Acorna's Search Part 7

You know what it is, then?" Acorna asked. No. But I sounded very much as if I did, didn't I?" Yiitir's eyes sparkled with good humor.

Maarni took the stone from him and examined it minutely, but her "aaaahhhs," and "ummms," and "Oh, I sees," were genuine.

I can't be entirely sure without corroboration," she said, but I believe this may be from the ancient culture of the sii-Linyaari."

Who?" all four asked at once.

Another early race on this planet, also developed by the Friends. They were much like us," she said. "Except that they evolved into aquatic beings instead of two-leggeds who walk on land, as we do. This swirl here? The one that forms a row from smallest to largest all curling the same direction? That denotes the white spume of the waves of the sea, which were said to be the manes of the sii-Linyaari."

"I never heard of them," Aari said.

"Me, neither," Thariinye agreed.

"The Ancestors don't speak of them much, although my understanding is that they were as much the descendants of the Ancestors as we are."

"Grandam mentioned them once in pa.s.sing, when she was telling a story," Maati said. "But when I asked about them, she said it had nothing more to do with the story and not to distract her."

"That doesn't sound like Grandam," Acorna said, mildly surprised. The eldest of Linyaari Elders had taken Acorna under her wing when Acorna first arrived on narhii-Vhiliinyar. Grandam was the only one willing to tell Acorna about parts of Linyaari society n.o.body else would speak of.

"There are overtones of something a bit shameful about them," Maarni said. "But they were long gone by the time the Khleevi came the Ancestors say they vanished into thin air one day, or so their Elders told them. Though, in ancient times, from some of the stories I've heard, the seas were teeming with them."

"Can you read their language?" Acorna asked, nodding at the long black artifact in Maarni's hands.

"I could probably translate it, with a little help. I'm afraid that many of the books and computer files that would have helped me were lost in the Khleevi attack. But I'll see what I can do."

Thariinye had lost interest. "So, tell us about hunting for the missing person."

"Not much to tell," Maarni told him. "It was the same as with Liriili."

"Hmph, not at all," Yiitir said. "Fiiryi was respected and useful. He is much missed."

Acorna was puzzled. How could Fiiryi vanish so completely? All Linyaari except the very young were telepathic. Every Linyaari on this planet was able to hear and broadcast thought-voices. Surely any Linyaari in difficulties would send out a mental cry-just as Thariinye had done when he'd gotten stuck in the quicksand. Those mental cries for help would be heard by the nearby crews, if not by those farther away. Liriili's mental powers were somewhat less powerful than most other Linyaari, but mostly because being able to read minds had never endowed her with empathy for her fellow beings. But Fiiryi surely would have the same abilities as most Linyaari.

"Has no one heard Fiiryi's thoughts calling out?" she asked.

"No, apparently not."

"But that's very strange, isn't it? My experience with Linyaari thought-speak is that we can sometimes, especially under emergency circ.u.mstances, read each other across great distances even across the vastness of s.p.a.ce."

"Perhaps Liriili and Fiiryi are no longer able to send their thoughts," Maarni suggested.

"You mean they might be dead?" Thariinye asked.

"Possibly. This is a dangerous place since the Khleevi destroyed it. Or they might be unconscious," Maati said.

We should still be able to get a reading, even if they weren't conscious," Aari said.

Well," Acorna said. "It is clear our usual methods of locating the lost don't work on this planet. Just as a fail-safe, I think we should ask Uncle Hafiz to send us down some personnel locators that my human friends use in times like these the tiny ones that send out constant signals. That way, if someone else disappears, we will have a backup means of communicating our Position to rescue parties, regardless of whether we are conscious or not."

That is a very good idea," Maarni agreed. "I think it might also be a good idea for those of us on the survey teams to avoid being alone at any time we should always be paired when we are apart from the main group. That way, if one person is unable to call for help, the other one -will perhaps be able to take action or call for a.s.sistance."

"I suggest Acorna goes to communicate that to the base camp right now, my dear," Yiitir said. "In the meantime, we will take our own advice, heh?"

So Maarni, Yiitir, Maati, and Aari continued their examination of the artifact while Thariinye and RK accompanied Acorna back to the flitter.

