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"Captain," Sah'ot addressed Creideiki, "I believe that there is a matter that even Thomas Orley could not have had time to cover in detail. He has gone on to investigate the wrecked warship, but the island still does concern us."
No fair! De
"Honestly Captain," Sah'ot went on, "after our duty to escape this trap, and to serve the clan of Earth species, what is the most important responsibility that has fallen upon uss?"
Creideiki looked torn. He obviously wanted to chew Sah'ot's dorsal fin for baiting him like this. Also, obviously, Sah'ot had hit him with a double harpoon… mentioning the word "duty," and lacing it into a riddle. The captain thrashed his tail, giving out a low series of broad-band sonar clicks, like a watch ticking. His eyes were recessed and dark.
De
"The abos!" she shouted.
Creideiki turned and regarded her. De
The captain suddenly whirled about and swam to Toshio. "You still have those artifactsss that Thomas Orley selected, young hunter?"
"Yes, sir, I…"
"You will please lend them to Biologist Sudman and Race Speaker Sah'ot before you retire. When you've rested, collect them again, along with the specialists' recommendations. I will examine them myself during supper."
Toshio nodded. The captain flipped to face De
"Before I give permission, you must have a plan. You'll get little material assistance from me, and you will be recalled at any sign of danger. Can you accept these conditions?"
"Y yes… we'll need a monofilament cable to the ship, for a computer link, and…"
"Talk this over with Keepiru, before he rests. He must help you come up with something militarily acceptable."
"Keepiru? But I thought…" De
"I have my reasons, femsir. As a pilot, he is of little use while we are immobile. I can spare him from the work here, to be your field liaison… if I agree to your plan."
The captain's attention made Keepiru hunch slightly and look away. Toshio put a hand on Keepiru's sleek back. That, too, was a change. The two had never struck De
Creideiki's teeth shone in the bright lights of the bay.
"Is there more comment-t?"
Everyone was silent.
Creideiki thrashed his tail, then whistled the phrase of command termination. He arched and sped away with rapid, powerful strokes. His aides followed in his wake.
Keepiru watched until his captain passed out of sight. Then he addressed De
* At your service, you will find me -
In my quarters, floating, breathing -
* After seeing Toshio resting… *
Toshio smiled when De
Just then one of the intrahull lift tubes opened and a blue and yellow shape bulleted out of the tube. A joyful racket filled the chamber as the ship's other midshipman speared past Keepiru and the boy, then zoomed around them in ever-tightening circles, chattering excitedly.
"Do you really think Toshio's going to get any sleep?" Emerson asked.
"Not if Akki makes him tell the entire story before he has supper with the captain." De
"Well, sister," Emerson D'Anite gri
"Nothing's decided yet," she answered. "Besides, Keepiru will be in charge."
"Keepiru will have military command. That part confuses me a bit. I don't know where Creideiki's aiming, assigning Keepiru that job after the way I hear he behaved out there. My guess is it's his way of getting the poor dollie out of his hai… hide."
De
She suddenly felt a smooth, flat touch on the i
De
Sah'ot reared back, his eyes momentarily white-rimmed in surprise. Apparently he hadn't expected De
"Aw, De
De
Without even turning around, she could feel Emerson D'Anite gri
"Um, De
D'Anite started coughing. He turned the other way and cleared his throat.
De
Sah'ot's eyelids narrowed. "That isss interesting. I'd thought this planet was fallow far longer than would allow paleotech-ch remnants."
But he dashed De
"Besides," he soothed, "this is a chance for us to get to know each other better… and exchange professional information, of course."
Emerson D'Anite had to cough again.
"I've left the repairs for too long already, kids," he said. His burr was back in force. "I think I'll be gettin' on back to my engines, and let you two discuss your plans."
D'Anite's grin was barely suppressed. De
"Yes, lass?" He looked back at her i
She glared, "Oh… I'll bet you haven't a drop of Celtic blood in your body!"
The dark engineer smiled at her. "Why, bairn, didn' ya know? All Scots are engineers, and all engineers are Scots." He waved and swam off before De
When D'Anite was out of earshot Sah'ot sidled close to De
De