Rissa and Tregare (28 page)

"The tall African woman, yes. I liked her. And she is a striking person."

"True. But more important, she's capable-
and
has the command-type mind."

"Then she is your choice?"

"I think so. The only knot in the string is-it'd be my Sec-ond Hat taking over, in charge of Norden's First and the rest."

"Why do you not-no, I must think longer."

"Let's hear it, Then we can both think."

"Two heads-? All right-why do you not name Zelde M'tana acting captain of
Inconnu
until you-both of us-re-join that ship? If you explain the reason to her and to Gon-nelsen-and you say he does not wish command-might not that sol ve it?"

He squinted, looking past her into air. "Yeah, that'll do it. I had another idea, but this is quicker and more plausible."

"And on
Inconnu,
who replaces the woman?"

"Hain moves up to Second. And) for Third-" He paused, then grinned. "You want to see my new Third Hat?" She nodded. "Then go look in a mirror!"

"Tregare-Bran!" She shook her head. "I cannot do it. I am not qualified." He counted points on his fingers. "One-you're learning navigation and control. Two-you outscore any turret gunner I have; I want you in charge of that department, and to do the job right, you need some rank. Three-when it comes to of-ficer material on
Inconnu,
you're the best I've got. Now-is that enough?"

She argued no further. "All right-there is a paper I have seen but not yet read. It is old; the edges are frayed. The cover, says,

'NEW Ship's Regulations, by order of Bran Tregare, and the date. I wish to study it." He nodded. "Sure. There's a copy in the scout-maybe

two.
I'll
find you one. You already know most of it, though -do your job, obey orders, no fighting without captain's per-mission, no drink or drug on duty. Oh, there's more-but some of it was just me showing off, and isn't to be taken seri-ously now." He chuckled. "Maybe I should publish a new edi-tion."

The laundering machine buzzed and turned itself on. Rissa said, "Then I will read both versions." lunch came late, as breakfast had; then they went to the scout. Tregare taped a message for
Inconnu,
ordering and ex-plaining Zelde M'tana's promotion. He stopped the tape and said to Deverel, "That makes you Second; al right?"

"Sure, captain-it's the same job, just a little more rank. Now who fils in for
met"

"Turn your head a little and you're looking at her."

Deverel blinked, then smiled. "Congratulations, Ms. Ker-guelen-the skipper makes good choices. But watch out for him-on his bad days, he's a real tyrant."

"Thank you, Hain-or do I say 'sir,' now that you outrank me? Before, of course, I had no place on that ladder." Palm forward, Deverel spread a hand. "Even on ship-which we aren't-rank only means precedence of command. It doesn't get in the way much."

"On
Inconnu,
you mean," said Tregare. "Ships differ. All right-let me finish this tape before the next signal window comes up and passes. What's the date?" Deverel told him; he nodded. "Three days left-and they can catch signal on the way in. After al this dul time sitting watch out there,
Inconnu
deserves a litle fling in port."

"Three days until what, Bran?"

"Until we could last get a signal from a ship close enough to get here-and still be outfitted in time to join us." He re-started the tape and gave orders for
Inconnu-
return, refuel-ing, crew leave, and the move to Base Two. At the end he said, "We're only five ships; it's not enough and I know it, but we can talk about that when you get here. I hope someone can convince me I'm wrong. Good speed; we await you."

He turned from the machine to Deverel. "Give Limmer the gist of it, to tell the others." Then, "Hain? You think there's any chance we could do it with five?" Deverel shrugged. "If anyone could, it's us." the day after
Valkyrie
landed, Rissa and Tregare flew the pass to meet with its captain. On board his ship, Norden-white-haired, but younger than Rissa had expected-served brandy to his guests. He introduced a thin, pale man. "Kile Ressider, my First."

They shook hands. Ressider said, "Pleasure, Tregare. By the way, nobody's told us-wil this be my ship, under you, or are you bringing someone in?"

Tregare looked at him. "Except for where you bunk, does it make any big difference in your plans either way?"

"My question was asked first."

"Like that, is it?" Tregare shrugged. "Al right. I need one of my own commanding, because I don't
know
you yet. If you can't live with that, I'l buy you out-fair shares-you'll have the money to buy into another berth if one comes along."

