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She sighed heavily but her bitterness was not as frantic as that first
explosion. Helva wondered if Kira had resigned herself to barrenness as she
had not, from appearances, resigned herself to living.
"Which is why, dear Helva, it is ironic for me, of all people, to be assisting
this particular cargo around the Great Wheel."
Helva refrained from any remarks. Kira finished her coffee and retired to
rest. Within a few hours there would be Merak to deal with, then on to
Alioth.
They cleared Merak in record time, the technicians being both quick and
careful. Alioth was only a few days onward before the last spatial hop to
Nekkar. Scout and ship had now achieved a pleasant routine in which Helva
filled gaps in her classical and ancient musical repertoire with Kira's
comprehensive acquaintance with folk music from old Terra and the early
colonial periods of the now major worlds.
Helva woke Kira just before touchdown on Alioth. The scout dressed quickly in
a somber tunic, braiding her hair so closely to her scalp Helva wondered her
head didn't ache.
Touchdown was not auspicious. To begin with, the spaceport was overshadowed by
the jagged, glowing peaks of Alioth's active continental spine. They were told
to touch down some distance from the small rectangular building that housed
what spaceport control and administration the inhospitable planet required.
Kira protested they were too far from the building to effect a quick transfer
and was brusquely informed she was to await the arrival of a ground vehicle.
It took its time in arriving, a huge transport truck loaded with cowled
figures who took positions around Helva's base, elbow to elbow. Their
belligerent attitude and presence seemed an insult to a ship bearing Helva's
markings.
"What is the meaning of mounting a guard on a Scout Ship in Central
Worlds Medical Service?" Kira demanded in firm tones to the control tower.
"For the protection of your cargo."
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At this moment the charge officer of the guard contingent requested permission
to enter the scout ship.
"Well?" Helva asked softly of Kira.
"I don't see we have much choice but I suggest you tape this and tight beam it
back to Regulus."
"My thought, too," Helva agreed. "And I think I'll play silent."
"A good idea," Kira said, adjusting a contact button on her cloak.
There were many backward planets where the partnership of the mobile brawn
scout and his brain ship were improperly understood. On such worlds it often
had been to the advantage of the partners to keep the brain's abilities
unknown until needed, if needed. The button would allow Helva to keep in sight
and sound contact with Kira.
The officer, an ominous, tall figure in his black cowl, appeared at the
airlock, which Helva opened. The man, his face unseen, towered above Kira. A
thin hand was extruded from the draperies and made a gesture toward breast and
hidden face that could be interpreted as a salute of sorts.
Kira responded in kind, waiting for him to speak first.
"Second Watch officer Noneth," he finally intoned.
"Medical Scout Kira of Canopus," Kira replied with dignity. Helva did not fail
to note that the girl clung to her planetary designation, rather than a
ship-partner identity as KH-834.
"Your presence is required at High Temple to discuss the donation,"
Noneth said in hollow, measured tones.
"Time is of the essence in a transfer of this nature," Kira began
smoothly.
"Time," intoned the officer, "is at the disposal of Him Who Orders. It is at
his command you are to come."
"The seed is ready for shipment?" Kira asked, insistent on some information.
A shudder rippled the fabric surrounding the figure of Noneth.
"Do not blaspheme."
"Unintentional, I assure you," Kira said, calmly refusing to offer further
apology.
"Come," ordered the officer in a voice of command that crackled with
authority.
"He Who Orders bids you come, woman," a sepulchral, harsh voice echoed shrilly
through the tiny cabin.
Kira won another mark of respect from Helva when she gave no indication of
surprise at that awesome bellow. The scout's eyes flicked briefly over the
smooth oval fastening on Noneth's hood. Helva as well as Kira recognized the
device for what it was, a two-way control similar to the one Kira wore. A type
issued only to Service personnel.
There'd be a nova of a scandal when Central Worlds discovered who was
distributing these restricted designs on backward planets.
"The order must be obeyed. The Temple itself has spoken," Noneth cried in a
voice quavering with reverence. "Dally not."
The Temple was feminine, Helva realized, having appraised the timbre of the
voice.
"I am under orders," Kira said evasively.
"That is the Eternal Truth," Noneth replied, nodding solemn accord, as
Kira apparently responded in a manner consonant with his religion. He raised
his hand in a stylized gesture and added, "May Death come to you at the moment
of your triumph."
Kira, about to make a graceful obeisance, halted and stared up at the hidden
face, her eyes wide with shock.
"May Death come to you at the moment of your triumph?" she murmured. The blood
drained from her face.
"Is not Death the greatest of blessings?" asked the priest, mildly surprised
at her ignorance.
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It was all Helva could do to remain silent but a deep instinct stifled her
half-formed groan of protest. It took little extra interpolation to surmise
that death on Alioth would be the greatest of blessings: relief from the
terrible drudgery, the grim and gloomy aspect of the planet, with its
hovering, smoking mountains. The normal perils of molten mining plus the daily
anxiety of a volcano emerging and erupting underfoot had emphasized the
brevity of existence until the emphasis had swung toward death as a welcome
respite from grinding toil and miserable conditions. Was Cencom out of its
alleged mind? when it did not ban Kira from landing on Alioth, knowing her
compulsion? She wouldn't even have to strain against her conditioning.
"Yes, Death is the greatest of blessings. That is Eternal Truth," Kira
repeated, trancelike.
"Come with me," Noneth enjoined, gently persuasive, his gaunt hand beckoning
to Kira. "Come," echoed the sepulchral voice greedily.
The ground car had no sooner left the base of the KH-834 than the guard began
to move.
"She will see Him Who Orders," one sighed enviously. "The bareface harlot will
be given an unjust reward. Now! Up the lift and let us secure the cargo. Think
of it! Thousands more to die to expiate the sin against Him Who
Orders."
That was sufficient for Helva. She locked the lift controls and slid the
airlock securely tight. Curse, hammer, buffet though those Aliothites might, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]