Regeneration by Julie E. Czerneda

Author:Julie E. Czerneda
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Human-Alien Encounters, General, Women biologists, Fiction
ISBN: 9780756404116
Publisher: DAW BOOKS
Published: 2007-03-05T17:00:00+00:00

"Why would I blame you, Oversight?" Mudge asked mildly.

Too mildly. Mac waited for the rest.

The Frow had snatched her from the ladder and carried her down faster than falling, then skittered out of sight before she could so much as open her mouth to chastise them. They probably knew full well they were in trouble. Lyle had only shaken his head and pointed down the corridor when she asked where Mudge might be.

She'd gone straight to his quarters--or rather his sanctum. Since losing his roommate, he'd managed to create a full office, complete with an intimidating desk facing the door, and chairs for supplicants. His bed was now a pull-down attached to the back wall. There were no personal belongings in sight. Like Emily, he armored himself with his space.

A harrumph as Mudge settled deeper into his chair, having greeted her at the door as if she was late for one of their 'discussions' about the Trust. "Just because you dragged me into this in the first place, made me spend a less-than-memorable night in a Yukon cabin, and have since failed to adequately explain even one of the events that have transpired since we left the consulate? Why would I blame you because the Frow tried to kill me?"

Mac raised a brow. "Don't exaggerate, Oversight."

He used his finger to describe a drop, then flattened his palm with a thud on the table. "Two levels before they deigned to stop my fall. Two! I could have died, Norcoast."

"You know perfectly well they were just--" Mac hesitated. Fooling around? wasn't quite the term for it. Setting you beneath them?

"Even when I insisted I was to meet with you, they refused to let me climb one rung. The only good to come of it all was that Da'a was able to use the ladder without torment. I have," he pronounced, "formally expressed my displeasure to the Frow representative."

Who'd been one of the beings tossing Mudge around. Mac frowned, afraid she understood too well why Mudge hadn't been allowed up. The Frow had established their chain of command, putting her at the top. It wasn't much of a stretch to imagine they'd given themselves a similar promotion by appointing themselves in charge of access to her.

Alien hierarchies were as abundantly awkward as Human ones.

"Se Lasserbee likes forms and protocols," she said at last, planning to have a private chat with the Frow concerning her chain of command. "As for explanations?" Mac leaned her chair back and stared at the ceiling, going through the list herself. The promise? The Sinzi on the ship? Mudge knew more than she did. What was happening with the Vessel and Nik? He knew as much.

Hollans?

One day, she cringed. Maybe.

"I wish I had some, Oversight," she said finally. "Back on Earth I could hunt my own answers. At least make the motions and feel useful. Right now? All I can do is worry about what might be happening."

"Which is out of our control, Norcoast." A pause. Then, quietly, "It doesn't help.

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