“I’ll talk to any of them who have reservations and make sure they’ve seen the vids,” Acorna said. “After all, having the modifications made would be useful for their own protection from Khieevi attacks.” She paused for a moment. “Of course, it would probably help persuade them if House Harakamian offered to pay for the modifications.”
Rafik laughed. “You’re beginning to think like a merchant, but not one who’s the adopted daughter of Hafiz! However, I’ll authorize it if only to aggravate the old boy into showing up again just to tell me off. Meanwhile I’ll appreciate any help you can give me persuading the merchants to think like a team, at least during crises. I’m doing my best but I haven’t Hafiz’s gift for imperiousness.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Acorna promised. “And Aari and I have a somewhat different perspective on pacifism where the Khieevi are concerned. Both of us will be glad to help supervise the preparation-and maybe the deployment-of the torpedoes and the ships to carry them in case they’re necessary to rescue the AcaSecki,” she said, and her voice had a catch in it.
“Of course,” Gil said reasonably. “We’ve no evidence yet to suggest that the Khieevi were responsible for the disappearance of Calum and Hafiz and the kids.”
“No,” Rafik agreed. “But it’s a pretty big coincidence that they should disappear so soon after a Khieevi attack. I think that whether we have evidence or not, we have to be prepared for the worst.”
“Of course,” Acorna said thoughtfully, “The sap isn’t the only thing that will kill Khieevi. For the merchants who can’t be persuaded to modification, as long as they are otherwise armed, they have some protection.”
“Yes,” Aari said. “The Khieevi are used to preying upon people like mine and the Niriians, who do not fight back with any sort of weapon.”
Gill grinned. “We all saw that they blow up as easy as anybody if somebody lobs some ordnance at them.”
Rafik grumbled into the little goatee he was affecting these days, to make himself look more lordly in the performance of his administrative duties as head of House Harakamian. “True, but the sap works better than anything we’ve seen.”
Acorna and Aari rose. Rafik felt a bit sad. Their little girl was all grown up into a beautiful young lady, and from the look of it, had chosen her mate already. He hoped they’d all live and prosper long enough for him and Gill-and Calum and Hafiz-to have Linyaari grandbabies.
Acorna’s voice caught, “I hope they’re okay. I can’t bear to think the Khieevi have them.”
The crash of the computers was a temporary matter, of course, and Hafiz was rather put out with Calum for making such an issue of it. The man’s panic had spoiled Hafiz’s story for the children, who had been blessedly quiet while Hafiz had held the attention of all, which was practically his favorite way to interact with anyone, especially children.
For two such wizards of the keyboard as him and Baird, not to mention a certain amount of help from some of the children, who were quite talented in that area, restoring the ship’s computer to operation was scarcely a challenge. Without the additional load of the hologram programs, the power soon returned along with all of the other amenities.
Including the com screen and the telescopic viewport. Hafiz was making final readjustments to certain navigational calculations when Baird tapped him on the shoulder and pointed at the viewport.
“Yes, yes,” Hafiz said, glancing up. “It is good that it is operational …” and then he stopped and stared, as a sinister looking vessel began filling the viewport. “Hut-hut, my boy!” Hafiz said. “Get us out of here this instant!”
“I’m way ahead of you,” Calum said. “But we’re going nowhere. They have us in a tractor beam.”
The children were exclaiming, and some crying. The two Linyaari, the girl Maati who was so talented herself with holograms, and the youth Thariinye, crowded close to the console.
Suddenly the corn screen lit up and one of the ugly bug faces leered at them, before being replaced by a scene of the Khieevi torturing a Linyaari prisoner.