“Stop trying to impress the warrior,” Tedra said in irritation, having indeed forgotten that Martha was linked and in ultimate control of everything in the ship. “He’s not even listening to us.”
It was true. All Tamiron was doing was staring, in awe and fascinated horror, at everything in the room. Sirens could have gone off, and he wouldn’t likely have noticed.
“Well?” Tedra said impatiently now. “What are you waiting for, permission? Link up.”
“I’m already linked, kiddo. I’ve been monitoring the unit since your warrior arrived.” For once Martha didn’t make Tedra pry every little piece of information out of her. “He’s already out of danger, since the worst wounds have already been sealed, and his body tolerated the transfusions, which he needed a great deal of. That was the only question mark, if he could accept alien blood. Right now the damage is being repaired from the inside out. His vitals are good, major organs sound, and that punctured lung is no problem.”
“His lung was punctured?” Tedra asked in a small voice.
“You want a full inventory of injuries?”
“No—that won’t be necessary. Just tell me, can everything be fixed?”
“In your line of work, you ought to know there isn’t much a meditech can’t do, except bring the dead back to life, and the scientists are working on that one. Your warrior will be good as new.”
Tedra sank into the nearest adjustichair, the relief making her weak. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“All I did was bring him aboard.”
“I wasn’t talking to you, Martha,” Tedra snapped, her old impulses returning now that she could breathe easier. “Stars, I need a bath, a decent bath,” she said, noticing for the first time how filthy she was, her chauri and cloak not only stained but hanging on her in shreds after that demonstration she gave of a woman gone nuts. “I’ll be in my quarters, if there’s any change in Challen’s condition. And keep an eye on Tamiron here.”
“That’s all you have to say after that disappearing act you pulled down there?”
“Oh, that’s a good one. You abandoned me, but now it’s my fault that you lost track of me?”
“Still want to melt my circuits?”
“Maybe.” She might not regret being abandoned to the barbarian’s mercies anymore, but now she faced an even worse dilemma.
“You’re worrying over nothing, doll,” Martha said, able to guess her thoughts accurately as usual. “You won’t lose him. He wouldn’t allow it.”
“You don’t know what’s been happening, Martha, so don’t speculate when you don’t know the facts.”
“You don’t think he’ll return to Kystran with you?”
“He won’t believe anything I’ve told him. He won’t even let me prove it. The man is totally close-minded.”
“He won’t be after he wakes up here.” Martha chuckled.
“No, that’d be taking advantage in the worst way and I won’t do that to him. I don’t want him to know he’s even been here. Have the meditech keep him under until he’s returned to the planet.”
“And who’s going to keep his friend there from relating every detail?”
“You mean if Tamiron doesn’t think he’s dreamed the whole thing?”
“Don’t be cute.”
“It won’t matter. Challen wouldn’t believe him anyway. I tell you, the man invented stubbornness.”
“Well, it’s your call. I assume your ‘only visiting’ means you’re still determined to honor your challenge loss.”
“Why would you think that was in question?” Tedra asked suspiciously.
“Oh, no reason. I was just wondering how you’re liking it down there.”
“Well, you can keep on wondering. I—”
“To whom do you speak, Tedra?”
She turned to see that Tamiron had returned to the world of hearing, and he was busy looking for a body to go along with the voice he’d heard. “You, me, and Challen are the only people on the ship, Tamiron. Martha has a voice, but no body to go along with it.”
“I beg your pardon,” Martha cut in dryly. “I’m rather fond of my body.”
“Don’t confuse the issue, Martha.” And to Tamiron, “She’s talking about her casing, this grand console here in the center of the room, and it’s not even hers, but belongs to the ship’s master computer, which she’s hooked up to. You could say she’s the heart and soul of the ship, since she operates everything on it. But she’s just a computer, albeit an advanced model, a free-thinking machine, which is why she sounds so human. Does that make sense to you?”
“No, but—nothing here does.”
Tedra grinned. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not necessary to know how things work, just what they can do. Martha will answer any questions you have about the ship or anything else. And I’ll be back shortly.”
“You go to see Challen?”
“No, he can’t be seen while the meditech is working on him. But he’s already out of danger and is being patched up in high-tech style. He’s going to be just fine, Tamiron.”
“If you are no longer concerned, then it must be so.”
Tedra blushed. She’d really given herself away with her farden hysterics, hadn’t she, and she a Sec trained to retain control under any circumstances. But at least Challen hadn’t been awake to witness her falling to pieces.
“Yes, well, as I said, I won’t be gone long. I’m just going to clean up a bit. So relax and enjoy your little adventure into space. As soon as Challen is completely healed, we will return to Sha-Ka’an.”
Tedra headed for the exit, leaving Tamiron wide-eyed again as he watched the sliding doors open and close without being touched. But if she thought she’d have a few minutes of peace, she was mistaken. Martha’s voice followed her down the hall through the ship’s intercom system.
“You shouldn’t have left him alone. He could well damage something if he doesn’t listen to me and starts touching what he shouldn’t.”
