The long-range scanners had enabled to Conclor to stay a safe distance from the limb of Khieevi ships without detection, and now Aari asked, “Shall we close on them, Khornya?”
“Hmm, not yet, I think,” she said. “Mac, let us know if you can get the coordinates of the homeworld from the Khieevi vessel-or at least some idea when we’re close enough that we have an idea where to locate their homeworld before we free the Acaoecki.”
“Yes, Acorna.” Mac said, and returned to his post at the Khieevi shuttle’s corn unit.
Maati continued to send the coordinates every hour.
(Lots of the kids are sleeping now,) she said. (I told Calum and Hafiz that you were behind us and Calum says please don’t get caught. I told him you had sap shells and he’s worried you won’t use them because of us Linyaan being pacifist and all.)
(A minor technicality in this case,) Acorna said as cheerfully as possible. (Mac can use the launch controls and he is no pacifist. But I suppose this is one case where even Liriili might be glad Aari and I are somewhat alienated from mainstream Linyaari culture.)
(Hmph!) Maati sent a picture of herself snorting and giggling (Are you kidding? If Liriili thought it would save her, she would pull the toggle herself.)
(I think you’re right about that.)
(Khornya? Do you know any more about Grandam yet? I didn’t even say goodbye. Do you think she might think I ran away from heri I’m glad I found my-Aari’s and my-folks, but Grandam is-Grandam was my real family, you know?)
(I felt -what you felt too Maati but I don’t know any more about it. We’ll just have to go to narhn-Vhiliinyar when you’re free and find out. Captain Becker says the Khieevi mistook MOO’s attacks for some kind of internal warfare and turned on each other and blew each other all across the quadrant. I could tell Captain Becker was slavering over all that salvage.)
(He if coming now, Maati. RiiS-Kiiyi if coming, too,) Aari said.
(You thought-talk to RK?) Maati asked.
(Yes, but you, know him. He doesn’t Lit ten to me or anyone else. But we have hao a special relationship since I helpeo heal him on Vhiliinyar. Don’t tell Job. He gets jealous. But ‘RiQ-Kiiyijust scratched at the ()oor of my mino. He wants you, to know he is coming an9 he will claw the eyes out of the Khieevi ani) spray their sockets.)
Maati giggled.
And after a while she said, (I think we’re getting nearer. The Khieevi just came back on the corn screen even though I scared him off once with the sap. He’s showing that-you know, Aari, that vid of you from the piiyi, to frighten us again. But we turned the sound off. Nobody speaks Khieevi anyway and many are sleeping now. Calum’s songs are very energetic and involve much stomping, clapping, and hollering. He wore himself and everyone else out.)
(I missed those versions,) Acorna said. (Or at least the stomping and hollering arrangements. Gill did sing me an Irish lullaby or two.)
As they spoke, they narrowed the gap between themselves and the Khieevi limb until they were within firing distance.
(Calum says you should know that he thinks each of the ships have a tractor beam on us. But I think at least three of the ships are dead already.)
(That’s what I call good news and bad news!) Acorna said. (But I have an idea. Tell Calum to be ready to accelerate and fire upon the Khieevi as soon as the connections are broken. Then to put up the shields and cloak and take you all away as fast as possible.)
(I don’t think he will leave you.)
(He must to save the children.)
(They will all feel safer with you, Khornya.)
(That’s touching but not helpful. Just tell him, Maati, and wish us all luck.)
She went to Mac’s station and asked him, “Can you use the Khieevi shuttle’s controls to remotely operate controls on their ships?”
Mac examined the controls and said, “No, Acorna. I cannot find such a mechanism on the shuttle.”
“Oh,” she said. “Hmm. There are six ships with tractor beams locked onto the AcaSecki.”