Lady Lure (31 page)

“It is a six-hundred-year-old
computer-communicator,” Tarik said. “Narisa and I discovered it
still in working order when we first came to Dulan’s Planet. Later
we made additions to upgrade its capacity so it could serve the
entire colony.”

“Have you new components that could upgrade
me?” Rolli asked, sounding hopeful.

“I am sorry,” Halvo said, “but it can’t be
done, Rolli. Like all Artificial Life Forms, you are forever
limited by your size and your original programming. Though you have
a human personality, you are incapable of growing and changing as
real humans do.”

“That isn’t true!” Perri said. “Rolli was
programmed to keep me out of any danger, yet earlier today she
agreed with me that I ought to fight the Regulans in order to
protect you even though doing so would be dangerous to me. Her
decision proved she is capable of modifying her own programming
when presented with unusual situations.”

“That is an interesting theory.” Tank walked
around the robot, looking it over before continuing. “I understand
your father created this particular ALF. Perri, would you mind if I
do a thorough checkup on Rolli? Halvo tells me she has been damaged
and repaired recently. She may need additional work, and I would
like to see exactly what is inside this unusual robot.”

“I would be grateful.” Perri took a deep
breath before adding, “There is something you ought to know about
Rolli.” Tarik was the only other person in the galaxy to whom she
would entrust the secret of how Melri’s memories had been implanted
into Rolli’s main circuitry. She knew in her heart that Tarik would
not use the information against her or Rolli. Quickly, Perri
recounted Rolli’s history in a voice too low to be overheard by
anyone else. Tarik looked disturbed but not shocked. When Perri was
finished it was to his brother that Tarik spoke.

“I am delighted to learn,” he said to Halvo,
“that my conformist brother is at last breaking a few rules.”

“I plan to break more than a few in the near
future,” Halvo said. In a voice quiet but ringing with passion, he
added, “My life has been circumscribed by Jurisdiction laws and
Service regulations. I never protested because I wanted a career in
the Service. Well, I had what I wanted. I was successful. I reached
the highest rank possible. And then, after giving everything but
life itself, I was discarded because I no longer met the physical
specifications.”

“Not entirely discarded,” Tank said. “You
have an honorable position waiting for you at Capital.”

“A desk job.” Halvo’s contempt for such a
fate filled every syllable he spoke. “Meetings with diplomats of
various Races. Once or twice a year someone will ask my advice on a
serious matter. Occasionally, the advice I offer may actually be
taken. I will never again be sent on a mission into space. Once, I
would have accepted such an end to my Service career. Now, I see
how empty my personal life has been. I intend to refuse that
position at Capital.”

“Good for you.” Tarik looked pleased. “What
will you do then?”

“I haven’t decided yet.” With a hint of the
same teasing tone Tarik had previously used with him, Halvo said,
“Perhaps I’ll stay on Dulan’s Planet.”

“I don’t think so.” Tarik’s voice held a note
of warning.

“No,” Halvo agreed. “It wouldn’t work, would
it? Don’t worry, Tarik. I will leave when Mother goes.”

Halvo decided it was time to change the
subject. He wasn’t sure whether Perri had understood all the
implications of his discussion with Tarik or not, but that moment
was neither the time nor the place to tell her how he felt about
her.

“We will appreciate anything you can do with
Rolli,” Halvo said to Tarik.

“I will be the only person to work on the
robot,” Tank said. “Never fear, Perri. I will keep Rolli’s
secret.”

“Thank you.” Her voice was so low and she
looked so dejected that Halvo seized upon the most obvious way to
raise her spirits.

“Tarik, the food processor on the
Space
Dragon
wasn’t working,” Halvo said. “We haven’t eaten since
last night.”

“I’ll speak to Narisa. She usually has
something simmering in the galley for people who come in from duty
at all hours.” Tarik went to find his wife, leaving Perri and Halvo
standing together.

“Am I a Jurisdiction prisoner?” she asked.
“Reid told me that Kalina wanted me inside this building. Am I
forbidden to leave it?”

“Of course not. But you must go to Capital,”
Halvo said, trying to choose words that would not alarm her. “There
you and I will explain to my father exactly what happened.”

