parley.”
She found little to say. He talked for two, mostly appealing to her
xenological interests with tales of sophonts he had met. All were
fascinating. A few eventually made her laugh.
Books, musical pieces, shows were available by the thousands, in
playback or printout. Kossara grew restless anyhow. Flandry had
withdrawn immediately after the first breakfast of the voyage (following
a nightwatch wherein she slept unexpectedly well) to concentrate on his
briefing material. Interstellar space, seen in the optical-compensating
screens, was utter splendor; but however fast the Hooligan drove, those
immensities changed too slowly for perception. She exercised, prowled
around, tried out different hobby kits, at last sought Chives. He was in
the galley fixing lunch. “Can I help you?” she offered.
“I regret not, Donna,” the Shalmuan answered. “While I have no wish to
deprecate your culinary gifts, you can see that Sir Dominic does not
willingly trust this excellent chef-machine to prepare his meals, let
alone comparative strangers.”
She stared at the open-faced sandwiches growing beneath his fingers.
Anchovies and pimientos lay across slices of hard-boiled egg on
fresh-made mayonnaise, caviar and lemon peel complemented pate de foie
gras, cucumber and alfalfa sprouts revitalized cheddar cheese in the
dignity of its age … “No, I couldn’t do that,” she admitted. “You must
be a genius.”
“Thank you, Donna. I endeavor to give satisfaction. Although, in candor,
Sir Dominic provided my initial training and the impetus to develop
further.”
Kossara drew a long breath. A chance to learn about him? “You were his
slave, you said. How did that happen, if I may ask?”
Chives spoke imperturbably, never breaking the rhythm of his work. “My
planet of origin has no technologically advanced society, Donna. His
late Majesty Josip appointed a sector governor who organized a slave
trade in my people, chiefly selling to the barbarians beyond the limes.
The charges against those captured for this purpose were, shall we say,
arguable; but no one argued. When that governor met with misfortune, his
successor attempted to right matters. However, this was impossible. Not
even victims still within the Empire could be traced, across thousands
of worlds. Sir Dominic merely chanced upon me in a provincial market.
“I was not prepossessing, Donna. My owner had put me up for sale because
he doubted I could survive more labor in his mercury mine. Sir Dominic
did not buy me. He instigated a game of poker which lasted several days
and left him in possession of mine and workers alike.”
Chives clicked his tongue. “My former master alleged cheating. Most
discourteous of him, especially compared to Sir Dominic’s urbanity in
inviting him out. The funeral was well attended by the miners. Sir
Dominic arranged for their repatriation, but kept me since this was far
from Shalmu and, besides, I required a long course of chelating drugs to
cleanse my system. Meanwhile he employed me in his service. I soon
decided I had no wish to return to a society of … natives … and
strove to make myself valuable to him.”
Head cocked, chin in hand, tail switching, Chives studied the lunch
layout. “Yes, I believe this will suffice. Akvavit and beer for
beverages, needless to say. Since you wish occupation, Donna, you may
assist me in setting the table.”
She scarcely heard. “Maze, if he’s a decent man,” she blurted, “how can
he work for an Empire that lets things like, like your case happen?”
“I have oftener heard Sir Dominic described in such terms as–ah–for
example, a slightly overexcited gentleman once called him a
cream-stealing tomcat with his conscience in his balls, if you will
pardon the expression, Donna. The fact is, he did cheat in that poker
game. But as for the Empire, like the proverbial centenarian I suggest
you consider the alternative. You will find tableware in yonder
cabinet.”
Kossara bit her lip and took the hint.
“To the best of my admittedly circumscribed knowledge,” Chives said
after silver, china, and glass (not vitryl) stood agleam upon snowy
linen, “your folk have, on the whole, benefited from the Empire. Perhaps
I am misinformed. Would you care to summarize the history for me while
the spiced meatballs are heating?”
His slim emerald form squatted down on the deck. Kossara took a bench,