Soothsayer (27 page)

"It's all right, Mouse,” said Penelope, laying a hand on the Mouse's arm. “The Mock Turtle is my friend."

"He sure as hell doesn't sound like a friend,” answered the Mouse.

"You are mistaken,” said the Mock Turtle.

"Then suppose you tell me what you plan to do with us,” insisted the Mouse.

"I will take you to my home world, where you will be safe."

"Will we be guests or prisoners? Or do you consider the two terms synonymous?"

"You will be guests,” said the Mock Turtle. “She is the Soothsayer. We could not keep her prisoner even if we wanted to."

"And we'll be free to leave whenever we want?” persisted the Mouse.

"You will be free to leave whenever you want."

"Then why not set us down on a human world now?"

"You will not be safe on any nearby world,” answered the Mock Turtle.

The Mouse turned to the girl. “Penelope?"

"It's true,” she said. “The Yankee Clipper's men are looking for us already."

"All right,” said the Mouse, facing the Mock Turtle once again. “So we land on your planet. Then what?"

"Then I hope to convince the Soothsayer that we are a peaceful race that means no harm, so that when she returns to her own people, she will instruct them not to force us to join their Democracy."

"She's eight years old, for God's sake,” said the Mouse. “Nobody will listen to her no matter what she says."

The alien stared at her but made no comment.

"Well?” continued the Mouse. “Do you disagree?"

"I have already told you that you are a fool,” said the Mock Turtle gently. “Repeating it can only serve to anger you."

The Mouse turned to Penelope again. “Are you absolutely
sure
this creature is our friend?"

"I am
her
friend,” said the Mock Turtle. “While I wish you no ill, I care no more for you than you care for me."

"He saved us, didn't he?” said Penelope.

"I am not a
he
, Soothsayer,” interjected the alien. “But you may refer to me as a male, if it pleases you."

"I don't care,” said Penelope. “You're my friend. That's all that matters."

"What were you doing on Calliope in the first place, if you weren't waiting for Penelope?” asked the Mouse.

"I was waiting for Penelope,” answered the Mock Turtle.

"I thought you said you didn't know we were going to be on Calliope,” said the Mouse sharply.

"That is true."

"Then how could you be waiting for us?"

"My ship developed engine trouble near the Calliope system, and I was forced to land there to seek repairs. Since my planet's currency is not accepted on Calliope, I was forced to obtain work so that I could pay for the repairs."

"It's working fine now, and no one tried to stop us, so obviously you had paid for the repairs before we met."

"That is true,” answered the alien, “but I also had to pay for my food and lodging, and I would not have had enough currency for that until tomorrow."

"So what does that have to do with waiting for Penelope?"

"It is obvious to me that the Soothsayer arranged for me to land on Calliope, and to remain there until I could be of service to her."

"That's ridiculous,” said the Mouse. “She didn't even know who you were or where you'd be."

"Ask her,” said the Mock Turtle.

"Penelope,” said the Mouse, turning to the little girl and staring at her questioningly, “is he telling the truth?"

Penelope shifted uncomfortably on her chair.

"Sort of,” she said at last.

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The Mouse stared intently at Penelope.

"What do you mean:
sort of
?” she asked at last.

"I knew there was a good person on the planet, one who would be our friend,” said Penelope. “I wanted him to stay until we could meet him.” She paused, trying to order her thoughts. “I didn't know it was the Mock Turtle, or what he looked like, but I thought it wasn't a human. And somehow I thought he'd be in New Gomorrah, and once we got there I knew he'd be at the carnival."

"But he was working right across the Midway from us for two days, and you didn't recognize him."

"We didn't need him until the Yankee Clipper came."

"But you had nothing to do with his landing on Calliope in the first place?"

"I don't think so,” said Penelope.

"Don't you know?"

The little girl shook her head. “I have all these strange pictures in my mind. I still don't understand most of them."

"As the Soothsayer grows, so will her powers,” said the Mock Turtle. “She will grow in peace and tranquility on my world"—the alien turned to Penelope—"if she so desires."

