He sensed Lew Alton’s presence and looked up to see him coming along the room. “Not finished? Take your time, cadet, I’m a little early.”
Regis relaxed. Lew could be strict enough, but he did not go out of his way to look for hidden fragments of dust. He continued his work with the hearth-broom, but after a minute felt Lew bend and touch his arm. “I want a word with you.”
Regis rose and followed him to the door of the barracks room, turning to say over his shoulder, ‘I’ll be with you in a minute, Dani, don’t try to shift that table until I can help you.” Just outside, aware of the touch of Lew’s thoughts, he looked up to face his smiling eyes.
“Yes, I knew the other day, in Council,” Lew said, “but I had no chance to speak to you then. When did this happen, Regis? And how?”
“I’m not sure,” Regis said, “but somehow, I—touched— Danilo, or he touched me, I’m not really sure which it was,
and some kind of—of barrier seemed to go down. I don’t know how to explain it.”
Lew nodded. “I know,” he said, “there aren’t any words for most of these experiences, and the ones there are, aren’t very enlightening. But Danilo? I sensed he had laran the other day, but if he could do that, then—” He stopped, his brow furrowed, and Regis followed the thought, that would mean he’s a catalyst telepath! They’re rare, I thought there •were no functioning ones left.
“I’ll speak to my father before I leave for Aldaran.”
“You’re going instead of Uncle Kennard? When?”
“A few days before Council season is over, not long now. The trip into the mountains is hard at any season, and impossible after the snows really begin in earnest.”
Danilo was standing in the doorway of the barracks room and Regis, recalled abruptly to his work, said, “I’d better get back; Dani will think I’m shirking my share.”
Lew took a perfunctory glance inside the room. “Go ahead. It looks all right; I’ll sign the inspection report. Finish up at your leisure.” He came to Danilo and said, “I’m leaving for Aldaran in a day or two, Dani. I shall be passing Syrtis on my road. Have you any message for Dom Felix?”
“Only that I strive to do my duty among my betters, Captain.” His voice was sullen.
“Ill tell him you do us credit, Danilo.” The boy did not answer, going off toward the fireplace, dragging the broom. Lew looked after bim with curiosity. “What do you think is bothering him?”
Regis was worried about Danilo’s moods. His silent weeping had wakened Regis twice more, and again he had been torn between the desire to console his friend and the wish to respect his privacy. He wished he could ask Lew what to do, but they were both on duty and there was no time for personal problems. Anyway, Lew might be required by Guard regulations—he didn’t really know—to tell him he should ask his cadet-master about any personal problem. Regis said at last, “I don’t know. Homesick, maybe,” and left it at that “How is Julian? Not dead?”
Lew looked at him, startled. “No, no. He’ll be all right. Just a bit of a knock on the head.” He smiled again and went out of the barracks.
Danilo leaned the broom against the wall and began to shift the heavy wooden table to get at the litter under it. Regis jumped to catch the other end.
“Here, I told you I’d give you a hand; you could hurt your insides trying to lift a heavy thing like that.” Danilo looked up, glowering, and Regis said, “I wasn’t shirking, I only wanted to say goodbye to my kinsman. You were rude to him, Dani.”
“Well, are we going to work or gossip?” “Work by all means,” said Regis, giving his end of the table a heave. “I’ve nothing to say to you when you’re in this mood.” He went to fetch the broom. Danilo muttered something under his breath and Regis swung around, demanding, “What did you say?”
“Nothing.” Danilo turned his back. It had sounded suspiciously like, “Don’t get your hands dirty,” and Regis stared.