"I have given you the information I have, and no, the child would not be an asset."
Just like Beggs to consider Zane an "asset" but she gave him a long smacking kiss and told Maizie that she would be back soon and left Maizie clinging to Zane as if he were the elder of the two. That didn't do her mood any good but she borrowed a runabout, slammed into her cabin and, as she was throwing a change and other needs into a pack, realized she had liquid dribbles drying all down the front of her. Fortunately she did have a recent issue of clothing and changed, cursing under her breath as she hauled the belt tight and then had to let it out over her expanding middle. As she stormed out, she got madder and madder-with Beggs and Scott. She was only halfway to the hangar when she heard the familiar sound of a space-ship coming in to land. Her heart beating faster, she threw the speed bar as far across as it would go and had the pleasure of being on the landing field when the KDL landed.
"Now, Emassi Zainal' she murmured, "you've some explaining to do."
"Kris, come on. It's only touching down to pick us up," Scott called over the loud noise of the idling ship engine, beckoning her to hurry. He looked her up and down with a very admiralish stare that made her realize that he was sharply dressed, too.
"If you don't tell me what's going on, Admiral Scott…:' she began as the ramp extruded partway: enough to jump up to the personnel hatch open in the cargo door.
'I'll explain it when we get where we're going. Climb aboard:'
She did because he was hauling away at her arms, and she refused to be manhandled even by Admiral Ray Scott.
She caught just a glimpse of a lot of people sitting or lying on the cargo level, and then he was guiding her toward the bridge, past Ninety who seemed to be standing guard. Which he well might have been because she realized that all the faces had been Catteni.
"What the hell…"
"They're the women and children of the dissidents who were based on Catten and therefore at risk;' Ray said, briskly urging her toward the bridge.
Well, she could understand the wisdom of getting dependants safely away from Eosian retaliation. The abuse that Zainal's two sons had suffered certainly made that a priority.
"Zainal got them out?"
"Ah, more or less. We're installing them in the largest of the enclosed valleys. They'll be safe there."
That made sense because not all of the Headquarters valley's buildings had been taken down, so expanding that facility was a perfect solution.
Then there was another aspect of a shipload of Catteni arriving at Retreat.
One Catteni, even four, wouldn't raise much resentment at Retreat, but an influx of mates and children could be a source of irritation.
Gino waved a backhanded "hi" in her direction, and Raisha shot a quick look around as the two pilots lifted the ship from the hangar field.
Everyone else on the bridge gave her a nod or a smile. They were all, Kris noticed, those who had a fair knowledge of Catten.
"Kris," Gino began in an odd voice and paused to clear his throat, "the plan is that you'll act Emassi to our… guests. Zainal said you'd had practice. He said them knowing there was someone in charge of them might help in the long run."
"What long run?" Kris asked casually.
There was a long pause.
"Oh, it's just a contingency idea."
"Gino, you don't lie very well," Kris said, folding her arms across her chest and glaring around, her gaze ending at Ray Scott.
"It is a contingency," Ray said, but he stopped right there, without specifying for what. "We agreed to give sanctuary to relatives of Kasturi, Tubelin, Kamiton, and several other key dissidents. A precaution. When the dust settles, they can return:'
"I've a letter from Zainal explaining…:' Gino paused again. "It's in my cabin. Just let me land, and help us get these people settled. It explains everything. Ah, see, we're nearly there."
"I'm not a fool." And Kris swept the entire bridge complement with a stare.
"No one has ever accused you of that]' Ray said. "But you're tall, imposing, you speak good Catteni, and you act Emassi without half-trying.
It'll make settling the dependants easier. I will pretend;' and Ray accorded her a smile and a little bow, "to be under your command. Now assume it!"
His last three words were tantamount to an order that he intended she would obey. She looked him in the eyes long and hard, and he did not flinch. He did, however, steady her when they landed with a little thump.
Wheeling, she looked out to the quiet scene of the HQ valley. The main hall, only half-finished when she had last been here, was completed.
There was even smoke coming out of the chimney. Several large houses, with half dormers for sleeping lofts, were interspersed with small accommodations, scattered throughout the lodge-pole forestry. It was certainly a lot better housing than the First Drop had had. She took a deep breath.
"Ninety]' she called, turning again on one heel and moving back down the corridor.
"Yo!" was Ninety's unexpectedly army response.
"Prepare to unloadS' she said in Catteni, having no trouble at all sounding harsh. "Is there a list of who's who?" she asked in English over her shoulder.
Ray offered her a clipboard, presenting it to her with a smart bow, thus showing the women that Kris was the superior officer. Kris looked down at the board. All the names were in Catteni glyphs, which she couldn't read, but also in English and she recognized the English script was written in the bold, forceful style Zainal used. Unexpectedly her eyes filled with tears. She blinked them away, pretending that the sun was glaring in her eyes and shielding them as she took a position at the head of the ramp.
Ninety had opened the cargo hatch and the loading ramp was down.
"just this level, Drassi?" she asked in Catteni.
"Yes, Emassi Khriss," he said, staring straight ahead.
Emassi Khriss turned to the passengers, the sunlight streaming in. The women were all standing now: the children, the youngest showing some fright, the others very silent and wary, grouped around them.
"As your name is called, come forward and leave the ship. Follow the Drassi who will lead you to your quarters." She noticed that each name had a number after it, indicating the number in the party. Flipping the top sheets, she noticed that each family had already been assigned quarters.
She had only to call them out. She had no trouble remembering Catten/ counting. She also remembered enough of what Zainal had told her about Catteni women: that they were almost as subservient as Drassi or Tudo and would have to be shown what to do. "You will be safe here."
One woman stepped forward and cleared her throat, bowing her head for addressing an Emassi without first being spoken to.
"We were told that no Eosi can come here. Is that true?"
"You are…" and Emassi Khriss impassively awaited an answer.
"Sibbo, Kasturi's mate. These are his sons and his child." She bowed again.
Well, at least one of them had some guts, Kris thought with relief.
"Ah, I know Kasturi well. He has been here," Kris said. "Eosi have not been able to penetrate the shield that surrounds this planet;' she added with as smug a smile as she had ever seen on any Catteni face. "You are safe. We have made you safe. Go with this Drassi to the quarters prepared, Sibbo.
Place twelve."
Sibbo and her children picked up their bundles and they started down the ramp after Ninety. Crew members stepped forward to escort each group called.
It took a while to work her way down the list. She had one interruption, an older woman, who bowed.
"Drassi Khriss," and she bowed an almost embarrassing depth, "are there no Rassi or slaves to assist us?"
Kris was so surprised that she blinked, her mind racing to find an answer. She pretended to consult her list. This was the oldest of the women… ah, Nitin's wife. How like him to have a critical mate!