Damia (11 page)

With all respect, sir, we don’t need to go into that just yet, I think.

You know something I don’t?
Reidinger seemed to leap on him.

No, but I refuse to be negative. Especially where the Rowan’s concerned.

Do you know how
valuable
that girl is?

To FT&T?

Don’t roar at me, Capellan Lyon!
Then abruptly his mind-tone altered to one of immense and incredulous belief.
She did it. She pulled him back, though I can sense only the most delicate of flickers.
She
knows she’s saved his life.

A wave of relief that was close to orgiastic surged through Afra at that report. He had to grip the arms of the chair to keep his balance, so intense was his sense of reprieve from disaster. He knew that Reidinger shared his reaction.

Thank God, if you believe in one, for that mercy.

I do, I will. My gratitude for sharing the news. You will keep us informed of the conditions on Deneb?

Of course!
Reidinger said reassuringly. By way of parting, he shot,
And Afra, I’ll want you to retest when all this is over. You can’t be merely T-4 with all the shenanigans you’ve enacted lately. T-3 at the least, so I’m upgrading you. And paying you accordingly, starting today.
He chuckled.
We’ll argue over backpay later.

Afra started to protest the unexpected, and possibly undeserved, promotion. But to argue with Earth Prime? Reidinger’s laugh cut through that thought.

Please! Argue! You need the practice!
Then, including Ackerman back in his conversation, Reidinger added,
I think it best that we all pretend I don’t know where the Rowan is.
Afra was perplexed by that.
Let’s just say that I’ve got games of my own to play, young Lyon. Until I tell
you, the Rowan is not to know we talked. If she contacts you, behave accordingly.
And then he was gone.

Brian and Afra exchanged surprised looks. “Well, you know he likes to play his games, Afra,” Brian said first.

Afra nodded, brow furrowed. “We will tell the others that he doesn’t know and we’ll continue as we did when they had their day off.”

Two days later the Rowan contacted him late at night. Afra was surprised that he could receive her, even with the gestalt of her generators over that distance. Maybe he was legitimately a T-3. He didn’t mention that as he carefully made note of the spare parts and electronic supplies she requested.

I may have to break them into smaller parcels than usual, Rowan
, he said when he examined the complete list.

That’s all right. The generator here can’t handle too much
, the Rowan replied forgivingly, then added,
How are you holding up? Does Reidinger know?

Afra chuckled.
We’re doing well enough. Generator three has magically developed a glitch which has reduced “your” ability to handle heavy traffic.

Oh, Afra! Thank you!
Across the light-years, Afra felt the gentle caress of a grateful friend. He thanked Reidinger’s God for deliverance from a less appealing role.

*   *   *

In another few days, Afra heard from Reidinger, the contact announced by a deep chuckle echoing in his mind.
I singed her ears off, Afra! But she gave as good as she got and begged me to send you a couple of T-2’s.
Reidinger’s “voice” took on a different tone.
Who do you want?

Afra shrugged.
If it’s all the same with you, we’re doing well enough just now. Just keep our loads like this and we’ll manage.

Reidinger snorted.
I just finished telling her I wouldn’t have her burnt out catching cargo unaided; do you think I’m fool enough to burn out her best man?

Afra was not aware that Reidinger was broadcasting until
Brian Ackerman turned to him with a grin of agreement.

Sadly, Reidinger added,
I myself am too busy to handle the increased load of Callisto, so I’m sending you a pair of T-2’s. I’m sure you’ll treat them well.

How’s the Rowan, Reidinger?
Brian asked, boosting himself off of Afra.

Don’t you
ever
tell her
, Reidinger returned with that incredible tenderness that so surprised the two stationers,
but I think she’s doing just fine!
He paused.
Oh, and by the way, do you want to switch brands of whisky this year?

Brian Ackerman’s eyes widened in amazement; it was well known that when he used to threaten to resign from Callisto Station on a yearly basis, he was bribed to remain with a case of his favorite tipple, but it never once occurred to him that Earth Prime knew that!

