Between Darkness and Light (87 page)

“Excuse, I do not listen to your mind-music, but so close it is hard not to hear, but glad am I that once again all is well between at least two of my new Clan Leaders. Such harmonious tunes are so good to be hearing once again after the sad dissonances of the past.”

This time, while she laughed, it was Kaid whose ears lowered in embarrassment and who mumbled something that sounded vaguely like an apology.

“Ah! Here are coming the ladies with the refreshments,” said Toueesut, turning to the doorway.

Carrie looked up to see two Touibans coming in bearing laden trays. Originally everyone had believed they were two male-only swarms of six, rather than one hive group of twelve. Curiously, she watched the two approach. To her eyes, they were identical to the males. Barely four feet tall, they were almost neanderthal in look. A shock of sandy hair sprouted from the crowns of their heads and chins. Their eyes were sunk in deep, dark sockets under heavy brows, and below them, their thin noses had flanged openings stiff with bristles to keep out the desert sand.

Like their Speaker, Toueesut, they were dressed in clothing as garish as the house—deep, almost electric blue shirts, embroidered in bright swirls of multicolored patterns were worn loose over red trousers that sported a matching decorative panel down the outside of the legs. Gold chains, pendants, and rings glittered round their necks and on their fingers.

With much trilling between the three of their hosts, the trays of drinks and assorted sweet delicacies were unloaded onto the table.

“This female is first wife to us,” said Toueesut, indicating the one with the most rings. “She is Suatoo, and the other is Twuleat.”

Bobbing their heads at them, their trilling sounds becoming even higher pitched, the two females clutched each other then flashed wide smiles at them from under their mustaches. Then, still bobbing their heads, they twirled round and danced off, leaving her no wiser as to any observable differences between them and the males.

“Excuse their embarrassment, if you please,” said Toueesut. “Not used to being introduced to others are they, but it was their request they be made known to you.”

“It was a pleasure to meet them,” said Carrie. “Perhaps sometime they can speak to us.”

The Touiban shook his head. “Rare it is for any but a Speaker to talk to those of other species, but for the females, it is not their nature to do that since they are more timid. Lucky we are that they are bold enough to have come with us to Shola and can work among you easily. Maybe one day their courage will grow larger but if so it will only be with a very few people.”

Reaching for the enameled jug, he poured the thick, dark liquid out into the matching cups. As he did, a pleasant nutty aroma drifted up to tease their nostrils.

“This is a drink not unlike your coffee, made from beans grown in the deserts of our own world. It is very strong and perhaps an acquired taste but adding the hot water may make it more palatable if this is the case,” he said. He gestured to a bowl of clear liquid in which sat a spoon. “This you can sweeten it with to your taste for it is the nectar from a plant of ours that has a taste that wonderfully compliments that of the drink.”

Picking up two of the cups, he placed one in front of each of them, then handed them spoons and pushed the bowl of sweetener closer.

“Please, help yourselves, I am sure you will be enjoying our drink.”

Carrie reached for the bowl and spooned a small portion of the viscous nectar into her drink then stirred it with her own spoon. While Kaid did the same, she raised it to her lips and sniffed. It certainly smelled interesting. She took a cautious sip, then finding it enjoyable, a slightly larger one.

“You like,” trilled Toueesut, his face wreathing in smiles as he nodded enthusiastically at her.

“It's good,” she said, smiling at her host.

“Very nice,” agreed Kaid, a faint tone of surprise in his voice.

“Then I shall be sending some over to the villa for your own use along with a container of the sweetener because they should be drunk together,” said Toueesut, happily sipping his own drink. “Now you eat for like you, sharing food is a measure of trust between family and friends only and a time when other considerations of loyalties are set aside.”

The delicacies were a mixture of sweets and tiny pastries filled with fruit that Toueesut also said were from his home world. They chatted amicably about the severe weather and the differences between the Touibans' end of the year festival and theirs while they steadily demolished the comfits.

Just as Carrie was afraid her impatience would begin to show, Toueesut leaned his forearms on the table and regarded them seriously.

“You have come to ask us to help you in some way,” he said. “What is it that you need of us?”

Now that the moment had come, Carrie was suddenly at a loss how to proceed. Kaid stepped in for her.

“We've found out that when Kusac stole the
Couana,
he did so because he'd been sent on a time-sensitive secret mission. Because he's so well known, he couldn't be sent off Shola; he had to appear to steal a ship and leave for some purpose of his own. Your ship was the only one capable of making his rendezvous in the time left to him, so he took it.”

Toueesut nodded thoughtfully but said nothing, obviously waiting for them to continue.

Leaning forward, Carrie placed her hand over their host's. “Toueesut, the information we have is very sensitive. We cannot tell you it unless it is in the strictest confidence. You'll have to be only our friend, not a member of the Touiban people, or we can say nothing more, and we desperately need your help.”

“To find your husband,” said Toueesut.

“To rescue him, and one cub,” she said softly.

“This matter could lose us allies within the Alliance, Toueesut,” said Kaid. “That's not what we want. We only want our family back.”

Toueesut nodded and sighed, his eyes softening at the mention of children. “Did I not say that sharing food means other loyalties are set aside?” he asked. “You have my word as a member of your Clan on this matter. How came it that children are involved?”

He sat in silence as they explained what they'd pieced together, and learned from their visit to Stronghold the previous day.

