Rissa and Tregare (26 page)

"Maybe." Tregare waited, then said, "Peralta's dead by my doing. Would that stop you from joining me, if I of-fered?" Hardekamp rubbed his hand across his face. "That's a straight offer?" Tregare nodded. "I don't know what was be-tween you and Peralta-no way I could, you see. But I'm trained for space, not groundhogging. So if
you
don't mind, we being on the wrong sides from each other lately, then neither do I. I'l sign it or swear it, whatever." Tregare looked at his instruments and nodded. "You're a truthful man. Forget the oaths; I'l settle for a handshake." When that was done, he said, "All there was with me and Peralta-I might as wel tel al of you-I helped him take his ship from UET, and he owed me service for it. But he couldn't forget he'd been senior in the old days-he wanted command and tried to kill me to get it. He lost." He shook his head. "I would have bought him out fair. I offered that, and I'd rather he'd accepted."

"So would I," said Hardekamp. "Or that he'd stayed. He was a fox, that one-the way he got us up free from Tweedle. But you must be a better one, Tregare."

"Maybe, maybe not. I'm here-let's get on with it."

The next few questionings were brief; the men and women followed Hardekamp's lead, and the indicators stayed green. Then a tall man, one eye bandaged and right arm in a sling, sat.

He said, "I won't bother lying, Tregare. You killed my brother when you flamed groundside. I wouldn't ship with you if the world was burning away under my feet! So kil me and be damned to you. But if you were any kind of man, you'd give me a fighting chance."

Tregare stood; his hands shook. "I'm sorry about your brother. But Peralta gave
me
no chance. I had to make my own. I give you better than that; you go free to make your way on this world." He gestured to Gowdy. "Get him out of here!" The rest of the interviews took litle time. Tregare shook his head at one man. "You're out." To Rissa he said, "The in-dicators flickered; I'm too tired to find out why."

When it was done, they slept again in Peralta's former quarters. The next day al personnel were questioned under the field, and Tregare designated three more to be grounded; he did not state his reasons. Limmer, with Kenekke riding "shotgun," delivered the five to One Point One and brought the scout back barely before dark.

next morning Tregare and Rissa inspected new installations on
No Return,
found few errors and decided to return to Base One. Over lunch, Rissa said, "Felcie, would you like to come with us, or must you stay to guard the equipment?" "Oh, I'm sure it's safe here. I'd like to go with you." So five rode the scout to the plateau. Nothing had changed; there had been no intrusion. Once aground, Felcie was shocked at the effects of Peralta's foray-the damaged cabin and wrecked aircar. "What a snick! Looks like somebody used
ship's
weapons!''

"We did," said Rissa. Felcie's mouth opened, but closed without replying. "Come, Felcie, I wil show you a litle of the place. Al right, Bran?"

"Sure. I've got some calls to make."

Rissa gave Felcie a conducted tour. First the cabin-but no mention of its defenses. Then outside-to the plateau's edge with its sweeping view of lower Hils and plain, then back past cabin and outhouse for a short climb, far enough to see the plateau as a whole.

"It's well planned," the girl said finally. "And I love the location! I've never been far into the Big Hills on the other side-a little higher than Hulzein Lodge, but not much. How'd you ever get an aircar over here-special model, or did Tregare bring it in his ship?''

Rissa laughed. "I wil not tel you just yet. I may have the chance to show you, instead-and I would not want to spoil the surprise." The sun neared the high-flung horizon. They returned to the cabin, found it empty, and went to the scout. Deverel and Kenekke were absent; Tregare worked at a sheet of scribbled calculations. He looked up. "You see al the sights, Felcie?"

"Yes, and I'm really impressed." She paused. "I almost forgot-could you give me a circuit to Ami? I haven't reported in yet today."

"And how about yesterday?" said Rissa.

"Oh, I caled her in the afternoon. You were busy; the tal man-Kenekke-arranged the circuit for me."

"All right," said Tregare. He punched for Hulzein Lodge and asked for the relay; an unfamiliar face appeared briefly and then Ami Gustafson came to the screen. "Hello," he said. "Ms. Parager's here to talk with you." Felcie moved to the screen. "Everything's fine, Ami. The equipment behaved a hundred percent snooky, and now I'm up at a different place. Wow-was there ever a fight here! Oh, not now-before I came, I mean. You should see-" Tregare cleared his throat. She looked at him. He neither smiled nor frowned, but she turned back and said, "I think I wasn't supposed to say anything about that. Pretend I didn't, wil you, Arni?"

