Tower And The Hive Part 3

"I need a beer," he said, and 'ported one without quite the same deftness as the others used. Lie shot them a look as he peeled off the cap. "Number three needs servicing. I had to rev it manually during the last three 'ports."

"Will it be down long?" Laria asked.

Lionasha also looked apprehensive. "We've the same schedule for tomorrow, you know."

"So you told me. I'll have it up and running sweetly by tomorrow when it's needed," he said, turning to retrace his steps, "even if I have to work all night."

Lionasha looked from Laria to Kincaid and rolled her tawny eyes.

Keep a lid on it, Lio, Laria said, aiming the thought at the Tower expediter, whose eyes matched her hair, set off by a skin that took Clarfs sun well.

Kincaid gave a low snort. Li^es to rub it in, doesn't he!

You too, Dano. Laria glared at the T-2.

Lionasha returned to her desk, shaking her head, and began checking the next day's schedule on her screen.

We're a good team. Let's never forget that, Laria said. "I'm going swimming."

"You'll fry," both Lionasha and Kincaid told her.

She held up sun-browned arms, as dark as acorn hulls, and laughed. "I've sunblock. I need the exercise."

WE COME TOO, cried her 'Dinis, just entering the Tower from the landing field.

Kincaid stretched, yawned. "I'm tor a nap, frankly." His 'Dinis, who arrived on Laria's heels, vehemently agreed, all three sauntering down the cool hall to their quarters.

She went to her room and changed into her swim togs, struggled into the long caftan that would also be a protection against Clarfs late-afternoon sun. Tip and Huf rummaged to find pads to lie on and the umbrella that Laria wisely carried to s.h.i.+eld herself from the sun at the swim place.

"Have fun," Lionasha said as she watched the three of them file out the door.

Halfway there in her ground car, her caftan clinging to her sweating body, Laria wondered why under any sun she was doing this now.

She could have waited until sunset, when the air was less humid and Clarfs primary was not s.h.i.+ning directly in her eyes, as it was now that she was heading west. If Vanteer was going to work on the generator, she couldn't remain in the Tower premises, especially after Kincaid's remarks.

She knew Van had acquired another girlfriend: a chemical a.n.a.lyst just in from Betelgeuse on a three-month a.s.signment. That was a long enough stay for most Humans who came from colder Human planets. They might exude joy over a world that rarely had any rain; when they had to endure the constant heat and humidity night and day, the novelty soon wore off. An unlucky minority would prove to be allergic to the harsh rays and have to be transferred, to the annoyance of their contractors, Human or 'Dini. Meanwhile, there was no point in trying to get Van's attention: this Marjolec Hess-Tukin monopolized him. Lana had seen her at the very party where Van first met her: a pretty little woman, Laria admitted impartially, with long eyelashes, which she used to good effect on any male. Ironically, it was because Vanteer was Talented and part of the Clarf Tower staff that he was such a conquest for Marjolee. Doubtless one of the other, less tactful females who had also been wooed by Vanteer would warn the girl of his fickle nature. Laria had come to the reluctant conclusion that Van couldn't resist the challenge of a new female to be courted and won. He required diversity. And the way he kept up with the demands made on him by his other women-he had once sworn to Laria that he loved her to the exclusion of any other woman he'd ever known-astounded his colleagues in the Tower.

"How does he do it?" Lionasha often remarked when Van had lured yet another girl into his bed.

"I know' plenty of men who'cl like to know," Kincaid had replied, grinning. "Of both inclinations," he'd added with a droll smile.

Whatever, Lana needed to get out of the Tower. She thought wistfully of cool, dark-sun Iota Aurigae and home: with the wild wind and the mountains, and riding Saki to hunt scurriers and avians. But now was not the time to ask for home leave.

I.

One of the four planets that Rincaid had discovered of those he had probed on his unhappy stint in Squadron D on the Galaxy-cla.s.s Valparaiso had been named Talavera, following the nineteenth-century naming of his other three M-type finds: Marengo, Waterloo and Ciudad Rodrigo. Its primary was not quite as fierce as Clarfs but would certainly suit 'Dinis better than Humans. With so few dying in combat against the Hivers, all five worlds were bursting with candidates willing to undertake the immense task of colonizing, even if it meant heavy ecological work. No birth control methods existed for the 'Dini species. Indeed, their prolificacy had been an advantage during their two hundred years of fighting the spheres. They could "lose" suicide crews, knowing that others of the same genetic pattern would be born in the hibernatories at some later date. Such a "reincarnation" allowed the 'Dinis, if it became necessary, to sacrifice themselves willingly. This was, of course, a fundamental difference between them and Humans, who did not waste their s.p.a.ce personnel. Fortunately, Mrdini High Command and all its Councillors were aware of this major psychological difference between the two speeies, or the mind-set might have caused an insuperable schism. The difference occasionally caused trouble on mixed-species crew s.h.i.+ps despite continued lectures on the subject.

