Allies by Steve Miller, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller Read Free Book Online

aircraft of his. If she's a countrywoman,
and an engineer, she might know–it might . . . really exist," he
finished, lamely.
    There was a long silence during which Hakan
found it hard to breathe, though he kept his eyes on hers.
    When she finally, tentatively, raised her
hand and smoothed his hair, he almost cried himself.
    "Hakan," she whispered, "why are you . . .
obsessed with these things? You're a musician, not an
engineer."
    "I think," he said unsteadily; "I think
people can be more than one thing, Kemmy. Don't you?"
    Another silence, with her hand resting on
his shoulder. "I don't know. Maybe they can." She took a breath.
"Hakan."
    "Kem?"
    "I would like to go to the next meeting of
the Explorers Club with you."
    He stared up at her, chest tight. "I–sure.
But I thought you didn't–"
    "I'd like to meet to this mystery zhena,"
Kem interrupted. "If she does know Cory Robersun, I have a few
things I want to say to her about him."
    *
    "The captain will have me shot," Nelirikk
said, stubbornly.
    He's said that once already today, but Val
Con had dismissed it out of hand and continued preparations. Now,
it needed to be addressed more forcefully since it was actually
delaying lift-off.
    "Indeed, she will not have you shot.
Because, as we have discussed, you will begin calling for aid along
our private channels the moment you clear far orbit, and you will
not stop calling until you have raised either the captain herself,
the elder scout, or Commander ter'Meulen. Once you have done this,
you will report that the situation is far more complex than we had
believed. That, in addition to no less than six field teams and
four technical teams, there is at least one Agent of Change
stationed in Laxaco City, whose intention is to speedily bring
Vandar's technology to the point required by the new
headquarters.
    "You will report on your prisoners and their
condition, and you will say that I have gone to Laxaco on purpose
to ensure that Kem and Hakan Darnill are out of harm's way. I will
attempt to locate the Agent, but I do not intend to confront such a
one until I have substantial back-up."
    "Yay!" Miri cheered in his ear. He ignored
her.
    "Scout–"
    Val Con sliced the air with his hand, a
signal for attention; Nelirikk subsided, though he dared to
frown.
    "If the captain has you shot, you have my
permission to bludgeon me to death."
    Nelirikk snorted. "A soldier's gamble,
indeed." He sighed. "I will send back-up soon, Scout. Try not to do
anything the captain would deplore in the meantime."
    "It is my sole desire to behave only as the
captain would wish."
    "Pffft!" Miri commented, and even Nelirikk
looked dubious.
    But– "Safe lift, Scout."
    "Fair journey, Nelirikk."
    *
    "There she is," Hakan whispered into Kem's
ear, mindful of the zhena in the seat behind him. "She's sitting
next to Zamir Tang–the man with the rumpled gray hair–in front of
the pudgy man with the wispy mustache."
    Kem took a good long look, her head tipped
to one side. Hakan reached inside his coat and tried to adjust the
zamzorn so its sharp end didn't pierce him through pocket, sweater
and shirt. Wind, but he was going to be glad when the semester
ended and he could put the stupid thing away forever or have it
mounted as a trophy to his fortitude.
    "I see her," Kem murmured. "She does look
like Cory, doesn't she? In fact . . ." Her voice drifted off, and
she frowned.
    "What?" Hakan asked,
forgetful of his voice, which earned him an emphatic sssshhh ! from the zhena
behind.
    "What?" he whispered.
    "Do you remember after the invasion, when
Cory went off his head?"
    As if he'd forget it soon. Hakan nodded.
    "Zhena Pelnara reminds me of him like that,"
Kem whispered. "I can't quite–"
    "If the pair of you don't have any interest
in this presentation," the zhena in back of them interrupted in a
hoarse whisper, "there are those of us who are."
    Hakan looked at Kem. She was biting her lip,
her eyes dancing. He grinned and secretly reached down between
their seats