Nereis by Alison Sinclair

Author:Alison Sinclair
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Bundoran Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Teo

Before midmorning, they were airborne again on Creon’s urging, so that they would reach the coast by sunset. Ramon reported that according to the survey probes he was maintaining over Kayan, a heavy plane had flown into and out of the disused strip outside the ruined Parthélani city during the night. Three lighter planes remained. They discussed asking Creon’s opinion; Val argued firmly against it, insisting that they must maintain opacity. Nothing would be more deleterious to their mission than suspicion from one side that they were advising the other.

Phi took the seat beside Creon; Teo sat behind, with Jon. Despite two sleepless nights, she was well pleased with their work. Phi had more than proven her ability at survey, despite her reckless personal behaviour. And even that had its benefits, Teo thought, listening to their flirtatious banter. The bitter edge had gone from Creon’s voice.

<How are you faring with the permissions for the Parthélani burial ground?> she queried Val.

<There is a delicate dance going on among the Principas as to whose graveyard is most deserving—at least, I trust it is deservingness that is at issue here—of our attentions.>

Teo snorted aloud, then said, “Sorry,” to Jon.

<Who can give permission is also turning out to be debatable. The bodily remains are not in themselves highly regarded by either the blood-relatives or the social group. They’re considered valuable mostly because the Montjoi are willing to exchange Obligation for corpses.>

Teo’s breakfast shifted uneasily in her stomach. Val had too much tact to enumerate the reasons why physicians would value corpses—for pathological study, and for the hormones and growth factors that could be extracted from tissue. She had accustomed herself to New Confederacy society and her ship’s mission, but she was still Spartan, and glad to be leaving the graveyard in the jungle. Personally, she was more pleased with her exchanges with the prisoner scientists, and impressed with their work.

<I think we could bring the Nereians up to a level where they could monitor gene-revisions,> she said to Val, changing the subject. <Given the ability I’ve seen here and the information Rémy’s collecting on Montjoi practice.>

<That assumes that both sides be willing to cooperate.>

<We’ll work on them. When we return, I’m taking a trip down to Ingegerd to speak to the Cabal on Emrys’s behalf. He needs—they all need—better facilities.>

<Don’t be too hasty, Teo,> Val cautioned.

She was in too good a mood to start that argument. <I have Jon Boru here at my side, and I haven’t spent nearly as much time with him as I’ve wanted to. Is there anything else we need to talk about?>

A hesitation. <We’ll keep an eye on things. Go teach, Teo.>

She did not remember that hesitation until, just shy of the shoreline, Ramon interrupted her with, <Teo, those three planes just launched, they’re moving in your direction, and they traveling quite a bit faster than yours.> He flashed a quick schematic at her.

Phi said, <I’ll tell Creon.> Nobody objected. She prodded him awake and explained, in a few words.

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