Ironically, the Mrdini race had originally been attracted to the Humans because they had witnessed the seemingly effortless destruction of the first Hiver sphere to approach Human s.p.a.ce at Deneb, when the Mind Merge of the Rowan and all female Talents had paralyzed the Hiver queens and the male Mind Merge of Jeff had sent their sphere into Deneb's sun.

The 'Dinis had come to the point where, with dwindling resources, they were hard pressed to continue their defense against the spheres. So they had used "dreams" to make contact with Humans-with Laria's mother and father, Damin and Afra, recuperating on Deneb from Larak's tragic death and their exhaustion in battling the mental ent.i.ty Sodan. An Alliance had been promulgated between Human and Mrdini. Now, if suitable worlds could reduce the population density on the five 'Dini homeworlds, much of the growing dissatisfaction on the 'Dini half of the Alliance would be eased.

Laria reached the river swimming facility before the place became crowded. 'Dims liked water sports. Though sun-warmed, the water was noticeably cooler-since the current was swift-and Laria sank gratefully into it vip to her neck. Tip handed her one of the rope harnesses that the wise swimmer looped around the arms. She let her body be carried flat out to the length of the rope by the current. The river flowed over her in a rippling ma.s.sage. Tip and Hut joined her, their furry bodies silkily touching hers now and then in the current. Letting herself relax with her head back, Laria closed her eyes. She was facing east so that the sun was no longer in her face. Tip and Huf gurgled happily, and there they remained until the Clarf sun with its customary abruptness sank below the distant hills and darkness spread across the deep plain, with its thousands of 'Dini dwellings and the occasional lump of a hibernatory.

As soon as Laria heard the revving of other ground cars, the put-put of individual fliers approaching the riverbank and the chatter of'Dini tongues, she flipped over and began to pull herself, hand over hand, to the bank. Shucking off the harness, she swam vigorously to the slanted permacrete lip that a.s.sisted entry and exit. Almost before she reached her car, Tip and Huf dancing beside her, totally refreshed by the swim, her skin and her suit were dry. But the water had been therapeutic. She made a private wager that Vanteer would have finished the servicing and would be gone when she returned to the Tower.

She won.

Lionasha had left a note saying she was dining with friends in the Human Compound, lavishly air-conditioned. Lio had a new male interest. Kincaid was probably still asleep, but he was always a restful and undemanding companion.

Laria woke in the night, gasping with panic, her heart pounding against her ribs, her 'Dims twitching in their sleep and mumbling. She had been caught in their dream and it bad been . . . What hat! it been.' Terrifying: No. But charged . . . heavy with emotion and an odd "dead" smell.

"Laria?" Kincaid 'ported into her room, striding to her bedside and gathering her up in an anxious embrace. "What is it? What's the trouble?"

She clung to bis bare arms, her head against his chest, struggling with the aftermath of such intense sensations, gasping for breath.

"Easy now, easy now," he said as be stroked tangled hair hack trom her face, his hands gentle. " 'Dim dream:"

She nodded.

"Are they due for hibernation"' he asked.

Tip and Huf were flapping at her side in whatever dream still held them.

"Possibly," she said, and knew that had to be parr of the problem. Humans might not know how 'Dinis mated-the hibernatories were off limits and even 'Dinis did not mention what went on-but sometimes, when her pair were close to that part of their life cycle, their dreams could be extremely erotic. Her own frustration had magnified the intensity of their dreams and she had been frightened by her own response. That was what had wakened her. "They usually know and tell me."

Kincaid pulled her closer, holding her against him, soothing her with soft touches and a wave of mental consolation. It felt so good to be held-a thought she kept very, very tight. Good to be held by Kincaid. That rider startled her, and her panicky breathing under control, she started to push away from him. His hands resisted.

I offer myself, Laria," he said softly in her ear. "You need someone right now and 1 am here." He gave a soft, self-deprecating laugh.

She gripped his arm, unable to answer yet desperately wanting to agree.

