Chanur’s Legacy by C.J. Cherryh

Even Kefk seemed wonderful to him of a sudden. He was grateful to Vikktakkht. He liked the stsho gentleman. He hoped the stsho would be all right and all of them would be happy. He liked everything and everyone around him, and he scrubbed the galley down and set up the meals for undocking, and did everything he could think of to do, the way everyone else aboard was seeing to every detail they could find…

He was absolutely happy. In this port, with kif all around them, and with the ship feeling the strain of a lot of quick turnarounds. Because when Chihin came topside and off duty he could talk to her.

And beyond that prospect he couldn’t get his thoughts straight at all.

Gtstwas clean, at least. Gtst looked very feeble.

Wants to talk to you, Tarras had said, although in Hilfy’s opinion Atli-lyen-tlas could do with a few hours of sleep and a minimum of excitement before they even talked about business or arranged what could become a very stressful meeting.

“Your excellency,” Hilfy said. “I have the honor to introduce myself: Hilfy Chanur, captain of . How may I make your excellency welcome aboard? I apologize for the utilitarian nature of this present accommodation. …”

“Most, most gracious.” The voice was very faint. “You are more fluent than any hani I ever met.”

“I was protocol officer and communications on The Pride. Please make requests of us for your comfort or information. I shall answer everything to your satisfaction, and not ask but one question myself, in order not to exhaust your excellency’s strength at this moment. Please feel that you may be very direct and brief in your answer as we know your energy is limited. Were you fleeing us, with the kif? Please be assured we mean your excellency only help.”

“Do you know of Paehisna-ma-to? “

“I have met one of her agents.”

“This vile person …” A pause for breath. “This tasteless individual has committed violence against my staff at Urtur.”

“Some of your staff left aboard a mahen ship.”

“They dared not , . . dared not the darksomeness of a kifish vessel. I am greatly apprehensive for their lives and persons. The mahendo’sat are in fear of the Momentum.”

Numa’sho:it was in the mahen psyche that a new force that suffered no setbacks had something—mystic about it; they were loath to fight against what had never been beaten.

“Paehisna-ma-to has met reverses. Her agents have resorted to extreme measures which may cause fear in some governments, but which have met brave resistance from the Personages of Urtur and Kshshti. And we have eluded their efforts to divert us.”

“This is excellent news,” gtst whispered. “Most excellent news, as my staff relied on these individuals regarding the selection of transportation. Please accept my profound gratitude that you followed where few hani venture. The kif made small efforts at hospitality, and they would have conveyed me on to Meetpoint, but I should have perished by then. The long, long flight … the food … I cannot describe …”

“We will place your excellency in tasteful surroundings and delay in this port until your excellency is able to travel.”

“Has No’shto-shti-stlen sent you? Is your ship the bearer of the oji?”

“Yes. I hope that this is a felicitous event for your excellency. Please advise me if otherwise.”

A weak hand fluttered and fell. “I am otherwise. I shall make all effort to accept. But I fear that I have fled too far and lost too much.”

“Your excellency will recover!”

“It is indelicate to say. Forgive me. Persons of my stage in life have lost all energies in such regard. I am Gtsta .”

Neuter?

Perhaps she let the dismay show. No’shto-shti-stlen sent a … whatever it was … and the object of gtst proposal was—

“Gtsta,”Atli-lyen-tlas said faintly. “I am incapable of accepting the inestimable distinction which gtst excellency of Meetpoint wished to convey. This—iiii— rarely changes.”

“I should not wish to distress your excellency further. Please advise me where a hani might be ignorant, but be aware I view this as a personal matter of most extreme delicacy, and ask only for your excellency’s welfare: Is there medical treatment which might avail?”

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