Read Regeneration (Czerneda) Online
Authors: Julie E. Czerneda
Regeneration (Czerneda) (80 page)
She was
not
providing a body part.
not
providing a body part.
And neither was Nik,
decided Mac, having grown fond of his as well.
decided Mac, having grown fond of his as well.
Singing implied voice, to a Human at least, but the Dhryn kept silent.
To Human ears,
Mac cautioned herself. She watched in fascination as Her Glory leaned forward, slowly, carefully, as if to offer the Progenitor a Human-style lover’s kiss. She stopped a few centimeters short of contact. They remained thus, their lips parted, close but not touching.
To Human ears,
Mac cautioned herself. She watched in fascination as Her Glory leaned forward, slowly, carefully, as if to offer the Progenitor a Human-style lover’s kiss. She stopped a few centimeters short of contact. They remained thus, their lips parted, close but not touching.
A long minute passed. Then another.
Mac eased left for a better view.
Nothing.
Another minute. Two more. Deruym Ma Nas remained in his bow, although his limbs were now trembling with strain. He had a decidedly desperate look, as if he’d rather fall off the Progenitor’s hand than stop bowing.
Mac glanced at Nik. He was studying Her Glory and the Progenitor. Catching her eye, he nodded toward the two, mouthing, “Look.”
She dared step nearer and finally saw that something was passing between the open mouths. Moisture glistened on their lips and the surrounding flesh.
A fine spray?
Whatever it was, Her Glory’s eyes had half closed in apparent rapture. The Progenitor’s remained open and fixed on the other Dhryn.
A fine spray?
Whatever it was, Her Glory’s eyes had half closed in apparent rapture. The Progenitor’s remained open and fixed on the other Dhryn.
This could take a while.
Mac walked over to Nik, careful to avoid the edge. “New to me,” she whispered. “Have you seen anything like it before?”
Deruym Ma Nas’ turquoise lips turned down in disapproval.
Haven Dhryn.
Mac smiled at him.
Haven Dhryn.
Mac smiled at him.
“No,” Nik answered as quietly. “But when I agreed to be Her Vessel, She said it would be in spirit only, since Humans couldn’t sing. Could be part of that process.”
Mac turned to look outward, her shoulder against his. “Any idea where She’s taking us?”
More exactly,
w
here the Ro were leading them?
More exactly,
w
here the Ro were leading them?
“I had Fy contact the dart, to have Bhar check sensors. We’re tractored to the other Dhryn, heading for the gate. From there?” She felt his shoulder move. “Any number of choices, Mac.”
She sighed. “None of them good.”
“No.” A pause. “We’ve a couple of probes left on the
Impeci.
Once through the gate, we can at least let the IU know which system is under attack.”
Impeci.
Once through the gate, we can at least let the IU know which system is under attack.”
Mac reached into a pocket and brought out a nutrient bar. She snapped it in half. “Here.”
Nik tapped his to hers. “Cheers, Dr. Connor.”
She smiled. “Now you see the extent of my culinary skills.”
“We won’t starve.” Nik’s arm stole around her waist. “I can cook.”
“Another experiment?” Mac leaned her head against him. Although her stomach objected, she ignored it, methodically chewing and swallowing the entire morsel.
Water would have been nice, but there was some on the dart.
They weren’t desperate.
They weren’t desperate.
Yet.
“Incredible, isn’t She?” Nik murmured.
Mac gazed out at a vista holding all the beauty of a desert at twilight. “You should have seen Her whole.”
Before She began to die.
Before She began to die.
Before so many did.
She took an uneven breath and Nik’s arm tightened. “You didn’t see him fall,” he said with that uncanny perception. “That’s what you told me. That’s what you need to remember.”
“I feel appallingly selfish,” Mac confessed. “Hoping for one among all the rest. With what’s happening—”
Nik gathered her against him. “Then I’m selfish, too.”
“Mac.”
Didn’t mind the sound of her name this way, breathed into her ear with such tenderness. Not about to wake up. But the sound . . . that was nice.
“I think they’re about done. C’mon, Mac.” The tenderness remained, but there was an added note of urgency that didn’t intend to be ignored.
Mac opened her eyes, immediately realizing two things. First, she was tucked very comfortably within a nest composed of Nik’s lap, arms, and body. Second, they were in . . . “This is the Progenitor’s Chamber.” She flushed and struggled to her feet. “You let me fall asleep on Her hand?”
In front of aliens?
“Guilty, though in my defense there was no ‘letting’ involved.” Nik grinned unrepentantly as he stood. “Should I mention snoring? Guess not.” This at her glare.
Mac rubbed her eyes. “What did I miss?”
“The Progenitors communed.” Deruym Ma Nas sat nearby. His hands fussed with the strings holding his silks and the imps. He looked exhausted.
