MRTGRTS, TOO. ALL COLOURS ARE FADED.
THE MISJUDGEMENT BELONGED ONLY TO THE CAPTAIN AND ITS NEED FOR HONOUR, Afra replied.
NO. THEY WERE REQUIRED TO MAKE THE BOMBS.
THEY WERE GLAD TO THINK THAT IT WOULD BE PERMITTED TO BRING DESTRUCTION TO THE HIVE PLANET WHEN `DINI PLANETS HAVE SUFFERED SO MUCH.’ They have a point, the Rowan said but before Afra could argue, she added, I can’t stay another moment on this ship.
CONTACT ME WHEN YOU WISH TO RETURN TO THE GENESSEE, Afra told the `Dinis who bowed in acknowledgement.
* Reporting formally to Captain Osullivan in his quarters, the Rowan and Afra were immediately offered refreshment.
`I knew old Prtglm was up to something,’ he said, `but it’s still hard for me to interpret some of the more obscure `Dini body language.
Commander Yngocelen came to me – oh two weeks back – when the KTTS requested some unusual ordnance supplies from our stores. I didn’t think much of such oddments and we are under orders to comply with any reasonable requests.
The KTTS had been making probes for Rojer – – – any word on his whereabouts, Callisto Prime? We are most worried for his sake.’ `We appreciate that,’ and the Rowan sighed again.
`I’d’ve given anything to have spared him such a shock and the loss of his `Dinis. They, too, are .
were well liked by all the crew and officers. Gave lots of their time teaching us pronunciation and vocabulary Osullivan shook his head.
`I do not think he has gone far, Captain, but we,’ and the Rowan gestured to Afra, `would like to go in deep gestalt to locate him.’ `A shock like that to a sensitive young man Captain Osullivan said sadly, `he may not wish to be found and, knowing what caused him to disappear, I can’t say that I blame him.’ `Nor do we, which we shall make paramount in our thoughts,’ Afra said. `But the reason for his disappearance has now been removed.
`I needed that,’ the Rowan said, finishing the last of the small sandwiches and the wine in her glass. She stood. `Let’s find the missing, Afra.’ `If I might make a suggestion,’ the captain said, his expression startled by the thought that came to him.
`It’s always the last place you look. I mean, if you’re looking for something or someone.’ He glanced from the Rowan to Afra, hoping they followed his illogical rationale. `The last place anyone would look for Rojer – because of the danger – would be on that refugee ship!’ `How so?’ and then, impatient with slow speech, the Rowan plucked the details from Osullivan’s public mind. `Ah, yes, I see your point. The escape pod would be sufficient protection from any residual gases and he’d know the interior spaces to the square centimetre.’ Her face lit with a smile that almost made the captain reel from its sudden brilliance. He was full of envy for Jeff Raven, and indeed anyone who was close to such a vivid personality.
He caught the wry smile on Afra’s face and felt himself blush at having been quite so transparent. The barest shake of Afra’s head, and an increase in his smile, suggested to Osullivan that his reaction was rather common when the unsuspecting dealt with the Rowan.
Commander Metnos immediately ushered Afra to his chair while the Rowan settled on Rojer’s couch.
`We may not need to draw much on the gestalt,’ she said with a quiet confident smile that put heart in the engineer’s uneasy mind.
Metrios had been excoriating himself for not having kept closer tabs on Rojer, on the messages recorded, or not, on his own station.
`We suspect he has parked the escape pod on the refugee ship,’ Afra said by way of explanation.
`Of course! Why didn’t we think of that?’ And Metrios wallowed for a moment longer in guilt.
`Not that it would have done you much good, except relieve your apprehension, Commander,’ Afra said, radiating conciliation. He glanced at the Rowan and the pair immediately went into a mind merge which focus stabbed in the direction of the deserted ship.
The pod is there! In a cargo hold on the perimeter of the ship which is in full vacuum, clear of the gas. I believe we could dissipate the rest of it throughout the ship. That might solve transport problems.