You offered me friends.h.i.+p, dear Laria, when 1 needed it desperately. Why may I not a.s.suage your need now:"

She could feel his mind touching hers, lightly at first, then stressing his remarkable offer, as his arms folded her more closely to him. She could not deny the honesty of his gesture. She most certainly could not deny her need of relief.

"Admittedly I'd be a virgin sacrifice." The laughter in his voice-found an amused response in her. "But I like you better than any other woman I have ever met. And I am not the least bit intimidated by you being a Prime." He kissed her forehead and then held her away from him, seeking her eyes in the darkness as his mind sought hers on a deeper level. She did not resist. "After all, it's much the same with either partner." His mouth curled in an iromc smile. "Shall we see if we can make it together?"

She opened her mind completely and felt within him the desire to console, the respect and admiration he had for her and a suddenly fierce yearning for s.e.xual release.

* am honored, she said.

* am h.o.r.n.y.

That's my problem too.

Let's solve that mutual problem. Just don't, he added, s.h.i.+eld for or from me.

Gently he pushed her backward onto the rumpled bed, stretching his long self beside her, and then pulled her tightly against him, one arm about her shoulders, the other fondling her bare body. She let down all mental and physical barriers, felt him do the same, saw all that had troubled him before he came to Clarf Tower, and was shaken by an incredibly powerful desire to erase such devastating memories with a selfless abandon to the growing pa.s.sion that Kincaid's deft lovcmaking roused in her.

Laria hadn't had many lovers and the fulfillment they gave her had been satisfactory enough. But nothing was like the climax she achieved with Kincaid, and she felt the surprise in him, the exaltation, when he collapsed against her, shuddering in release. They lay together for a long time in the sweet aftermath, his mind wondering at his response to Laria, hers savoring the fullness of rapport with the personality that bad taken refuge in irony and detachment.

That was rather more than I expected, he said wryly.

And exactly what I needed, dear friend.

I am more than your friend now, Laria.

Are you?

You can see that easily enough, Prime.

Yes, but is it right for you?

She could feel his mental shrug, vividly accompanied by the lingering astonishment of completion with a woman.

You would consider that aspect, dear heart, he said in a droll tone. * feel we should explore the possibilities without prejudice. Certainly I have never felt such rapport with anyone since josh died.

Because he still had all his s.h.i.+elds dropped, she knew who Josh was, how deeply they had loved each other and how Josh bad died in a sporting accident that happened so quickly Kincaid had "seen" only when it was too late to save his lover. Struggling to find equilibrium after such a terrible loss, Kincaid had welcomed the a.s.signment to the Valparaiso in an effort to distance himself from increasingly painful memories- only to find himself torn in two directions by the officers who vied for his company.

One thing sure, Laria said sternly. * cannot hurt you as those two did.

Of that I'm sure, he responded with one of his soft chuckles, and he gave her a hug. "Now get some sleep. Tomorrow will be busy." He made a move to sit up.

She made a sound, closing her mind quickly lest he see how reluctant she was to have him leave her.

"On second thought," he said, settling back down, wedging the pillow under his head and replacing his arm around her shoulders, "that would require more effort than I care to make right now."

Thanf^ you.

Don't mention it. Now sleep, Prime.

Yes sir, she satd in a meek tone, and wove ber fingers into his hand.

Beyond them, on the wide bed, the 'Dinis also sank into a deeper, more restful slumber.

"That swim did you good," Lionasha remarked as Lam started up the steps to her Tower the next morning.

"Yes, I think it did," Laria replied as casually as she could, because Kincaid let out a burst of laughter in his room, and let her hear it.

"That's good," Lionasha said with obvious relief. "We've a very busy day. ()h, the generator wasn't as much of a problem as Yanteer thought."

"I know. He wasn't here when I got back," Laria said over her shoulder, unperturbed.

No, Lio can't read us, my dear, Kincaid said, and then as he swung into the Tower hall from the private quarters, added: "Morning, Lio. Good evening?"

"Yes indeed." And the other two Talents caught the unmistakable smugness of her satisfaction with her evening's pleasure.

"Good for you," Kincaid said affably, trotting up the stairs. "At least you didn't get a burn yesterday at the river," he added, grinning at Laria as he reached the Tower. The mischief in his smile made Laria quickly stifle her amus.e.m.e.nt lest Lionasha catch it. He shook his head, indicating that he was not projecting his ebullient mood.

