I am, too, son of mine, said Damia. That will go a long way to discredit rumours.
You’ve heard some?
He heard his mother’s sigh flutter in his mind. No more than usual.
Have you found my assailant?
I shall perhaps have better luck now. Your touch is much surer today. Everyone will be overjoyed to hear my report of your return to health – with one notable exception. I’ll be `listening’ for that!
`Considering the trauma to nerve, bone and tissue, you’ve recovered amazingly, young man,’ Exeter told him when Thian was allowed out of the restorative fluid. `I thought that stunner was supposed to work as effectively in vacuum as in atmosphere, but maybe not. Can’t think how else you could have survived.’ `Oh, I was raised hardy on Aurigae, you know, Thian said easily.
Exeter scratched his close-shaven pate and grinned wryly. `So I’m led to believe. Amazing woman, your mother. Ah, here’s the orderly to escort you to your quarters. Now, you’re still on sick leave, Thian.
My orders are for you to take it easy: report to Lieutenant Clark for physiotherapy to get those muscles toned up. You’ll be on the special diet for a while but that’s not going to hurt anyone’s feelings the way your mother’s been hauling in provender for us.’ Thian thanked Exeter for his attendance and followed the orderly into the passageway.
To his surprise, Flk was waiting and rubbed its silky furred arm up and down his in affectionate greeting.
FLK MOST WELCOME OF OLD FRIENDS. HOW GOOD TO BE SO GREETED.
DAMIA ASKS. FLK AGREES. ThN WALKS SAFELY Thian gave the orderly a quick glance and smile but the man seemed unconcerned by their quick `Dini exchange.
DAMIA SAYS ENEMY HERE? Thian asked, swinging his voice upward in query.
ENEMY EXISTS UNTIL REVELATION. CLEVER ONE.
HIDES IN CROWDS. TIGHT MINDED. FIRST SON CANNOT BE VULNERABLE IN PRESENT WEAKNESS.
NONSENSE! Thian said with such angry authority that Flk skipped a step and tipped its poll eye down to Thian’s face. SORRY! DAMIA HAS UNNECESSARY ANXIETY. THN WELL ABLE TO CARE FOR THN.
THAT WILL BE SEEN. And the downward note of the last sound was the end of that discussion.
To his surprise, Thian was escorted up to officer country.
`Your gear’s all stowed here, Mr Lyon,’ the orderly said, pulling back the door into one of the visitors’ cabins, far more spacious affairs than his previous quarters.
`Thank You very much indeed, Tedwars,’ he said, peering in, but he gestured for Flk to precede him.
`Checked the place out myself, Ambassador Flk,’ Tedwars said in mild reprimand.
Thian laughed. `I guess I’d better get used to being treated like eggs.’ `No, sir, the eggs get treated much better’n you, Tedwars said in an aggrieved tone but closed the door before Thian could recover from his surprise.
He did shoot a quick probe at the orderly whose mind he had found to be open and honest. Tedwars privately thought all the trouble about the beetle eggs was vastly overdone. Eggs as could survive a bloody nova wouldn’t be harmed by much else.
`Ah!’ Thian turned excitedly to FIk. ThE SAILOR SAYS ThE WRECK WAS DAMAGED BY STAR NOVA?
Flk gestured for Thian to seat himself which he was quite willing to do for even the short walk up from sickbay proved tiring. `Dini seating had been included in the furnishings of this stateroom and FIk made itself comfortable on the padded stool.
ANALYSIS SUPPORTS NOVA THEORY. ONE RECENT NOVA IS IN ESTIMATeD TRAJECTORY OF WRECK.
SIZE OF VESSEL SUGGESTS FINAL MASS EXODUS. UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF STORAGE SPACE ON VESSEL PLUS EXTRA SHIELDING AROUND EGG REPOSITORIES AND QUEENS’ QUARTERS. TWO QUEEN quarters WERE NOT TOTALLY DESTROYED BUT BODIES REDUCED TO RUBBLE. VALUABLE STILL. BIGGEST QUEENS EVER NOThD. THEORY IS THAT VESSEL WAS ESCAPING WHEN STAR ABRUPTLY EXPANDED.
THEORY IS THAT PREVIOUS ThREE SHIPS WERE ALSO FLEEING, IN TIME, FROM NOVA.
ESCAPE PODS? Thian asked, having such facilities much in the fore of his mind.
Flk gave the rasping noise of `Dini amusement.
SOME ESCAPE PODS RELEASED ON OUTWARD SIDE.
TWO QUEEN SKELETONS FOUND IN PODS ADJACENT TO QUARTERS. FOUR MORE PODS WERE NOT OCCUPIED AND HAD NOT BEEN ACTIVATed. ThREE WERE GONE.