Plague of Memory by S.L. Viehl

Author:S.L. Viehl [Viehl, S. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781101562857
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2007-01-02T05:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

Explaining to Marel that the Hsktskt chief peace negotiator’s son could not share her sleeping chamber was a simple matter. I said “No” and that was the end of it. I then busied myself making a meal for the children, which in CaurVar’s case required cross-referencing the menu database for reptilian fare.

Returning the young Hsktskt to his family on Vtaga proved to be much more difficult.

“There may be accusations of abduction made,” Xonea said as he came to our quarters to discuss the situation. “The Hsktskt have a large planetary defense fleet in readiness in orbit, and their flight patterns are altering as I speak. We have attempted to signal the surface, but our relays are being jammed.”

“SubAkade TssVar was already offended by the Senior Healer’s remarks to his daughter,” my husband said. “When he discovered his son missing, he made an inevitable if erroneous conclusion.”

Xonea frowned. “What sort of remarks did Squilyp make?”

“He threatened to sell the boy into slavery,” I said, “or to cook and devour him as his next meal.”

The captain muttered something under his breath and went to look out our hull viewer at the planet.

I went to check on CaurVar and Marel, who had finished their meal and were playing with the small beasts in her chamber. CaurVar seemed fascinated by the way the gray feline and his black mate stalked a ball of twine that my daughter drew slowly across the floor.

“Healer, are they good hunters?” he asked me eagerly.

I gave the beasts a wry look. “Not as long as I dwell here.” I heard Reever and Xonea arguing out in the other room and eyed Marel’s console. Every moment our men debated how to respond to this crisis, and TssVar refused to communicate with the ship, the boy’s mother would be in an agony of not knowing what had become of her son. “CaurVar, do you know the personal relay code for your mother’s console?”

“Yes, Healer.”

I was betting TssVar had not jammed any family channels. “Would you like to send a signal to her to let her know you are well and not in distress?”

“She will be very displeased with me.” He eyed the console with as much reluctance as Marel displayed when she was required to tidy her chamber. “Do I have to?”

“Females of any species can become agitated when unexpectedly separated from their offspring,” I explained. “Beneath her anger will be much gratitude and relief.”

The young male thought about it, and then nodded and came over to the console. I watched as he input the signal code and enabled the relay.

The viddisplay coalesced into the fury-filled visage of a female Hsktskt. “You dare use this … CaurVar. Where are you? What has happened? Why did you not return with your father and the others? Are you being imprisoned?”

This was the female of whom Cherijo had delivered five Hsktskt infants. Faced with the same choice, I suspected that I would not have done the same. I would have treated her like any other threat.

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