Acorna protested. “This seems to be an emergency. Whether people meet me or not is hardly important right now.
But from several directions she could hear low mutterings to the effect of, “She seems to have brought trouble with her.”
“Good manners are always important, ” Grandam told her crisply. “Besides, you’ll give people something to take their minds off of more worrisome matters. I must attend the council meeting, child,” Grandam told her. “Young Maati can show you the way to my quarters when you’re ready.”
“I want to come, too,” Acorna said. “If something has happened to the Balakiire, to Neeva and the others, I want to know.”
“I doubt you’ll be permitted to attend, child. But if the emergency concerns the BalakUre, be sure that I will let you know when I return, and also, I will see to it that you are given a berth on one of the outgoing ships. If you’ll excuse me?” Acorna had no choice but to agree.
The revels had been most effectively stopped by Liriili s announcement but still everyone stood around waiting for further developments. At last Liriili and the council members, including Grandam, returned to the reception and the viizaar addressed the grim-faced, ridiculously dressed crowd.
“My people, I’m sorry if I have caused you undue alarm. The council, however, agrees that although there is no major emergency that -we are aware of, nothing really to become overly concerned about, prompt action may forestall future emergencies. The Balakiire ~” Acorna held her breath.
“The Baiakiire, which was just dispatched to investigate a disturbing report from one of our trade missions, sent us a message that they were unable to receive transmissions from either the trade mission in question or any of our other ships or missions abroad in space or on other worlds. It is the belief of the communications officer that some sort of universal equipment failure is responsible for this silence. For that reason, in order to reestablish communication as soon as possible as well as to ensure the safety of our people in space and on other worlds and, if they are in any danger, to evacuate them as soon as possible, we are deploying the remainder of our fleet to simultaneously travel to all of the known destinations of our other ships. They will in all likelihood simply assist with the repairs of our transmitters, but if their assistance is needed in other ways, they will be there to provide it. For this reason, for all of our space fleet personnel, shore leave is cancelled and you should report to your duty stations by mid-sun tomorrow.”
Acorna and Thariinye both rushed forward to volunteer to go back into space but the viizaar only smiled at Thariinye and said, “You’re needed here.” Then, ignoring Acorna, Liriili turned to go. Acorna, with two quick steps, placed herself in front of the viizaar. “If my aunt is in danger, I want to help. I need to be on one of those ships.”
Liriili regarded her very coolly. Acorna saw that the viizaar once more had her horn-hat firmly in place and besides, the vuzaar seemed to be even more adept than most at concealing her thoughts. “If it becomes necessary for our ships to evacuate our people from space or other planets, excess personnel may cost lives. I cannot possibly take the responsibility for that risk simply to allow you to indulge your curiosity, Khornya. I hope as you spend more time among us, that you’ll become less selfcentered and -willful. Perhaps among the barbarians, your Linyaari intelligence made you best qualified to make decisions and lead expeditions, but here you are a mere child among those older and wiser than yourself. Your aunt left you among us to learn our ways, so I suggest you apply yourself to that goal and leave the crisis to those of us trained to deal with it.”
Fortunately, at that moment Grandam rejoined Acorna, hearing only Liriili’s last stinging words.
“Come along, Khornya. I tried to convince the council that you should be sent out on one of the ships being dispatched, but I was overruled. Certain know-it-all youngsters agreed with Liriili that you hadn’t had a chance to evolve enough to be useful on a mission yet. Humph. Well, we older ones are considered by some of our socalled respectful descendants to be relics of a lessevolved time, you know.” Her expression was wry. “That’s why I thought perhaps as long as you are stuck here, you might be more comfortable staying with me. We lessevolved types should stick together, don’t you think?”