Close Encounters (16 page)

I watched Frisk walk away and wondered if Dorn knew what he was up to, or if he’d acted on his own. He gave Crigo a wide berth, pausing only to scoop up his laser before heading toward the Dynatec camp. As excuses went, the one the captain had offered was pretty good.

“Max?”

“He was lying.”

“Yeah, I thought so.”

“And Second Lieutenant Karle reported in right before Frisk showed up.”

I hadn’t expected to hear from Claudia again until we met for dinner on her day off, so the fact that she’d contacted Max surprised me. “What did she say?”

“First, she thinks she may be onto something but isn’t sure what yet. She’ll keep trying. And second, Dr. Redfield asked her to pass on a message. He apologizes for what happened in the jungle the day he showed you the black flower and hopes you didn’t misunderstand his intent. He needs to speak with you desperately, but either Frisk or Dorn is always watching him.”

“Okay.” The communication from Redfield was worrisome. It meant Dorn and Frisk no longer trusted him, and that he was in danger. Unfortunately, the laws concerning GEPs and their indenture holders were complicated. I couldn’t march into Dynatec’s camp and drag him out even though I might want to. In a court of law that could be considered coercion of testimony. To make any charges of indenture abuse against Frisk stick, the doctor needed to find a way to ditch his followers and come to me so he could legally request sanctuary. “Keep an eye on him, and if it looks like he’s ever out alone, let me know. I can at least try to put myself in his path.”

Crigo still had his back to me, but he’d stopped grooming to watch Frisk leave the area. I went to him and knelt. “Thank you. You may have saved my life. But I couldn’t let you kill him yet. I’m making you a promise, though. If it ever becomes necessary, he’s yours.”

He licked his lips, his amber eyes glowing with anticipation, and I could swear he grinned. I had a feeling that in Crigo’s book, Frisk’s termination was already deemed necessary.

“You can’t have him until I say so,” I warned. “Next time you think he’s up to something, come get me.”

His ears went back and he lifted his nose with an air of hauteur before he focused on something over my shoulder. I shifted to see what he was looking at, and abruptly lurched to my feet.

Eight Buri, all armed with those evilly sharp spears, were arrayed in a semicircle at the edge of the jungle. Thor stood in the middle, a two-handed grip on his weapon, glaring daggers at me.

I lifted one hand in a tiny wave, and gave him a weak smile. “Hi. Looking for me?”

T
he next morning I awoke with a feeling of well-being so foreign that I had to study it before I climbed from my sleeping platform. It sprang, I finally decided, from Thor’s I’m-the-leader, you-will-obey attitude.

An odd thing to get happy about, but considering who and what I am, maybe it was to be expected. Normally, I’m the one people come to for protection, the one in charge. Even the zorfa’s ass had constantly deferred to me on the occasions when we were together, which was enormously frustrating. But Thor had demonstrated repeatedly that not only was he determined to protect me, he considered me very soft and feminine in a good kind of way.

Also, as senior agent for Alien Affairs, I’m usually the first official representative of the Federation that most species come in contact with after the scientists leave. This generates a certain amount of awe from native populations. After all, I hold their future in my hands.

But Thor didn’t know about the Federation, and I had a sneaky suspicion he wouldn’t care even if I spelled it out in plain Buri. He just didn’t strike me as the kowtowing type.

And then there was the personal side of things. I’d finally found a male I didn’t have to worry about breaking if things got…intense. Take my word for it, to a GEP, Naturals are very delicate creatures. This makes it a little hard to let go and
really
enjoy yourself. Mainly due to the fact that part of your mind is always focused on not doing permanent physical damage to your partner during a moment of ecstasy.

We had made quite a picture yesterday, eight fierce-looking Buri warriors marching silently back to the village. Me, upended over Thor’s shoulder, grinning like an idiot. Even the indignity of being treated like a sack of grain couldn’t quell my happiness.

It also hadn’t hurt that he’d kept me by his side the rest of the evening. I figured that was more because he wanted to make sure I stayed put than it was for the joy of my company, though. He’d even escorted me back to my quarters after we’d shared the evening meal, and made sure I was safely tucked away for the night.

There was only one dark spot in my mood. He hadn’t touched me. At least, not like I wanted him to. Was I being too subtle? Had it somehow escaped his attention that I was ready, willing and avid to make love?

I knew damn well he wanted me. I could see it every time he looked at me, could feel it floating in the air around him like static electricity whenever we were within a yard of each other. So
what
was he waiting for? Could it be that I was lacking some come-hither cue that Buri females performed to entice their males into a sexual romp?

Too bad Max’s cameras couldn’t see through walls. Some footage of Buri mating rituals would really come in handy right about now. I’d never been a voyeur, but if it helped me snag Thor, I was willing to make an exception.

I climbed off the sleeping platform and took a jumpsuit from one of the pegs on the wall, still thinking about Thor as I pulled it on. I’d give him a few more days, and if he hadn’t made his move by then, I’d take matters into my own hands. Literally. I could have that loincloth off him in two seconds flat.

