In some ways, being so isolated was restful, but she had begun to feel that she had rested too long. She had every confidence that the twins would be located soon, unharmed. Probably, their elders would learn in time that during their absence the children had gained some benefit for their planet and all concerned. Once the Maddock-Shongilis were thus reunited, she and her crew must bid their erstwhile guests adieu and return to Versailles Station. Some intermittent stops at this world or that moon along the way no doubt would be necessary to quench corporate brush fires. She had that to look forward to as soon as they were clear of the magnetic interference from Petaybee.
If she spent any more time here, she might become like Yana, so used to the planet she too would develop the odd adaptation with the ugly name "brown fat." Then she could travel through the coldest weather like some spacefaring voyageur.
Perhaps she should have a parka designed for her from the ancient striped blanket of the Hudson Bay Company? But once she developed that characteristic-not that she seriously imagined that she would-she would be no more able to leave this world for any prolonged period than Yana, Sean, or Clodagh.
No, no, it would not do. She must be on her way as soon as the bйbйs were found and the newcomers lodged locally, pending completion of their own housing. Most inconvenient that she was not even able to send for more Nakatira cubes. Perhaps she would convince dear Yoshi Nakatira himself to deliver them and see to what good use his product had been employed.
"Madame, the helicopter has returned. There are wounded aboard."
"Wounded?"
"A freak typhoon, Madame, upset the shark tug."
"No one was eaten, I hope?"
"No, Madame. But four injured. One rather badly. Shall we bring them aboard?"
"I think not. If you can discover their family names, I will let their families know that they are safe now and you may take them to Clodagh in Kilcoole if they are able to travel by rougher means than copter, or send for her to come here. The twins?"
"Ronan is still reported missing, Madame, though apparently Murel reappeared in time to assist with getting the shipwrecked passengers safely to the volcanic island."
"Hmph," Marmie said, "however safe that may be."
"With your permission, Madame, we will attend to the wounded as you instruct and give the copter clearance to return for the other shipwrecked personnel, including Chief Chan, Captain Green, Governor Maddock-Shongili, and Mr. Norman."
"By all means," she said. "That particular area of Petaybee remains most tempestuous in nature. Is there room for all aboard the copter?"
"No, Madame, but the fishing fleet is en route to transport the stranded people as well. The copter can ferry them quickly between the island and the boats."
"Then they must go immediately," Marmie said.
"One more thing, Madame."
"Yes?"
"The governors ask if you will employ the Piaf's sensors to see if any vessels have launched from Petaybee within the last few hours. The typhoon is said to have been the result of some sort of launch, but it is uncertain whether or not a vessel left the planet."
She toggled the com switch to her navigations officer and explained the situation.
She spent the next half hour to forty-five minutes notifying the families still aboard the Piaf of the situation, consoling them and urging the adult family members of the injured to go to them. The children would be perfectly safe aboard the Piaf while Clodagh healed her patients.
When the com unit played her personal code again, she felt sure it was First Officer Robineau notifying her of the information gleaned from the sensors. It was a bit early for the copter to return but perhaps Ronan had been found after all or, heaven forbid, the volcanic island was too active to approach.
But it was another sort of disaster altogether.
"An Intergal Company Corps vessel just docked in the next bay, Madame."
"Without authorization?" she asked. Had Yana or Sean authorized such a landing, they would have mentioned it to her before they left.
"They have authorization under Federation Code IM87492XP. They request-and I use the term loosely, Madame," Com Officer Guthe's voice betrayed some of the wry humor he showed off-duty but generally managed to avoid while handling ship's business, "permission to board. They claim to have a warrant for your arrest and the confiscation of the Piaf."
"Merde alors! What now?" Marmie exclaimed.
CHAPTER 19
THE VOLCANO PUFFED again, and this time the smoke billowed from it. The people on shore bounced around a bit with the trembling of their steeply pitched perch.
As Murel turned from them, she heard Ke-ola's voice raised above the others as he began the volcano-birthing chant he had taught them only a few weeks ago, though it seemed a lifetime.
Murel flipped over and started swimming away. A wall of tooth-studded snouts faced her.
Hel-lo, little seal-girl. Got any more tidbits for us? the leader taunted.
Get on with you, you great bloodthirsty lot, she told them. You're wanted elsewhere.
She wondered if even Puna knew how nastily sharks could laugh when they wished. But she dived under them and sped on out to sea.
Da? Where are you? she asked mentally while sending out her sonar signal.
Dead ahead, darlin', but much as I hate to lose track of you again, I think it best for the sake of time if we split up to search for the orcas. If I find them, I'll call out to you and then I want you to return to the volcano to help with the rescue. If you find them, do the same.
Right, she said.
She struck off to the east, where the whales had headed after delivering Aunty and her to shore. They could be most of the way to the south by now.
Murel River Seal, wait! Sky called.
Sky, what took you so long?
Wise otters wait until Manos have other things to do than eat otters before getting into the water, he told her. The Mano people are riding Manos, the hurt people are riding the copter. Only the people of the river seals are on the volcano still. I would have the sea otter cousins help them but they do not trust the Manos.
Neither do I. The Honus would help but I don't trust the Manos not to bite our people off their backs.
Manos are not good rememberers, not like otters, Sky said.
It was grand having him swim with her again, but she missed Ronan. How did you get out of the city before it left, Sky?
Very easy. The walls went away and I saw the beaming place so I slid out and swam fast before the whirling caught me. Otters can swim very fast when they have to.
I wish brothers could do the same, Murel said.
After we save everyone else, we will save Ronan, Murel. It is what river seals and sky otters do, saving others.
Except Jeel, Murel thought mournfully. This river seal wasn't fast enough to save the alien kid. I wish I hadn't been so cocky. If Kushtaka had gone out with enough of her people they might have scared the Manos away.
Or the Manos would have had a bigger feed, Sky said. Manos do not fear.
Out of the minds of otters, she thought softly, or one in particular, the first comfort she'd had since Jeel's death. I wonder if Ronan is afraid.
Deep sea otters will not harm Ronan, Sky said. They are not people to harm others.
I was under the same impression, but since they took Ronan, I have to wonder. I have a feeling they did it to harm our family.
Not real harm, Sky contended with surprising conviction. Not the kind that opens skin or makes dead.
Harm enough, she insisted. But I'll find him if I have to search the galaxy.
Searching the sea is closer, Sky said.