“You did not underestimate the seriousness of this matter,” he said, his heavy brows meeting in a frown of concern. “Were news of the growing of your cubs to come before the Alliance council, then the Primes, no matter what evidence was put forward, would be held responsible because they allowed it to happen even if they were not aware of it and because they still have the technology for it to happen again. All species would fear that happening to their own people. You are saying you have this star chart which maps the old Valtegan Outposts but it must be read by a navigation computer?”

“Yes,” said Kaid. “And Rhyaz is having the spaceport watched to make sure we don't get access to any ships that would take us off Shola.”

Again, Toueesut nodded thoughtfully. “You think you can find this place where Kezule is hiding from the map?”

“I believe so,” said Kaid. “Let's face it, it is all we've got. He has to be fairly near a gas giant to refuel his ship, and his Outpost has to be near a system that also has a habitable world in it because he'll need to restock foods and water, since he can't go to anyone to trade for them.”

“If you aren't willing to lend us your ship, Toueesut, and I can't blame you for that, can you at least let us run the map through your navigation computer?” asked Carrie.

“I did not say I was not willing for my ship to be used,” said Toueesut, sitting up to refill their cups from the jug. “I will take you on this hunt for your family. Together we will find your children and your husband and bring them safe back to this estate.”

“That's not necessary,” said Kaid. “This will take weeks, maybe even months, and it will be dangerous. I'm more than capable of taking the
Couana
myself.”

“No. We will all go,” the Touiban said unequivocally. “You will not deny me the opportunity to be helping you in this matter. Two or three Suuman are part of my crew and in any dangerous situation they are the best to have with you. It takes a great measure of bravery to face up to an enraged Suuman. We will put a team together of your people and mine. We will represent four of the Alliance species and it will make more impact wherever we go. This is an important thing, do not be underestimating it, Kaid. Even Kezule will be wary of us with such a crew.”

“He does have a point,” said Carrie.

“It's too dangerous,” said Kaid flatly.

“You think we get into Alliance and trade with other species by being always peaceful?” asked Toueesut, looking quizzically at him. “You never see our warlike side because no need have we had to show it, but it is in us. We may be small compared with you, but we are strong, and fast.” He grinned suddenly. “We have harmonics to help us in disputes.”

“Very well,” said Kaid suddenly. “If you want to come, it is your ship after all. How soon can you bring it here?”

“Not for two or three of your weeks,” said Toueesut regretfully. “It is undergoing its yearly overhaul at your spaceport with our engineers. However,” he said, holding up his hand to stop their exclamations of dismay, “it has advantages because I can call them and have them make a few modifications to it so it is a better fighting craft, and one suited to an extended flight.”

Kaid began to grin. “You're devious,” he said.

“Of a certainty,” Toueesut grinned back. “It is also possible that I can ensure that since we often carry Sholans, there will be enough armored suits for your people as well as mine and the Suuman.”

“Armor would be very good,” agreed Kaid. “But I advise you against bringing your females.”

“Our ladies will remain,” assured Toueesut. “You will give me lists of anything else you may need as soon as is possible, also number of people you are taking. In the meantime I will give my requirements to our people and ensure the
Couana
is fully armed. With the time we have to wait, it will be plenty long enough for my requisitions to be sent from home. The
Couana
is capable of carrying more powerful weapons than she has now. By the time she arrives here she will be formidable indeed.”

“Thank you, Toueesut,” said Carrie.

“No need for thanking, grateful I am to find that my belief that Kusac was not the renegade he has been called was correct,” smiled the Touiban, his mustache twitching excitedly. “This will be an interesting experience for us. Not often do we have the chance to be working so closely on a matter of this nature since we are more diplomats. The matter may yet be resolved peacefully, but if not, we will be ready to stand beside you as family.”

Kaid began to get up and held out his hand to help Carrie. “As Carrie said, we can't thank you enough.”

“Is a pleasure to feel we are able to help you in your time of need,” he said, rising nimbly to his feet. “I will hear from you soon.”

“You can be assured of that,” agreed Kaid.

As the door closed behind them, isolating them in the snow-storm once more, Kaid wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Now we have the problem of choosing a team,” he said. “It's who we have to leave behind that will cause the most problems.”

“Don't I know it,” Carrie agreed.

These days he felt like he was walking on a knife edge on either side of which was only darkness and insanity. So mindful was he of Banner's warning that he'd insisted he and Zayshul should meet more frequently in an effort to hide the symptoms of the marker. Shaidan now spent three days a week with Kusac and the rest of the crew as he tried to play down the image of himself as being obsessed with keeping the cub to himself.

Kezule, meanwhile, had been busying himself between the salvage operations and his new colonists who were still, in the main, keeping to themselves in the old M'zullian quarters. The General was also distancing himself from Zayshul, spending more evenings with his two mistresses before returning late, if at all, to his own rooms in their shared suite.

Today had been one of the days Kusac and Shaidan spent together down on the Command level. He'd just returned and was lying sprawled on the sofa drinking some real coffee when he sensed Banner approaching.

“Enter!” he called out as the door chimed.

“I hoped you'd be back,” said Banner, coming in. “How was Shaidan?”

“Fine. What can I do for you?”

“Just touching base,” he said, moving away from the doorway. “Any news on when Kezule plans to stop the salvage? I noticed we weren't yet running the operations down and his six-week deadline is up in a couple of days.”