Part 29 (1/2)
”The resources,” Jase said, ”are on this this side of the strait.” side of the strait.”
”There are powers on both sides,” Bren said, ”that want something besides atevi in s.p.a.ce.” He took a chance. ”What does the s.h.i.+p want?”
A little silence there, just a little silence. ”The s.h.i.+p wants somebody somebody up there that can repair what's broken.” up there that can repair what's broken.”
”Wasn't that why the colonists and the crew went separate ways at the beginning? Colonists wouldn't be be a cheap labor force?” a cheap labor force?”
”It's not like that,” Jase said. ”It won't be be like that.” like that.”
”d.a.m.n right,” Bren said, ”it won't be be like that.” like that.”
But they meant, he was sure, different things.
There was silence, then. Maybe Jase thought the topic was getting too dangerous. Maybe, and it was his own notion, there was just nothing they could say to each other until that s.h.i.+p flew, and until they had options.
His mother might have had surgery by now, he thought. He didn't know. He thought, h.e.l.l, he was within driving distance of the biggest communications post in the world, and he couldn't get a d.a.m.n telephone? The communications his security had was instant and connected to everywhere but Mospheira. He should have asked for a phone.
He had the whole weight of the atevi government if he wanted to try to extract information, but the whole weight of the atevi government had to be used for atevi purposes and affairs of state, not, dammit, news from his family.
He stared at the dark above him and asked himself what kind of an impression he'd made on Jago, bolting from the room the way he'd done.
He'd have been warmer, distracted from his other problems, at least.
But Banichi would have come in for the night.
He didn't know what he'd have done, or said, or what he'd have explained. Likely Jago and Banichi both would have been amused. He wasn't sure he was capable of laughing at the joke. Not tonight, not now, not as things were.
He heard a quiet snoring beside him. Jase at least was tired enough to sleep. He thought of elbowing Jase in the ribs so he he could rest; but he decided it wasn't that likely he would for a while. could rest; but he decided it wasn't that likely he would for a while.
Rest, however, just lying on his back on a surface that didn't move, piled high with blankets in a bed that was getting warm in air that was almost cold enough for frost...
He heard an engine.
Distant, but clearly an engine where none belonged.
No reason to be alarmed. There was a perimeter set.
His security was not going to allow anything to slip up on them. Neither was Ilisidi's.
But what in h.e.l.l? he wondered.
He heard it come closer, and closer, and finally saw the faintest hint of light touch the wall and vanish.
More engines - than lights.
Vehicles were moving about inside the perimeter.
The snoring had stopped.
”What's that?” Jase asked. In Ragi.
”I don't know.” He flung the blankets aside and got up, barefoot, in his underwear, and felt his way around the end of the bed. He went to the window, in the cold draft, as Jase got up on his side of the bed and joined him in looking out.
”Security, maybe?” Jase asked.
”I don't know. Nothing Jago made me aware of.”
”You suppose everything's all right?”
It was on a side of the building not exposed to their view. The back side, he thought. As the vehicles had come up from that side.
There was a time he'd have run to Jago a couple of doors down and asked for explanation. But this time the conspiracy was of his arranging, and he still didn't know the extent of it.
He had a sinking feeling if he asked Jago she wouldn't know, either. And that if anything were wrong he'd hear about it from Jago and from Banichi.
h.e.l.l, he hadn't hadn't survived this long by leaving a.s.sumptions lie. survived this long by leaving a.s.sumptions lie.
”Stay here,” he said to Jase and, numb beyond feeling, s.n.a.t.c.hed a blanket for decency and went out into the hall.
It was dark, excepting the candles.
And one of Ilisidi's young men, who stood in the shadows, whose eyes cast back the light.
”What is it?” he asked the man.
”Supplies and such,” the man said. ”Sleep peacefully, nand' paidhi.”
”Banichi,” he called out, worried that the mere opening of his door hadn't brought his security out of the soundest sleep. ”Jago?”
”One believes they're helping below, nand' paidhi.”
”I'll talk to them,” he said. ”You have communications.”
”Yes, nand' paidhi.” The man drew the pocket com out and flicked the switch. ”Nandi. The paidhi would wish to speak to his security.”
There was a reply he couldn't hear: the man had it against his ear. But he gave it to Bren.
”Banichi-ji?” he asked.
”Bren-ji?” It was Banichi, he had no doubt of that voice. ”Is there a problem?”
”Is there reason for us to get dressed and come down?”
”No, nodi. Go to sleep. Everything is fine. We'll be early to rise.”
”Well enough, then. Good night. Take care, nadi-ji.” He handed the com back to its owner, feeling foolish on the one hand, himself with frozen feet and one fc” frozen shoulder, and gave a courteous sketch of a bow, having doubted the man's authority, before going back to the room.