Part 23 (2/2)
Hey, Afra, what does a guy have to do to get your attention? was Larak's cheery greeting as he bounced up the Tower steps.
His energy seemed almost obscene to the weary T-3.
'Knock twice!' Afra replied but he grinned gratefully as he extended his hand to the visitor. The vigour which Larak exuded was as much a restorative as the infectiousness of his smile. The resemblance between Larak and his sister was p.r.o.nounced, even to having the Gwyn slash of white in the same position on their black-haired heads.
Larak was not quite as tall as his sister who was unusually tall, and more slightly built than his brothers. But he had full measure of the Raven charm and Afra found the energy to return the boy's smile.
Hands now touching, Afra conveyed the one impression he had not included in the broadcast.
Damia's infatuated with this peculiarly dangerous alien?
Larak murmured, surprised, and looked hard into Afra's eyes.
'Wouldn't you know she'd have weird and exotic tastes!' He let his lips turn down sympathetically. Why can't she pick on the home-brewed?
He c.o.c.ked his head at Afra.
Afra felt it expedient to ignore that comment. 'A very dangerous alien, unfortunately. Do you remember that old scare tale about soul-eaters?' Larak rolled his eyes wide. 'You just bet I do. Damia terrorized me into starting a forest fire with that tale of hers. Wait a minute. You think this alien's a soul-eater?' Larak was almost indignant at the notion. 'Hey, Afra, that was kid stuff.' 'I can't think of another a.n.a.logue. I spent no more than ten or fifteen seconds, in a light secondary link, and I had to use gestalt to reach you at Procyon.' 'That's not good,' Larak said. 'That's very bad.
What's wrong with Damia? Doesn't she realize... No, obviously she doesn't.' Larak slid into the second conformable couch, his eyes flickering as he considered and discarded thoughts.
'Damia mentioned the residue you two felt from Beetle artifacts.
There's something comparable to your sting on board Sodan's vessel.
And it's not comfortable.' 'Fissionables?' Larak asked.
Afra shook his head. 'It is very alien. I couldn't define it.' 'Can Damia?' Afra grimaced. 'She's involved in translating abstracts.' 'Those'll be a great help if he plans to blow us up.' Larak tensed.
'What has she said about us? The League?' 'From what she reports, she's been discreet.' 'That's a mercy.' Afra could sense that Larak's flippancy disguised a concern for Damia as deep as his own. Larak had always been closest to her. 'I wouldn't mind what they discussed,' he said, 'but Sodan leaves her so drained.' 'New kind of weapon - total enervation before annihilation?' 'That's not as outrageous as you think,' Afra said grimly.
'There's a tremendous power source in the s.h.i.+p 'There'd have to be to push it between galaxies 'But that's all I could sense. Beyond the public mind, I met an impenetrable wall. Granted, Damia '5 much stronger than I am 'But she hasn't tried?' Afra frowned, and rising, began to pace restlessly back and forth in the narrow Tower.
Larak held Afra's glance, and then sighed.
'But there's been no overt act of aggression?' 'That depends on what you call ”aggression”. I believe that Sodan is subtly trying to destroy Damia in the process of this peaceful exchange of culture and information. In my lexicon, eroding her mental capability is an a.s.sault with intent to maim or kill.' He saw that remark succeeded in arousing all Larak's natural fraternal concern and protectiveness. 'I could be overreacting. I'm no pre-cog but there are instances in which one doesn't need to be to guess intent. Judge for yourself when you see Damia this evening.' Larak did not bother to s.h.i.+eld his anger. 'I will but I've never seen you overreact, Afra. Apart from the danger to my sister, just how close is this Sodan to Iota Aurigae? Close enough to recognize this system as Damia's point of origin?' Afra managed a wry grin. 'You're a real Tower-man, Lar.' Larak gave a quick unhumorous grin. 'A Gwyn-Raven, body, blood and brain!' 'Logically,' Afra continued, 'we have to allow him the same sophistication in monitoring devices as he has in travel capability. So he's certain to detect sufficient activity on this planet to attract,' and Afra paused, searching for the appropriate phrase, 'his attention. Since a high tech society gobbles ores, minerals and rare earths at phenomenal rates, it is reasonable to a.s.sume that he's crossed to our galaxy to find new sources.
'Are we a.s.suming aggression where none exists?' Larak asked, playing devil's advocate.
Afra paused, 'We could be. The Beetles made their plans exceedingly clear but they might be exceptions to the rule of peaceful exploration. Only I cannot get it out of my mind that the Sodan is deliberately depleting Damia '5 energy to reduce her ability to defend herself. And I've never had such a presentiment of danger before - not even when I was mind-merged with the Rowan-focus over Deneb.' 'If we must eradicate the threat this Sodan ent.i.ty poses, I'd say it would be wiser to do it now, rather than later when he's closer to this system,' Larak replied, pressing his lips tight against that expedient. 'Should we call for naval backup?' 'Ha! Sodan'd be orbiting Aurigae before the Fleet would bestir itself to action,' Afra replied derisively.