"Not so fast!" Low, close to the table, Ressider waved a hand. "I've heard about you, Tregare-If I'd believed it bet-ter, I wouldn't have pushed. Wait a minute-let me
think."
He closed his eyes hard, then opened them. "I'd work under Sten indefinitely-but he's leaving-and
sure,
I hoped for command someday. Now I won't be getting it. I don't
know!"
He shook his head, pale wispy hair flying as Tregare waited. Finaly, "Oh, al right. Staying First on
Valkyrie's
better than buying into an unknown setup." He reached to shake hands again. "You can depend on me, Tregare. Ask Sten." Norden said, "I trust Kile with my life. I should-twice, he's saved it."

Rissa thought,
It
does not matter-Tregare has the truth field.
But she listened as Tregare said, "You have a better chance than you think, Ressider. If plans work out, we'l have more ships than officers good enough to command them."

"And if plans don't work out?"

Tregare grinned. "You know better than that. Dead men don't command much of anything." Ressider took a quick breath, then laughed.
"Now
you tel me. Al right, I'm stil in it. Now-who takes over for Sten?"

"Name's Zelde M'tana. Not likely you'd know her-she didn't come up through UET.'

"Then where did she train?"

"Didn't, formally. Was living with a ship's captain-gradually learned and took charge in his name while drugs and sickness killed him. You've heard of Parnell and
Chantic-leer!"

Ressider sucked in his breath. "Yes-of course-but I thought that ship was lost."

"Not so. Zelde changed its name to
Kilimanjaro,
But she'd been pushed uprank so fast-all the way from cargo to cap-tain-that some of the crew wouldn't accept her in permanent command. So a coalition bought her out, and she got off. I found her on Fair Ball; she's been with me ever since."

"I'm convinced-from someone like that, I can learn."

"Anyone can. I did." Tregare rose. "Sten, I want to stand you dinner-and catch up on a lot of talk-before you vanish groundside and look for what to do next. All right?"

"Of course. And I should say, the terms are fair. Your representative, Hawkman Moray-I like the man."

"That's good-so do I. He's my father."

Norden stared, "Tregare-I never knew you were Hulzein-connected."

"Until recently I wasn't, effectively-we left each other alone. But now we work together."

"I almost wish I were staying on. I knew-your aunt, would she be? The one in Argentina. About fifty-five she was then, and one hell of a woman. She's the one who persuaded me Escape was possible, and next time out we
did
it. Her name-?"

"Erika. My aunt, yes. I saw her once-but she didn't know it. Well, then, dinner-when's convenient for you?"

"Tomorrow, the next day. Either. I'll be packing, to get off before you move the ship. So, whenever it suits you."

"Day after tomorrow, then. I'll pick you up, help you move into town." They shook hands and said good-byes; Rissa and Tregare left the ship.

she checked the day-count on her watch. "Bran-I forgot-yesterday I should have been at the Hatchery for a pre-ovula-tion check. It may not be too late. Take me there now?" "All right if you just take the aircar yourself and come back when you're done? I mean-I'll drive you if you want, but I do have a lot to take care of around here." Rissa said, "Yes-I remember the traffic markers well enough. Where will I find you?"

"Hmm-how about over at the corner where we landed the scout?"

"Yes." She kissed him and got into the aircar. She found the DRC building with no difficulty, and Estelle Marco was free to see her almost immediately.

This time Rissa knew what to expect-the slight discomfort of gas moving inside her, after the cold feel on her belly as the "faucet handle" opened passage to her ova. This time no blockage was found, and in a very few minutes, after talking briefly with Dr. Marco, she was outside again. As she got into the aircar she heard slow thunder. Looking toward the port, she saw the ship descend.

She flew a little faster than the city's traffic rules sanc-tioned, and landed where she had agreed. She did not see Tregare, so she got out and walked toward the new ship, less than a mile away. When she neared it she saw its name:
Graf Spee.
She thought,
Why, it's one of his! Now he
has
the six he needs!
She tried to remember more of what he had said. At the ship's ramp she met an armed guard. She said, "Is Tregare aboard? " The man said, "If he is, who wants him?"

"Tell him Tari Obrigo."

"I never heard of you."

"Nor I of you-but be advised that Tregare will want to know I am here."

"I'll see." He talked into the unit strapped to his wrist, listened, then nodded. "Captain Krueger says you can go up. Sorry-we never know who anyone is at a strange landing."