“Don’t be too surprised, Martha, but the man isn’t stupid.”
“He’s a barbarian. Every known source states quite clearly that they’re an aggressive breed who do exactly as they please. And you’ve left him in the Control Room. If we end up in deep space, don’t blame me.”
“Stop exaggerating. You’re supposed to be entertaining him with your vast knowledge, not bothering me.”
“I can do a thousand different things at the same time, and you know it. He’s getting his questions answered, and you’d be surprised at what interests him.”
“You, no doubt.”
“Not at all,” Martha replied with only a slight touch of pique. “His questions are devoted to the ship, how much it costs, how many men it takes to operate it, how long it would take them to learn to operate it.”
“Well, he is a warrior. He’s no doubt already contemplating conquering other worlds.”
“You’re being sarcastic, but I think you’ve hit it right on the nose, doll.”
“He can contemplate that all he likes, but he doesn’t know what’s out there. When he does, he’ll settle for much safer trade instead of aggression.”
“Speaking of which, is there anything worth trading for down there?”
“They’re a strange culture of old and new, nothing advanced to our level, but for primitives, they don’t lack for comforts. And yes, they’ve got something to trade all right, an energy source that could well rival crysillium.”
“Well, congratulations, kiddo. How’s it feel to do good on your secondary-choice job?”
“I just want my old job back. And I didn’t say I’d closed any deals, Martha. I told you, my barbarian won’t discuss worlds outside his own, much less the possibility of trading with them.”
“So is he the only one down there?”
“As far as I’m concerned.”
When she reached her quarters, it was to find Corth sitting in an adjustichair and looking like he’d been there since she left. “Well, hello, Corth. What a
re you doing here?”
He came immediately to his feet. “Missing you, Tedra De Arr. You have been gone a long time.”
“I’ve been gone less than a week, not long at all.”
A week? Stars, was that all the time it had taken her to fall head over heels?
“Will you stay?”
“No, I’ve—ah—still got business to take care of on the planet. And actually, I’d like a little privacy now.”
He took the hint almost like the old model, before Martha had tampered with him, though he did display a good deal of disappointment on leaving. She was going to have to have another talk with Martha about changing him back to her original specifications, but she had too many other things to think about right now.
After giving orders to her robocleaner, she stepped into the solaray bath—what heaven! But Martha was back, her voice still reaching her.
“You’re having those rags you were wearing cleaned? What’s wrong with changing into something of your own as long as you’re here, complete with utility belt and homing signal?”
“Because Challen wouldn’t like it, and for now, I’m just a challenge loser, forced to accede to his wishes.”
“So I’m to lose track of you again?”
“You should have considered that before you refused to send down Corth so I wouldn’t have had to challenge the barbarian in the first place.”
“And you could have tried a little harder to win that challenge.”
“Go away, Martha.”
Chapter Thirty-six
They were Transferred back to the mine entrance, though Tedra had asked Martha to put Challen down in a different spot, away from the one soaked with his blood. With any luck, Challen wouldn’t even know he’d left his planet—except all his warriors were still there, awaiting his return, and looking as amazed as barbarians could look upon seeing something materialize out of the air.
“Could you talk to them, Tamiron, and ask them not to mention to anyone what they’ve seen here today?”
She wasn’t sure Tamiron had heard her. He was staring with some amazement himself at Challen’s unmarked chest, this being the first he’d seen him since Transferring to the ship. There was no trace of a scar, nothing to show Challen had received a wound that would have killed him if not for the wonders of another world, one so far advanced, it still boggled Tamiron’s mind.
“What of his bones?”
“What?” Tedra frowned. “What bones?”
“Those that were crushed.”
“Everything has been fixed, Tamiron. I told you, he’s as good as new, and will be waking up any minute to prove it. Now didn’t you hear what I said about his warriors?”
“Certainly, but the matter should be decided by the shodan,” he replied.
“Actually, the one I didn’t want told was Challen. Does he really have to know he was injured? Couldn’t he just think he’d been knocked out for a little while?”
“Why?”
“I don’t want him thinking I saved his life.”
“But you did.”
“I didn’t. I just had the means available that could.”
“We do not keep secrets from the shodan, woman.”
She was learning fast what was a say-no-more-on-the-subject expression and what was not. “Well, how about letting me tell him, then? I’d like one more chance of getting him to believe me on my own, without you or your buddies backing me up.”
“Does he ask—”
“For Stars’ sake, just give me the rest of the day,” she said in exasperation. “You guys could leave, go on back to town. You won’t have to lie to him if you’re not here to be questioned, and that’s not keeping secrets.”
Instead of answering, he looked down at Challen again, and she knew it would drive him nuts to have to wait to confide to his friend all the wonders he’d seen. She also knew he still wanted assurance Challen was all right, assurance that wouldn’t come until he could speak to him. And none of that was going to get her another opportunity to convince Challen that she’d never told a tall tale in her life. And it was so important that he take her word for it.
