As she opened the connecting door and entered Jon’s room, Dina resolved to be as truthful with him as she could without betraying DeStar. I can’t believe I’m going to lie to Jon.
SLEEP, ALWAYS AN eager caller before this assignment began, deserted her again that night like a spurned lover. Her mind, her most powerful asset, betrayed her, replaying the incident in the tunnel over and over. DeStar had saved her life. She tried to think of something, anything else—his arrogance, his cutting words to her—but her mind returned each time to the tunnel. She remembered how his voice had sounded in her head, first like a caress from the dead, chilling and repulsive, then like an edict from the heavens, compelling her to live.
She owed him her life. A dens, damn him! But each time she damned him, she saw him pull off the white hood and saw the molten eyes beneath the arrow point of dark hair. As dawn approached, exhaustion weakened her, and surrender finally dropped her into a troubled sleep. Her last thought had been his parting words to her. You have nothing I need.
When she awoke soon after, she felt tired and shaken. She stood in the shower and let the hot water cascade over her, wishing she could as easily flush thoughts of the dens out of her mind. But the water soothed her, and she took her time dressing, even allowing extra time to perform an abbreviated version of her favorite relaxation exercise. By the time she met with Jon for their morning meeting, she was confident he would detect nothing amiss in her appearance or expressions. During the meeting, however, Dina caught Jon looking at her several times with his brows drawn together. He said nothing, and Dina chalked it up to concern following yesterday’s incident.
Last night she had relayed to Jon more of the details of the mine tour with Hrothi, her ill-fated decision to view the abandoned tunnel, the attack, and her rescue by DeStar. Dina followed DeStar’s story that she had called audibly for help, and that DeStar, happening to pass close by, heard her. As she told the tale, it sounded horribly contrived, but Jon had seemed to take no notice, only nodding his head as he sipped his mocava.
Jon had given her the results of the investigation of her attack. No witnesses had been found at the mines, and there had been no surveillance equipment at the abandoned tunnel where the attack occurred. No physical evidence had been found. Jon had made no further mention of DeStar.
As she expected, Jon had berated her, though gently, for ignoring his order not to wander off alone. He had also explained what Chandhel had wanted that was so urgent he’d called Jon away. Mother Lode had decided to move up their date for filing suit against the Synergy. That meant there were ten fewer days than there had been to solve the case. Chandhel had emphasized once again the urgency of the situation, as if Jon wasn’t already aware of it.
They now outlined their plans for the day. Jon would continue interviewing the miners, and Dina would again try to talk to the Uz-Dailjan. After last night’s speech on the dangers of being alone in the desert, Dina had expected strong opposition to her suggestion she try interviewing the Dailjan on her own. Surprisingly, Jon argued the point very little and merely cautioned her to be careful and to send him marks via her replacement commband.
Dina still wanted to interview Katzfiel to find out if any AEA personnel had been terminated in the past few months. Even though she knew DeStar was the Uz-Dailjan, she was better off knowing from a source other than a dens who else might be in the desert. To this, Jon also cautioned her, warning her to tread lightly with the Commander. Before they parted, Jon gently grabbed her arm. She looked up into the warm eyes and again saw the clear look of concern.
“You know I trust your judgment,” was all he said.
She smiled, her first of the day, and put her hand on Jon’s arm. “I know. Thanks.”She wished she could communicate to Jon how much his trust really meant to her, but the simple gesture would have to do.
Back in her room, Dina spent time using relaxation techniques she had learned years ago. Snuggling into a comfortable position on top of the bed, she dimmed the room lights with a quick verbal command, shuttered her eyes and drew five deep breaths, inhaling through her nose and exhaling slowly through her mouth, each puff soft as a blown kiss.
