, as he lowered his arms to his desk. ‘Explain what Mekie meant about the patient’s misdiagnosis.’
Nell found real interest in Cay-Reace’s face so she took a deep breath, and said, ‘She isn’t out of touch with reality as the physicians would have everyone believe. I got through to her so I know others could too if they took the time.’ Cay-Reace appeared doubtful so Nell blurted. ‘She winked at me.’
‘That doesn’t prove she isn’t insane,’ he said. ‘All it confirms is that she can wink.’ The pen Cay-Reace picked up hovered over a notebook. ‘You’ll have to give me more than that.’
Nell’s eyes narrowed. ‘I have learnt to trust my instinct.’
Cay-Reace nodded for her to go on.
‘There’s something wrong with the nursing of Shahs. I would stake my life on it. Someone has her so medicated that she appears insane but I’m telling you, she isn’t.’
Cay-Reace picked up a pen. ‘You all agree with Nell?’ Cay-Reace said.
‘Yes, Cay-Reace,’ Mekie said.
‘She’s right,’ Sam said.
‘Kale?’ Cay-Reace asked.
‘I didn’t see her wink, but there is definitely something about her that makes me wonder and Nell’s instincts are rarely wrong.’
Cay-Reace printed ‘SHAHS of the family, GAR’, on top of the page. Nell let out her breath. That was a good sign.
‘Tell me more.’
Nel
l told him about the first time she had visited Shahs. ‘She is definitely a gentle soul and I warned her to stop taking any medications but she had to pretend she was still taking them.’ She waited while he checked a screen of appointments.
‘Hmm, go on,’ he said, but didn’t write anything down.
‘Her eyes became less empty when I said that. I’m certain she understood me and I know she told me so with a blink of her eyes.’
Still scanning the list on his screen, he said, ‘You did all that through a viewing window?’
‘No. I went into her room and—’
His eyes flashed anger. ‘How did you get into her room? Who let you in?’
Nell swallowed. She wasn’t sure whether telling him Mer-petrale’s name was a good idea. She glanced at the others.
‘Mer-petrale,’ Mekie said.
That, he wrote down. ‘Is she a nurse at Paler?’
‘No,’ Mekie said. ‘A doctor.’
Sam shot Mekie a frown, and said, ‘She’s a physician in training. Nell had to talk her into letting her in, didn’t you Nell?’
‘Yes, it’s my fault. She was nice and I took advantage of that. A nurse found me there and made it clear I was out of line.’
He turned his screen off. ‘Is that all you have to say about the patient?’
‘No,’ Nell said. ‘But I’m not sure you’re the one who can help us.’
‘I will be the one who makes that decision. I will let Mer-petrale’s mistake go for now.’
‘You won’t tell her superiors?’
‘Not this time.’
Nell hoped she could trust his word. Cay-Reace was Shahs’ only hope. ‘I could only see her through the viewing window the next time but her eyes were full of hope. That’s when she winked at me. I promised her I would help her.’ Cay-Reace eyed Nell. ‘No, doctor, I can’t use telepathy without touching. I mouthed the words through the window. That’s when she nodded. Does that sound like someone who is completely out of it?’
He didn’t answer but his eyes shifted to the left and stared over their heads as if he was thinking about what she had said.