"And if she
doesn't
desire it?” asked the Mouse.

"Then she will be free to leave."

"It would be nice not to be hunted any more,” replied Penelope.

"Let's see what his world is like before we start making any long-term plans,” said the Mouse skeptically.

"It is an oxygen world with very low levels of pollution, and a gravity minimally greater than your own,” said the Mock Turtle. “The seas are green, the grass a rich golden hue, the mountains tall and majestic and snow-capped. Most of our fauna is extinct, but we have set aside vast reserves for those remaining specimens so that we may someday repopulate the planet with their descendants."

"What do you call your world?” asked the Mouse.

The Mock Turtle mouthed an unpronounceable alien word. “In your language,” it continued, “it would translate as Summergold.” It paused thoughtfully. “It is quite the most beautiful place in the galaxy."

"If it's so beautiful, what were you doing flying a spaceship light years away from it?"

"Searching for the Soothsayer,” answer the Mock Turtle placidly.

"How did you even know there
was
a Soothsayer to search for?” demanded the Mouse.

"Word had reached us that a human child had the power of precognition, and that she and a companion were at large on the Inner Frontier. Further investigation revealed to us that her name was Penelope Bailey, and that she had last been seen in the company of a notorious gambler known as King Tout.” The alien paused. “We knew that governments and powerful individuals would be seeking her for their own purposes, and we determined to find her first."

"It's a big galaxy,” said the Mouse. “How did you expect to find her with no more information than that to go on?"

"I didn't."

"I don't think I understand."

"I expected
her
to find
me
,” said the Mock Turtle.

"Why?” asked the Mouse, surprised.

"Because I, alone of all those who searched for her, meant her no harm."

"And based on your goodwill and nothing else, you expected her to seek you out?” replied the Mouse. “That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"She did in fact seek me out, did she not?” replied the alien gently.

The Mouse had no answer for that, and so fell silent.

"Are there any children I can play with on Summergold?” asked Penelope after a moment had passed.

"It shall be arranged, Soothsayer,” said the alien.

"Good,” said Penelope enthusiastically. “I finally got to play with some girls on Calliope, and—"

Suddenly she froze, and a look of fear crossed her face.

"What is it, Penelope?” asked the Mouse.

"It's
him
,” she said.

"Him?"

"The Iceman. He's after us already."

"Who is the Iceman?” asked the Mock Turtle.

"A bad man,” said Penelope. “All the others want to capture me, but he wants to kill me."

"He will not be successful, Soothsayer."

"Then why does he frighten me so?” asked Penelope, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Because you are a child, and do not yet realize what it means to
be
the Soothsayer,” answered the Mock Turtle. “We shall protect you on Summergold while you grow tall and strong and confront your destiny, whatever it may be."

"In the meantime, what kind of armaments does this ship carry?” asked the Mouse.

"None,” said the alien. “This is not a military ship."

"How far are we from Summergold?"

The Mock Turtle pressed a button, then read the symbols that instantly appeared on the glowing screen of its computer. “Perhaps two Galactic Standard days."

"And if we don't stop for food on a colony planet?"

"The Soothsayer is only a child,” noted the alien. “She must have sustenance."

"Don't you have a Deepsleep Chamber?” asked the Mouse. “You can freeze us until we arrive."

"This is but a small, private ship. I have no Deepsleep facilities."

The Mouse turned to Penelope. “How close are they?"

"I don't know,” answered the girl.

"Forget the food,” said the Mouse. “It's not worth the risk. We're only a few hours out from Calliope. If their ship is even marginally faster, they'll catch us if we stop."

"There is no need for guesswork,” said the Mock Turtle calmly. It turned to Penelope. “Is it safe to stop, Soothsayer?"

"No,” said Penelope.

"Can you survive without food for two days?” continued the alien.

"Yes."

"Does your race drink water?” asked the Mouse.

"Yes. I will have my ship's galley modify it to human tastes."

The Mock Turtle instructed its navigational computer to lay in a direct course for Summergold, then went to the cramped galley to supervise the filtration of the water's trace minerals.