Dina lifted her arms out to her sides until they were parallel to the floor, fists closed, then uncurled her fingers, palms upward. She visualized a glowing orange fireball in the palm of her right hand, a ball that spun in her hand, the rotating force casting tails of yellow and gold to arc around the sphere. The fireball lifted, spinning slowly, and rose, warming her arm, shoulder, and neck. The tiny sun paused at its zenith, directly over her head, and showered rays of heat and light onto her upturned face, to cascade over her cheeks and hair to her shoulders, strengthening her aura. Strung on its invisible arch, the fireball again moved, continuing in its descent over her left shoulder and arm, still bathing her in its radiance, until it settled gently into the cradle of her left palm. Dina yet waited, feeling the heat soak downward through her body until it reached her toes.
The total relaxation of her body and mind generated the alpha and theta waves needed for her performance with Katzfiel. She raised the light level, called him, and requested a brief meeting. To her surprise, the Commander didn’t put her off, but told her that he would be available if she could come to the AEA Center right away. Dina arrived within moments, but found herself waiting for Katzfiel for the better part of an hour. She tried to remain calm while she waited in an anteroom and again practiced her relaxation exercises. Although she was sure the delay was intentional, she told herself she mustn’t reply in kind. She knew Katzfiel already had a poor opinion of her, and that yesterday’s incident had only served to reinforce that opinion.
Finally, the door opened, and Dina looked up at the sound. She heard a whisper-soft “later, Kaz” float to the doorway. Seconds later, Maris Iridino swept into view, her tall frame almost boneless in its grace. Her short, dark bob was perfect, and a wide smile immediately lit her perfectly made-up face.
“Agent Marlijn. How nice to see you again. I heard what happened to you. How are you doing?”
Dina wondered if Maris was concerned about her health or the investigation. “Fine, thank you, Miss Iridino.”
“I’m glad. Call me Maris, please. Oh, the Commander should be with you shortly. I have to run. I’m sure I’ll see you again.”
Maris glided from the room, still smiling. Dina wondered what business Maris had with Katzfiel. Chandhel and Katzfiel hadn’t seemed to like each other much. Perhaps Maris was a go-between.
When the Commander finally instructed her to enter his office, he made no apology for keeping her waiting, but pointedly glanced at a large time display on the wall.
“Well, Miss, I have about five minutes. What is so important it couldn’t wait?”
“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Commander. I just have a couple questions. Can you tell me if any of your AEA personnel have been terminated or have resigned in the past year?”
Katzfiel frowned, and the harsh face took on an even more unpleasant appearance.
“Now why would you ask that?”
“In viewing the files on the interviews the AEA made of known Dailjan members, it occurred to me that the Dailjan seem to know a great deal about how the AEA operates. I was wondering if it were possible there are any former AEA members among the Dailjan.” Dina hadn’t intended to be quite so candid, but, as had happened with DeStar, her diplomatic skills failed her. She found it impossible to completely ignore the resentment she felt at Katzfiel’s obvious slights.
The Commander didn’t reply at once, but sat staring at Dina. The beady black pupils seemed to vibrate against the silver irises. A person of lesser strength would have wilted under such scrutiny, but Dina went on the offensive and took the opportunity to quickly probe the man. It was apparent from her probe that Katzfiel felt insulted that Dina would imply that any AEA members, former or otherwise, would d
egrade themselves by associating with the desert garbage. She also picked up the dislike and disdain he felt for her. No surprises there.
“No. Since no one for quite some time has been allowed to leave Exodus, it would be an obvious breach of security to terminate someone at this point, knowing they would have the run of the colony afterward. Any changes in personnel will be done after this investigation is completed.”
“‘Keep your enemies closer than your friends,’ Commander? What about the reverse? Have any new AEA members been hired in the last year?” Dina asked, realizing she was already disobeying Jon’s order to “tread lightly.”
Katzfiel took his time in answering. “No. All my people have been with me longer than that,” he replied at last, glancing again at the time display.
Dina took the not-so-subtle hint. “I won’t take up any more of your time. Thank you, Commander.”
“Miss Marlijn, let me be blunt.”
Dina had to force herself not to laugh. Varying degrees of bluntness seemed all that the Commander knew.