Uh, no, I’ve gotten rather used to the Paddy’s now
, Brian managed to respond. Beside him, Afra doubled over in a laughing fit.

Torshan and Saggoner duly arrived and the Tower staff, worked just slightly ragged in keeping with a cunning plan laid down by Brian and carried through by Afra, were more than pleased to have their aid. Although there were several teething troubles, the calm togetherness of the loving pair of T-2’s and Afra’s demanding performance standards soon had the Station operating at nearly peak efficiency within the week.

The routine was set in the next week and by the third week the station personnel had nearly forgotten life under their Rowan. It was shattered when a personal capsule arrived unheralded in a cradle.

Belay that!
Afra called to a cargo handler who nearly crushed it with the capsule scheduled for that cradle. Afra was hot with anger at the near catastrophe.
Who the hell put that capsule
 . . . he began, and then touched the mind inside it.
ROWAN!

Pandemonium broke out as the rest of the Station heard his mental shout. Suddenly everyone ’ported in around her, patting her, talking to her, hugging her. The Rowan
turned bright red in the face of such open affection. Afra sent a personal message on a tight beam to Torshan and Saggoner to explain the sudden disruption of his usually ordered Station. They accepted his explanation calmly, saying that they would work around the celebration.

The next day’s work, with the Rowan back, progressed with an incredible ease. Afra had forgotten how effortlessly she handled even the heaviest loads. Once the work was finished, Afra was contacted by the Rowan.

I need to talk to Reidinger
, she told him, almost daring him to challenge her.

Is that wise?
Afra replied, fretting that, somehow, she had discovered Reidinger’s duplicity.

He can’t be that bad!
she responded, adding that Reidinger had no call to be angry over her absence. Afra responded diplomatically but somewhat defensively on behalf of Reidinger.

He gained a lot more than I risked
, she told him.

Afra examined her carefully, noting the faint augmentation to her aura. His eyes narrowed. Was she putting on weight? No, at least not without good cause.
I know
, he responded warmly. Did the Rowan know her condition? Probably not, since she’d had other concerns to divert her from noticing a physiological change.

I’d like to surprise the old geezer
, she continued.

Geezer?
Afra spluttered, thinking that she was due for a few surprises herself, especially as she’d never been able to meet Reidinger face-to-face.

You’ve contacts at Earth Prime Headquarters. Can one of them sneak me in without having to announce my arrival?

The question startled him, so he continued to banter with her while thinking furiously under tight shields. First he’d have to warn Reidinger, and then Gollee, but he did assure the Rowan that he knew someone who might do him a favor. He begged a few minutes to arrange matters.

Reidinger?
Afra called in the tightest telepathic shaft he could manage.

Wha’?
was the gruff response.
This better be good.

Hurriedly, Afra explained.

And it was good enough for he could “hear” Reidinger’s grin quite plainly.
Excellent! I have to talk to her anyway and it’ll be better if she thinks she got me at a disadvantage. Here’s what we do
 . . .

Afra absorbed the instructions with a growing sense of betrayal. Reidinger perceived that and broke off.
Afra, you
know
that I want the best for her. She
needs
a father figure, someone to rebel against. And I need her spirited, rebellious. We all do.

Privately, Afra remained unconvinced, but he couldn’t quarrel with Reidinger. And it might just have a beneficial effect on the Rowan’s growing recklessness. Now that she could travel without ill effect, who know to what lengths she might take her new freedom?

Thank you
, Reidinger said,
I’ll tell Gren.

Afra turned his attention back to the Rowan.
Well, Gollee’s agreed to my especial request to escort my
anonymous
young friend as far as he’s able, but Security has to be placated. He’ll meet you at the landing field entrance.

Reidinger must have been listening discreetly to Afra’s answer, for Afra caught him swear.
Keerist! Security! I’ll have to warn them or my security beams’ll fry her when she jumps in!

Afra turned hastily to call out to the Rowan, but she was already gone. Angrily, he growled,
Reidinger!

