Part 22 (2/2)
”They gorge themselves with a high-protein, high-mineral complex-carbohydrate substance, the recipe for which is known only to the keepers. We've been trying to a.n.a.lyze it, but there are some elements . . . Never mind, I digress.” Zara flapped her hand in self-reprimand. ”And the air in a hibernatory is not only hot but humid, with a special blend of pheromones. The best a.n.a.logy is the sort of dream state created by some chemicals . . . again a formula zealously guarded by the keepers. I don't know if the pheromones could be altered to provide contraception, Or if the earlier hibernation will do the trick. Frankly, I think our solution is to find out which of the chemicals used can be left out and not trigger the clone*bud to develop. A sort of abortion, if you will, except that it's not taking anything as yet 'live.' I wouldn't like to think how many eggs we females produce that never get fertilized.” She shot a grin at Kincaid. ”But that would he an appropriate a.n.a.log. The bad news is that there are some nineteen different components used in the hibernatory incense. The really bad news is that there are no 'Dini-type experimental animals on which we could try any solution before using it on real live 'Dinis.” Zara heaved a big sigh, but that didn't fool her sister. The ethics of direct experimentation on a life-form they considered their equals would have been anathema to any dedicated medical person. ”Then too, the recipe is so old that the keepers don't remember exactly what the basic elements are, only how to mix and burn it at a steady rate of emissions. So, we've set up nineteen different wards, you might call 'em, in lota's hibernatory, and thank all the G.o.ds that be that it's such a new facility and we can separate the wards completely. In each ward a different chemical will be omitted, while the rest of the hibernators get the usual incense. When we've figured that out, we can decide what chemical to eliminate. One just can't stop all 'creation' without some notice being taken of it in the general 'Dini population.” She grinned. ”It's going to take time. But we will succeed.”
I.
I ki imi add the Hive I 1 ”Rea.s.suring yourself, sis?” Laria asked with an understanding grin. She was still close enough in mental rapport with her sister to catch Zara's frustration despite the very positive statement of intent.
”Yes, I am,” Zara agreed, much to Laria's surprise. ”What's so frustrating is the time it's going to take to be absolutely sure that what happened to your quartet isn't repeated anywhere else.”
”Did many die?” Kincaid asked.
Zara nodded slowly. Her expression was grim. ”Not the best way to reduce excess population.”
”Were any very important 'Dinis lost?” Laria asked.
”Yes, and some whose matches were also lost so they can't be replaced as Gil and Kat were. No big 'Dinis were involved in the Clarf fiasco. Their hibernations are strictly for the 'refreshment' aspect of the seclusion. The 'creative' stage is quite individual, but the larger the 'Dini, the less it is likely to have enough left of the 'creative' material required to produce a juvenile.”
”That's a lot more than we've ever known,” Laria said thoughtfully.
”It took us Humans long enough to learn to control our populations,” Zara said. ”We have had many 'Dinis, every color, come forward and agree to be used as anatomical subjects . . .”
”What?” Kincaid was no less horrified than Laria, but she was able to voice her objection.
”Well, they don't leave a corpse, you know. . . . Oh, you didn't know? Since they evolved on such a hot planet, they have a water-regulating physiology, reacting to osmotic pressure. So they sort of turn to mush when the physiology shuts down at death, the cells rupture and essentially the body disintegrates. Unless they are immediately used- ooops . . . Well, let's not get into the archaic tradition of'going on the line.' They are rendered unconscious but have to be used immediately or immersed in a solution of the right liquids until they are used. None of us like the idea of. . . operating on a live ent.i.ty . . . and keep hoping we won't be forced to that expedient.” Her face had turned as pale as theirs. She went on more briskly. ”They do have an entirely different att.i.tude toward death. You both know that from the history of suicide raids on the Hiver spheres. They were convinced that they, as themselves, would be re-created. As Gil and Kat were.”
”But to dissect a live 'Dini . . .” Laria could not continue, shaking her head in repugnance.
”I've learned a lot more about Mrdinis since I started this a.s.signment, Laria,” Zara said, in the most solemn and respectful tone Laria had ever heard from her younger sister. ”And since we're seeing it more and more as a pheromone problem, we won't need to do biological dissections. Ooops, sorry. You're looking very green, Lar.”
”Exactly what is happening to our friends?” Kincaid said anxiously.
