Sindri apologized effusively for the food, but felt that it would have been a shame to waste the enormous cache of it on the station.
“The eleventh commandment of the universe,” he declaimed. “Thou shalt not waste.”
Kane refrained from commenting that by following the eleventh commandment, and eating two-hundred-year-old rations, they were increasing the odds of contracting severe gastrointestinal disorders.
Without preamble, Sindri said, “You were going to tell me how you know, and how much you know about the Danaan.”
Brigid lifted a speculative eyebrow. “We were?”
“Our bargain, remember? I showed you around the station, provided you with its history and numerous samples of my good faith.”
“And,” declared Kane, “there’s plenty you haven’t told us. The least of which is when we can expect to leave.”
“Shortly, Mr. Kane. You will leave shortly. Now, as to my request?”
Brigid took a sip of the wine and repressed a shudder. “There isn’t much to tell. A short time ago, in Ireland, we encountered a small group of people who claimed Danaan ancestry.”
Sindri leaned forward eagerly. “Did they have any of their technology?”
“Not as such. A few artifacts which were regarded as holy objects, a few places they revered as Danaan power points.”
“And a harp,” said Kane, casting a sidewise glance at Elle.
Sindri stroked his chin contemplatively. “Harps. Like the ones here?”
“No,” Brigid answered. “More conventional in shape, but apparently operating on the same ultra or infrasonic principles.”
Sindri’s face lit up with a startled smile. “The harmonic and disharmonic resonances? Oh, this is far better than I hoped.”
“We were told that the Danaan could manipulate hyperdimensional vortexes,” said Grant. “Naturally occurring mat-trans gateways. Is there evidence of such things on Mars?”
Sindri shook his head. “There is only evidence the Danaan wielded a mighty science, the science of energy being moved in precise harmony and in perfect balance.”
Kane’s nape hairs tingled with suspicion. He knew Sindri was lying by omission. The little man was more than an accomplished dissemblerhe was a smooth and practiced actor.
He asked, “How are you going to make it worth our while to help you and your people settle on Earth?”
Sindri smiled coldly. “It is something beyond the limitations of descriptive language. I’ll have to show you.”
“Then get to it,” Grant said with a gruff impatience.
Propping his elbows on the table, steepling his fingers beneath his chin, Sindri gave him a direct, level stare. “I shall, Mr. Grant. But there is more I have to learn from you first. Much, much more.”
“Until you start giving us more,” said Kane acidly, “your education has come to a stop.”
The pipes fluting in the background suddenly fell silent, but the harps continued to sing. The tune subtly changed, the notes octaves lower than they had been.
“I don’t think so,” Sindri stated calmly. “It has only just begun. I will walk in all your minds, looking at your memories, strolling here and there among the ru-ins of your broken dreams. Make no mistake about it I will find what I need.”
Sleep suddenly came over Kane in waves. He swallowed a yawn, the effort making his ears pop. His eyes began to water. He looked at his companions and saw them blinking their eyes rapidly, straining to keep them open.
Kane realized what was happening. The drugged wine had placed them in a relaxed, receptive state so the vibrations of the harps’ notes repressed and controlled areas of the brain. The harp music spoke of sweet, slow winds and deep, comforting night. The music crooned to them, a lullaby urging them to care about nothing but the need to crawl into the embrace of sleep.
It took all of Kane’s strength to keep his head upright. He snarled and reached for Sindri with an arm of lead. He forgot he was sitting down.
Although he was distantly aware of sliding from the chair, he was deeply asleep before he hit the floor.
Chapter 19
Kane didn’t drift into a dreamhe dived into it, shoulder-rolling across loose sand, joining Grant behind a bullet-pocked boulder. The rock wasn’t very large, but it was the only decent cover available for yards around. Hazy heat waves shimmered from the Great Sand Dunes hellzone, making visibility uncertain.