"Morning, all," said Yanteer, striding into the Tower. He leaned into the stairwell, calling up to them. "Fixed the generator, Laria. Did you have a good swim""

"Yes, thanks," she called back cheerfully. "Start 'cm up, Van, we've a busy day ahead. Got two hours before that sun starts scorching again. Let's get to it."

Kincaid touched her with approval as he settled back on his couch and got into position for the work ahead.

They had had a very full day by noon and took time off for a siesta. Even their 'Dinis grumbled about the heat on the plascrete of the landing field. There were not as many loads for the late afternoon, but enough to tire them. Laria made a salad for supper with fresh fruit that Yoshuk had sent them from Sef. They all ate together, while Lionasha sorted out jjm T the orders for the next day's teleportations. Soon after Van had wandered off by himself, Plrgtgl arrived, its poll eye draped in vivid magenta lace, with endless questions tor Laria and Kincaid about the progress of the explorations.

Over and over, Laria repeated that as soon as she heard something she would most certainly inform Plrgtgl. Kincaid brought up the files on their lounge screen, showing Plus, as Laria called her 'Dini contact, what was so far known about the four planets that he had found, paraphrasing Laria's rea.s.surances with his own. Their 'Dinis, of course, served Plrgtgl the juice drink it preferred and got whatever their Human partners asked for, as well as some of the bits and nibbles which Plus had come to like.

SEF IS MUCH LIKE THAT, Plus said in 'Dini, pointing its flipper at the surface of Talavera.

THE PLANKT COULD EASILY BE SHF-RHNEWED, Kincaid agreed. IT SUFFERED DAMAGE BY HIVERS WHICH MUST BE REPAIRED AND WILL NEED LIFE-FORMS FROM THE SMALLEST-- NO, said Plus firmly. THERE ARE SOMK THAT WE CAN DO WITHOUT THIS TIME. LIKE TI IE LICE, AS YOU CALL t.i.tEM, AND THE STINGERS, NO HARM TO THE ECOLOGY BY LEAVING THEM OUT.

HOW CAN YOU BE SURE? Laria asked, amused at Plus's vehemence as well as its wish to leave behind such bugs. She saw that Tip and Huf as well as Nil and his Plus were keenly interested in both queries and answers though they did not voice their own opinions, not in the presence of such a senior 'Dini.

WE HAVE STUDIED CAREFULLY, Plus said, shaking the lace on its poll eye until Laria was afraid it would come loose. WE USE THIS AS PROBLEMS IN TEACHING THE YOUNG. WHAT MAKES A GOOD PLANET BETTER. WHAT is NP:EDED TO SPREAD POLLENS AND SEEDINGS. WE WOULD BE UP AND RUNNING, AS YOU SAY - Plus's large frame shook with its delight in using Basic slang-BEFORE YOU CAN SAY BOO? is THAT WHAT YOU SAY ... BOO?

Boo" came out in Basic. Laria and Kincaid agreed that Plus had used the slang properly and then listened as it enumerated the various plans for the revitalization of the planet.

Full night had settled on Clarf before the two Talents tactfully managed to get Plus to leave.

"I thought it'd never go," Laria said, exhaling with exaggeration.

"They've been doing a lotot research on reviving Talavera's ecology," Kincaid said thoughtfully.

"From the way Plus was going on, that must be their latest game to play at night."

"As useful an occupation as many, certainly," he agreed.

"I'm for a shower and bed," she said, waving over her shoulder at him as she left the lounge for her own room. Tip and Hut following on her heels.

"I won't be far behind."

She was tired, and when she had soaped and rinsed herself, turned the shower to cool to reduce her body temperature. Wrapping a towel about her body in sarong fas.h.i.+on, she left the bathroom. Her 'Dinis were already curled up.

"Let's have nice dreams tonight, shall we?" she said, but they did not answer.

She had no trouble falling asleep. But once again, early in the new day, she woke with the same panic syndrome, gasping for breath, unable to remember what had roused her so thoroughly.

Again?

Again, and worse this time, she said, tears dripping down her cheeks.

Kincaid seemed to step into the room at the bedside and was enfolding her in his arms, mentally soothing her alarm and helping her control the ragged breaths and agitated respiration.

"What are they doing to you?"

"I don't know. They've . . . never been like . . . this before. And I'm in much better shape . . . after you . . . last night," she said, leaning her Tmr ind in live 3 head against his shoulder, gripping his arm with both hands and trying to still the shudders that ran up and down her spine.