Part 20 (1/2)
”You've not worried about our a.s.signment on Ciudad Rodrigo?”
”Me? Worried about Hiver queens? Never,” he said, with such vehemence that she recoiled. But he caught her back, pulling her into both arms. ”Areyow?” He knew she didn't like slithers, but queens were definitely not slithers. Although Thian had mentioned something scuttling over his feet. . .
”If I'm with you, I'm never scared.”
He looked down at her face, shadowed so that she looked older, mysterious. He wanted very much to kiss her.
Then why don't you? Zara said in exasperation.
”What's the matter, Rojer?” Asia asked, and anxiety flickered across her face, making her his dear young Asia again.
Not that young, Rojer. This time it was Flavia who was chiding him.
Both of you, get out of my head and my s.p.a.ce and let me do my own courting.
Then do it! the two Primes said in a chorus of disgust, you're the one who's shy now.
”I know that look,” Asia said, her voice no longer soft and yielding. ”You're 'pathing, and just when we're in the most romantic setting we're ever likely to have for the next few months. Sometimes, Rojer Lyon, you can be the most exasperating of men.” She gave his shoulders a shake and then, standing on her tiptoes, reached up and pulled his head down to hers, kissing him soundly and far more thoroughly than he thought his Asia should know how to kiss.
Well, it's about time!
Rojer ignored the snide telepathed whisper and later couldn't remember who had spoken, because he and Asia were responding to each other in a pa.s.sionate embrace. With their emotions awakened and re- inforced by mutual desire, Asia 'pathed to him for the first time ... a far firmer voice than her audible one.
your room or mine?
”Asia!” He broke off the kiss to stare down at her, not that that wasn't what he had in his mind.
Believe me, Rojer Lyon, I'm grown-up enough!
Where did my shy Asia go?
She got tired of waiting, Rojer Lyon.
Thian woke, gasping for breath, stunned by a dream so terrible that he clung to Gravy beside him.
”Whatever s the matter, Thian? Oh, Lordy, look how Mur and Dip are thras.h.i.+ng about. They'll hurt themselves . . .”
Gravy was as fast to a.s.sist the two writhing creatures as Thian.
”I just had the most awful dream, Thian,” she said, holding Mur to her and stroking it, thinking rea.s.surance as hard as she could. ”Freezing. Choking.”
Thian was doing much the same to Dip.
”Let's surround them.” He rearranged himself and Gravy so the two 'Dinis were on their laps, Human arms making a safe cage about the shuddering, quivering bodies.
”Whatever can have happened?”
Rame, Clancy, Lea, how many 'Dinis on board are having nightmares? Thian broadcast to the entire complement of the Was.h.i.+ngton.
His com unit started buzzing and the panel at the workstation in the lounge was announcing urgent in-s.h.i.+p messages.
The replies were all the same and came from all parts of the s.h.i.+p where Humans had 'Dini friends. As abruptly as it started, the convulsions ended. Whimpering, the 'Dinis were coaxed back to sleep, but only when they were held tightly by their Humans.
Thian thought to check with Captain Spktm of the^5T5.
WHATEVER IT WAS, IT WAS WIDESPREAD, THN. BAD DREAMS FOR THOSE ASLEEP. FOR US AWAKE, THE MOST HIDEOUS THOUGHTS OF.
TERROR, COLD, CHOKING. IT IS OVER. WE ARE ON DUTY. WE WILL TAKE RESTORATIVE DRINK.
That was not good enough for Thian. Not when the ”bad dreams” were reported on every Human s.h.i.+p with 'Dinis in their crews and on all the 'Dini vessels.
Rojet; you had any trouble there? Thian 'pathed to his brother on the Columbia, en route to Ciudad Rodrigo.
”Trouble,” he calls it, was Rojer's sarcastic reply. Every 'Dini went into convulsions. Never seen the lifye of it. Humans who were unlucky enough to be asleep had nightmares . . .
Of freezing cold, choking and terror . . .
Yours got it too? I thought Asia and I'd never calm Gil and Kat.
Whole d.a.m.ned First Fleet had it.
Do you call Grandfather or do I?
As Earth Prime, Jeffs voice interrupted their conversation, * reluctantly report that there seems to have been a major power failure at Clarf Main Hibernatory. Many are dead and we are trying to estimate the losses. It is hoped that a proportion may be saved by restorative methods that are currently being applied.
But Grandfather, how did our 'Dinis know so far away? Thian asked.
Who was it said that bad news travels fast? I'll let you know when we can find some Mrdini who will tell us exactly what happened. And how! A rough estimate is that nearly eight hundred 'Dinis of all colors were ajfected. Those here at Blundell say that the very young and the oldest would have died. I'll send a full report.
On another topic, Jeff said after a brief pause, the Heinlein observers rigged a screen in the queen's quarters and played selected pa.s.sages from the material you sent me a while bacf(.
Oh?
Jeffs chuckle was malicious. She tool^one glance at the side panels and ignored them. She walked up to the main panel, the one where the patterns alter, and watched it. Those who have become familiar with what gestures or movements she maes thought she was, one, startled, and two, disgusted. She returned to her couch and didn't pay the screen any further attention.
The com experts are of the opinion that the side panels are static, with very few alterations, while the main screen gives some sort of running comment on whatever it is queens on the same planet would be talking about.
Interesting.
Yes, isn't it? I don't know if'it's good news, but it's better news. Tellyour experts. And before Thian could thank him for the report, Jeffs presence had left his mind.
”Well,” Sam Weiman said with a sigh that Grm repeated when Thian gave them the report, ”we did what we could. I don't understand such a negative reaction from the Heinlein queen,” he added, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully.
ONE QUEEN WARLIKE, THE OTHER PLACID. THEY WOULD NOT LIKE EACH OTHER. ALSO FROM DIFFERENT HIVE WORLDS, Grm remarked.
”Would they all use the same language?” Thian asked.