“But there were treaties in place, were there not?”
“Supposedly, and broken by the conquerors.”
"But as I said, we aren't going to conquer anyone. As you so succinctly put it at dinner, we simply want to meet our neighbours."
She nodded.
“In my ancestor’s time, it was a tradition to bake a cake for a new neighbour. A way of breaking the ice and offering a welcome.”
“A cake? Are you suggesting we take a cake when we contact the inhabitants of another world?”
She flicked her eyelids up at him, innocently widening her glorious green eyes and giving him a crooked smile, backed up by a shrug of her beautiful shoulders.
“It’s worth a shot. Your last approach wasn’t so successful.”
“You are very wise, Alice, but…”
“Alice?”
He saw her sudden and fleeting bewilderment as she stumbled forward, he reached out instinctively to catch her. Alice felt as if something slapped her between her shoulder blades.
“Principal Ryan?” she gasped, the breath knocked from her lungs. What happened, for him of all people to be supporting her like this? Breathless and confused, she looked down at his hands, steadying her.
"Principal Ryan?" she repeated. He didn't let her go, just kept hold of her arm and placed his other hand on her back to secure her. The night was mild, but as he touched her, her skin felt icy cold.
“I’m sorry, Principal Ryan. I seem to be saying sorry to you quite often,” she said, her voice quiet and vague. “Where’s Patrick? I’ve come to rely on him somewhat as my protector, but now I find you saving me from a fall. Thank you.”
“Well, Dr Langley, perhaps we should go back inside.”
Ryan couldn’t fathom what caused her to become so confused, she’d seemed fine. “I expect Patrick will wonder where you are.”
“What am I doing out here?” the confident woman with whom he spoke only moments ago was gone, in her place, a bewildered and anxious girl, clinging to him for support.
He had to think on his feet. She’d shifted somehow.
“Just a breath of fresh air I think,” he lied. “I often come out here myself at these functions.”
Alice recovered her composure quickly, but even when she could stand without fear of falling, she held self-consciously onto his arm. He escorted her into the Great Hall, carefully watching for signs of unsteadiness. She caught him looking down at her. They stopped walking, recapturing for the briefest of moments what passed between them on the stairs. Again, she noticed the appeal of his eyes, this time mingled with concern. And his face, such a strong face. Alice was bewildered. Had they spoken? Did she have one of her odd episodes, again witnessed by Principal Ryan?
Patrick spotted them and took Alice’s arm with a nod to his colleague.
“I’ll take it from here, old boy,” he said. “Alice, I wondered where you were. I’ve been looking for you.”
“Just be careful, Patrick, Dr Langley is a little…” but Patrick didn’t listen as he led Alice away into the crowd.
"… unsteady," Ryan finished, but no-one heard him.
Alice glanced back at him. What just happened?
Ryan, watching as Patrick placed a possessive arm around Alice's waist, wondered the same thing.
Chapter 9
There were few other opportunities for words between them the rest of the evening. Alice seemed recovered, and though Patrick left Alice with Principal Katya, Dr Grossmith and the Hennesseys once or twice, at other times, he kept her close while he spoke with other officers and principals. Ryan remained distracted by their conversation and her ensuing confusion, almost a rerun of the incident in the auditorium. In particular, he reflected on her comment about Patrick.
“He thinks there’s more…we’re just friends.”
Did that mean she doesn’t think there’s more?
At the first opportunity, Ryan slipped away unnoticed. He’d put in the requisite appearance, and his aunt wouldn’t look for him.
The garden lights cast a soft glow as he entered the courtyard at the side of the Tabernacle, grateful no-one paid him any attention as he left, or stopped him for one last pleasantry. He always stayed in the old courtyard quarters away from the residential suites, a concession allowed by Principal Katya, not only because he was family, but because she knew he was intensely private.
Once inside his room, he unhooked his coat and sat down heavily in a chair. He pushed off his boots and rested his head against a cushion and closed his eyes.
Dr Langley did little to draw his attention the first time he met her. In fact, he’d viewed the evening as a trial. He knew he had a reputation of being a stickler for protocol, but in truth, much of it he could do without. The customary dinner with Principal Hardy whenever they passed Saturn Station; whoever dreamed that up? And these functions where everyone danced and made small talk, with nothing of value accomplished. Patrick took every opportunity to socialise—he loved these occasions. But then, he and Patrick were total opposites.
After the briefing by Principal Hardy, and his ensuing encounter with Dr Langley in the auditorium, Ryan read all the literature on the Sleeping Beauty Phenomenon. Like everyone else, he believed—at least 15 years ago—that she was still in suspension at the Bell Institute. Her removal to Saturn Station had been shrouded in secrecy, but she'd been in the textbooks for so long, only dedicated cryonics specialists and anthropologists paid much attention to her. All investigations were exhausted, so there were generations of scientists whose intrigue went unsatisfied. Ryan wasn't one of those scientists. Little more to him than a curiosity at university, his interest lay with the planets and what they offered, rather than an unknown female preserved in an unknown fluid.
