Treecat Wars (31 page)

“You’re right.” Jessica scrubbed at her eyes with the back of her hand. “Stephanie’s one of the best friends I’ve ever had. I don’t know why, but I’m always measuring myself against her and feeling like I come up short.”

“You’re several centimeters taller,” Anders said, trying to make a joke out of it, then stopping when he saw that Jessica looked hurt. “No, seriously. I know what you mean. Stephanie’s pretty extraordinary, but what makes her that way is that she has lots of heart to go with the brains and the talent.”

“Yeah…” Jessica’s expression turned wistful. “Anyhow, thanks for letting me sob all over your shirt. I’d offer to return the favor, but maybe we should raid the fridge instead. I think I read somewhere that food is a good antidote to shock, and we’re not done today. Not by a long shot.”

* * *

While Darkness Foe worked on the unconscious Keen Eyes, Swift Striker and Dirt Grubber did what they could to help the other Person remain comforted.

<
What do you think happened to him?
> Swift Striker asked.

<
I am
afraid he was injured by another Person
,> Valiant replied. Somewhat reluctantly, he shared with Swift Striker what else they had found that day.

<
Three other People dead? And one of them a female? This is not good
….>

Dirt Grubber added
.

<
What reason would they have for that?
>

<
This is not the first dead Person they have found near that place
.> Dirt Grubber showed Swift Striker his memories of that other day. <
I am certain the mind I touched that day was Keen Eyes, although he fled quickly, before I could do more than get the faintest glimpse of his mind-glow. Still, I tasted enough to tell he was upset…and to feel he was not personally responsible for that death
.>

> Swift Striker’s sorrow was acute.
His confusion and pain are bright in his mind-glow, complicating his ability to lead his body heal.
Some part of him believes he should die because he was doing harm
.
>

<
Yes. I think you are right. I have been doing what I can to bring comfort, but it is difficult. He slides away as soon as he remembers how he got his wounds
.> Dirt Grubber shifted uncomfortably, as if he could move away from these unpleasant thoughts. <
Do you think Darkness Foe will guess? The younglings carried the bodies of the dead ones with them here. I did not stop them because I did not like the idea that other two-legs might find them. There have been too many in that area since the fires
.>

“
Yes, I think he will
,> Swift Striker replied with certainty.
I do not believe he will be slower in this case
.
>

<
What do you think he will do?
>

<
I am not sure. I wish I knew, but I really am not sure
.>

<
What should
we
do?
>

<
I do not know that, either
,> Swift Striker admitted. <
It is never good for People to kill other People. However, at this time and that place, it is even worse. As you say, the two-legs are all over that area, and the tree cover is thin. If the killing goes on, then the two-legs are likely to learn about it. That thought makes me very uncomfortable. Not all of them are our friends, as we both know too well, and some—like the new ones who have come to study us with Garbage Collector’s two-legs—do not wish us well, however hard they may seek to convince the other two-legs that they do. If those who are not our friends discover that People are killing other People, how will they use that knowledge when they speak to the two-legs’ elders about us?
>

<
I agree that this could go ill for the People
,> Dirt Grubber said soberly. <
If Keen Eyes lives, we must ask him more about what has caused this clash
.>

<
Yes. That is where we must
start,> Swift Striker agreed, <
but where the trail will
end,
that is far less clear
.>

* * *

It was very late when Scott and Irina emerged from the surgery.

“We think we’ve saved him,” the doctor said immediately in response to the unspoken question Anders knew must be visible in both his and Jessica’s eyes. “One can never be completely sure, but his vital signs are good. I’m grateful that Richard Harrington updates my treecat biology files every time he learns something new. It was the next best thing to having him available to consult.”

“Valiant’s staying with him, right?” Jessica said.

“Valiant and Fisher, both.” Scott sank wearily into a deep, soft chair. “I’m absolutely certain they were doing everything they could during the surgery to keep our patient calm and relaxed. Richard says fear is one of the greatest enemies a veterinarian has to face, since a panicked animal may harm itself. At least we can be confident that won’t be a factor here—and that means I don’t need to risk added tranquilizers.”