'Especially right now,' and Larak's grin was amused, 'when they're investigating the nibbles at Procyon's DEW system.
'What?' Afra stared at Larak, struck by a horror of several Sodans converging on the Nine Star League.
Larak was delighted at the effect of that casual statement.
'They're keeping it to a need-to-know basis but don't worry. So far it's been limited to unidentifiable impingements,' and Larak shook his head vigorously to rea.s.sure the Capellan, 'and neither the scouts nor all that sensitive instrumentation has revealed anything in the least bit hostile. Those sentinels are sensitive enough to be set off by s.p.a.ceflot or cometaries. This Sodan's modus operandi seems to be entirely different. We Talents destroyed the Beetles more or less by ourselves. I think we can handle this mental giant.
Afra gave a mirthless laugh. 'We'll be lucky if we can.' He nodded briskly when Larak regarded him with astonishment. 'Oh, yes, that mind is incredibly powerful.
Not at all like the Beetles where there were only sixteen control beings that had to be diverted. And, if he has been insidiously reducing Damia's strength or getting past her s.h.i.+elds. -' Afra paused, adding very softly, his yellow eyes clouded, 'he could quite possibly destroy us.' 'Let's get Dad and Mother in on this,' Larak said in sudden resolution.
Together the two soberly presented their conclusions to Jeff and the Rowan.
Surely if you were an alien contacted by a strong mentality, you would exercise caution in revealing details? the Rowan suggested. I would, if I met a mind in outer s.p.a.ce.
You did, Jeff reminded her, and I was very friendly indeed.
Jeff If this Sodan is draining Damia, he means her, and us, no good, Jeff went on, speaking in an official tone. We are agreed that Afra does not cry panic unnecessarily so we must act on his recommendations and now, before this ent.i.ty gets close enough to investigate the Aurigaen system. Especially before he discovers the Aurigaen system and the rich lodes on that planet. I'm also keenly aware of how little defence Iota Aurigae has against s.p.a.ce attack.
You concur with Afra that he's prospecting for new sources of raw materials? the Rowan asked, in a tone of indecision.
That's our main push in finding new planets, isn't it? Larak said If Damia is as exhausted as you suggest, Afra, how can we use her as focus? In the first place, she's not likely to agree to take aggressive action against an ent.i.ty she considers friendly.
She spoke as Damia's mother, not Callisto Prime.
No, she's not, Afra said sourly.
And yet we need to use her link to his mind to make our own contact. There's also the point that, Jeff continued, not at all liking the expedient, if we do discover, and prove to her, that this Sodan ent.i.ty is truly dangerous, to her, to Aurigae, to us, that we may need her catalytic ability to increase our defence against him.
Each day Damia returns to Aurigae a little more tired than the previous one, Afra said slowly. I was immeasurably drained after only a few moments in link. That's never happened to me before.
I think Afra's correct to call him a soul-eater, Larak put in.
There's no such thing, the Rowan said sharply.
I don't know what else to call him that's as accurate, Afra said.
Or how else to describe the effect he has on her.
In any case, Jeff said firmly, I find it disturbing to think of her immense natural energy being depleted.
Highly unlikely. The Rowan bristled with indignation.
Let us conclude this swiftly, Larak cautioned them.
Damia's returning and. WOW! Is she dragging!
Afra suppressed annoyance that the curious childhood link between sister and brother gave Larak the edge in sensing her return. But, as Afra reached out to touch her mentally, her aura was very dim indeed.
He concentrated on the lightning debate that Jeff, Rowan and Larak carried on, as decision and strategy were settled in the moment before Damia's capsule landed in its cradle.
'Larak, I couldn't believe I felt your touch,' she cried happily as she saw her brother, the picture of casual relaxation, perched on the edge of the console.
'Believe it, sister dear, your favorite bra is here,' he said, rising to embrace her. 'This alien sure has got you wrapped up and tied like a present. See how the mighty have fallen.' When Damia flushed, Larak roared with laughter. 'I've got to meet a guy who can do this to my sister.' 'Really, Larak, how puerile! You obviously have no conception of what a momentous occasion this is. I've always felt that I was given unusual strengths and abilities for a special reason,' Damia said, her eyes s.h.i.+ning, 'and now I know what it is!' 'The whole planet will know in a moment if you don't reduce your output,' Afra said sharply, to give Larak a chance to control his shock at her extraordinary remark.
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