Midshipman (6 page)

Mr. Banes probably knew I that was sneaking out and visiting with the other Rabbits—it was pretty much impossible to hide something like that even on the largest of liners. I was breaking at least one of his rules along the way, too. After a long, earnest discussion regarding how uncomfortable human-style clothing was for me, we’d agreed that until something more tolerable could be worked out I was allowed to wear shorts in our private block of staterooms. Outside of that area, however, I was always to grit my teeth and put on full dress. But Mr. Banes never said a word about my rule-breaking. I was glad, because it was amazing how much better I always felt after talking to a Rabbit or two on equal terms. When I told James about it, he just grinned and said he wasn’t surprised in the least to find out that I “needed to let my hare down” sometimes.

Overall the trip wasn’t an unpleasant one, nor was it particularly long by interstellar standards. A hundred and twelve days was just long enough for me to write six or seven papers on history and science to Mr. Banes’s exacting standards. He also arranged for the
Cherry Blossom
’s third engineer, Jiro Asahi, to help me along with my math. At first Jiro was obviously angry—even I could see that he was reluctantly following orders after strings far above his head were pulled. So I tried to be extra-nice and smiled a lot. And maybe it also helped that when he saw how far along I already was he realized that something useful might come of his efforts after all. By the final week of the voyage we were drinking tea together at all hours in the
Blossom
’s engine room, and I was a junior watchstander in all but name. I had to be careful, however, to show up only when Jiro was in charge. The other engineers chased me out with curses and shouts when I tried to help them. On our last day together Jiro administered my final academic examination, and I couldn’t believe I actually passed! Because he was a certified journeyman, it was official and everything! Dad wouldn’t have called me even half-ready yet, I knew. Besides, I still couldn’t legally be certified as a journeyman because I was too young and didn’t have enough watch-hours logged yet. But the academic test was the hard part—everyone knew that! It was too bad that Jiro had to make me promise not to tell anyone—he was afraid that if anyone ever found out he’d be run out of the Guild. Even so… At least my tutor knew, and through him my record was officially updated. That was what was
really
important. Mr. Banes somberly shook my hand and told me how impressed he was, while Lord Robert (who Mr. Banes must’ve informed) presented me with a gold pen that’d once belonged to his grandfather.

That made me cry a little. I hoped that somewhere, wherever he was, Dad was proud too.

9

Earth Secundus was a Garden of Eden by any standard one cared to apply. Practically the entire planet had a mild, pleasant climate, and there was no ice anywhere except near the poles, where the mountains were just high enough to make for perfect ski runs. Even better, there’d been a native ecology similar enough to Earth’s in chemical terms that the soil and stuff was rich and fertile and perfect to plant ornamental gardens in. Best of all, Secundus’s native plants and animals were all so primitive that even the most delicate and overbred of Earth flowers pushed them aside with ease. It was difficult to conceive of a planet more perfect for colonization, and thus it was no surprise that the monarch had snapped it up for himself back when the Kingdom of Man was first reaching for the stars. There weren’t even any insects on Earth Secundus, except for the beneficial ones. Secundus had never evolved anything so advanced as an earthworm, while we’d been very careful indeed to leave the mosquitoes and such back on humanity’s world of birth.

While Secundus was a king’s world, the noble families were all allowed small holdings there. The House of Marcus maintained the most significant. It extended across the heart of the largest continent, New Africa. This choicest of all land had been awarded to our House, James informed me, after a brief civil war two hundred years back over the Royal succession. “We Marcuses aren’t as loyal as people sometimes think,” he explained. “But we
are
amazingly good at picking the winning side.”

I smiled when he said that, but the history I was rapidly learning claimed otherwise. The House of Marcus and that of the Royal Family, Kandoro, had a long, intertwined history that went all the way back to the Great Exodus. Yes, Marcus had proven very astute indeed at backing winners. But, the history books claimed, we were even better at
making
winners; at perceiving trends and getting out so far out ahead of them that no one else could compete. In any event, our support had proven decisive in crisis after crisis. Though of course James would never claim such—he just wasn’t made that way.