“After which I will be sent to a penal
colony. Kalina will see to it.”

“Not necessarily. I will have a few
suggestions of my own to make about your rehabilitation. I can’t
discuss them right now. Narisa is beckoning. It looks as if she
intends to feed us.”

He had to take an openly reluctant Perri by
the elbow to make her cross the room to where Narisa was setting
out plates and food on a large table. Halvo knew Perri was hungry
and also thought he knew why she was hanging back. He loved his
mother too much to be afraid of her, but he knew she could have a
frightening impression on those who did not know her well.

“We usually eat in shifts,” Narisa said to
Halvo. “There is always someone going on duty or coming off it.
Tonight will be something of a family meal, with only two
non-family members present.”

“That’s us,” Dysia said to Perri. “Perhaps we
ought to sit together.”

“A good idea.” Appreciating Dysia’s
diplomatic suggestion, Halvo agreed quickly, before his mother
could intervene. He thought Perri would eat more if she were some
distance from Kalina. Unfortunately from Halvo’s point of view,
Janina and Reid had taken all of the children for a walk around the
island before bedtime, so there would be no childish distractions
during the meal to draw Kalina’s attention away from Perri.

The main course was a meaty Demarian stew,
the very dish for which Halvo had been yearning for weeks. He ate
heartily of it. The wine was excellent, the bread hot and fresh,
and to Halvo’s great relief, Tarik seemed determined to keep the
conversation focused on non-controversial subjects. Perri sat
quietly between Halvo and Dysia, speaking little, though she did
eat enough to please Halvo. As the meal was ending, Herne appeared
from the room he used as a surgical clinic.

“How is Jyrit?” At once Kalina was on her
feet, and Dysia also left the table to confront the colony
physician.

“He will live.” Herne moved his shoulders and
rubbed the back of his neck as if to release the tense muscles
there.

“I thank all the gods of Demaria for this
good news,” Kalina said. “I would not want to lose a friend like
Jyrit.”

“How soon can he return to the
Krontar?”
Dysia asked Herne.

“He needs twenty-four hours of complete bed
rest. I have never operated on a Jugarian before, so I want to
watch him carefully during the immediate postoperative period,”
Herne said. “Then I would like to monitor him for another day while
he is up and moving around. Your doctors on the
Krontar
can
take care of him after that. I have been in contact with them and
they agree with me about keeping him here for a while. Lady Kalina,
the first officer of the
Krontar
asked me to inform you
that, unless you wish to remain longer, the
Krontar
will
depart for Capital forty-eight hours from now. By then, Jyrit ought
to be able to withstand the shuttlecraft trip back to his ship with
no problem.”

“May I see him?” Halvo asked. “I owe Jyrit my
thanks, and a full explanation.”

“He is asleep,” Herne said.

“Herne, I want you to do a complete physical
examination on Halvo,” Kalina said. “I want to be certain he has
suffered no lasting harm over the past few weeks.”

“That won’t be necessary, Mother,” Halvo
said. “Besides, Herne is too tired after the long operation on
Jyrit to do an examination on me tonight.”

By now, they had all left the table and were
crowding around Herne, talking and asking more questions about
Jyrit’s condition. No one was paying any attention to Perri. She
slipped out of her chair and made for the entrance.

The long, eventful day had ended. Night was
falling and the twin moons sent silvery paths across the lake. It
did not take long for Pern’s eyes to adjust to the semidarkness.
She found a path through the trees and began to walk. She had no
idea where she was going. She knew only that she wanted to get away
from the scene inside the headquarters building.

It was her fault that Captain Jyrit had
nearly died, her fault that the existence of Tarik’s colony was
known to both Regulans and Jurisdiction Service personnel who
should never have learned of it. Worst of all, because of her,
Halvo’s life had been put in danger. No wonder he had become so
distant, so closed to her. He knew how much blame lay on her
shoulders.