“He’s breathing, isn’t he?” she said now in irritation. “You trusted me earlier, Tamiron, so why can’t you trust me now? I’ll have him back to town before moonrise. A couple of hours. Is that too much to ask when I’ve saved his life?”
The warrior’s brows shot up when he heard she was now taking credit for it, but Tedra wasn’t adverse to using any means to get what she wanted if she thought it might work. And it apparently worked this time.
“Very well, but no longer than the darkness,” Tamiron told her.
“No problem,” Tedra grinned, well aware his gratitude had taken a part in that decision. “You can even send out a search party if we’re a little late arriving back—due to unforeseen circumstances, of course.”
“Such would be pointless, do you make use of your going-to-the-ship box. This I will have back now.”
She handed it over with a shrug, but asked curiously, “Aren’t you worried about his reaction when he’s told you let me have it? You did disobey a direct order, after all, even if it was for his own good.”
“Were you not here and still his to command, then I would worry. But all was done as you claimed.”
That “his to command” got her goat, enough to admit, “I hate to burst that bubble of satisfaction you’re wrapped up in, warrior, but until I leave this area, Martha’s still got a lock on me and can Transfer me out of here just as she did to Challen. So you’re just going to have to take my word for it that I have no intention of disappearing until I’ve paid my full challenge loss service.”
“The shodan has called you a warrior woman. He would not do so did you lack a warrior’s honor, thus is your word on the matter sufficient.”
Tedra was chagrined to find herself glowing with pride over that left-handed compliment. “When you decide to trust, you go all out, don’t you? Thanks, Tamiron. But you’d better get going, or there won’t be a further need for trusting.”
He nodded and left with the others. She watched them until they’d passed around the jutting arm of the mountain that concealed the mine from Sha-Ka-Ra, only a short distance away. Then she turned to glance down at the big barbarian, looking so peaceful and harmless under the influence of the meditech’s sleep-inducer.
A shiver ran through her, thinking how close she had come to losing him. And now that she had him to herself, she was impatient for him to wake, also needing the reassurance that speaking to him would bring. She paced a few minutes, but finally sat down and lifted his head into her lap.
He sat up instantly, as if she had disturbed him from no more than a light sleep. With a swift glance around, he asked, “What do we out here?”
“Enjoying the late afternoon sunshine? You don’t buy that? Well, I’d tell you that you were just napping and I was just sitting here watching you nap, but I suppose you remember the tunnel collapsing on you?”
“Indeed.”
The meditech had cleaned him up, even his bracs. Since she was clean, too, maybe he wouldn’t recall that they ought to be dirty. And it wasn’t necessary to lie to him to temporarily avoid the truth.
“What can I say, babe? Your head’s not as hard as I thought it was.”
This got her a quick, reproachful look, but the man wasn’t dense, and he had a memory to rival that of a Mock II computer. “I recall pain, kerima, but not in my head. Why is it I feel none now?”
“Divine intervention? No? All right, I confess you got a little banged up, and since I can’t stand to see anything suffering, even you, I convinced your good buddy Tamiron to let me speak to Martha. You remember Martha, my God-like computer who can perform all kinds of miraculous feats? Well, she took you up to my ship and performed some, then sent you back down here, minus your bruises. Will you buy that one?”
Instead of the usual condescending doubt she always got, Challen immediately scooped her up and carried her t
o his waiting hataar. She didn’t know what he was up to, and he didn’t tell her, but in moments they were riding back to town, and his haste was unbelievable. All she could do was hold on as best she could, though she managed to get out an “Are you nuts?” before the barbarian’s hand covered her mouth. And it stayed there until they were threading their way through the traffic on Sha-Ka-Ra’s main street.
By then, Tedra had forgotten all about convincing Challen she was from another world. She wasn’t sure she wanted to ever speak to the crazy barbarian again, about anything. And he still didn’t give her any clue about what had sent them racing back to town. He went straight to the castle, but even then he didn’t release her, carrying her inside and all the way to his bedchamber. Only there did he finally let go.
Tedra began to pace immediately. Her arms crossed, her movements stiff, she marched back and forth in front of the warrior, who only now seemed to have relaxed.
“There was another sa’abo sneaking up on us, right?” she offered first, to be fair. “It even followed us back to town. No? Then maybe some fire sirens were going off that only you could hear? Or have you simply lost your mind?”
“It was necessary for the peace of my mind to enter a crowded place so the ‘fix’ on you would be lost,” he replied quite calmly, as if he weren’t shocking the hell out of her. And in the next breath, “I did not need to visit your sky-flyer to know it was there.”
“What?!”
“I have spoken with your Martha. She gets her points across with blasts of air. I did not need to visit—”
“I heard you the first time!” Tedra cut in, shouting. “When did you speak to my Martha?”
“After your punishment. I needed advice from someone who knew you better than I.”
“And did you get it? Yes, of course you did. No wonder I got so many gifts.”
“She mentioned no gifts, kerima. She suggested I allow you to release your anger, no matter how disrespectful that releasing might be. It was good advice, for which I am grateful, but I trust your Martha no further than that; thus have I removed you from her ‘fix’ on you.”