“Yes, it’s usually supposed that’s what the Forerunners wanted in these regions, information. Why they then abandoned their network and never returned—”
“Who knows? This thing isn’t dead. We register traces of power, probably drawing on solar energy. As you’d expect, since it still resists erosion. Self-repair. But we can’t find out exactly what’s going on.”
Lissa shivered in the wind.
Hebo gave her a broad smile. “There, will that do for a synopsis? How about now we relax and enjoy ourselves?”
“For a while, perhaps. With our friends. Frankly,” and honestly, “I’m almost ready for bed.”
“Me too. Though not sleep, huh?” He leaned close. “Not right away.”
She took another backward step. “What do you mean?” She knew full well.
“You’re a mighty attractive woman, Lissa. Even if it hadn’t [32] been quite a dry spell for me, you’d stand out.” He laughed. “In every way, but especially two.”
“Hold on, there,” she snapped.
“Been a while for you also, I hope. Our partners are of opposite sex to us, but that doesn’t help, does it? They aren’t built right. Come on,” he coaxed. “I’m good. I’ll bet you are too.”
“No.”
He reached and caught hold of a buttock. She sprang from him. He lumbered ahead, grinning and beckoning. She drew her pistol.
“No,” she said. “I mean it, Hebo.”
He slammed to a stop. “You do,” he said, as if astounded. “You really do.”
“Take me back ashore.”
“All right, if you’re cold.”
Fleetingly, she confessed to herself that, earlier, she’d been tempted. “No,” she blurted. “You’re crude.”
He lifted his palms. “All right, all right, I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have acted like—”
“Stop. We’re going straight back to camp. Behave yourself after you’ve slept this off, and I’ll let the matter rest. Otherwise Karl and I will send word to the base and make for our flyer. Meanwhile, I suggest you keep Karl in mind.”
“All right, all right,” he mumbled sullenly. “I said I’m sorry.”
They returned in a thick silence.
Puzzlement, more than anger, tumbled through her. How could he have been so stupid? He was intrinsically intelligent, he’d had centuries of experience, surely space itself had schooled him in patience, he hadn’t lost coordination, which showed he could hold his liquor when he chose—what ailed him?