Silent Songs (38 page)

When she found the neat, spare units, they weren't half as big as she'd expected. They filtered River water and processed it to be safe for the residents, then treated the used water so it would be sent back to the River as clean as when it had left.
Neat,
she thought. She studied the incoming and outgoing pipes. If Jib hadn't recounted the story of the eleven-year-old computer whiz at StarBridge who had reversed some Simiu's toilet as a prank, she'd never have thought of this.

According to K'heera, to get inside the little units, you only had to press this lever.. . .

217

The system opened like a magic flower. Tesa grinned, then checked her drawing one more time. The Anurans used a simple color coding for all their machinery, so their dull-witted servants could handle the repairs.

The blue pipe is for clean water,
she read.
The red for waste. This button
shuts the system off, this one turns it back on. Okay. Here we go.

She turned the system off, and disconnected the incoming water pipe; however, when she attempted to remove the outgoing waste pipe, it wouldn't budge. She struggled with it for several seconds before giving up. She couldn't waste time on one uncooperative unit. She replaced the water pipe the way it was and turned the system back on. After closing the unit back up, she slipped into the water again.

There were five soldiers' barracks. She still had four more she could sabotage.

The others all cooperated nicely. On each one, she removed the waste pipe and attached it to the water intake. Each barracks had a water holding tank that held hundreds of gallons in reserve. Tesa figured it would take half an hour for the waste pipe to contaminate the holding tank enough so that fouled water would start seeping into the soldiers' sleeping pools. Then, it would be another ten minutes before anyone figured out what was going on.

She planned to be back at her starting place in the reeds before that last ten minutes was up.

Her sabotage completed, she slapped on her breather, then headed for the long, low, roofed platform that sat in the middle of the River. This platform, open on all sides, was where the human and Simiu captives were kept at night.. . except for K'heera.

Swimming beneath the facility, she peeked out from under it. At opposite ends, on sleds parked in midair, hovered two Anuran guards. The open platform was surrounded by powerful, invisible force-fields that kept the humans from escaping. The guards were just an added precaution. They couldn't be discounted, but the rain would reduce their visibility.

Fortunately, the fields did not go past the platform itself, nor did they affect the catwalk constructed around the water treatment facility. Tesa had considered damaging the platform's power plant, which would disable the force-field and enable all the humans to make a break for it, but realized that would alert the guards instantly. Besides, most of the humans were too drugged to take advantage of it.

218

Perching on the catwalk, Tesa felt overhead for the outline of the trapdoor that led to the floor above. The nearly seamless door, set flush with the prisoners' platform, could not be opened from their side, but there was a handy latch on Tesa's side. This allowed maintenance staff access to the platform without disabling the force-field.

Carefully, Tesa opened the trapdoor and peeked through. Prone bodies lay side by side before her in long rows. She peered around for the guards, waiting until they were both turned away from her, then hoisted herself up through the door. After jamming a piece of wet fabric between the door and its frame to keep the catch from engaging, she lay flat so she'd seem like another sleeping body. Cautiously, she peered around for the mass of white that would be Weaver.

Of course, the avian was at the farthest end of the building. Tesa poked the person lying nearest her, but there was no response. She crawled on elbows, belly, and knees, creeping foot by foot down the row of sleepers.

Meg and the others would be closest to Weaver.

Twice she had to crawl in between sleepers to hide from the guards. Several captives awoke, eyes widening when they realized who she was, what she was doing. She signed them to stillness, and they obeyed as she traveled down the line. When she found the three Simiu drum dancers, shorn and thin, they were so far under that she could get no response from them at all.

Finally, she lay down next to Weaver's gleaming, white form as casually as if they were back in their own nest shelter. The avian's head was tucked under her wing, so Tesa carefully pulled the wing over her own head, bringing her face as close to her partner's eye as she could. She jostled Weaver, waiting for the eye to blink open. Tesa's heart trip-hammered. What if Weaver was too drugged to fly? What if she couldn't rouse her?