Not only the prolonged bow,
Mac judged. He was too thin, malnourished, and worn with care. “
Gnausa
is complete.”
Not only the prolonged bow,
Mac judged. He was too thin, malnourished, and worn with care. “
Gnausa
is complete.”
She looked at Her Glory. The large Dhryn leaned against the wall of the Progenitor. Glistening liquid streaked her jaw and upper chest, as it did the flesh beneath the Progenitor’s mouth. Her bands glowed and her eyes were vivid gold. The Progenitor’s eyes were closed, as if She slept.
“What is
Gnausa
?”
Gnausa
?”
“It is how a Progenitor anoints Her Successor,” Deruym Ma Nas told them. “No one else knows what passes between them.” His lips moved and he folded his arms as if overcome by emotion. “But I—I can feel the result; I know I am in the presence of not one, but two of Those Who Light the Way.” A hint of a bow to Mac and Nik. “An unexpected joy.”
“Forgive me, but you don’t seem joyful,” Mac observed.
“After what you’ve revealed?” The archivist sighed. “I would like to believe there will be more accomplishments by That Which Is Dhryn to remember and record, but I am no fool, Mackenzie Winifred Elizabeth Wright Connor Sol. A Progenitor alone is doomed. A Successor without a future cannot save us.”
Her Glory had been listening. Now, she came over to Deruym Ma Nas and bent to look the smaller Dhryn in the eye. “Despair cannot save us,” she corrected.
This close, Mac could see that the liquid had spilled out of Her Glory’s mouth—
which made sense, since the being could no longer swallow
—yet was viscous enough to stick to her skin. She looked closer. It was collecting in a maze of fine cracks in the thick blue.
Or had produced the cracks,
she realized, thinking of the potency of Dhryn spit. “How do you feel?” she ventured.
which made sense, since the being could no longer swallow
—yet was viscous enough to stick to her skin. She looked closer. It was collecting in a maze of fine cracks in the thick blue.
Or had produced the cracks,
she realized, thinking of the potency of Dhryn spit. “How do you feel?” she ventured.
“Hungry.” Her Glory smiled, as if asking Mac to share the humor in that admission. “Ambitious. Determined.” She rose to her full height. “Is this not a glorious day? Who could not feel wonderful?” This as a shout that echoed far below.
“Hush. Leave me, Daughter.” The Progenitor didn’t open Her eyes. “I must rest before we reach our destination and defeat the Ro.” There was no room for debate; as She spoke, Her hand moved away from Her face.
And so did they.
Fy was waiting for them within the long arched doorway. “May I see the Progenitor now?” she asked eagerly as Mac stepped from the hand.
“She fails,” Her Glory said, her voice implacable. “I endure.” She brushed by the Sinzi and headed up the ramp, Deruym Ma Nas following behind with a clatter of imps.
Move on. Survive.
Mac understood the impulse. Part of her applauded it.
Mac understood the impulse. Part of her applauded it.
Part of her was already grieving.
No matter what happened next, the days of the Progenitor—Brymn’s, hers—were numbered.
No matter what happened next, the days of the Progenitor—Brymn’s, hers—were numbered.
Nik was shaking his head. “Blunt. I fear accurate.” He touched the thick metal wall. “The ship will only last as long as there’s crew.”
Fy zipped around the two Humans, stopping in front of Nik. “I could examine the control systems,” she said quickly, her fingers writhing.
Hopefully this was the excited anticipation of a scholar hoping to be set loose on the real thing,
though Mac didn’t rule out a nervous twitch. “I would be willing—”
Hopefully this was the excited anticipation of a scholar hoping to be set loose on the real thing,
though Mac didn’t rule out a nervous twitch. “I would be willing—”
“We may need your help, Sinzi-ra,” Nik assured her. “First, we need to check on the situation outside the ship. Anything new?”
Mac watched the two Dhryn, the old and the new. They’d stopped in the open, just beyond the arch. Deruym Ma Nas bowed to Her Glory and moved out of sight. Her Glory sat on the cushioned floor, her ridged back toward Mac, and began to rock from side to side.
What was she doing?
Mac walked closer, curious.
Mac walked closer, curious.
Suddenly, a mass of tentacles appeared in one of the holes around the door, then three feeders dropped to where Her Glory sat, helpless and oblivious.
Mac let out a cry and broke into a run,
not that she had any idea what she could do.
not that she had any idea what she could do.
“Mac! Wait!”
She slowed, not because of Nik’s shout, but because the feeders had continued to drift downward until they rested on the floor before the Dhryn. Mac moved to the right-hand wall and edged forward to a good vantage point.
“You have the worst bloody reflexes—”
“Shhh.” Mac grinned at Nik’s fervent complaint as he hurried up beside her. “Look.”