That image had me smiling as I pushed the curtain aside and stepped outside. Then I came to a rapid halt, blinking in surprise. I’d overslept. The sun was already high, nearly noon from the looks of it.

My gaze was drawn to the new building. It was finished, rising sturdy and proud in front of the cliffs, and my compulsion to go inside was climbing steadily with every hour I spent in the thing’s proximity. It was strange, but I could swear the thing was calling me.

I blinked and refocused on a stream of Buri, both male and female, carrying goods inside. Some of the items were identifiable as curtains and floor coverings, but others were concealed in wrappings. All of the Buri seemed in very good spirits, laughing and talking as they passed each other going in and out.

For that matter, the entire village was abuzz with activity. To one side of the communal kitchen, four males were digging two long pits. From behind Thor’s house, I could hear the steady bang of metal on metal. Since the forge was located back there, and he was the only one I’d ever seen use it, I had to assume he was working again.

Near the pool, in the shade of the cliff, Junior sat on a flat rock, legs crossed tailor fashion. Elder was with him, and the youngster listened raptly to every word the older Buri spoke. Even though I couldn’t understand the language, it was clear he was giving Junior important instructions.

A movement caught my eye, and I glanced around in time to see Auntie Em emerge from the jungle. Her right arm was curved around a large wooden bowl that rested against her hip.

When she saw me, she smiled and motioned me toward the kitchen. Once inside, she put the bowl on a table and poured a clay cup full of something that simmered in a pot over the fire, and then pushed it into my hands.

I took a tentative sip, then a larger one as I realized the liquid contained caffeine. It wasn’t cafftea, but it was the next best thing—kind of the consistency of hot chocolate, but with a spicy tang to it. Even the fact that it was the color of tomato juice didn’t slow me down. Thanks to Frisk and his intention to poison me, the food-preparation unit in the hut now felt haunted. I’d replace it the first chance I got, but until then, I only considered the one on board Max to be 100 percent safe.

While I finished that cup and poured myself another, I watched Auntie Em work. The bowl contained three or four gnarled roots, bits of dirt still clinging to them. She rinsed them thoroughly in a separate bowl of water, then peeled and cut them in half. That done, she brought out what looked to be a large mortar and pestle. Placing the roots inside, she pounded until they broke down into a pale bluish-white liquid.

Midway through the process, Churka came in and took a seat beside her, watching in obvious fascination. Auntie Em spoke to her several times, and Churka would nod. When the roots were reduced to stringy pulp and liquid, Churka stood and went to one of the shelves near the fireplace. When she came back, she was carrying a jug with a wooden stopper.

Auntie Em removed the pestle from the bowl and gestured while she gave instructions. Churka nodded, removed the stopper, and poured part of the jug’s contents into the root mixture. Even from across the table I could smell alcohol mixed with a fruity aroma that made me think they were concocting some type of wine. This was good, I decided. Exotic alcoholic beverages were always in big demand, and this one smelled downright sinful.

I didn’t get a chance to find out for sure if that’s what it was, though. After a quick stir, Auntie Em covered the bowl with a cloth and set it to one side; then, with a smile in my direction, she and Churka left the building.

Wondering if I dared swipe a sample for Max to analyze, I finished my drink and took a fast look around the room. Nope. Too many Buri were coming and going. One of them would spot me for sure. Oh, well, maybe later. Now that I’d had my daily quota of caffeine, I was ready to do a little mining.

Since the episode with Frisk yesterday evening, I’d been assigned two full-time guards. Ghost was still with me, but my other protector was new to the job. We were behind my quarters, going through my supplies, and I studied him from under my lashes as I packed a laser drill, axe, shovel and some specimen containers in a knapsack.

He wasn’t a total stranger. I’d noticed him several times around the village, mostly because, in a race of strikingly beautiful people, he was the exception. His hair was a few shades lighter than Brownie’s, and was also shorter. It curled in tight ringlets that looked like coils of wire. His beard was fuller and bushier than what the other Buri males sported. Lips so thick they were in a permanent pout protruded below a bulbous nose with a well-defined crook in the middle. Combined with the beard, it gave him a real wild-man look.

It was his size that had me worried, though. Other than Thor, he was the biggest Buri I’d seen so far. But where Thor was all sleek lines and tight, sexy muscle, this guy could compete with a mountain and win.

I didn’t doubt I could take him if the necessity arose, but it would be no rapid victory. His weight alone would be enough to slow me down, keep me pinned in place. Especially if I didn’t want to hurt him in the effort.

Which made it pretty obvious what Thor was doing. At the first sign I was about to take off like an out-of-control rocket, mountain man would hang on to me until the troops arrived. Thor wasn’t taking any chances that I’d outrun my guards again.

Oh, well, if I was stuck with the living mountain, might as well give him a name. I mentally shuffled through all the monikers of mountain men that I could remember, and discarded every one. They didn’t seem to fit him somehow.

