Acorna's Rebels by Anne McCaffrey

Author:Anne McCaffrey
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2003-03-24T16:00:00+00:00

Before returning to the Temple, Acorna asked Captain MacDonald when he would be leaving. “Kando is sending some men and wagons over to help us load up first thing in the morning,” he replied.

That information could prove useful, she thought. While she remained determined that the former Brother Bulaybub’s fate was not in her hands, it wouldn’t hurt to mention to Nadhari and Miw-Sher about the wagons.

She returned to the Condor. The Federation technicians and their vehicles were gone. Becker apparently saw her, for the robolift descended to meet her.

“Hiya, Princess,” Becker said, meeting her at the robolift deck and slipping his arm through hers chummily. “We are once more fully operational, you’ll be glad to hear, and can leave whenever we’re ready.”

“That is very good news, Captain,” Acorna said. They ascended to the bridge and folded themselves into the command chairs, turning the chairs to face each other. “You certainly got those repairs done in record time.”

“Yeah,” Becker said, pleased. “Apparently the Mulzar put in a word for us and Dsu Macostut couldn’t send me help fast enough. These guys know what they’re doing when they’re using their own stuff. They—uh—had a few problems with my adaptations, but mostly they thought they were really—what was the word?—oh, yeah, inventive.”

“You are that. I wonder why the Mulzar decided to be so helpful.”

“Nadhari, maybe?” Becker frowned. “But then, he is kinda wanting to be a kissin’ cousin with her, from what I can tell, so I don’t think he’d be in any hurry for us to leave and take her with us.”

“Unless her going with us isn’t a part of his plan,” Acorna suggested.

“Oh, I don’t think he could keep her…she, uh, hasn’t said anything about wanting to stay, has she?”

“Not to me. Not so far,” Acorna said. “But the Mulzar is used to ruling. Perhaps he isn’t used to considering the wishes of his women.”

“Do ya think? Naaah. He’s okay. In fact, I’ve enjoyed getting to know him a little. He’s a little high-handed sometimes, but you know, he’s trying to do just what the old-time high kings did—unify his world and rule it so they can get on with progress instead of everybody fighting everybody else all the time. Like King Arthur and Camelot, except Camelot wasn’t cat-shaped.”

“No, I suppose not. But I wonder how united the world will stay and at what cost its unity will come. I wonder how often he will use violence and war to subdue the other peoples.”

“You gotta break some eggs when you make—uh—scrambled eggs, Acorna,” Becker told her. He sounded a little irritated with her. Acorna guessed that was because she was questioning a concept integral to the belief system of most humans—that some things had to be fought for. Perhaps because she had been raised among humans, she actually shared that belief to some degree. The Khleevi had needed fighting. They’d needed killing, in fact, and Acorna had arranged to kill them all. She’d done it gladly and would do it again in the same situation.

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