Hey, came the cheery voice of Yoshuk from Sef Tower, any time you want to send that guy here, he’d be welcome.
That goes for me, too, added Nesrun.
Don’t either of you dare poach now I’ve got someone who fits in, Laria said firmly.
Yes, ma `am, no, sir Yoshuk replied so cockily she could see the grin on his face.
Kincaid was stretching and relieving the tension of muscles which had been automatically responding to the day’s `lifts’. His mind had lost the morning’s resilience and Laria hoped she hadn’t pushed him too far.
`Lunch, and then with this sort of heat pushing down on us, we all take a siesta,’ she said, certain that both Vanteer and Lionasha would fall in with her scheme.
`That gives the `Dinis time to rest, too. And don’t look out on the bright of the day without glasses!’ she added as Kincaid strolled to the windows to look down at the `Dinis scurrying about. Two were lagging somewhat behind the pace of the others. `Nil and Plus’ll notice the difference for a while but they all adjust more quickly than we do.’ Blinking vigorously with tearing eyes, Kincaid managed a halfsided grin. `Who was it told me that Clarf was an easy Tower?’ `Oh, it is,’ Laria said, on her way down the stairs.
`We’re just a little busier with all the rearrangements.
Next week, we’ll hardly have a snitch to switch.’ Sensibly they ate as lightly at midday as the `Dinis.
Nil and Plus needed some judicious eye care but when Kincaid would have performed it, the other six `Dinis pushed him out of the way and had a great time fussing over exactly how to effect the most result in the fastest time. The three long-term residents of Clarf Tower smiled proudly at the concerted effort.
`I’ve been away longer than I realized,’ Kincaid said, slowly peeling one of the meltingly sweet bog pears that the others had recommended.
`How long were you on that cruise?’ Vanteer asked.
Kincaid paused, frowning before he answered.
`Nearly five years, I think. Basic `That long?’ Laria tried to remember exactly how long Thian had been out but it was not five years.
`Oh,’ Kincaid said with a diffident flick of his fingers, `I’d been sent out with Squadron C long before those ion trails were discovered. We picked `em up in our quadrant. Then it was even more important for the squadron to have a Talent.’ `Were they trying to burn your mind out?’ Vanteer demanded with heated indignation before Laria could speak.
`No, and they didn’t,’ Kincaid replied though he began to rub his forehead in an unconscious gesture.
`I’d more than enough latents among the crew personnel to draw on when I had to Waiting for some clue to his personal distress, Laria caught it. So, the long cruise had had many complications for the Talented homosexual.
`How long have you been getting headaches like that?’ Laria asked, trying to keep both dismay and concern from becoming evident.
He dropped his hand from his forehead and met her eyes. Then managed a chuckle. `Comes and goes.’ `Fine Prime I am,’ she said, pushing back her chair and coming around behind him. She placed her fingers lightly, like a net, around his skull and gently supplied the inhibitors that would reduce both the ache and the minute swelling of the cerebral area which governed all psionic activity.
`I’ll be fine, Laria, really I will,’ he said, reaching up as if to disengage her fingers.
`Don’t you dare,’ Lionasha said, waggling a finger at him.
`Laria’s one of the best at healing.
What Laria also felt, because Kincaid had no way to prevent it, was that his emotions were in a turmoil, more of the brew of hurt, loss, disappointment, and, yes, physical pain, that had not been resolved by the sleep and relief of bodily fatigue. His participation in today’s merge had almost wiped out the remedial effect of several days’ much-needed sleep. Considering his state, he’d been a real trooper.
`Headache gone now, friend?’ she asked casually, removing her hands since se now knew more than he did about his condition.