"He'll never stop,” said Penelope plaintively. “Why can't he leave me alone, Mouse?"

"Are you sure he's coming after you to kill you?” asked the Mouse. “Maybe he thinks the Mock Turtle has stolen you, and he and the Forever Kid want to rescue us."

"I don't know,” said Penelope. “
He
doesn't know."

"You're not thinking clearly, Penelope. Either he wants to kill you or rescue you. He wouldn't be chasing us if he didn't know which."

"He still doesn't know if he'll kill me,” said Penelope. “But he thinks I should die.” She turned and faced the Mouse. “
Why?
” she sobbed. “What did I ever do to him?"

"Nothing,” said the Mouse. She frowned, once again furious at herself for ever having cared for him. “You know, maybe it's time we considered doing something to him."

"I don't want to hurt anyone. I just want to be left alone."

"Sometimes you can't always have what you want,” said the Mouse. “Or at least, sometimes you can't have it right away."

"It's not fair,” said Penelope, cuddling Maryanne to her.

"No, it's not,” said the Mouse grimly. “Still, maybe our luck's about to change. You've found another friend, and maybe we'll be safe once we get to Summergold."

"I get so tired, Mouse,” said Penelope.

The Mouse put an arm around her. “I know."

"Will you always be with me?"

"Always."

Penelope leaned her head against the Mouse's small bosom, and a moment later had fallen into a fitful, disturbed sleep.

"The Soothsayer trusts you,” said the Mock Turtle, returning to the cockpit with two containers of water.

"Yes, she does."

"Then perhaps you are not a fool after all."

"Thanks,” said the Mouse sardonically.

"I hope you will urge her to remain on our planet,” said the Mock Turtle.

"I'll have to see what it's like, first."

"She needs time to grow, free from all external pressures,” continued the alien.

The Mouse looked down at the sleeping child, and stroked her blonde hair.

"She's had a rough time of it, that's for sure."

"Summergold will offer her peace and sanctuary."

"No one ever offers anything for free,” said the Mouse.

"I told you what our interest in her is."

"I know you did,” replied the Mouse. “Now I'll have to decide whether I believe you or not."

"
She
will know if I should ever lie to you,” said the Mock Turtle. “You might consider that while you are making your decision."

"I'll take it under advisement."

They spent the next hour in silence, for neither had anything further to say to the other. Then Penelope awoke, and the Mock Turtle gave her the container of water, and then the little girl and the Mouse played a number of very simple word games to fill the time and take her mind off the Iceman.

They slept again, and awoke again, and drank again, and then, when the ship had approached to within nine hours of Summergold, the Mock Turtle activated its subspace radio and reported its position and its cargo, concluding with its estimated time of arrival.

There was a momentary silence as the message was transmitted, and then a reply came back over the speaker system. The alien spoke again, waited for another reply, and deactivated the radio. Finally it turned to Penelope.

"I am sorry, Soothsayer,” it said, “but we cannot land on Summergold."

"Why not?” asked the Mouse.

"We have been denied permission."

"Why?"

"Because even now several ships are approaching my planet, each filled with bounty hunters or members of the Democracy's military. We are not powerful enough to deny them access to Summergold, nor can we risk disobeying the Democracy's official representatives, and hence we cannot protect the Soothsayer's safety."

"What are we supposed to do, then?” demanded the Mouse.

"We must alter our course and go deeper into the Inner Frontier."

"It won't help,” said the Mouse. “Every one of those ships left Calliope after we did. If some of them are already approaching Summergold, they're obviously faster than we are. There's no way we can outrun them."

"My ship possesses a Summergold registry, and doubtless someone at the carnival was able to identify my race.” The alien paused. “It was much easier for them to anticipate that I would attempt to return to Summergold than it will be for them to predict my next action, for the simple reason that I do not know where we are going."

"Didn't your people give you any instructions except to run away?” demanded the Mouse.

"Most certainly they did,” replied the Mock Turtle calmly. “They gave me the best possible instruction, indeed the only possible instruction."