[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]`Partly because I think the rumour's so stupid,' she said with some heat, and
then rushed on to say, `but there's some think you're a glory-grabber.'
`what?' Thian laughed in surprise, more relieved than he could ever let Gravy
realize. He couldn't imagine how anyone could have overheard his interview
with the captain, or known of the special preservation list, but if that was
what Gravy had heard, such orders were already compromised.
`They seem to think that you'll reach out with your Talent and somehow do what
the Fleet ought to be doing.' Thian laughed more heartily then. `Gravy, that's
not very likely. Not to mention impossible.' `But you Talents did that at
Deneb. Twice!' `Talents, plural, Gravy. In fact every Talent available down to
kids of ten and twelve. Not singular, me, with a dozen minor Talents to
Page 66
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
assist.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
There's no way I could or would grab any glory. `Sides which, I
do know my limitations. Heroism is not indicated.' She gave a sniff.
`Heroes happen. Generally,' and now she grinned rakishly at him, `when it's
not indicated.' Then her expression altered to earnestness.
`However wrong the thinking is, it's there and it's not good.
Folks are odd. I mean, here you got a lot of `em home for shore leave - even
if it got cancelled - and you'd think they'd be at least grateful. But no,
they're out to find something ... something...'
`negative?' Thian suggested, knowing exactly what people could find to
disparage the Talented.
`That'll do,' she said. Then, in a rush of empathy, she put her hand on his
arm. `You're a nice guy, Thian, and I'll do what I can to offset the flat.
D'you want me to report it to Ashiant?' `Only if you have something specific
that has an adverse effect on morale as a whole,' he managed to say, more
distracted by the warm hand on his arm, and her very feminine presence, the
delicate floral taste of her, than he thought possible.
She caught his response, though, because he was lax in reining in his
thoughts, because he hadn't felt the need to shield in Gravy's company, and
because he was missing the company of Mur and Dip.
`Sometimes it's better to squash a rumour as flat as possible especially right
now when we might be heading into action,' she said, keeping her hand on his
arm so that he couldn't help but `read' her which, he also realized, was
exactly her intention.
Her very expressive eyes confirmed it.
`I thought,' he began in a sort of daze, `that's when rumours
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
would multiply, a sort of combat-readiness reaction.' `Hmmm,' she said,
leaning into him, clearly no longer interested in the previous subject of
conversation. `D'you know where I got my nickname?' she asked.
Thian rather thought he did but he hedged in a sudden fit of shyness. He had
had that dream involving her, and he'd dreamed long enough with `Dinis to know
that there were true ones.
`Can we get to your cabin without being seen?' she asked him, her eyes
sparkling with anticipation. He was suddenly deluged by intense sensuality
which he was unable, and unwilling, to deflect. Her smile challenged him to
seize the moment.
`Yes, ma'am.' And grasping her in his arms, he `ported them neatly on to the
floor space beside his bunk. But he had slightly misjudged their mass and, off
balance, they tilted on to his bunk. That took care of his residual reserve.
Thian had never truly appreciated the company of an empath such as
Alison-Anne Greevy and he didn't care where she acquired her nickname.
He hadn't had so much experience that he was confident of his ability to
perform but Gravy made it all easy, natural and rather special.
`How long are your friends away?' she asked at one point.
`Two months.' He suppressed a speculative spurt as to where he'd be in two
months' time.
`what did they have to go for?' she asked and he realized that she honestly
didn't know. `I mean, all crew have been recalled, haven't they?' "Dinis in
need of hibernation would be no good in an attack. No
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
blame is attached to their absence . . . at least from `Dinis.' `I'd heard
about this hibernation business. what exactly happens?' Thian chuckled,
Page 67
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
stroking her fine blonde hair. It was softer and silkier than a `Dini pelt.
`Something like this.' `You don't know?' She was surprised.
`There are some things species should do for themselves to themselves in
absolute privacy.' `I couldn't agree more,' she sighed with a mischievous
glint in her eyes as she pulled his head down to her again.
The intercom buzz roused them and, for a split second, Thian was disoriented
by the feel of a body against his.
`Mr Lyon?' wa the query `Here,' Thian said quickly.
`Captain's compliments and can you come to the ready room?' was the voice
message.
`whoops!' Gravy murmured into her hand, instantly awake and rather charmingly
rumpled by sleep, her fair hair standing out in wisps from her head while one
errant curl pressed into her cheek.
He smoothed it back, not quite wishing to relinquish their physical contact.
`And look at the time!' She drew her breath in a hiss, at the same time
smoothing her hair back.
`You don't share a cabin do you?' `Thank the gods, no,' she said.
`I'll just put you back unseen then,' he said.
`Hey, that'd be tops!' she said, hurriedly pulling on her exercise gear and
swinging her legs off the bunk to stand up. `This right?'
`Thanks, Alison,' he said.
`Catch me any al' time, Thian love, she said, her grin
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
mischievous, her eyes dancing, and her mind exuding the genuine pleasure she
had received and given. And the position of her cabin, two decks below.
Thian `ported her there and then took time to use the dry shower and dress
appropriately for the day.
* * * `We've more information on that object, Mr Lyon,' Captain
Ashiant said. Tikele, the security chief and the com duty officer, this time,
Steena Blaz, were also present.
Thian seated himself comfortably, ready to `path messages but the captain
continued to pace the length of the conference table.
`We have first established that there are no emissions of any space drive
known to exist, human, `Dini or Hive,' he said.
That was a surprise and Thian restrained his amusement. No glory at all to
grab. And no lives to be wasted in an attack to the death.
But he maintained an alert interest as the captain continued.
`It would appear to be a derelict of some sort.
`An unusually large derelict,' the com officer said softly, evidently not
comfortable with what she'd seen on the sensors.
`That's a pity,' Thian said, since that was their feeling. Odd how brave
people could feel after an emergency had passed.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]zanotowane.pldoc.pisz.plpdf.pisz.plkajaszek.htw.pl