“What was…” Anders began, then realized how tired both Irina and Scott looked. Sure, they were both used to medical emergencies, but Scott was accustomed to human patients, and Irina wasn’t even a doctor.

He began again. “Why don’t you two get comfortable? I can play butler or whatever. We had a pretty good chance to scout out your kitchen, and I think I can manage to find whatever you’d like.”

Irina, who’d resisted sitting to this point, now heaved a great, relieved sigh.

“Anders, that would be wonderful. The blue-green container on the middle shelf has a nice ice potato and cream soup. There’s some roasted prong-buck in the meat drawer and a loaf of dark bread. We could have soup and sandwiches.”

“And a salad,” Jessica added impishly. “Don’t forget your vegetables.”

“And a salad,” Irina agreed. “If you two can handle that, Scott and I will collapse in front of the fire in the living room. The chairs in there are more comfortable.”

“Can I take Valiant and Fisher some celery?” Jessica asked. “I won’t bother the patient. Promise.”

Scott heaved himself to his feet with some effort. “I’ll take your promise. Tell the guys not to drip all over the patient.”

“I’ll do my best,” Jessica pledged.

In the kitchen, Anders set the soup to warm, then started slicing prong-buck. With both of his parents out as often as they were, he’d become a pretty good cook early on. These last months on Sphinx had provided ample opportunity to add to his skills, since Dr. Whitaker was likely to forget to eat unless his son reminded him.

He cut the bread into thick slices, then layered meat, cheese, greens, thinly sliced onions, and a nice spicy sauce. At another counter, Jessica put together a huge salad, using a beautiful handmade pottery bowl that Irina had assured them had been created for the purpose.

“I don’t make pottery just to put it on a shelf,” she’d explained. “You’ll find soup bowls and plates that go with the salad bowl. Anything that’s in the kitchen is meant to be used.”

Anders couldn’t help but think how pleasant it was working with Jessica this way. Maybe because of her higher metabolism, Stephanie was a picker. He’d often teased her that by the time she’d finished making a meal, she’d eaten one already. Jessica, by contrast, occasionally sampled something, but only to check whether it would go well with the items she’d already put into the salad bowl.

I like Jessica
, Anders thought, wondering why the thought should come as a revelation. Hadn’t he always known he liked Jessica? If he didn’t like her, why would he have spent so much time with her since Stephanie left for Manticore?

I like Jessica…a lot. Too much. I
—

“Did you say something Anders?”

Anders looked up and found Jessica staring at him.
Had
he said something? He swallowed hard. He hoped he hadn’t.

“No, I don’t think so. I was muttering at the sandwiches. I think I got carried away and made them too thick. They keep falling over.”

Jessica laughed. “They look good to me.”

Relief washed over Anders. He hadn’t given himself away.

“I’ll take them out and come back for the soup.”

“Great.”

When the first edges of hunger had been taken off—although they’d been given permission to raid the kitchen, both Jessica and Anders had been too shy to do more than nibble—Anders decided to ask the question that had been nagging at him ever since they’d found the injured treecat.

“Scott, do you have any idea what did that to the treecat?”

“I have some ideas,” Scott said, “but I’d prefer to keep them to myself until I’ve had a chance to look at the bodies you brought with you.”

“Tomorrow,” Irina told him with a firmness that brooked no argument. “It’s already past midnight. You had a full schedule this morning, and this is not the time to start doing autopsies.”

Scott started to argue, but when a huge yawn interrupted him mid-phrase, he had to admit his wife was right.

“Fine, tomorrow morning. First thing. I don’t think I have anything early at the clinic.”

Irina glanced at her uni-link. “Not until noon, when Mr. Alvarez comes in so you can check that compound fracture.”

Jessica cut in. “I’d like to stay and hear what you find out. I already have permission, and so does Anders. Would it be okay?”