"In such case, would not courtesy be the safer course?" But she added, "Aboard I will say nothing to your disfavor."

She did not wait for an answer, but climbed the ramp and entered. Inside, the ship was nearly a twin to
Lefthand
Thread.
Guessing, she tried the galley first and found Tregare sitting and talking with a slim blonde woman. He looked up and waved a hand as Rissa approached.

The woman stood; she was considerably below average height. Tregare said, "Tari, meet Ilse Krueger. We're six ships now!" 

As Rissa shook hands she looked carefully at Use Krueger-pale curly hair, blue eyes slightly tilted, strong cheekbones that dominated the thin face. Thirty years, biological? Or thirty-five, perhaps? And for all her look of fragility, the woman's handclasp had strength.

"Let me see if I remember," said Rissa. "You are freely allied, with nothing owed?"

"He told it right, I see." Coming from so small a body, the deep voice surprised Rissa. "Yes. Bernardez and I-if he gets here-we're in it because it needs doing. Like poor Hoad-ex-cept that he was obligated and we're not. Of course if Tregare pulls it off. we'll all profit." She motioned. "Here, let's sit down. There's coffee and things. Now-I hear you've married this great beast. Nothing wrong with that, if your tastes run so. He tells me you're a match for anything on two feet." She sniffed. "Can't say you look it, but looks can fool a person.

"Peace, Ilse Krueger! So many quick words-give us a chance to know each other. I am not that difficult to know." Tregare laughed. "I told you, Ilse. Didn't I?"

"You've told me a lot of things-mostly true, I grant." Then, to Rissa; "All right-
you
talk for a while."

"What is to say? My life, until now? Very well. I am Earth-born, was Welfared as a child, and am Escaped. I am trained in combat and have needed to kill three. Tregare and I have married; when it is time, I go with him on
Inconnu.
What else would you know?"

"You don't like me, do you?"

"I have no dislike. If someone pushes, I push back. Nothing more."

Ilse Krueger paused, then said, "We're different, that's all."

"Lots different," said Tregare. "And both valuable to me, different ways." The small woman laughed, "All right, Tari-we're both working for the same maniac. I think we can get along." But Rissa found neither words nor tone convincing.

"I hope so," she said, "though I do not entirely under-stand."

"Don't worry about it," said Tregare. "Time to go, any-way."

He stood. Ilse Krueger said, "Wait a minute. It just struck me-I've heard the name Tari Obrigo before, earlier today."

Tregare's brows rose. "So? She's known here."

Krueger shook her head. "No. It was one of my passengers, fresh out of freeze but young and strong enough to start mov-ing right away. He was asking for you groundside, Tari-for you and two or three other names."
UET?
"What did he look like?" Rissa waited.

"I barely glanced at him. Slim, about Tregare's height-white face, dark hair. That's all I remember." Rissa frowned. "Do you know his name?" Though if he were UET, it hardly mattered....

"Just a minute. The list should be under these papers." Krueger found it, ran a finger down the margin and turned the sheet so Rissa could read it. "This one."

The name meant nothing to Rissa; she repeated it and shook her head. "I do not recognize it, but I thank you for the in-formation. I will be on guard."

"Both of us," said Tregare. "Well, Ilse, you can be at Base Two in three days? We'll have the crews ready to start convert-ing."

"Good enough, Tregare. I have cargo to dicker off-I'm already set for refueling-and that's all."

"Then I'll see you next, probably, across the Hills." He shook hands-Rissa did not-and they went downship and outside.

Krueger's manner still bothered Rissa. "I do
not
dislike her ... yet. Is there some reason she should resent me?"

"She doesn't. Ilse just has to crowd everybody a little. You got off easier than most; I think she likes you."

"I felt no communication, no rapport. But I suppose that is not necessary, to exchange information over a viewscreen."

"Forget it-I guarantee there's no problem. Now, then-what happened at the Hatchery?" She told him; he said,

"Good. They get the ovum from you day after tomorrow-right?" She nodded. "We'll stay at Maison Renalle that night

-have Norden to dinner, and maybe Ressider-even Ilse, if you don't mind. And-"

She touched his arm. "Yes, Bran. But we will be there first for a time, before the rest.
Then
you may invite anyone you wish."