But the night he heard her playing the piano, he realised his dismissal of her as an inconvenience, even while acknowledging and admiring Grossmith’s achievement, had been a mistake. He didn’t give any weight to the fact Hardy had entrusted him with a real person, with thoughts and feelings, feelings that reflected in her music; at first timid and faltering like the woman he presumed her to be, then strong, passionate, persuasive but also gentle, sweet and tender, ending her performance with a spirited rendition of the Polka.
He should have been more sensitive and left her alone to her music. He knew her memories were scattered and unreliable but he, arrogant and self-righteous, barged in and made her flee, backing away from him as if confronted by the devil himself.
In those few moments after she turned from him and fled up the steps, out onto the walkway, she'd left an impression on him. He had to admit it, and afterwards, more than once, he'd caught himself thinking of her. And now, this evening, looking so lovely, he could no longer ignore or dismiss her. Ryan knew he possessed none of Patrick's charm and loquacity; beside him, to the petite and beautiful Dr Langley—Alice—he probably looked like a lumbering oaf.
He sat in the dark for a considerable time, brooding over many things— Principal Hardy’s caution about Patrick; the first time he met Alice; about tonight on the terrace; how he’d never seen Patrick so attentive, always having his choice of women. And finally, to McIntyre and all the others. Patrick has no concept of fidelity, he thought with some bitterness.
Still, he could do nothing. Patrick was on official leave and Alice, well she never came under his command anyway—but to call Patrick her protector? She was innocently laying herself open to all the complications about which Hardy expressed concerns.
Ryan rose wearily from the chair and went to the window. The blinds were still open so he could view the side garden, where two people, a man and a woman, stood. The man’s arms were around the woman’s waist; she, elbows bent and hands against his shoulders, created a subtle and unspoken barrier between them. He watched, feeling no shame at spying on them; as Patrick kissed Alice, he focused only on the barrier she created. Patrick would not protect her from himself. Turning away from the window, Ryan woke the registry.
�
�Principal Ahmed, Tabernacle.”
Ahmed’s surprised face swam into view.
“Ryan? I only this minute got back to my suite.”
“Ahmed, you want Oakes? I’ll issue orders tonight.”
“Well, thank you, Ryan.”
Ahmed was surprised and grateful at this turn of events, so it would be imprudent to question the sudden change of heart or the fact it was well after midnight.
“It will make our lives a hell of a lot easier. Ahmed out.”
Ryan knew for certain Patrick would never let Oakes loose on the Gravidarum on the Accessor, nor on any of his magnitude modifications, and would almost certainly insist on going to the Accessor with him, leave or no leave. Ryan couldn’t order as Hardy suggested, but he did have the authority to influence, and if he did nothing, Hardy would want to know why.
Patrick asked Alice to walk in the gardens towards the end of the evening and, keen to get away from the crowd, she agreed.
Patrick had considerable knowledge about the personal lives of many members of the council and was more than happy to impart the information, but Alice had no interest in gossiping about people she'd come to know and respect.
“I was surprised to meet some female principals tonight, Patrick,” she said, steering him away from personal references.
“Were you? Why?”
“I suppose because, in my time, there were far less female politicians than male.”
"That might still be the case now," he said after a moment's thought. "All the female principals except one were here tonight and around 30 of the male principals. Those not here will attend the Fall, or Autumn ball. If you don't come to the Spring Summit and Cotillion Ball, you must come in the Autumn. No ifs or buts."
“A Summit?” Alice heard the word here at the Tabernacle before but didn’t know what it meant.
He led her over to a garden seat. She hoped to distract him from romantic notions, but all the time he spoke, he either stroked her hand or played with her hair.
"All principals submit their reports to the Tabernacle yearly. These reports are general but keep the Tabernacle informed of the status of the individual principality, its needs and wants, etc. Then there are specifics, requests for marriages or reassignment and such like. Of course, such things are submitted throughout the year. Individual principals have authority, but some business, a lot of business, ends up here in the Tabernacle, at Summit, in Cloisters."
“We had local government in my time,” Alice told him, though she would not have compared it with the government of today. “And state government and federal government.”
“Who got the final say?”
“They all thought they had the final say,” Alice pulled a face. She found politics confusing. “Local government would say yes, go ahead, then the state would say, paint it yellow, and the federal government would say put orange spots on it. Then, when they’d changed the original idea beyond recognition, they would bicker and argue about who invented it and then put it back in its box, but only after investing millions of taxpayers money.”
“Sounds disorganised.”
"We lived with it, and funnily enough, we all managed," the memory of her old world no longer invoked a sense of loss or longing. "We never had one all-powerful government that oversaw all decisions. In many ways, we had more freedoms than you do," she added, not intending to make comparisons.
“At a price, Alice,” Patrick reminded her. “You also suffered anarchy and crime and war.”
“Yes, I suppose,” she conceded. “No-one could say I ever lived in a bland society.”
"Do you think that of us?" Patrick was stunned by her comment. "Our world is peaceful and beautiful, and we are safe. That brings an excitement all its own, and we have space exploration. Our society is enlightened and innovative."