Over her shoulder, Tregare said, "Let's say, Ms. Gustaf-son, that I'd appreciate it if you-and anyone there with you

-doesn't repeat it."

Gustafson nodded. "Don't worry. I neither meddle nor tattle. And Felcie-put it firmly in your mind that anything you see on that side of the Hills-except the scenery-isn't to be talked about when you come back."

"Yes, Ami, I will. But-maybe I'm not
coming
back!"

The woman half stood. "They won't let you? But-"

"No, it's nothing like that. I-I want to go to space, and maybe they
will
let me!" Ami shook her head. "Well, I like you-like having you work for me, too-but peace knows I don't own you. You're young to make such a choice but old enough to have the legal right, if you want. Think it over, though-carefully." Felcie nodded; the woman said, "Now, then-when do I get

my gear back?"

Felcie looked to Tregarei He said, "If you need it, I'll have it to you tomorrow. But if you can spare it for a while-"

"The need's not urgent. But how long do you mean?"

"Is a month too long?''

"What have you got over there-a full-sized army?"

"No. Sometimes I wish I did. But-not all I do hope to have, are here yet."

"Oh? Well, it's your business. I won't ask further. Let me see-all right, you have the month. But if I
should
need to use it, will you provide me transport?"

"Sure. This scout carries a dozen or better in reasonable comfort-more than that if you don't mind riding cramped."

"Agreed, then. Felcie-any more to add?"

"No. That's all."

"All right-report acknowledged. Thanks, and out."

The screen darkened; Tregare said, "Anyone getting hungry besides me?"

"I'll call you when it's ready," said Rissa. "Come on, Felcie." Then she paused. "Where are Hain and Anse?"

"Down at Two, in the other aircar. Now we need it, Anse has it working solidly again. They'll stay the night, I think."

"Oh. I only thought, if they were here, we would all eat together again." She shrugged and led Felcie off the scout and into the cabin,
 
the girl insisted on helping in the kitchen. At first, ignorant of the arrangements, she was less help than hindrance. But eventually the dinner was ready. Rissa caled Tregare and they sat and dined. Afterward they had wine and coffee; Felcie ac-cepted only the latter. The conversation became awkward-Felcie would begin a question, then stop and withdraw it. Finaly she excused herself and went outside. "I'l be back in a few minutes."

Tregare gestured after her. "Real question box, isn't she? Likable youngster, though." Rissa smiled. "She has lived in a friendly world, apart from the power struggles of the oligarchs. She has not had to learn, as we did, to guard what she says. And-"

He held up a hand. "The aircar-they came back after al." He stood and went to the door.

"What is it?"

"I'm remembering last time an aircar came and we thought it was them." As he opened the door a crack, he had the big energy gun in one hand, but after a minute or so he replaced it and closed the door. "This time it's all right." He came and sat again. Rissa frowned. "I had hoped-but in fairness to Hain and Anse, we cannot have her sleep on the scout."

"What are you talking about? The bed's big enough. On
Inconnu-"

"That was different. It was-mechanical-except, some-how, for the last night. But only you have seen me in full response." Felcie's entrance cut off his reply. For a moment, Rissa thought the girl had eavesdropped, for she said, "My-that's a good big bed. Looks comfortable."

"Yes," said Rissa, "but we-"

Felcie laughed. "Tari, I slept in mixed beds al my life, until I got a job and could afford a room to myself. AH us zoom-wombers did-things were
crowded.
And when we got old enough, some would be having sex and some not-nobody paid any mind. So don't worry-you won't embarrass me any."

No one answered; she looked hard at Rissa and then said, "Oh, I see-it's
you
who needs privacy." She laughed. "Well, I've never understood that problem-but just say when and I'l go take a bath and won't come out 'til you cal me."

Solemn-faced, Tregare said, "That'll be fine-won't it, Tari?"

"I-I suppose so." Then; "Yes, of course it will. Thank -you, Felcie." But later she could not, at first, escape the feeling of being watched. She had almost despaired when her body's habit dissolved her inhibition overwhelmingly. When Felcie rejoined them, she said, "If that was as good as it sounded, I envy you two." Neither answered, but Rissa smiled and squeezed the girl's hand.

next morning, Rissa flew the aircar; Kenekke stayed with the scout while the rest went to Base Two. On inspection they found
No Return's
installations nearing completion-ready, in a few more days, for the hull plates to be replaced. These would need to be cut and divided into permanent and dis-posable sections, for the weapons had to be camouflaged-no UET ship carried the turret pattern Rissa had designed.

