Uhura's Song by Janet Kagan Read Free Book Online

was only the Mad Star's light the year my people were- exiled." Uhura hesitated over the final word although her translation came as no surprise. As unaccustomed as he was to the Eeiauoan tongue, even Jim Kirk could hear its similarity to "Eeiauo."
     
     
Seemingly puzzled, Uhura asked another question of the Eeiauoan, translated the answer. "The star that cast shadows, the guest star - oh!" she said suddenly. "She means a nova or a supernova, Mr. Spock." A second query to Quickfoot brought a reply that made her nod once at him in confirmation. Quickfoot went on, as if unaware of Uhura's pause. Softly, but rapidly, Uhura picked up and relayed her words: "They sent us from camp- and the camp was Sivao. We should have died in space. We should never have been born. The same Mad Star bloomed in this sky the year of our arrival- and, as we brought death to Sivao, we have brought death to your innocent worlds. My life will be my apolo -"
     
     
Uhura suddenly broke off her translation. She flung her hand at the screen. "Dr. McCoy!" she shouted desperately, "Stop her! Suicide!"
     
     
As Jim Kirk and his officers watched in horror - unable to help, unable to look away- Quickfoot raised a hand to her throat. McCoy sprang toward her.
     
     
Even though Quickfoot had no wish to injure McCoy, the doctor would have had no chance against her wiry strength if Quickfoot had not been well into ADF syndrome.
     
     
He grabbed fiercely for her wrists and threw his full weight against her. She went down beneath him. For a moment, they both disappeared from view, then Quickfoot struggled to her feet.
     
     
McCoy clung to her back. He had her right arm pinned and was trying desperately to reach the hypo that lay on the table just beyond his fingertips.
     
     
Quickfoot threw him from her. He struck the wall and reeled. Quickfoot reached again for her throat- this time Kirk saw the claws splay. McCoy staggered toward her, and Quickfoot slowly collapsed. McCoy reached her in time to keep her head from hitting the table.
     
     
He stood gasping for a moment, then he looked up at the screen. "First-stage coma," he said, hoarsely. "She didn't need to commit suicide, dammit. She's dying now."
     
     
"Not necessarily, Dr. McCoy," said Spock.
     
     
"What d'ya mean, Spock?" McCoy growled. "And, by god, this better be good."
     
     
"Spock?" Kirk said, overlapping McCoy. "If you've got something, give!"
     
     
But it was to Uhura that Spock turned. "You do understand, Lieutenant, that many of our assumptions remain assumptions."
     
     
She nodded- Jim Kirk realized that she did not trust herself to speak- but her dark eyes were full of entreaty.
     
     
Spock said, "I believe Quickfoot has given us your landmark."
     
     
"Are you tellin' me you can find this home world, Spock?" McCoy looked down. Quickfoot's form was hidden from them by the table, but no one had any doubt about what he saw: his face was gray.
     
     
"No, Doctor. I can give you no such assurance. I can only state that there is now a possibility of doing so, given Lieutenant Uhura's information and Quickfoot's. If my calculations are correct, they serve only to narrow the area of search. And, should we find the Eeiauoans' planet of origin, we have no guarantee that the Eeiauoans' distant relatives can deal any more efficaciously with ADF syndrome -"
     
     
"- Than I can, is that what you're sayin', Spock?"
     
     
"I had intended no aspersion, Dr. McCoy. You are hardly the only doctor trying to contend with the situation."
     
     
The anger washed from McCoy's face. "I know, Spock, I know.... God, I'm tired." He looked down again and rubbed his hands over his eyes. "So you're grasping at straws, too."
     
     
"If I recall my Terran proverbs correctly," Spock said, "we are looking for a needle in a haystack."
     
     
"And Quickfoot told you which haystack."
     
     
Spock gave this thoughtful consideration, then said, "Affirmative."
     
     
That seemed to satisfy McCoy. He