The feeders were not attacking Her Glory.
Far from it.
Instead, their tentacles were delicately exploring her face and chest. “I think they’re after the liquid from the Progenitor,” Mac whispered. The mouths at the ends of the tentacles stayed in no one place for long.
Far from it.
Instead, their tentacles were delicately exploring her face and chest. “I think they’re after the liquid from the Progenitor,” Mac whispered. The mouths at the ends of the tentacles stayed in no one place for long.
She noticed something else. Their clear bodies never stopped pulsating, but now each pulse spread a faint tinge of violet.
“They’ve friends,” Nik cautioned as another pair joined the first three.
Fy’s finger rested on Mac’s shoulder. “Is this something to fear?”
Yes!
Mac quelled the impulse and settled for a tight-lipped, “I don’t know.”
Mac quelled the impulse and settled for a tight-lipped, “I don’t know.”
Her Glory had excellent hearing. “These are mine now,
Lamisah
. They will seek the Taste that I require. Which would,” she added with the hint of a hoot, “include walnuts.”
Lamisah
. They will seek the Taste that I require. Which would,” she added with the hint of a hoot, “include walnuts.”
The violet was accumulating along the outer rim of each membrane; more drew a faint band across the ventral surface.
Perhaps coloration unique to each Progenitor,
Mac guessed.
Perhaps coloration unique to each Progenitor,
Mac guessed.
Nik pressed his lips to her ear. She felt more than heard the words. “And us?”
He had his weapon out and ready.
He’d seen what a feeder could do to Human flesh.
She put her hand—
the new one
—over his, pressing it down. “Cayhill’s work. Her Glory is herbivorous. Plants, Nik. We should be okay.”
He’d seen what a feeder could do to Human flesh.
She put her hand—
the new one
—over his, pressing it down. “Cayhill’s work. Her Glory is herbivorous. Plants, Nik. We should be okay.”
He resisted. “ ‘Should be’ isn’t good enough, Mac.”
“There’s only one way to know.” She steeled herself to walk out there, but Nik beat her to it, heading for the Dhryn and her ghastly company.
“No. Wait!” She rushed after him, only to find Fy coming with her. “Oh, no. Not you,” she declared, trying to grab some part of moving Sinzi.
It was remarkably difficult.
Mac wound up with an undignified handful of gown, said gown dragging her forward with it anyway.
It was remarkably difficult.
Mac wound up with an undignified handful of gown, said gown dragging her forward with it anyway.
Fortunately, the feeders scattered out of the way like jellyfish, their bodies bloating, membranes fluttering almost frantically. Her Glory hooted, her sides shaking. “You should see yourselves,
Lamisah
!”
Lamisah
!”
Mac kept her eye on the feeders, now squeezing themselves back through the holes above the door. When the last tentacle disappeared from view, she looked back at the Dhryn. “I take it they were finished?”
Her Glory rose to her feet—
Her feet,
Mac corrected to herself, quite sure by this point the honorific was required.
Although she’d like to know more about the whole
oomling
production side of things.
“They will come with me. As will my
erumisah
.” She gestured grandly and Deruym Ma Nas scuttled back from where he’d been staying at a safe distance.
Her feet,
Mac corrected to herself, quite sure by this point the honorific was required.
Although she’d like to know more about the whole
oomling
production side of things.
“They will come with me. As will my
erumisah
.” She gestured grandly and Deruym Ma Nas scuttled back from where he’d been staying at a safe distance.
Someone not quite so sure,
Mac thought.
Mac thought.
“Come with you—where?” asked Nik.
“With you, of course. Deruym Ma Nas is right in one thing. I will need help. Your help. The help of the Interspecies Union.”
Fy’s fingers formed their complex knot.
Distress or confusion.
Mac sympathized “To do what?” the Sinzi inquired politely.
Distress or confusion.
Mac sympathized “To do what?” the Sinzi inquired politely.
A one/two blink of warm golden eyes. “We shall destroy the Ro together. Then I shall restore That Which Is Dhryn to what we once were.” Her Glory beamed at Mac. “Mac promised to help.”
Other books
Crónica de una muerte anunciada by Gabriel García Márquez
The Future Is Short by Anthology
A Wedding in Red Creek: Rori and Jackson (The Sons of Dusty Walker Book 9) by Randi Alexander
The Treble Wore Trouble (The Liturgical Mysteries) by Schweizer, Mark
The Seventh Trumpet by Peter Tremayne
To Crown a Caesar (The Praetorian Series: Book II) by Crichton, Edward
Touch Me by Melissa Schroeder
Cupid Has a Heart-On (The Holidays #2) by Tara Sivec
The Soul Thief by Charles Baxter
A Mother's Duty by June Francis