Caitlin and Professor Kinsey emerged from the command center, Tamt leading the way. The Stockwell girl was dressed very simply in a white shirt and jeans and carried her own small travel bag slung over one shoulder.
“I don’t like this!” Kinsey said, his normally mild face tight with disapproval. “She’s already been injured, and now you propose to take her out in space on a small ship to meet with—those—violent creatures?”
Aille turned and his eyes flickered with pinpricks of green. “Those ‘creatures,’ as you put it, Professor Kinsey, are the enemy of human and Jao alike, not to mention innumerable other species. They ‘cleanse’ entire planetary systems, whenever it suits their fancy, and it often does.”
“But why should they bother us?” Kinsey blinked behind his glasses. “Earth has never attacked them. We’ve never even traveled beyond our own solar system!”
“They do not have a reason for cleansing the Jao have ever been able to understand,” Aille said, “so I doubt humans will be able to understand what they want either. At any rate, if they parley, then at least for that short time they will not be exterminating this world. We will do as they request and it behooves your species to have representatives present.”
“Then take me!” Kinsey gripped Caitlin’s shoulders and gazed over her blond hair at Aille. “I will witness for her.”
Shaking her head, she put her bag down, then reached up and covered his hand with hers. “No, it’s all right,” she said quietly as though soothing a distraught child. “I want to go—to be of use, as a Jao would say. It’s my duty.”
Kinsey pulled her around and made her meet his worried gaze. “You’re only a student. You have no duty other than to return home safely to your family and get on with your life!”
“On the contrary,” she said with a half-smile, “I’m a member of the Subcommandant’s personal service now, and it is my duty to serve him.”
Startled, Kinsey stared at Aille. “When did this happen?”
“Last-sun,” Yaut said, “after the whale hunt.”
“And lucky it did,” Caitlin said. “Otherwise I’d be dead—or, at best, still be attached to Governor Narvo’s household as a mere servant, being readied to perform for his guests like a trained dog. Until he decided the right day had come to kill me.”
Kralik stepped forward. “I’ll look after her, Professor. I promise.” He picked up her bag.
“I’ll be back soon,” she said, still in that soothing tone of voice, “—and with tons of data! In the meantime, if my presence serves the Subcommandant in any way, I am glad to help.”
“I’ll watch after her, too,” Tully said, almost despite himself. “We all will.”
“I don’t suppose it’s occurred to any of you macho men that maybe, just maybe, I can take care of myself!” Caitlin glared at Tully so fiercely that he stepped back.
Dr. Kinsey threw up his hands. “I’ll notify President Stockwell then. There’s nothing more I can do.”
“I’m a grown woman.” Caitlin took his hand awkwardly with her left and squeezed. “I have to make my own decisions. Subcommandant Aille is on a crucial mission and it’s important for us to support him. Tell my father that. I’ll contact him as soon as I get back.”
If you get back, Tully could see written on Kinsey’s face, but the professor only crossed his arms as two cars pulled up. The man’s dark eyes were bleak. Tamt, standing next to him, looked even more upset.
Tully piled into the first vehicle after Kralik and Caitlin. Aille and Yaut took the second.
The windows were rolled down and the air was already blistering hot. Tully leaned his head and let the tepid breeze stream over his face. He closed his eyes and could almost feel a dark, malign presence out there in space, hovering over Earth like a blow about to fall.
The Ekhat. He was beginning to believe in them already—and he did not like the sensation, not at all.
Chapter 30
Ed Kralik did not seek out luxury. In fact, extravagance made him uncomfortable because the money spent on frills could have been employed elsewhere to make things safer or more efficient. After boarding the Subcommandant’s sleek courier ship, he realized, though, he had subconsciously been expecting luxury at some level.