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close to your computer for the next day. I shall contact you immediately as
soon as I learn anything relevant.
Sincerely,
Hleo ap Darshiell
Hot damn! A flood of emotions surged through him: relief, anxiety, suspicion,
anger, joy, and more. He couldn t sit still. He d go for a walk but around the
compound, around and around. He didn t want to get too far from the com-
puter.
Their leave-taking was simple enough. It wasn t a ceremonial occasion for a
grand departure, exactly, although Uncle Rothan did seem slightly emotional,
hugging her a little harder than he might have otherwise.
And Bennec? she said, looking around.
He put himself to bed, Ianthe replied. He said his head didn t feel well.
She leaned in closer to her sister and whispered. He said he found you amazingly
beautiful!
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356
Ah, spare me, was all Darcy could bring herself to say. When he recovers,
please give him my best regards and tell him to remain on the moon. Have a safe
trip, dear friends!
She stood off a short distance in a cold, spitting rain as the hatch closed. Sev-
eral minutes later she felt rather than heard a low humming. As it intensified the
ferry floated several meters into the air, rotating toward her slowly. She could just
make out Rothan s hand waving through the windscreen. She waved back. The
hum intensified yet again and the ferry began to rise, slowly at first, then faster
and faster, dwindling to a dot against the clouds and finally disappearing entirely.
Well, that s that, she thought, not a bad conclusion to an affair that could
have been a disaster. Now all that s left is to get home without further incident.
She fancied a short walk down the beach before confining herself in the tiny
cabin of the pod for a full day. She pulled up the hood, smoothed her hair under
it, and went to take a final look at those penguins.
There was a surprise waiting for her when she got back to the pod and opened
the hatch.
Bennec?
My lady! Anneyn! You said to call you Anneyn& may I call you Anneyn?
She stared at him in utter amazement. What in the world are you doing,
Bennec? Did Captain Darshiell approve your absence from his vessel?
He doesn t know I m here, my lady& Anneyn. It was my idea! I shall return
with you as your assistant! There are many things to be done, and it is certain you
will need help. The two of us can work together! You will see! We will be a team!
She almost asked him if he had lost his mind, but she realized that his fidget-
ing and nervousness might indeed hint at some degree of instability. There was
no point in upbraiding him anyway. She couldn t leave him here. She would have
to take him along& but take him where? And do what with him?
For heaven s sake, Bennec. Don t you think you should have at least asked
Captain Darshiell?
You are senior to him, my lady. If you allow me to go with you, he must
agree!
The illogic of that defeated her. Could he be unbalanced? Rothan mentioned
Bennec had had some symptoms upon awakening after the long trip& well, no
matter. They needed to leave.
Listen to me, Bennec. This pod, small as it is, is my ship. I am the captain. It
is difficult to fly and we have a long, dangerous trip ahead of us which will
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357
demand my full concentration and your complete obedience. Do you under-
stand?
Of course, my lady& Anneyn.
If I need your assistance I will call upon you, but you must let me operate this
vessel without distraction. I hope that is clear. And Bennec, since I am the cap-
tain it would be better to address me as my lady rather than as Anneyn. A com-
missioned vessel is ultimately under the Council of Clans. It is not a private
conveyance. Now, please move to the passenger s seat and let me get us on our
way.
The first hour of the flight Darcy was busy reprogramming her navigation
points from two days before in reverse order, adjusting the trim to allow for the
extra weight of her passenger, and checking the other flight systems. Bennec
behaved, in his seat immediately behind her, though she could tell he was still jit-
tery. She could see his reflection in several of the dials on the instrument panel.
The second hour he began talking, almost babbling. The two of them were
going to be great pals, a team to end all teams, and they would become famous
for getting interplanetary relations off to a sparkling start. They might even grow
fond of each other, and this could be further good fortune because his clan and
her clan, united, would profit immensely in many ways he was only too happy to
enumerate. When he started explaining the advantages their children would have,
she managed to interest him in lunch instead.
She estimated she had barely enough food to get them through 24 hours, pro-
vided they paced themselves. She decided not to tell Bennec about the loaf of
bread which she had tucked under her seat. He had stopped talking in order to
concentrate on opening and consuming all the novel items she offered him. He
made no comment about what he ate, but she rather enjoyed watching him strug-
gle to tear off pieces of jerky and chew them enough to swallow. It occurred to
her that jerky would make a fine joke to present at a ceremonial meal. She made a
mental note to herself for the future.
At the three hour point, although it could not be seen through the dense cloud
deck above them, she calculated the moon would have risen above the horizon.
She switched on the radio, still set to Hleo s secure frequency, and slipped on a
headset. A scant second later, she felt a hand grip her shoulder.
What are you doing?
Contacting Counselor Hleo.
Don t do that!
I beg your pardon?
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358
Don t do that! You re going to tell on me! His voice was almost shrill. Barely
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