When I straightened and slung the knapsack over my shoulder, I casually took a step closer to him and lowered my shield. Surprise had me gaping at him in wonder. Around a core of solid steel flowed waves of such gentleness, such sweetness, that I was stunned.

This man would do what needed to be done, but he would do it his way. He was the type who would starve to death in a herd of bunnies because he couldn’t stand hurting them. Inside that rough exterior was the soul of a poet.

With no hesitation now, I reached out and patted his massive chest. “Poet,” I told him.

He glanced at Ghost in puzzlement, and the other Buri gave him a brief explanation. He listened solemnly and then looked back at me, his head tilted.

“Poet,” I repeated.

“Poe.” His voice was so cavernous and rough, it sounded like it rumbled from inside a bottomless hole. Rather ironic that his version was the name of an Old Earth poet, and a scary one too.

I smiled and nodded. “Poe.”

While I’d studied my new guard, the pounding of Thor’s hammer had been replaced with male Buri voices near the stone building. Voices that were now getting louder and angrier with every word. Curious, I stepped around my quarters to see what was going on.

Thor stood outside the main entrance, a wrought-iron object in his arms. His way was blocked by Brownie, a fierce scowl on the Buri’s face as he spoke rapidly, gesturing emphatically at my quarters.

Alarm replaced my curiosity. Whatever was going on obviously concerned me, and I didn’t like Brownie’s tone. Dropping my knapsack at the corner of my building, I headed toward them, but Elder, Auntie Em and Churka beat me to the two males.

Both females were trying to outtalk each other by the time I reached the group, but Elder stopped them with a slashing motion of one hand. When they fell silent, he took over reasoning with Brownie.

There were so many emotions coming at me, it was hard to tell who was feeling what. Thor, I decided, was busy trying to suppress his anger and remain objective. Brownie was frustrated and angry because no one was paying attention to what he thought. A sense of profound loyalty was coming from Churka and was aimed at Thor. Elder was trying to be fair, to see both sides of whatever they were arguing about. Auntie Em just felt a deep certainty.

Normally I wouldn’t have interfered with the clan’s business any more than I would have allowed Thor to interfere with my mission. But this seemed to concern me. Puzzled, my gaze went back and forth between the participants, trying to ferret out what the problem was. Until Brownie said
Shushanna
and made a chopping motion in my direction with his hand. That’s when I finally got it.

“Hey, if he doesn’t want me to be Shushanna that’s fine with me.” They all stopped talking and looked at me politely, so I kept going. “It’s not like I lobbied for the position or even know what it is. And you’ll just have to find someone to replace me when I leave anyway. Might as well pick another person right off, especially if it will save you from an argument.”

As soon as I shut up, Thor spoke to Brownie in a low, calm voice, completely ignoring everything I’d said. Of course, they hadn’t understood a word of my oration, but I’d hoped Thor might pick up the emotions behind it. Either he hadn’t picked up a thing, or he chose not to listen. Midway through his speech, he lifted a strand of my hair and held it up like it was Exhibit A in a murder trial. Then he pointed at the spot on my thigh where I’d been cut, and continued speaking. Auntie Em and Elder were nodding their agreement.

When he was finished, he did the arms-crossed-over-his-chest thing, the iron gadget dangling from one hand, and gave a decisive nod. The leader had spoken.

I narrowed my eyes at him, prepared to take issue with the action. But Brownie wasn’t done yet. He talked for a few minutes and then pointed at one of the smaller buildings. I recognized it as the home of the female Buri who was pregnant.

Did Brownie want her to be Shushanna? I had no idea, but he was clearly determined to get his point across.

Thor remained stoic throughout and refused to respond. Instead, Auntie Em took up the cause, and she was even more determined than Brownie. Her speech culminated when she jabbed a finger at me and said, “Shushanna,” in a very emphatic tone.

Well, guess that settled that argument.

Apparently Brownie thought so too. After shooting me a glare filled with ire, he turned his back and stalked off. Thor watched him go, shook his head in disgust and then continued into the building. Auntie Em and Elder both dispersed, each going in their own direction. Churka stayed long enough to smile, pat me on the arm and declare me Shushanna again, then she followed Auntie Em.

I watched them go, then sighed. This Shushanna deal was making me more nervous with every passing hour. It might have been a good thing for me if Brownie had won the dispute. Unfortunately, without knowing exactly what a Shushanna was I couldn’t really argue the point.

With a shrug, I went and picked up my knapsack. Ghost and Poe were waiting patiently, and I still had a job to do. I turned to face the mountains. Which way to go? Northwest; but I’d barely taken a step in that direction when Poe stopped me and pointed northeast.

Good thing I wasn’t picky. With a shrug to resettle my knapsack, I headed northeast, skirting the edge of the cliffs. Poe stayed right by my side and Ghost brought up the rear. And of course, we were escorted by the usual contingent of dragon birds. They flitted from tree to tree, pausing occasionally at a flower, and then chittering in annoyance when they had to hurry to catch up.