He stood suddenly and pulled her to her feet, drawing her close, unaware they were observed from the courtyard residence window. Alice placed her hands on his shoulders to avoid being pulled too close, but he still kissed her. And not knowing what else to do, she allowed it without response.
"Why do you reject me?" he asked, and this time, with his voice so earnest, she resolved to be firm. She thought back to the wonderful day at his home where he made no move to touch her or kiss her. That was the relationship she wanted with him.
“Why do you have to badger me? I've told you I'm not ready for a relationship," she fiddled with the braids on his coat, to avoid looking into his eyes. "I just want to be friends, Patrick; you said you were alright with it."
“I am,” his response was instant, defensive. Then he made a small movement with his shoulders. “Well, I’m not really. I knew you weren’t enjoying the ball, that’s why I didn’t persuade you to keep dancing. I felt bad when I saw you stuck with dull, old Ryan.”
“You thoroughly enjoyed dancing with all those beautiful ladies. Admit it.”
“Do you know, Alice? At one time, but not anymore. I felt nothing towards any of those women. What I feel is only for you now.”
“Then I will be a disappointment.”
He left her no choice, she stepped back, pushing him slightly.
"No," he tried cuddling her back into him, but her arm barrier was in the way. "I won't give up. I have a few months before we leave. You said we'll still be friends, and I will accept that for now, I promise, while making myself irresistible to you. You can evaluate my performance as our departure draws near. I know you'll change your mind," he added, touching the tip of her nose with his finger.
She sighed, Patrick’s concept of being friends was very different to hers.
“Well, if I don’t, I can at least write you a reference.”
Patrick saw her back to her suite and despite his promise of friendship only, kissed her mouth gently once more, before leaving her.
She stood inside her room, leaned back against the door and heaved a heavy sigh. She didn’t believe you would kiss a friend of the opposite sex on the mouth, but maybe, she needed to allow it in case she hurt his feelings. She thought about Principal Ryan. How unexpected and disconcerting to find herself outside with him without knowing how she got there. She gained the impression they’d been there for a while, so it would be reasonable to assume they were speaking. If so, what about? She only remembered the slap on the back—not delivered by anyone on the terrace—and being propelled forward. Principal Ryan, so concerned and attentive, must surely have stopped her from falling. Had he not been there she would have certainly ended up on the ground.
Principal Ryan didn't seem so scary this time. His strong arms held her steady until she regained her balance, his hand had felt so warm against her back. Remembering his kindness and concern reminded her of the moment when their eyes met as she descended the staircase. She'd never studied him, always too overawed or frightened by his towering presence. Everything about him seemed larger than life—his height, his build, his full lips which were slightly down-turned at the corners, even his hair, fair with flecks of grey, making him seem unapproachable and dour. But those eyes...
Although Principal Ryan didn’t have Patrick’s grace and style and certainly not his charm, Alice concluded there was indeed an attractiveness about him. How old would he be? She thought about seeing his face as she descended the stairs—not so old probably—then found herself surprised she gave the incident any attention at all, and that she was still standing, after half an hour, fully dressed, with her back to the door.
Chapter 10
Patrick was now officially on leave, and he promised Alice a special trip, insisting she spend as much time as possible with him. She agreed, provided the friends only rule was strictly observed, and that she would also spend time with Principal Katya during her few days at the Tabernacle. Alice answered a tap on her door the next morning before she was ready to greet the day. Patrick stood there, looking miserable and full of apologies.
“Alice, I’m so sorry. I have to leave.”
Alice let him in.
“Leave? Why?”
She pushed her hair from her eyes, still not properly awake.
"I'm leaving for the Accessor. Engineer Oakes received orders last night to report there. Principal Ahmed has been pushing Ryan to reassign him until the Significator leaves, and with our refit mostly completed, he'd no reason to block the request. Oakes is an excellent engineer, and he has A'khet Knowledge, but he's still inexperienced with the Gravidarum. The Accessor is a much smaller ship but is due two modifications. I really can't let him do this alone."
“How long will you be gone?”
“A few weeks, possibly all of my leave, the Accessor either waits until I get back from our mission in two years or it relies solely on Oakes. Neither solution is entirely satisfactory, not if we want to make progress in exploring threshold space.”
“Why can’t they wait?”
Alice didn’t want to say goodbye, even if him staying meant fighting him off at frequent intervals.
“We’re building a new station at the edge of proximal space. The core is in place and ready for the outer hull, the Accessor is vital to the project, but it’s slow. They want to push the station out to the boundary of median space to maximise its reach.”
“Don’t you have confidence in Oakes?”
"Heaps, but aligning magnitude with Substance and the Gravidarum takes skill and experience, the safety of the ship depends on precision. Two engineers carry out the alignment, one of whom must have Knowledge. At magnitude, Substance ignites a harmonic field that changes the structure of the hull; if that harmonic isn't present, the ship will yield to the natural forces of space and be incapable of travelling past the speed of light. The A'khet appear not to have had issues with this, but of course, they've never given us information about their ship. Relativity tells us…"
Alice held up her hand.
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