Like gold dust, lad
, Earth’s Prime Talent called back gently.
I’ll treat her like she was my own blood. Uh-oh! She’s here!
Reidinger faded out, and came back with:
I meant to tell you—will tell you later
 . . .

Afra did not hear from Reidinger until the next morning as he was finishing his usual skimpy breakfast. “Altair?” Afra shouted aloud when Reidinger told him of his assignment for the Rowan.
HOW COULD YOU?

I
had
to!
Reidinger retorted sharply. Afra, who had spent years learning to read emotion, caught an undertone of pain in Earth Prime’s voice. It was the pain of command, the malaise that comes from having made too many
disagreeable decisions; also, very deep, was the pain of a person who was just plain
old.
Afra hastily accessed his data console’s readout on Reidinger—he was approaching his one hundred and tenth birthday.

Afra considered telling Reidinger of the real reason for his anger at the Rowan’s reassignment but decided against it: the Rowan and Jeff Raven had the right of making
that
disclosure. Besides, Afra chided himself, he was not
sure
that the Rowan was pregnant. Nor that the child would be a boy and very Talented.

Besides
, Reidinger added in a very small tone,
I had to free you and Ackerman to perform a very special mission.

Don’t you think Callisto’s been disrupted enough without removing us?
Afra returned tartly. He frowned at himself, both annoyed and amazed that he could react to the man who
was
, for all intents and purposes, Federal Telepath and Teleport.

I wouldn’t
dream
of moving either of you!
Reidinger responded.
However, I have to think of the future beyond me and, frankly, while Jeff Raven’s a good man, he does not have the skills required to run a Prime Station. I want you
—

Afra was ahead of him.
Me? To teach the Rowan’s husband? Has it occurred to you that the man might not even want me around his wife? Let alone himself and his children?

It has
, Reidinger responded sadly.
And I think it would be the greatest of catastrophes.

Afra spluttered, spreading his hands in dismay. While he would be deeply saddened, he could not see how his personal feelings would amount to a catastrophe.

Reidinger made it clear to him.
What good are they to me if they can only work together? Do you
honestly
think that the Rowan would choose a man so petty? Come, you know she almost chose
—

Stop!
Afra called, eyes closed painfully.
The Rowan is my friend and more. I love her like a sister. If her happiness requires that I step out of her life, then not you, nor the FT&T nor
anyone
will stop me!

So you’ll run away at the slightest possible excuse, will you?
Reidinger hurled in response.
Green by color, green by nature, is that it, Capellan? Are you afraid to look upon their love? Do you love her so little that you cannot welcome her husband with open arms?

I never said that!
Afra returned heatedly, yellow eyes flaring.
I will gladly work with Jeff Raven. He’s a remarkable man and he well suits the Rowan. But you must understand, there are secrets, things the Rowan and I have shared that—that may make it very difficult for him to work with me.

Give it a try, then
, Reidinger said.
If it doesn’t work out, we’ll try something else. But don’t prejudge the man
—

I already have
, Afra returned with a grin.
She’s chosen him, which makes him special. Besides which, the man has such a way with him, he can charm anyone.

Reidinger’s response was laughter.
As he charmed even Earth Prime?
Afra was astonished that Reidinger grasped that hidden qualification.
I have always thought that you were a wise, perceptive lion. Just think of this assignment as another way in which you help the Rowan—as well as FT&T.
The interview was over. Reidinger’s mind faded out but not without a final warmth and an ill-concealed ache.

The interview left Afra mentally drained and emotionally confused. He had liked what he saw of Jeff Raven and could not but rejoice that the Rowan had finally met her mate. It gave him hopes that perhaps someday he, too, could be so happy. But he had not lied to Reidinger when he fretted that his brotherly intimacy with the Rowan could prove a source of friction between himself and Jeff Raven.

Brian Ackerman buzzed his commlink. “Afra, where’s the Rowan?”

In response, Afra downed his breakfast, tossed the container toward the dishwasher, and jumped to the Control Room. Brian started irritably with Afra’s arrival. “Her replacement’s due in soon, Brian. Better let everyone know.”