Part 5 (2/2)
I think it more likely that he acted twice as opportunity dictated. It's interesting-but not impossible-that the victims of both actions should come together.”
”It is also not impossible that Olanek has grown wary-or even that he has grown greedy. What a coup for him, should he bring Korval entire to its knees...”
Shan's brows pulled together. ”Do you really think he could? Not that he doesn't have the potential for being that greedy-or that reckless. Kayzin, the Pa.s.sage proceeds as ever. For our years together and the time you spent raising me, I will attempt to keep the rest of the route as uneventful as possible. In the meantime, please try to be kind to Priscilla Mendoza.” He picked up his gla.s.s and drank slowly. ”And wouldn't you say it was better, Kayzin, to keep the knife-if there is a knife, of course-in our view rather than have it poised at our back?”She smiled. ”You will reward him properly?”
”Steps are being taken to bring accounts into balance,” he promised, and finished his wine.
s.h.i.+PYEAR 65.
TRIPDAY 135.
SECOND s.h.i.+FT.
9.30 HOURS.
Gla.s.s in hand, Shan yos'Galan rounded the corner into the leisure section. Ahead was a slender figure, gay in raspberry tunic and celadon sash. He stretched his long legs and caught her by the intersection to the athletic hall.
”Well met, Lina.”
She looked up, her smile radiant. ”Shan. I'm glad to see you.”
”And I'm glad to see you. As always. You're looking exceptionally lovely. Off to a party? Will you bring me with you? I promise not to brag of my exalted position. How do you find your a.s.sistant?”
She laughed. ”But it is exactly of Priscilla that I wished to speak! Have you truly a moment? I know how busy it is to be captain. I hardly see you...”
”Languis.h.i.+ng?” He raised his gla.s.s, his light eyes mocking. ”By all means speak to me of Priscilla. Do the residents approve? Is she impossible for you? Shall I send her to Ken Rik?”
”Oh, no, not to Ken Rik. The small ones are each delighted-Master Frodo to the point of purrs. You knew he would be.” She stopped, frowning up into his face. ”Shan? What is wrong with her-do you know?
There is joy-one can feel it-but she denies... suppresses... I like her very well. Don't you?”
”It would be enough to lower anyone's feelings, wouldn't it, to be hit over the head and deserted with no money, a ruined record, and no friends?”
”It is more than that,” Lina insisted. ”She wants Healing.”
”Does she?” He sipped. ”Is she impossible for you?”
”Not at all. Though perhaps you...”
”Me?” He laughed. ”I'm not a Healer, Lina; I'm the captain.”
”Bah!” She banished this quibble with a tiny contemptuous hand. ”As if you haven't the skill and the training!” She tipped her head, considering information of which the expression on his face was only a small portion. ”Shan?”
A lifted shoulder denied her. He frowned slightly. ”What-perfume-are you wearing, Lina?”
”The one we bought-Endless l.u.s.t.” She chuckled. ”Rah Stee objects to the name.””As well he might.” He moved back a step or two. ”Very potent, isn't it? I don't recall that you reported aphrodisiac qualities.”
”It has none!” She grinned. ”Are you certain it is the perfume?”
”Forgive me,” he murmured. ”I have admired you forever, Lina, but amorous thoughts were far from me this evening. If it isn't aphrodisiac, it's the next best thing. Did anybody explain how it works?”
”It is the smell...” She sighed sharply, asked permission with a flicker of her hands, and slid into the Low Tongue, on the mode spoken between friends. ”It is an enhancer of one's own odor. Thus, if you are attracted primarily, you will be more so when the perfume is used. Harmless, old friend, I a.s.sure you.”
”I,” the Captain said in Terran, ”am not convinced. There are laws on certain worlds about perfumes and substances that-what is the official phrasing?-'take away volition and make pliable the will'?
Something more or less pompous.” He took a drink and drifted away yet another step. ”Do me the favor of submitting what is left of your vial to Chemistry, Lina. I would so hate to break the law.”
”It is harmless.” She frowned. ”It does not take away volition-no more than a Healer might, encouraging one to embrace joy...”
Shan grinned. ”I believe you may be splitting hairs. Are you going to a party? I would like to accompany you-purely scientific, you understand. It might be very interesting to observe the effect of this perfume of yours on a roomful of unsuspecting persons.”
”I,” Lina said dampingly, ”am going to watch a Ping-Pong match between Priscilla and Rah Stee. You may come, if you like. Though if you persist in backing away from me in that insulting manner...”
He laughed and offered an arm. ”I have myself in hand now. Let us by all means inflict ourselves upon the Ping-Pong match.”
Rusty was sweating and puffing with exertion, the expression on his round face one of harried doggedness.
In contrast, Priscilla was coolly serene, parrying his shots with absent smoothness, barely regarding the ball at all. Yet time after time she fractured his frenzied guard and piled up the points in her favor.
”Twenty-one,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. ”I don't believe it.”
”No, Rah Stee, it is twenty-one for Priscilla,” Lina said helpfully. ”I counted also.”
”That's what I don't believe.” Rusty leaned heavily on the table, directing a sodden head shake at his opponent. ”You're blowing me away! I don't get it. Half the time I don't even see the ball coming.”
”That's because you have the reactions of a dead cow,” Shan explained, not to be outdone in helpfulness.
The other man turned to glare at him. ”Thanks a lot.”
”Always of service...”
”Maybe,” Priscilla offered, cutting off a scorching reply, ”it's because you look for the ball. I almost never do that.”
”Then how do you know where it w?” He ran a sleeve across his forehead and sighed hugely. ”Dammit, 'Cilia, I'm good at Ping-Pong. Been playing for years!””But not against pilots,” the captain said, sipping wine.
”What's that got to do with it?”
”A great deal, don't you think, Rusty? Your reaction time's slow; you move in a series of jerks rather than a smooth flow; you fail to apprehend where an object will be” He raised his gla.s.s. ”Don't feel too bad, my friend. We all have our niche to fill. After all, I could hardly fill your place in the tower, or operate the-”
”Like h.e.l.l you can't,” the other muttered, spinning his paddle clumsily on the table.
”I beg your pardon, Rusty?”
”Never mind.” He turned suddenly and flipped the paddle to Shan, who caught it left-handed, lazily. ”You play her.”
The captain blinked. ”Why?”
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