There was more natural beauty to be seen just in the Marcus holdings on Earth Secundus than there had been on all of Nova Europa. Massive rivers carved canyons through the hills, then wandered majestically across the endless plains. While a certain percentage of the land had to go towards farming and the like in order to support the populace, there were strict bans in place on most kinds of mining and even manufacture. The planet was for all intents and purposes a massive nature-park dedicated to preserving all that could be saved from terminally-ill Old Earth; the Marcus grasslands featured huge herds of zebras, antelope, and bison all living together in perfect harmony, and we also controlled part of an endless forest where countless varieties of monkeys flowed through the trees at all hours of the day. James and I spent weeks flying from place to interesting place with Mr. Banes, all the while composing papers, and it was so wonderful that I almost decided to give up being a ship’s engineer and become a master ecologist instead. “It’s up to you, David,” my tutor replied when I broached the subject. “We require trustworthy people to care for our lands every bit as much as we need skilled spacers.” Then he arranged things so I could spend a week following the Secundus estate manager around.

Was he really and truly saying that maybe someday I could hope to…

Eventually all good things must come to an end, however, and my time wandering Secundus was no exception. I’d known all along that eventually His Majesty would issue a summons so that he could award me the Sword of Orion, and the call came in just as I was finishing up my week with the estate manager. “We have thirteen days, David,” Mr. Banes explained gravely as he picked me up. “And that’s none too long to prepare for such a big event.”

I sighed and nodded, having been warned long since how complicated it was all going to be. There were all sorts of special Court rules I had to learn, even just to visit for a few moments. And there was ceremonial clothing to try on over and over again, documents to be prepared… I’d even have to learn how to behave at the press conference afterwards! I was
so
scared! The only good news was that James would be standing right there alongside me while I was with the king, acting as the representative of my House. That was really Lord Robert’s job, but His Majesty had apparently heard how we were best friends and all that, so he was allowing James do it instead. For some strange reason, my friend was actually
looking forward
to it. For my own part, however, I wished that he could just accept the silly thing for me—since he seemed to enjoy Court ceremonial so much—and get it all over with!

10

When the Big Day finally arrived both James and I had to get up early. We breakfasted together as usual, then were handed over to the household costumers. I still can’t imagine how or why things worked out this way, but James was placed under the care of Rebecca, a Rabbit, while I was assigned to a human named Gary. He was a lot older than Rebecca, and seemed terribly excited about the concept of dolling up a young Rabbit for Court. “Come on now!” he urged me as I shivered under what felt like my tenth cold-water rinsing. “Sit still!” It wasn’t too bad, really—by then Gary and I had already practiced this a few times so that we knew what to expect from each other. But still… Each sudsing was followed by an herbal rinse or mousse or conditioner or
something
, all of which stank to high heaven! It was sheer misery, it was! And then, when he was finally finished with my fur, he made me wear
eye-liner
! I hated that part most of all; the only thing that made it tolerable was knowing that the His Highness would be in full makeup, too. And so would James and everyone else. It was an old tradition, adopted because at Court one never knew when one’s face would end up in a newscast and be beamed all over the Realm. So everyone there strove to look their absolute best, all the time.

And, I had to admit, Gary did quite a job on me—Even Dad, I reckoned, would’ve a hard time recognizing me in my white satin robe. It was trimmed out in fire-lily red and orange, and came with a matching oversized and an ear-holed hood. My fur was glossy, my eyes were clear, and my nose was as brilliant shiny as modern cosmetics could make it. I expected that James would laugh when he finally saw the final result, but he didn’t. Instead he just stared a moment, then bowed like we’d been trained to do before His Majesty, making a wide saluting motion with his right hand. I smiled and bowed back the same way, even though my friend’s cosmetic-wok made him appear about five years old.