“I’m disturbed by what I’ve observed the past two days. Poor judgment and questionable reasoning are not what I expected from the IIB, and they will not be tolerated by this agency or by Aeternan Administration. I hope you understand the gravity of the situation. I can only hope Agent Rzije is pursuing more productive lines of inquiry. Good day to you.”
“Commander, to do my job properly, I need as much information as possible. If you feel I have offended you by asking the questions I did, understand that was not my intention. I will not hesitate to question anyone on this colony about anything I feel is relevant to this investigation, and in doing so, I expect complete cooperation. Good day, sir, to you.” Well, she had done it again. But she’d be damned if she’d apologize to this bastard.
Katzfiel’s impassive face had flushed to an angry shade of purple, but Dina barely saw it as she turned and made her own way out of his office. She didn’t much care what he thought of her, but she knew this would get back to Jon, and the thought of Jon’s disapproval worried her.
Back at the Visitor Center, Dina forced herself to relax and forget about Katzfiel. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly, until in her mind she saw the long road, stretching endlessly in either direction, and the expanse of golden field that filled her view as far as she could see. After a final deep breath, eyes still closed, she projected as forcefully as she could. DeStar. I need to see you.
A moment passed with no response, and Dina began to despair. She hadn’t considered the possibility that he wouldn’t answer her at all. Had she angered him that much? She tried to remain optimistic. Maybe it was simply that she hadn’t projected so he could hear her. After all, she wasn’t used to contacting other telepaths. She took another deep breath, stood on the Road of Time, and tried again. DeStar.
I heard you the first time. What do you want?
The reply that sounded in her head was so cold that icy shivers raised goosebumps on her arms. Several thoughts, none of them complimentary to DeStar, rushed forward, but she halted them before they could form. She couldn’t afford to anger him again. I would like to meet with you again. It’s important.
Important to you, not to me.
What I have to tell you could very well be important to you and your people. Besides, I never thanked you properly for yesterday.
‘Thank yous’ and ‘I’m sorrys’ are meaningless words and are foreign to my world. You merely took advantage of an enemy to survive. I respect that. In turn, I’m sure I would never be able to convince you that my motives were any less selfish. So let’s leave it at that. I told you before, you have nothing I need.
He caught her off guard with that. There was too much truth in his statement for her to deny it. She had accepted help from a dens, a creature she normally wouldn’t give the time of day. What could she say now? How could she reach him? She could, of course, threaten force. She was sure that the AEA could make short work of the Dailjan, but she really didn’t think DeStar would respond well to a threat of force. No, she would just have to continue pouring the honey.
‘Thank yous’ may not be important to you, but they are to me. I believe you’re an honorable man. Show that you are, and meet with me.
I hardly think these platitudes are any more important to you than they are to me. What do you really want of me?
She felt her temple start to throb with pressure, but she couldn’t give up now. She replayed his initial response in her mind, and latched on to one word. Enemy.
Perhaps what you say is true. But enemy? I don’t even know you.
No, you don’t. But you’re a Glacian, and I’m a B’haratan. We are born enemies, no? And even if we were not, I’m an outlaw. That alone puts us on opposite sides of the table, does it not?
What he said was true. How could she argue it? Yet, she had to. She frantically cast around for the right words. I’m the one willing to talk. You aren’t. If anyone is assigning labels here, it’s you.
Really? I hardly think you’re either willing or wanting to put aside our differences. Your thoughts are showing definite signs of stress. Perhaps it is the strain of telling such lies. I ask again, what do you really want?
Dina felt her patience vanish like spit in the sand of the Exodan desert. I thought charm was second nature to the dens. How is it you’re so lacking in it?
Another one of your many misconceptions about us, I’m afraid. But I’ll make a deal with you. Tell me one honest statement—if you can—and I’ll agree to meet with you.
All the nasty thoughts Dina was keeping reined in surged forward. You’re an arrogant, manipulative son-of-a-bitch, and I would rather choke on the dust of this damn planet than ask you for anything, but the fact is that I need your cooperation for my investigation.
