"Rassi do not leave Catten, as you know, Milista. There are no slaves on this planet. You will do what is necessary yourselves."
"But;' and there was real consternation on the woman's lined face as she spread out her hands in a helpless appeal, "we have never been without slaves:'
"Oh, my God," Gino muttered behind Kris. "Never thought of that."
"Well, by God," was Scott's equally low but quite firm addition, "they're going to damned well learn how to cope without them."
"All the food is Catteni, with pictures on the sacks or boxes," Ninety said. "We did that special."
"With recipes?" Gino put in hopefully.
"I dunno. Can't read that much Catten," Ninety added.
"Bummer," was Gino's final remark.
"Any ration bars?" Kris asked.
"Yeah, lots of those."
"Let them eat rations, then," Kris said, startled to find herself paraphrasing Marie Antoinette. She turned back to Milista. "It is enough that you are safe and have food to eat and shelter. You will take what is provided and be grateful."
Kris didn't have any trouble acting Catteni just then. She was thoroughly annoyed. Surely Kasturi or even Tubelin would have thought to tell Zainal, or someone, that the women were accustomed to servants. Not that she'd ask anyone to serve Catteni women. They could bloody well learn how to do for themselves as the colonists had.
"All work will be shared, Milista. Learn that now." She gave a curt dismissal to the woman who backed away before she turned. Indignation and fury were obvious in the way she stalked down the ramp, carrying a very small bundle, which she kept hitching or changing from hand to hand.
Briefly Kris wondered what Milista had brought with her that could be heavy. She didn't know if Catteni women had jewelry, and if that was all Milista had brought, instead of clothing, she was going to get very tired of the one wrap she was wearing.
With mixed emotions of chagrin and irritation-and the latter was stronger-Kris crisply called out the next name. The gall of the woman, wanting servants as well as safety. Maybe once she'd had a taste of-Shut up, Kris, it's not Milista's fault.
She got through the rest of the unexpected and generally unhappy guests. She'd been so busy ushering them out, she hadn't seen that there were Humans boarding the KDL on the far side of the ramp. Some carried just tools while others humped excess building materials aboard.
The last few arrived as the final Catteni family of seven was led off to cabin thirty-five. So Kris nearly gasped when Sarah passed her with a wink.
Joe was right behind her, carrying carpentry tools. Sandy stalked up the ramp last.
"They wanted servants," Kris muttered savagely to Sandy, who burst out laughing.
"That'll be the day. Did you hear what Kris just said?" And Sandy was spreading the remark, causing both chuckles and exclamations of surprise.
Kris was about to turn away, to retract the landing ramp, to get away from her before she lost her cool entirely. Then she paused, looking out at the tranquil valley. The scene was all wrong, even disturbing. Not a soul was in sight and the mess hall and quarters looked as empty as when they had landed.
"Kris?" Sandy came to stand beside her. "What the hey?" And she frowned. "What's wrong with them? Sulking?"
Kris listened intently, but apart from an odd mechanical creak or a hiss from a vent, she didn't even hear crying or angry voices.
"Hell, any normal kid would have been out and snooping about by now."
"Maybe when we leave," Kris said. "They've had a bit of a shock."
"Ha! About time!" Sandy took Kris' arm and drew her inside. "D'you know how to close this?"
Almost absentmindedly, Kris depressed the right switch and the ramp slid up and inside, and the cargo hatch made a low, well-oiled rumble as it slid shut.
Kris strode along the corridor to the bridge.
"We're ready then?" Raisha asked, looking up from her pre-flight check.
"Can I have a rear-view screen as we take off, Raisha, and do a slow ascent, huh?"
"Sure, Emassi Khriss, whatever you say, Emassi Khriss," and Kris managed a little smile for Raisha's teasing.
"You do a swell Emassi act," Gino said, entering from the captain's ready room. He had an envelope in his hand and his expression was carefully neutral as he gave it to her.
"Positions, please, for takeoff;' Raisha said in warning. Not that strapping in was needed with the smooth vertical lift she achieved.
Kris watched the rearview screen as long as she could but the valley might have been uninhabited for all she could see. Then the KDL was over the enclosing wall and beginning to level out for the flight back to Retreat.
"Well done, Kris;' Ray said, clapping one hand lightly on her shoulder.
Then silently he gestured toward the captain's room Gino had just vacated.
Kris looked down at the envelope in her hand as she walked toward the privacy the room would offer. She had an awful feeling about what the letter would say to her. Sliding the panel shut behind her, she sat on the nearest surface and looked down at the message. It was upside down and Zainal's distinctive script made an interesting pattern of her name from that angle.
She turned it around. "Kris." She spoke her name aloud.
"Well, waiting's not going to change a single word inside," she said and, with a decisive nail, opened the edge of the sealed flap and then ran her finger up, spreading the paper. She also tore the corner out of the envelope with the force of her action.
There were two sheets. Well, he tended to sprawl his words across a page, even if the sentences were exceedingly straight… as if he'd followed a ruled line.
Kris, love, Don't look back in anger or be angry with anyone if I do not come back to you.
It was my plan.
She stopped reading, her eyes filling with tears, terrified of what he would say next.
There is only one way to get into the Mentat meeting, and we shall take it.
"We," he had written. He had specified "we," not just himself. But which we? Had the old pessimist Nitin been included in that plural noun?
You will understand why the mates and children must be sent to safety. The Ways and Means Committee agreed as Scott will tell you.
Somehow Kris couldn't really believe in that plurality. Zainal led the others.
He would lead them into whatever it was he had decided to do. But that didn't mean "he" would be safe.
We know that, should things not turn out as we have carefully planned, You leave him alone, now, you hear, Murphy? Your damned Law doesn't operate in Catteni space, d'you hear me, Murphy?
you and the rest of the Botany colonists will allow them to live in peace. The Council has promised us that and you will understand why Humans must learn to live with Catteni for the good that really is in us as a species, misguided by those who have controlled us for so long.
If we fail, and I do not (she gave a sob when she saw that fierce underlining) return to Botany, this letter authorizes you and Chuck Milford to be guardians of my sons, to rear them as near as your hearts will let you to be good Catteni hut better Botanists. They will need to know all they can learn from you and Chuck. He will teach them what young men need to know.
Chuck and Bert will be able to get home in Baby. We have every intention of being in that ship on its way back to Botany.
I did not like keeping the plan from you who have invaded my heart and spirit.
I never expected the wealth of love would be mine. And I have been so very happy with you that even this Catteni can ache with longingfor you. You would have insisted on coming. I could not allow you to be in such jeopardy.
You have been my only love.
And the final letter was the bold crossed "Z" that he liked using.
"Well, you were right, weren't you, Kris, m'girl," she murmured aloud, her voice sounding scratchy in the quiet cabin. "He was planning something dire. And he really doesn't expect to survive."