Finally, the sleeping bird's lids separated, her nictitating membrane uncovering the round, golden orb. She blinked, then her eye dilated and her crown stretched as she realized who was bold enough to crawl beneath her wing. Tesa breathed a sigh of relief as they pulled their heads out from under the wing.

"Move slowly," Tesa signed. "Make your gestures natural. They can see you so easily." The Interrelator peered around the avian worriedly. "Where are my grandparents? Where are Meg, Bruce, and Szu-yi? Why aren't they with you?"

"They were taken away after your raid," Weaver replied.

Taken away. Because of her raid?
Oh, no....

219

"Only First-Light is here now, Good Eyes," Weaver signed.

Who?
Tesa wondered, not understanding. She finally noticed strange, hooded, dark eyes watching her from over Weaver's back. She turned her attention back to the avian.

"Did they clip only one wing?" Tesa asked her.

"Only one. But all the feathers, even the tertials."

"I've brought Aquila feathers, slivers of wood, and surgical glue." She pulled the waterproof package out of her camisole and opened it, checking SouthWind's feathers for damage.

The man on the other side of Weaver crept around her. "You have the feathers?" he signed.

"Yes," Tesa signed back. "Who are you?"

"I asked for the feathers. I've done imping before ... the feathers have to be seated just right."

Tesa nodded. "We don't have much time to get this done before the shit, literally, hits the fan. Stretch your wing and act like you're preening," she instructed Weaver, who instantly obliged.

Each feather had to be matched to the hollow stump left from a cut feather.

Then, the new feather needed its shaft trimmed to allow it to be slid into the stump. Thin wooden slivers were glued deep into the stump, then the new feather glued over the sliver, lending stability to the mating. The feather had to overlap its neighbor to allow correct airflow.

The Aquila feathers were all the wrong size, so they had to be trimmed. The two strangers worked quickly as Tesa mentally counted down the time they had left. When she slid the last feather into place, she signed to the man,

"Why aren't you drugged?"

"I was," he signed back, "but some of the leaves you dropped were emetics.

I've been emptying myself ever since. I'm a little wobbly, but clearheaded."

"And the others?"

"Martin Brockman, beside me, he's clearheaded. Carlotta Estafan behind you is okay. Moshe Rosten, Chris Bartus, and Noriko Imanaka near her are fine, too. We all work together."

"And you are ... ?"

"Javier First-Light-of-Day."

"I'm ..."

"He knows who you are," Weaver signed quickly.

"Right. I brought hollow reeds. You can follow me out the service door, but I can't wait for you. I'm here for Weaver."

First-Light nodded, even as he checked the feathers for looseness. "I'm not leaving without her, anyway," he signed.

220

That was when Tesa finally noticed the way he interacted with Weaver and realized they'd developed a relationship.
So, Rob sent good people, just like
he promised.
She gazed into Weaver's golden eyes. "Are you still strong, my friend?"

"Strong enough," the avian assured her. "And Taller?"

"His strength is here with you. He needs you, Weaver."

"But how can I leave?" she asked. "We're enclosed by invisible wal s that are painful to touch."

Tesa nodded toward one of the guards. "They wear a device on their belts that neutralizes the field so they can pass through it. To free yourself.. . you'll have to lure one of them in here . . . then ... take the device from him. Can you do that?"

"You're asking me if I can kill one of these un-Worldly creatures?" Weaver asked coolly. "Easily."

"It will have to be fast, before the other one can react," Tesa told her. "Take the device from his belt and slip it over your neck. Once it's on your body, you can pass through the field without fear. Fly west." She pointed to a clump of reeds. "The other guard will call for reinforcements, but they'll be busy dealing with another problem. Head for the forest. Thunder will take you to Taller. Don't wait for me."

"Suppose she can't get the field neutralizer off him?" First- Light interjected.

"I'll stay with her until she's out of here."

"No," Tesa said, handing Weaver a small stone knife on a thong. "If you can't unfasten the alien's belt, use this to cut through." She gazed at First-Light.

"You won't be able to get away unseen if you wait for Weaver. You have to come now."