That’s more like it. If you had said that to begin with we could have dispensed with all this foolishness. But then again, I would have missed out on your very entertaining performance.
Dina steamed at the laughter she heard in his Voice. I can see why you keep the company of outlaws, deserters, and illegals. Who else would put up with such conceit?
Insult me all you wish, but take a care when you speak of my comrades. Each one of them is worth a shipload of your kind.
Dina didn’t have to feel the flatness in his Voice to know she had gone too far. But how else could any rational person respond to such contempt? She was a professional, trying to do a job, and he had made her feel like an idiot. You may not accept apologies, but I apologize to your friends. Now, will you meet with me?
Very well. Meet me in an hour at these coordinates, 42.3d west of Aeternus, 6.8d south. I trust you can find your way?
I’ll be there, don’t worry.
Until then.
His parting two words slithered through her mind, a mockery of an endearment. For the second time in two days, Dina fumed. He obviously felt nothing but disdain for her, and like Commander Katzfiel, saw her not as a highly trained professional, but as a silly female. Except that DeStar was worse.
The dens looked upon her as someone that he could amuse himself with. What angered Dina the most was that he had made her lose her temper. She had always prided herself on her ability to talk to people of different races, cultures, and worlds. And he, in a matter of seconds, had provoked her to profanity and name-calling. But then again, Dina hadn’t anticipated encountering a dens on this planet.
FROM THE BEGINNING Rayn had had every intention of meeting with her again, but she had indeed angered him, and it had amused him to see how far she would go with her act of beseechment and humility. He knew her true feelings were far from her honeyed words. He smiled to himself as he thought how badly she must need him to suffer such an act, and laughed even more when he remembered her angry words. That was more like Little Miss Su
mmer Lightning. If it meant honesty, he would suffer the prejudice. Rayn had once admired honesty above all else.
SHE CHECKED HER supplies in the storage compartment of her skimmer, pulled on her hood, mounted the vehicle, and made her way once more into the desert. She programmed the coordinates DeStar had given her into her finder and followed the now familiar Albho Road westward.
As before, she had to concentrate in order to prevent the soporific waves of shadow from giving her “desert hypnosis.” She pushed her skimmer beyond the end of the Albho Road and skirted the mines south of Sawel Kel, happy to put the siren sea of white with its mesmerizing shadow dance behind her. The low mountains of the Wiara Gwer loomed before her like giant beasts sleeping in the midday heat.
She slowed her skimmer and frowned, studying the finder. To reach the coordinates Rayn gave her, she would have to cross the Wiara to the heart of the Chayne. As she approached the first windswept dune, she saw that the Wiara was not a single mountainous range, but a series of twisting mounds and valleys. She wove the skimmer back and forth through the shallow canyons until the appearance of higher, rockier formations announced her ingress into the Chayne Gwer.
The red dot of her skimmer’s trail finder changed from a steady glow to a pulse, confirming her arrival, but she saw nothing but numerous gray granite tors, ancient sentinels of the desert, now bent with age and silent with sleep. She was well beyond the mines, but by her reckoning, not as deep into the mountains as Sanctuary was. Dina looked at her trail finder one more time, then at her commband. The time and coordinates were correct, but there was nothing here.
She looked around her, at the ashen rock figures, the white sunlight, and the gray dust that whirled in tiny eyes around her like rings of smoke. She studied the shy, midday shadow that she and the skimmer made. What a lonely place, she thought.
Places aren’t lonely, only people.
Dina looked up. A man on a skimmer cruised toward her from the west. The man wore a weather suit with a full hood, but Dina knew it was Rayn. The white hawk hood was the same one he had worn when she first met him, but more than that was his Voice. As always, it was unmistakable. Rayn slid his skimmer to a casual halt, dismounted, and strolled up to her as if he had all day. Soft, heather suede boots reached to just below his knees, the long fringes at the cuffs sashaying in counterpoint to his easy strides. “Follow me.”
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