Part 19 (1/2)
The finality of the word stopped her. ”What do you mean, gone?”
Drew shrugged. ”He's left the guesthouse.”
”Left? Why?”
”Let's go to the dining room, and I'l tell you what I know.”
Several tables filled the area, all empty. With J'Qhir and Rohm'dh gone, Leith and Drew were the only guests. They chose a table by the open patio doors. Sunlight faded rapidly and stars began to twinkle in the dark lavender sky. They made their choices from the menu.
”Hykaisian paow steak.” Drew's eyes widened. ”I thought the Artilians were strict vegetarians.”
”They are, but they cater to their guests.”
”But paow steak is illegal.”
”Artilia is neutral, remember.” Neutrality meant a planet reaped the benefits, but wasn't obliged to obey all the rules.
Leith didn't recognize half the dishes so she chose Terran beef stew, bread, and iced tea.
”Tell me, Drew.”
”I went to get J'Qhir and Rohm'dh. I thought all of us could escort you to dinner. The steward said they left earlier in the day. His exact words, 'It was requested they be moved'.”
”Did the steward say where?”
”He didn't offer the information. I asked because I knew you'd want to know. He said he couldn't divulge the location. But, Leith, the way he worded it doesn't mean J'Qhir made the request.”
”Rohm'dh wouldn't. J'Qhir is his superior. Who else?”
”You know a Zi s.h.i.+p arrived not long after we landed. It came from Arreis. They were still investigating the situation.” Drew laughed. ”Investigating is too strong a word. The Zi really don't know how to function among others. According to what I heard, they were hanging around hoping someone would come to them. Anyway, maybe someone from the s.h.i.+p made the request.”
”Maybe,” Leith conceded. ”But J'Qhir, as the Warrior, answers to no one except the Council of Elders.”
”Unless the s.h.i.+p received orders directly from the Council.”
Leith nodded. ”They want to isolate him, keep him from being influenced by off-worlders. And he would go along with it. Duty, obligation, responsibility...” Words of honor that turned to ashes in her mouth. J'Qhir placed them above all else and rightly so. Except that he now placed them above her as well.
”Many worlds do that, Leith. They keep contact with others to a minimum, to keep from diluting their own cultures. Even Artilia does it to a great extent. Not every culture wants theirs to become a melting pot like our own.”
She understood the concept well enough, but now it hit her on a personal level. While dressing, she had decided to find a way to be alone with him, entice him to her suite, make love to him all night long in a real bed with soft sheets and pillows. Tomorrow, over a breakfast that did not consist of food they had gathered or killed themselves, they would discuss their future and make their decisions. No, it wasn't the proper courts.h.i.+p she had envisioned earlier in the day. But she had expected him to come to her without being prodded. When he didn't, seduction was the only way she knew to force him to choose. Hadn't she feared he would choose Zi and his position as Warrior over her all along?
By leaving, J'Qhir had made his choice. There was no future. He hadn't even said good-bye.
Leith's eyes burned. She stood. ”I'm sorry, Drew. I-I don't feel well.”
”I'l have your food sent up to you,” Drew offered as she ran from the room. She reached the stairs as hot tears scalded her cheeks.
Drew knew her well enough not to come after her. If only J'Qhir had known her well enough to come to her!
In her suite, Leith changed into a warmer robe. She scrubbed her face free of cosmetics and tears. She propped herself in bed with a viewer and tried to reach Nura. As Chief Servitor of Security, Nura could find out to which guesthouse he had been moved. She was told again and again, ”Servitor Nura is unavailable at this time.”
When her food arrived, she uncovered the stew, but she wasn't really hungry. Instead, she found a channel showing Terran programming and watched an old vid from a century ago. The actors were long dead and the plot rehashed, but it kept her from thinking about what she had planned to do in this bed this night. She fell asleep before the vid was half over.
A beep on the viewer woke her the next morning. She punched the b.u.t.ton.
”Ready for breakfast?” Drew asked cheerfully.
She stared at him sleepily. ”Is food all you can think about?”
”I'm starved.”
”You're not starved, especially if you finished off that paow steak last night.”
”I did. It was delicious, pink and b.l.o.o.d.y, just the way I like it.”
Leith's stomach roiled and she covered her mouth.
”What's wrong?”
”Nothing, I'm fine.”
”I'l come by and get you in ten minutes.”
”I'l meet you downstairs, Drew. I wouldn't want you to waste away to nothing while waiting on me.”
Drew laughed as his image disappeared.
Leith lay still for a while, letting her stomach calm. When she thought she could move without retching, she slowly got out of bed. As she pa.s.sed the food tray, she stopped to replace the cover. Lumps of meat and vegetables floated in a greasy broth. She rushed to the facilities and emptied her stomach in the waste receptacle.
The transition from Paradise to civilization wasn't agreeing with her. Maybe her system wasn't compatible with Artilia, although she'd never heard of other humans having problems. And she'd felt queasy on board the Starfire before ever reaching Artilia. Stress. Leaving Paradise, anxiety over her relations.h.i.+p with J'Qhir, the conference with them on interstellar display... Nerves.
Leith made another call to Nura and was once more told the Servitor was unavailable. She left a message that it was an emergency, for Servitor Nura to get in touch with her as soon as possible.
She dressed in a loose pale blue tunic and trousers and joined Drew downstairs. He had ordered a Terran breakfast she had often craved in the past two months-eggs, sausage and gravy, biscuits, and hash browns. This morning, Leith's stomach churned at the sight and smell of it. She ordered tea and plain toast.
”The conference is tomorrow evening,” Drew said and drained the last of his coffee. ”That leaves a day and a half for sightseeing. I'd like to visit the Penelaape Arcs. How does that sound to you?”
”I can't get in touch with Nura. I'm going to stay here and keep trying.”
Leith didn't think the Artilians would appreciate her raiding all the guesthouses till she found J'Qhir. Certainly, J'Qhir wouldn't relish the attention. On the other hand, he knew exactly where she was. Surely, he could have found a moment to call her and explain. To say good-bye, at the very least. If he wanted to. Unless he just wanted to make a clean break of it. d.a.m.n, all she needed was a few moments with him, just to find out. Guessing what was going through his Zi mind was useless.
A server brought her tea and toast.
”You're not eating much, Leith. Are you ill?”
”I don't know. I don't think Artilia is agreeing with me.” No need to mention she'd had the same symptoms aboard the Starfire. Maybe she had picked up a virus on Paradise. As soon as the media conference was over, she'd see a doctor.
”You look pale. Do you want me to stay with you while you wait for Nura to call?”
”No thanks, Drew. I'd rather be alone. You do your sight-seeing.”