Then we were carefully loaded into wheelchairs—this time so we wouldn't scuff our ceremonial slippers—and whisked off to the waiting air-limo. There we met Lord Robert (who scowled mightily as he examined us from head to toe from his own wheelchair before finally nodding his approval) and Mr. Banes, who wouldn’t be entering the Royal Presence and therefore was merely dressed in white tie and tails. “You both look wonderful!” he gushed at last, fairly bursting with pride. “I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

This time at least the ride was short, though the wait afterwards wasn't. We’d been warned that might be the case; King Albert was so busy with war-related business these days that he often ran behind schedule. Luckily James and I were important enough that we rated an anteroom, where we sat and giggled at each other’s makeup and passed a video-game back and forth. Then there came a knock at the door, and just as I was climbing out of the wheelchair with my heart racing at about ten jillion beats per minute a familiar face burst through. It was Captain Blaine! And in one hand he was clutching a brand-new Staff of Hercules!

“My lords,” he greeted Robert and James first, bowing so extravagantly that I feared his overstretched ceremonial outfit would split at the seat. Then he smiled. “Forgive me, sirs. But I wanted to drop by and congratulate my former crewman on his big day.”

Lord Robert half-bowed from his seat and smiled. “But of course, Sir Leslie. And I congratulate you, as well.” He nodded at the staff and the brand-new Garter still fresh on the captain’s thigh from where His Majesty's own fingers had tied it into place. “I greet the
new
Sir Leslie, Knight of the Realm!”

Captain Blaine smiled again, blushing so red that it almost drowned out the ultra-fashionable false mole drawn on his heavily-rouged right cheek. “Thank you sir, is all I can say.” Then he turned to me. “Congratulations, David,” he said, extending his hand.

I accepted it and shook it warmly. “And you, sir.”

He nodded back happily. “I’m very glad for you, of course! Though of course I’ve lost all hope of retaining your services.”

“Retaining David’s services?” Mr. Banes asked from the back of the room as I blushed nearly as red as the captain had. “He never mentioned anything to us about that.”

“Oh, yes!” Blaine exclaimed, straightening his back and rising to his full height. “I know full well what a hero David was, you see. And I’m not ungrateful. It was my hope—before your own family took him in, that is—to train him as my personal footman.” He smiled at me again and laid a proud hand on my shoulder. “At wages, of course. But now…” He sighed and shook his head. “Even as a Knight of the Garter, I could never retain a holder of the Sword of Orion as a footman. My family isn’t
nearly
distinguished enough for that—people would think I was being uppity, even if he
was
an old shipmate. So I suppose he’s all yours.” He smiled and bowed again. “Not that I begrudge him, mind you!” he added hurriedly. “I’m sure you’ll be able to train and care for him far better than I ever could.”

“Perhaps,” Lord Robert replied, the irony in his voice totally lost on the new knight.

“I’m sure it’s all for the best,” Sir Leslie replied, still aglow at his opportunity to share a private moment with Lord Robert. Then he patted my shoulder again. “You’ll do well with the Marcuses, David. They’re legendary for their indulgency towards anthros. Especially their personal-service staff.” His smile widened. “I certainly don’t begrudge you a little coddling after all you did for
Hummingbird
, and for me as well. You’re a very special Rabbit indeed.” Then he looked up to meet Lord Robert’s eyes, in the expectation of sharing a knowing grin.

But there was no grin on the face of the Head of the House of Marcus. Indeed, there was no discernable expression at all. “Thank you stopping by, Captain,” Lord Robert replied, his words warm but the tone icy. “And again, all of Marcus congratulates you upon your most-deserved elevation.”

“Thank you, sir!” Sir Leslie replied, once again bowing extra-deep. Then, moving rather oddly, he left the room in a series of further bows. “Long live the House of Marcus! May it prosper and thrive!” Lord Robert smiled icily back, nodding in acknowledgement to each ridiculous little prostration. Meanwhile, James sat shaking his head.

“What’s wrong?” I asked him after the captain was finally gone.

“Nothing,” he replied, looking at me strangely. “And at the same time, everything. Didn’t you notice?”

“Notice what?” I asked. “He
was
going to take me in, you know. Despite everything, from his point of view he was trying to do right by me.”