Rissa and Tregare (36 page)

"And they are-how far from their own nearest world?" She saw Tregare shrug. "Bran-without freeze-chambers, how would they have managed on the home voyage? What could they have used?"

"Stonzai told me the answer to that one. First, as many animals as they could keep alive, aboard. And then-each other."

Rissa gasped. "Oh-the poor, poor creatures!"

"Yeah. You might say, pardon the pun, that it takes a lot of guts for them to go to space at all." time and Tregare's temper grew short. Now there was litle Rissa could do to help; the last-minute problems were not in her field of knowledge. She had no luck with her idea of duplicating the Shrakken paralytic vapor, for she could not procure a sample-none of the aliens was due to ovulate before departure deadline.

Belatedly she realized that her two identities would cause confusion in intership communications and-feeling shame-faced in some cases-made her true name known to those who knew her as Tari Obrigo. Vanois seemed put out, but Derek Limmer waved her apology aside. "Hiding, when it's out of necessity, is a hard habit to break. But I'm glad to know you-Rissa." the day before departure Hawkman flew the pass, bringing Liesel, Sparline and Ernol to the cabin. The six lunched together, crowding the small kitchen, and afterward sipped wine as they talked.

Tregare handed Hawkman an envelope. "Bernardez is over-due but I still think he'll get here. If he does, the
Hoover's
your best bet for going to Earth-a ship that's kept cover with UET but known to our people, too. Here's your bona fides to deal with him-or with Malloy, if
he
turns up. Look them over."

Hawkman did so and nodded. "Yes-authorizing me to represent you-his instructions to arm the ship and camou-flage the weapons-but now-?"

"I'm leaving a technical cadre here. Four people, attached to you-if you don't mind-for logistics, and under your orders. They can rotate duty while they're waiting-here, the Lodge, or in town-but two here at al times. If Bernardez-or Malloy-doesn't show up in a reasonable time, the four wil fit into your operation al right. They're volunteers."

"Yes." Hawkman looked again at the papers he held. "Then, let's see-if ready before the critical date, to go to Stronghold-"

"But I told you, Bran," said Liesel, "I've no
time
for such travel."

"Freeze-chambers," Tregare said, "The
Hoover's
are always in good shape."

"-or if not," Hawkman went on, "to go directly to Earth. And the signals to look for, and-yes, the new codes for him to use." He looked up.

"It's thorough."

"I'd hoped so," said Tregare. For a moment, he frowned. "The way to get along with Bernardez-it's the way you prob-ably would, anyway. Tel him right away that your effective command doesn't mean you're looking over his shoulder al the time-that you rely on him for all the information you need and none that you don't. And you'l get it, too. But Ber-nardez works best when he's not nervous, and it makes him nervous to have somebody jogging his elbow."

"You're saying," said Sparline, "that this Bernardez is a dangerous man?" Tregare laughed. "Hell, yes-to his enemies. Or he wouldn't have the
Hoover,"

"And you, Bran," said Rissa, "have
Inconnu,
and
Left-hand Thread,
and
No Return,
and-"

"-and Rissa Kerguelen," he said. "And that makes me most dangerous of al." she laughed then, but Liesel, not smiling, said, "It's true-you two together make a greater force than you do separately. And that's saying a lot."

"As may be," said Rissa. She stood. "Anyone care for a walk?" Ernol and Sparline joined her; the rest declined. The three walked to the plateau's edge and looked down past the shadows to the lower Hills and the vast plain beyond. "The Big Hills!" said Rissa. "There is nothing like them. I hate to leave-them, and you." Sparline gripped her arm. "And I hate it that you
must l
eave. You and Bran-I'm just getting to know you both. And then maybe Liesel and Hawkman go, too." She shook her head; "If only Ernol and I could join you-but somebody has to mind the damned store!" Ernol's hand clasped his wife's shoulder. "It's a good store and a good world. And they'll be back, I'm betting."

Sparline's mouth twisted. "Maybe when we're
old,
they will. All those years..." Rissa spoke. "The long view, Sparline, remember? But I agree; it does take its toll." She turned and led them back along the rim of the plateau; when they reached the rear of it she stopped and pointed uphil. "The trail here-at this time of day, if we hurry, there is a view point-the plains wil awe you."

She turned to walk, but Sparline caught her hand. "Not me-I'm not for climbing today, especially in a hurry. You two go ahead, but don't take too long. Even Hawkman wouldn't care to fly the pass in twilight, and six of us would sleep cramped in Bran's cabin." She squeezed Rissa's hand, smiled, and walked away.

Rissa's brows raised; Ernol nodded and they climbed the trail, breathing faster as they reached the viewsite. For a time they watched, as shadows crept out across the plain.

Then she turned to him. For a moment, until he smiled, she thought she would have to ask. And this time her joy matched his. Each still holding the other, Ernol said, "I'm glad for you." "I wished you to know-and this was the last chance. I feared I would have to merely tell you, but-" "Sparline's guessed for some time. It's good she was right." "Sparline is often right. As, for instance-concerning
you."

Both laughed; they dressed and ran down the trail. They reached the cabin soon enough that goodbyes, when they came, were not unduly brief.

Too quickly, even so, came time for parting. "We'll be together again-"

"On Earth, and here, too-"

"It's not so long if you look at it right-"

"-and stay in freeze a lot-"

"Unfreezing's the best part-a new world-"

"-or the same one again-"

"The same
us!"

"Oh, damn it, I'll
miss
you-"

"-and I you, but-"

"We love you-"

"If we don't get into the air soon," said Hawkman, "the four of us won't get home today." So the final round of kisses went quickly. And then Tregare and Rissa stood looking after the aircar.

"Oh, Bran! Will we ever see them again?"

wondering what had roused her, she came awake. Tregare? He breathed evenly enough, but...

"Bran?"

"You should be asleep."

"And you-but we are not." Her hand found his cheek. "Why?"

For a time he did not answer. Then, "When we lift tomor-row-ready or not, we're staking
all
of it."

"Of course. We have known that."

She felt his head shake. "For us, sure-and even for Earth. But it's just now got to me-we're risking the Hidden Worlds, too."

"I do not understand. What new danger?''

"UET's been playing it close to home-not ranging out here, much. I'd figured it was our raids, held them back. But-" His laugh held no humor. "Not to sound conceited, you see, it's not me or anything I
really
have that scares them-"

"Oh! As Ivan told-on Earth, the Underground rumors, But, Bran-" In sudden comprehension she fel silent.

"Yeah-you get it now. Those rumors-they only work as
long as I don't show up.
If we fail at Stronghold . . ." Shud-dering, he sighed. "You see, Rissa? It's not just Stronghold, or even Earth. It's
all
the marbles!" While she thought, her fingers kneaded his neck's rigid cords. "Of course, Bran-how could it be otherwise?" She paused. "Have you lost confidence in your plan? I have not."

"No. With what we have, it's as good as can be done.

But..."

"Tregare! We have agreed that this
must
be tried, and who else could attempt it? So-do we go ahead?" gripped her. At first his laughter wrenched him, as though he sobbed-then it came freely. "Yes, Rissa-peace knows it,
yes!
I'll be all right." And when at last he slept, in the moments before she herself found sleep, Rissa thought:
Whatever happens-here is where my life belongs.