Part 6 (1/2)
Mataroreva stared grimly at her, seemed about to say something, and then he was smiling broadly as be- fore, as if nothing had happened.
”Forget it. It's over and no one was hurt. Not even the toglut, I think. I suppose that from a biological standpoint your a.s.sumptions were accurate. You couldn't have known there would be something within range of your instrument under the sand. Actually, your thinking was mostly correct. There are very few dangerous creatures living inside the reef, and most of them stay out in the center, where the water's deep.”
He pointed downward, over the side of the pier. ”The toglut's big, but normally it's about as offensive as a kitten. I guess,” he joked, ”it wasn't much of a music lover, either.” He grinned at Cora. ”Anyway, you've had an introduction to the real Cachalot. This is a poorly explored, little-researched colony world. Para- dise orbits a different star.
”Come on.” He looked over at the two newcomers who had joined them so hurriedly. ”We'll manage, Terii,” he told the woman. She nodded, turned to leave, but not before giving Raehael a disapproving glare.
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Mataroreva started to follow, but when he saw Cora still on hands and knees, staring over the side of the pier, he walked over to her and extended a ma.s.sive brown paw. ”Ms. Xamantina? Cora?”
She glanced up at him. ”A toglut, you called it?”
”That's right. They spend most of their time under the sand. They can tear up a boat without working hard, but normally one would rather run than fight something half its size.”
”I wish I'd had a better look.” She took his hand and he helped her to her feet. She continued to gaze down into the water. ”Fascinating. I've never seen a cepha- lopod like that.”
”It's not a cephalopod.”
”Echinoderm?”
He shook his head. ”Polydermata. If I remember right. A new cla.s.s, native to Cachalot. We have a lot of them, I'm told. You'll learn the reason for the name if you ever get the chance to dissect one. The cephalopo- dian characteristics are coincidental. Or mimicry.”
”That's marvelous. Really marvelous.” She grew aware he was still holding her hand and pulled free.
”Raehael-”
”Please, Mother. No lectures, huh? I explained myself. n.o.body's as sorry as I am.”
Cora sighed deeply. ”You and that toy. I'm sur- prised at you, ascribing Earthly characteristics to an alien world. But I suppose I myself would have said, if asked, that it was probably safe to play that thing here.” She started for the buildings, chatting with Mat- aroreva.
Merced moved to walk alongside Raehael. ”Anyone would have made the same a.s.sumption, just as your mother said. Besides,” he added softly, ”I thought what you were playing was beautiful.”
She looked down at him. ”Flattery will get you no- where, Mr. Merced.”
30.
”Pucara, please. We are going to be working to- gether.”
”Maybe,” she replied cautiously. ”We don't know
the nature of the trouble, so I think it's a little prema- ture to say we'll be working together.” He looked away, lapsed into silence. ”However,” she added, ”I hope
that we will.” She smiled enigmatically.
”It's my hope also, Rachael. Maybe you'd be will- ing to play for me another time, as you said you would.
When we're a bit farther away from the water where your instrument's projections won't, uh, irritate the
local life.”