First-Light watched Weaver, his face drawn, concerned. Tesa was startled by the depth of emotion he had for her.

"This is not my first time in combat, friend," Weaver assured him. "Soon, I'll be with Taller. .. and then you'll have to give courting gifts to someone else, First-Light."

The man smiled. "My best gifts will always be for you."

To Tesa's surprise, her partner enveloped the man under her wing briefly.

Then she turned to the Interrelator. "Take care of him, Good Eyes. He's been a good friend to me."

She nodded. "First-Light, have your people follow you one at a time. If they're spotted crawling out.. ."

"We can handle it," he assured her as she turned to go.

Tesa glanced back once, saw him sign to Carlotta.

Once under the platform, Tesa counted seconds as five humans exited through the trapdoor and slipped into the inky water. First-Light was the sixth and last, closing the door behind him.

221

The small group clustered under the trapdoor so that the bright lights of the telltales could illuminate their signing.

"I was afraid you might disobey orders," Tesa signed to him.

He lifted an eyebrow, but didn't comment. She started signing, but he stopped her. "Martin, Moshe, Noriko, and Chris don't know sign language.

They're crew from the
Brolga."

Tesa groaned inwardly.
"Tow
them if you have to," she signed, handing him the short lengths of hollow reed. "Strike out for that area"--she pointed to her reed blind--"but don't lift your heads above water." She checked her chrono.

"We've got four minutes." She nodded at the wet, nervous people, attached her face mask, then disappeared beneath the waves.

Tesa waded into the center of the reeds only moments in front of Martin Brockman. He grinned, giving her a thumbs-up. She returned the gesture, then reached for her bow. Moving to a high spot, she knelt and unwrapped her weapon.

She unpacked her arrows from their dry pouch, handling them carefully as Brockman watched with undisguised curiosity. Carlotta finally joined near them, then Moshe, Chris, and Noriko, followed, at last, by First-Light.

Weaver lay still on the quiet platform, trying to give her human friends the time they needed to swim to cover. Finally, she stood and walked to one of the water stations, scooping up a cool drink in her long bill. She peered around. A guard was near, the other at the opposite end of the structure.

Suddenly she dropped her head and coughed loudly, as though there were something wrong with the water. The nearest guard turned, curious. She coughed again, violently, pawing at her bill, tossing her head. She staggered around the platform, carelessly stepping on several of the prone humans.

The nearest guard lowered his sled until it was level with the floor of the platform, then stepped off it, moving easily through the field. He approached Weaver cautiously, just as the second guard moved around the building to get a better look.

Weaver lurched, placing her large body between the guard approaching her and the one behind her, blocking his view. When the near guard was close enough, she drew herself up and drove her powerful bill straight into his eye.

He went down, thudding against the floor and twitching, as Weaver lunged for his belt. Glancing back, she saw the second guard moving his sled closer. Her long fingers fumbled with the belt catch futilely, so she took Tesa's knife and severed the material in one swipe. Knotting the 222

belt deftly, the Grus slipped it over her head. The second guard lowered his sled for a better view.

Only the invisible barrier stood before her and freedom. The first time she'd been brought here, they'd shoved her against the transparent walls, demonstrating how painful an escape attempt would be. Now she would have to have faith in this alien device, faith that it would neutralize the power in that field, that it would not strike her down in agony.

She swallowed, glancing back at the second guard, who was trying to see his companion. Weaver touched the device with her bill, knowing her fate hinged on this bizarre, un-Worldly thing. With a deep breath, she spread her mismatched wings.

Taking two strong strides, she sailed effortlessly through the invisible barrier.

Once outside, the rain and wind buffeted her wings, the feathers that weren't hers unbalancing her, the downpour pelting against her, driving her down toward the water. She pumped harder in the one-two, one-two beat that was her people's special rhythm. The waterway dropped away and she lifted, compensating for the borrowed feathers. One-two. One-two. The platform receded as she sailed into the night sky. The rows of soldiers' barracks suddenly lit from within as the guard behind her pursued her on his sled.