“More than okay. I wasn’t going to let you fly back this late.” Irina set aside her tray and got to her feet. “I always keep a couple of guest rooms ready.”

Jessica rose and started carrying her tray to the kitchen. “I’ll just go say good night to Valiant. I’m sure he’s staying with the patient.”

“Fisher, too,” Scott said. “I must admit, I’ll sleep better knowing Fisher will wake me the instant he senses anything going wrong. You folks sleep in as late as you want. I promise I’ll make sure we talk before I go in to the clinic.”

After the dinner things had been cleared away, Irina showed Anders and Jessica to their rooms. “Each of your rooms has its own bath. I put towels and robes in your rooms, along with spare toiletries. When you’ve washed up, bring me down your dirty stuff and I’ll toss it into the wash so you’ll have clean in the morning.”

Anders realized that he hadn’t even thought about any of that.

“Thanks, Irina. I appreciate that.”

“Are you sure it won’t be too much trouble?” Jessica added. “I’m betting you’ll be up early with Scott. I could stay up and do the wash, so you can get some sleep.”

“It’s all automatic,” Irina assured her. “Between my pottery and Scott’s medical practice, we create a lot of laundry.”

An expression that wasn’t quite envy flickered across Jessica’s face. Once again, Anders was reminded that her family probably did without a lot of the laborsaving devices he took for granted—and with all those kids, laundry was probably a constant chore.

“Okay, then. If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.” Irina gave Jessica a quick hug. “Stop worrying. If we’re not out in the morning, go into the kitchen. I’ll leave some breakfast stuff where you can find it.”

* * *

After he’d gotten cleaned up, Anders sat on the edge of his bed, trying to sort through the confusion of feelings raised by the day’s events. He started a new message to Stephanie, but when he found he couldn’t get beyond the first few sentences he erased the whole thing.

What’s wrong with me? Am I just tired? Is it that I want to be able to give her a full report? Right now I’d just be speculating. Tomorrow, after Scott looks at the bodies, we’ll have a better idea what killed those ’cats. Sure. That’s it. It must be….

But after he’d snuggled himself under the covers and turned out the light, images of Jessica flooded his mind. Jessica working over the injured treecat. Jessica sometimes talking, sometimes thoughtfully silent, during the long flight to Thunder River. Jessica in the kitchen, making a salad. Jessica, kneeling to gently dig a sample from the soil, her expression intent. Jessica….

His lips shaped her name in the softly whispered plea, though he had no idea what he was asking.

“Jessica?”

Chapter Sixteen

Anders thought he’d woken up pretty early, but when he washed up and came downstairs, he found he was the late riser. His cleaned clothing had been set inside the door to his room, so he’d guessed Irina was already up, but he was a bit surprised to find Jessica in the kitchen, already halfway through her breakfast.

“Hey,” he said, trying hard to sound like his usual self. “I thought you’d take advantage of no kids jumping up and down on you and sleep in.”

Jessica grinned. “I did sleep in—for me. Anyhow, even though I knew from Valiant that the injured ’cat was doing fine, I wanted to check.”

“And he is? Fine, I mean?”

“Well, for someone who was hurt that badly, he’s doing great. He’s been moved to a room around the back where he can see out the window.”

“Is he nervous?” Anders moved to where Irina had left an assortment of cereals and poured himself a bowl.

“Not really. I think Valiant and Fisher have reassured him he’s among friends.”

“‘He,’” Anders said, bringing his bowl to the table. “Anyone give him a name? It’s sort of awkward calling him ‘he,’ or ‘the injured treecat.’”

Jessica shrugged. “Scott’s calling him ‘Survivor,’ since it looks like he’s going to. That works for me.”

“Me, too. Optimistic. Can I go see Survivor, or would it be better if I stayed clear?”

“Scott didn’t say for you to stay out. If you want to see him, we could go in after breakfast. Valiant will let us know if we should stay clear.”