Perri reached the side of the island nearest
to the cliffs that marked the eastern shore of the lake. Across a
narrow channel of water they loomed solid and dark. On that end of
the island there was no beach, only rough ground that dropped off
into the water. Perri had to climb a little hill to reach the south
shore. At the top of the rise she paused, looking at the ground
beneath her feet, where there were a dozen stones set in two neat
rows. One stone was larger than the others and there was a word
carved on it. Perri went closer, bending down to try to read the
word. It was too dark for her to see well. She touched the stone,
tracing the carving with her fingertips.

“That is Dulan’s grave,” a soft voice said.
When Perri gasped and jumped back, the voice continued, “Do not be
afraid, Perri. I am Osiyar.”

“I‘m sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you. I
didn’t know anyone was here.”

“This cemetery is the quietest place on the
island. I was with Jyrit for several hours. I needed silence in
which to recuperate.”

“Herne says he will live.”

“That must be a great comfort to you.”

“It is a little less guilt for me to carry,”
she said. Not certain she would have another chance to be alone
with him, she went on. “Osiyar, Tank advised me to speak to you
about a peculiar experience I had with the Chon.”

“Indeed? I would be interested to hear of
it.”

“Good evening, Osiyar.” Dysia stepped into
view. “Hello, Perri.”

“Did they send you to look for me?” Perri
cried. “Do they think I will flee the island?”

“I am not sure anyone else has noticed your
absence yet,” Dysia said. “I thought if we were together when you
are found no one could accuse you of trying to run away.”

“I do not think Perri was running away,”
Osiyar said, “but, rather, running to that which she needs.”

Before Perri could ask what the telepath
meant, they were interrupted by a shrill, angry voice.

“Can’t you leave him alone for half an hour?
If he wanted to be apart from me, then you shouldn’t bother him
either.”

“Alla, my dear, we were only engaging in idle
conversation,” Osiyar said in a mild way that made Perri think he
was smiling indulgently, though she could not see for certain
because they were all standing in shadow.

“Come back to headquarters and I’ll fix an
herbal tea for you to drink so you can sleep.” Alla put her arm
through Osiyar’s. Perri could just make out the shape of her white
hand clutching at his dark sleeve. “Really, Osiyar, you must learn
to refuse the importunities of people who constantly ask you for
help.”

“I confess that I am somewhat weary. Perri,
we will talk again before you leave.”

“Not if Alla can prevent it,” Dysia whispered
as the woman led Osiyar off toward the beach. “That is the most
possessive woman I have ever encountered. She treats him like a
child.”

“Or a pet,” Perri said to Dysia’s
appreciative chuckle.

“I was not spying on you,” Dysia said, “nor
trying to prevent you from doing anything you want to do. I just
thought you might need a friend.”

“I have caused you and your captain a great
deal of trouble,” Perri said. “Why should you want to be my
friend?”

“Anyone who joins the Jurisdiction Service
expects to encounter trouble,” Dysia said. “What happened with the
Regulans was fairly routine. I have been in worse situations. So
has Jyrit. Neither of us holds it against you.”

“You are Kalina’s friend.” Even to Pern’s own
ears the words sounded like an accusation, but Dysia only chuckled
again.

“Oh, yes, the Regulan mind-set. You think
that I have some ulterior motive, that some complicated intrigue
against you is afoot. Sometimes, Perri, an offer of friendship is
just what it appears to be. Perhaps,” Dysia said, “I need a friend,
too.”

“You?” Perri cried. “A woman who holds high
rank in the Jurisdiction Service? You must have many friends.”

“The Service demands much of its people,”
Dysia said, “and some of us don’t fit very well into our assigned
places.”

“Do you mean you are unhappy? I find it hard
to believe when you have so many opportunities that are denied to
other women.”

“Uncomfortable would be a better word than
unhappy,” Dysia said. “Or, perhaps, uneasy, as if half of my
clothes were the wrong size. From what I know of you, I think you
felt much the same way while you lived on Regula.”

“I ask too many questions,” Perri said.

“What’s wrong with asking questions?”

“Women are supposed to be silent.” Perri was
stopped by Dysia’s renewed laughter.

“You have so much to learn,” Dysia said.

“Halvo says the same thing to me.”

“Halvo.” Dysia broke off her laughter. “It
can be a difficult thing to care for a man who has a possessive
woman hovering over him, especially if she has a prior claim on
him.”