After a pause for coffee with Hilaire Gowdy, Rissa took Felcie with her to the practice turret on
Lefthand Thread,
where she ran a full simulation sequence. She no longer checked her individual scores-only the average, an encouraging 65.

"Could I try that?" said Felcie. "Just a few runs?" Rissa agreed and explained the controls. As the simulations began, she saw that Felcie's reflexes and coordination were good, but that she was overeager-overcontrolling in her haste and slam-ming down the override in frustration when she could not get her shot. Finally Rissa stopped the sequence.

"You push too hard. You do not do so in driving an aircar, do you? Well, then-this is even more delicate. Try again, but moving more gently. And I suggest you do not use the override at all, at this stage of learning." The advice helped; Felcie's scores improved. But Rissa decided that gunnery would never be the girl's best skill, the time was near to noon; they went to the galley and found Tregare already seated. As they joined him, Limmer entered and also sat. His mouth bent into his sneer-smile. "It's going well." He looked to Rissa. "What have you two been doing? I didn't see you around anywhere."

Felcie was silent; Rissa said, "First, finishing inspections for today on
No Return.
Then I ran an hour of simulations in the practice turret, and Felcie tried it also."

"And how did you like it, Felcie?"

"I-I didn't do very well." Almost in a whisper she spoke.

Limmer frowned, then shook his head. Felcie said, "I'm sorry, captain."

"No, no-I don't mean
that!
What it is-but you can't help it, I suppose-I wish you weren't afraid of me. And you are, aren't you?"

"I_"

"This face-I can't blame you. But it's too bad, because you-you could almost be my daughter, if I'd had one. A few years too old, you are, but not much." He leaned forward; Rissa saw Felcie trying not to flinch. "You look almost like her, some younger than when we met-"

"Who-?"

"The woman who was with me ten years and more-from long before we escaped until-" He shook his head. "UET

caught us at Franklin's Jump. I got the ship away, barely, but they holed us-and that's where
she
was." The man had tears in his eyes. "You remember her, Tregare?"

"Vanessa Largane? Of course. And you're right. I only saw her-oh, about biological thirty, I'd guess, and her hair was longer. But take off a few years, and with a UET regulation haircut-yes, Felcie's practically her image." Felcie's eyes brimmed. She reached forward, hesitated, then put her hand to Limmer's scarred cheek. "I
am
sorry, captain. And I promise-I won't be afraid of you any more. It was just that-"

"I know." Rissa said it quickly. "I did not, myself, im-mediately appreciate Captain Limmer as he has shown he deserves."

Limmer rose. "I can't imagine what's holding up the food here. I'l go see." He walked away. Tregare began to speak, but Felcie interrupted. "Oh-I'm
so ashamed!"

Tregare gripped her hand. "Don't be. You reacted the way everybody does. Then you made it up to him. Not everybody does that."

"But he's your friend-I should've realized!"

"Peace on a pedestal!" Tregare's hand slapped the table. "Quit flipping your string, Felcie-I tel you, you've nothing to regret." He smiled. "That's the first time I know of that he's been able to talk of Vanessa since-it happened. Now-" He looked around. "Here he comes-and likely wanting no more said about it."

Felcie nodded. Limmer sat and said, "There was a mixup. We'l be served now." His prophecy was a good one; they ate without conversation until food was gone and coffee into its second pouring. Then Limmer said, "What's on the afternoon schedule, Tregare? I'm free if you need me."

"Sure. Come along if you like but I'l only be checking the cutmarks on
No Return's
hul plates. Not the most interesting job of the lot." He turned to Rissa. "You have anything special you want to do?"

"I had thought, since Felcie is here, to take the aircar and let her see something of the plains below." Felcie said, "Thanks, Tari, but how about another day?" She turned. "Captain Limmer?" Rissa frowned, but Felcie ig-nored her.

"Do you have-pictures-of Vanessa Largane?"

"Why, yes-I guess so. In my quarters someplace. I haven't looked-for so long. But-" He did not ask the question that showed in his face.