Ancestor's World by T. Jackson King & A. C. Crispin

Author:T. Jackson King & A. C. Crispin [King, T. Jackson & Crispin, A. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Amazon: B009NI72II
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11 Smuggler's Luck

Mahree sat on the hard floor of Krillen's office and watched as the Investigator poured cold tea for her, for Gordon, and for Prosecutor Makwen, who'd been invited to sit in on their meeting. The afternoon heat was stifling, and the coolness of the office felt like a dash of mint.

Gordon noticed her glance and gave her a warm smile. Mahree returned it, sensing again that tenderness, that caring that she wasn't sure how to deal with--it both excited her and made her nervous. By now she could no longer pretend she wasn't attracted to him. She was. And yet... she was only here on Ancestor's World for a few weeks-- perhaps a month or two at the most.

Did she want to start anything under those circumstances?

Especial y since she knew, instinctively, that any relationship with Gordon Mitchell would be far more than just a casual fling between two lonely humans far from home.

"So," Krillen said, after taking a sip of tea, "tell me, please, all about this second attempt on the life of Ambassador Burroughs."

Mahree opened her mouth to do so, then closed it, and gestured at Gordon.

"You go ahead," she said. "I stil

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can't talk about it without getting the shakes."

Mitchell nodded, and proceeded to fill the Investigator in on what had happened the other night.

Krillen and Makwen both listened intently. "And you say a Na-Dina was wandering around the Camp?" the Prosecutor said, when Gordon was finished. "Was the Simiu sure of his identification?"

"Yes, he was."

"And where was Axum all this time?" Krillen asked. "She told us that she'd picked up on the trail of a Long- Neck, and followed it, to make sure it wasn't trying to get near the camp. She'd accidentally shut off her com unit, so she couldn't hear Khuharkk' calling her."

Krillen fixed Gordon with an intent gaze. "And, Philosopher Mitchell, do you believe her?"

Gordon took a deep breath. "Krillen... I do. I'm not sure why, exactly, except that my instincts tell me that Axum was telling the truth. Dammit, I like her.

She's worked hard for me. She's dedicated to what we're doing. I can't believe she'd try to hurt one of us."

The Investigator listened carefully, then turned to Mahree. "And what about you, Ambassador? You who have had dealings with so many species other than your own. Were you present when Philosopher Mitchell spoke with Axum?"

"Yes, I was," Mahree said. "And, Krillen, I believed her, too. Axum seemed genuinely horrified to realize how close I came to death, and even more horrified that one of her own people might have been involved."

Krillen picked up his bronze ruler and sat turning it over in his taloned hands as he thought. "It is true that any evidence against a Na-Dina in this instance is purely circumstantial. The would-be murderer may not have had anything to do with the heat sign the Simiu saw on his night-visor."

"That's true enough," Gordon said.

"What of the faked message Mahree found in her tent?"

"It was gone when we looked for it," Mahree said.

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