Part 61 (1/2)
”I'd prefer to join you, sir.” Keith turned to the senior NCO.
”You're in charge here, Sergeant Tovar.”
”Yes, sir.” The sergeant smiled, exposing shark-like teeth. ”You need not worry, sirs. This is not our first time among humans who haven't seen Traiti before. It's just too bad there are no children here.”
”Children!” Bradford exclaimed in disbelief.
”Children,” Medart confirmed with a chuckle. ”Traiti adore children, anyone's children--and the youngsters have some way of knowing it.
Five minutes or so after they meet, they're fast friends.”
”I think I would like my children to have such friends,” a woman said behind Medart. He turned, to see all of Family Cortin except Cortin herself, Odeon, and the children. Chang stepped forward, one hand brus.h.i.+ng the bulge of her abdomen. ”I do not know why, but I find these Traiti . . . comfortable.”
Medart smiled. Sis had a trace of empathy, not enough to be called Talent but clearly enough for her to sense the Traiti regard for children and women--especially pregnant ones--of whatever race.
Betty looked from the Traiti to the Family's senior wife, thought for a moment, then nodded. ”I trust Sis' feelings; they can come out after lunch.”
Breakthrough! Medart thought as all four Traiti smiled and Tovar bowed to the women. If Cortin's Family allowed their children to play with non-humans, it would have to have a favorable effect, at least on those who saw them.
”We thank you, ka'naya,” Tovar said. ”Not having children around is one of the most difficult parts of military life; we will treasure this opportunity.”
”They will, too,” Medart told Bradford as the three made their way to Cortin's underground suite. ”If they can't be at home, the Traiti version of perfect sh.o.r.e leave is a park-full of kids.”
Bradford didn't have anything to say to that, so the three were silent until they got to the observation room door, where he paused with his hand on the k.n.o.b. ”Colonel Cortin says she told you briefly what she does. I have to add that she's extremely good at both making the punishment fit the crime, and at making that punishment last. If you're at all squeamish, I'd strongly recommend that you not follow me through this door.”
”I'm here to observe,” Medart said. ”I don't expect to like it, but I can't form an accurate a.s.sessment of this society if I only observe the positive side. Would you mind telling me what this one did?”
”Of course. He's attacked three families, in all cases raping and killing them one at a time, while the survivors watched. Children first, then the mother, with the father last. Grandfather, in one case. He claims more, but Enforcement has found only those fifteen bodies. Even Colonel Cortin can't make him suffer for that many, so any more would be academic as far as his punishment is concerned.”
Medart grimaced. ”I see what she meant about getting the particularly nasty ones. Do you know what she has in mind for him?”
”That depends mostly on how he reacts to her preliminary examination.
Most people have one major fear, criminals usually more; when she discovers his, that's what she'll concentrate on. But since he's a rapist, that'll definitely include s.e.xual pain.”
”She'll geld him, of course,” Keith said.
”Probably,” Bradford agreed, ”but not immediately; intact genitals are too useful for producing both physical and psychological pain to waste them early. Especially with one like this, where they're powerful ego points.”
For the torture scene:
30a. Cortin's point of view
30b. Medart's point of view
30c. Odeon's point of view
30d. Keith's point of view