Before long Acorna was on a relay from the base camp to MOO, where an unexpected and familiar voice greeted her. "Hey, Princess, it's me, Becker. I heard that the cat met something that eats even worse stuff than he will."

Acorna had to smile. These borrowed flitters had no vid screens, but she could imagine Becker's bristling mustache and in spite of his words the worried expression in the back of his twinkling brown eyes. "Your concern is most touching, Captain. I will convey it to your first mate, who now looks completely recovered, and is purring beside me as we speak. Ah yes, he understood your message. He is lifting his leg to cleanse his rump."

Becker chuckled. "That's my boy. What can we do for you?"

"When did you become the communications technician for the Moon of Opportunity, Captain? Have you run out of salvage?"

"Oh, no, I just brought a load in. Hafiz had arranged to have some buyers look over the goods when I showed up. They wanted me to send an inventory before they bothered to come all this way, so I came in to send them a message that I sold the salvage already."

"Did you?" Acorna asked, as she could tell he wanted her to. Most of the time, it didn't require telepathic powers to know what cue Becker wanted you to take.

"Not yet. But I will. These guys are clowns. I don't think your ol' unk really understands the salvage business, Princess. He thinks it's just junk, so he thought he was helping me out when he asked these bozo buddies of his to take it off my hands. Cost me a trip to the MOO for nothing, except I think I may be able to supply one of his architects with a few odds and ends for the Linyaari pavilions."

"I'm sure you will manage to prosper, Captain, despite my uncle's interference. It's very good to speak with you. As a matter of fact, I was calling to ask Uncle Hafiz if he would send down some personnel locators to Vhiliinyar. We seem to have mislaid two of the people who landed here." She explained why she thought the locators might be useful.

"Well, don't that beat all? Liriili is missing and that other guy, too? Princess, Liriili can't still be on the planet. You can hear that woman grousing three solar systems away whenever she's conscious. If you can't find her, she ain't there."

"Maybe not, Captain, but there is another person missing as well, and we cannot hear thought-talk from either of them. We need enough locators for every person here. Uncle Hafiz has the records from our expedition, so he will know the quant.i.ty of receivers to send. Do you think that can be managed?"

"I think if you think it's necessary, old Hafiz will make it so. He dotes on you, Princess. But it'll be better if you explain it to mm yourself. Let me patch you through to his mobile unit. And-Princess?"

Yes, Captain?"

Look, in case there's some bogeyman or Khleevi sc.u.m left there kidnapping Linyaari, don't you take any chances. Mac has a few tricks that even some of your folks don't, as you know. You want me to send him down to help?"

No, Captain, you need Mac to help you with the salvage." Not really. I got whole messes of brawny young stallions panting to show off their muscles to the Linyaari ladies by piping me out. And-I think Mac misses you. I'd feel better if he was there looking out for you and Aari and the little girl."

"That's very kind, Captain. I think it best, however, if we try to solve this problem ourselves for now. You know how some of the traditionalists can be about off-world people coming here." "Yeah, you'd think we all were Khleevi. But technically speaking, you should pardon the expression, Mac is not a people. Mac is a device. I mean, you and I know he's got a lot more personality than say, Liriili, but some folk wouldn't look at it that way."

At that point Hafiz's voice said, "Acorna, dear girl, how delightful to hear from you! Your scientists at the base camp let us know of the unfortunate disappearances. I certainly hope you are not calling to relate more such news to me?"

"No, but it is related to why I'm calling, Uncle," Acorna said. Becker made a loud smooching sound into the transmitter and broke his own connection, and she told Hafiz her reason for calling.

Hafiz promised to send the locators at once to as many Linyaari as were on the planet's surface, and also a.s.sured her that all future personnel who came to Vhiliinyar would be similarly equipped.

Then Karina came on and said, "Acorna, darling, be careful, be very careful. My spirit guides tell me there are mysterious forces at work on Vhiliinyar."

Acorna thought of several things to say to the obviousness of Karina's "prediction" and was very glad that Karina could not read minds as well as she claimed. Instead, she thanked the Harakamians, asked how her Uncles and their wives were and where they were at the moment-all well but off planet - and signed off.

Or tried to. Immediately the light on the console was blinking for her attention again.

Aari's mother's voice said, "Kh.o.r.n.ya, we cannot locate Kaarlye or the aagroni."