”We're refres.h.i.+ng them. They're in separate tubs, to get the full benefit of that osmotic therapy, and in the same room. At the rate they're absorbing the substance, they should be physically fit again in about three more weeks. You were smart to get them here as fast as you did. I've made arrangements with the head keeper to allow you to come and see them whenever you wish. They're not really conscious right now, but they'll know you're there.”
”Three weeks?” Laria was alarmed. There was no way she could be absent from Clarf that long.
”There's not a thing that prevents us from coming back as often as we're needed,” Kincaid said, a rea.s.suring hand squeezing Lana's knee.
Clarf s Tower Prime rolled her eyes as she realized that he was right.
”You've had a shock, sis,” Zara said. Then she shook a finger at them. ”You're not to wear yourselves out-not with the time distortion between Iota Aurigae and Clarf. You especially, Laria.” Her finger settled warningly. ”Not”-she smiled, ”that I'm not delighted.”
”You looked?” Laria was perversely annoyed at her sister's knowledge of her pregnancy.
Zara guffawed. ”Honey, the change didn't require me to look any farther than the glow in your skin and a certain s.h.i.+ne in the eye that many pregnant women develop.”
Laria turned to Kincaid. ”Do I look that different?”
”If I say yes, you'll thump me,” Kincaid replied with mock fear, pretending to recoil from her wrath.
”Would not!”
”Then you've mellowed, sis,” was Zara's tart response. ”You're built right for having babies, unlike the Rowan, but take it easy-as easy as possible,” she corrected herself immediately, ”in Tower work. Give Morag more of the merges. She can handle anything. And it wouldn't hurt Kaltia to take a few either. They're well able to do it after their apprentices.h.i.+p here, even if they are technically too young to be full Primes.” She grinned, ”fust as if I had the say in the matter.” Okay to join us, Mother, Dad.
Damia and Afra did, Damia carrying a tray of hot canapes.
”You shouldn't've let us sleep so long,” Laria began.
”After your sister the healer said you obviously both needed it?” Damia replied, raising an eyebrow in reproof. ”We've checked with the girls and they're coping superbly.”
”Though they do feel,” Afra added, ”that not every single relative of the many they have-bar Thian and Rojer, who probably are unaware of the circ.u.mstances at Clarf Tower-needs to check in on an hourly basis.”
”Lionasha would let us know,” Laria started, sharing what she also considered an affront to the capabilities of the pair, as well as a tacit criticism of herself.
Kincaid gave her a gentle nudge with his elbow. ”Where are all the other 'Dinis I know live here?”
Zara chuckled. ”The adults are all taking turns nursing your lot, and the young are out with Ewain and Petra, hunting. Eat!” She pointed imperiously at the tray Damia now presented to them.
”I'd sort of looked forward to hunting,” Kincaid remarked in mild disappointment.
”You can hunt all day tomorrow if you want. . .” Damia began.
”Only after we've seen our friends,” Laria said.
”You can come in with me after dinner,” Zara said. ”They'll be lucid enough to know you're nearby.”
”Lucid?” Every ounce of Laria's anxiety returned.
”Because”-Afra sat himself down on the other side of his distressed eldest daughter-”they're swimming in a nutrient fluid and so surfeited with regenerative substances that they're not likely to make much sense.”
Laria wasn't sure she found that description any more rea.s.suring. * wouldn't lie to you, Lar, Zara said, pa.s.sing her cheese sticks. ”Don't you like them anymore?”
Well, that's nicer than reminding me I'm eating for two. You haven't even started that.
”Enough,” Damia said.
”Why, Mom? Can't you read us?” Zara grinned, reverting to her gamine and younger self.
”There's a level at which you two can communicate that excludes us,” Afra admitted as Damia hesitated. He looked directly at Kincaid. ”The sort of level that develops between two people who are often in merge and rapport. Morag and Kaltia, being so close in age, have that facility. So do Ewain and Petra. Thian could go in either direction, to you, Laria, or to Ro]er. But clearly”-he waved the cheese stick he was eating from Zara to Laria-”the girls can activate the old sideslip at will.”
”Sideslip?” Kincaid asked. ”Is it limited to siblings and couples?”
Damia shrugged. ”I doubt it. It works when it works.”
Afra chuckled, deep down in his chest. ”Jeff has often remarked that he can't say anything that your mother doesn't hear.”
”And you, Afra Lyon?” asked Damia, c.o.c.king her head at her mate of twenty-seven years.
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