"Maybe we should take that chance," Zoran urged.
"Then again, maybe we should not," fired back Rojam. "What should we say? That our engines are in danger of exploding? That our life-support systems are failing? These are not possibilities, because their own onboard readings will tell them that we're lying. And if they know that we're lying, then they're going to start to wonder what the truth is. And if they do that, then we have a major problem."
"Damn them!" snarled Zoran, pacing the room. His long and powerful legs carried him quickly around the perimeter, and his blue body armor clacked as he moved. His red face was darker than usual as he mused on the frustration facing him. "Si Cwan wasn't part of the plan, but now that he's here . . . damn him and damn them all!"
"Damning them isn't going to do a bit of g—" Rojam began to say. But then he stopped as a blinking light on the control panel caught his attention. "Incoming hail from the Marquand,"he said.
"It's about time!" Zoran fairly shouted.
"Will you calm down?" Juif said in exasperation. "If we're in communication with them and Si Cwan hears your bellowing, that's going to be the end of that!"
With effort, Zoran brought himself under control as Rojam answered the hail. "We were beginning to wonder, Marquand."
"We needed to speak with the Excalibur,"came the deep voice that they knew to be the passenger other than Si Cwan. "What is your present emergency status? How long can you survive aboard your vessel?"
Zoran was gesturing that Rojam should lie, but Rojam was quite certain that that was not the way to go. He believed in all the reasons that he'd put forward to Zoran, and there was one other element as welclass="underline" If Si Cwan was aboard the Marquand,not all the hosts of hell would get him to depart without his sister at his side.
"Lie!"Zoran hissed in a very low voice. "They're going to leaveif we don't!" And the way his fist was clenching and unclenching told Rojam a very disturbing truth: namely, that if answered the question from the Marquandaccurately and then the shuttle craft turned and left for the mother ship, Rojam would very likely not live out the hour. Not given the mood that Zoran was presently in.
But he felt he had to trust his instincts, and on that basis, he said, "Life-support systems are presently holding together. Our main problem is in engineering; our propulsion systems are out. Our batteries are running down and we likely could not survive indefinitely, but for the very immediate future, the danger level is tolerable."
There was a silence that seemed infinitely long, and Rojam could practically hear his life span shortening. But then the voice said, 'This is the Marquand.With your permission, we will come aboard and give what aid we can, while we wait for the Excaliburto rendezvous with us. Will that be acceptable?"
"Yes. Absolutely acceptable," said Rojam, relief flooding through him. Behind him he could sense Zoran nodding in approval.
"Just one thing . . . ?"
"Yes, Marquand?"
"Please put the passenger called Kalinda on with us. Her brother would like to speak with her."
"Uhm . . ." Suddenly sweat began to beat on Rojam's crimson forehead, his grimacing white teeth standing out in stark relief to his face. "Just a moment, please." He switched off the comm channel and then turned to Zoran. "Now what?"
"Now?" Zoran smiled. "Now . . . we give them what they asked for."
Si Cwan stared in confusion at Zak Kebron. "Why did you ask them to put Kalinda on?"
"Because," Kebron said slowly and deliberately— which was more or less how he said everything—"I am being cautious. It's my job to watch out for everyone on board the Excalibur.That even includes those who have no business being there at all."
"I appreciate the thought."
"Don't. As noted: It's my job." He paused. "Would you know your sister's voice if you heard it?"
"Of course." He waited for a response, but none seemed to be immediately in evidence. Concern began to grow within him. "You don't think there's a problem."
"I always think there's a problem," replied Kebron. "It saves time. And lives." He checked his instruments. "Their life-support appears stable. Pity. If they had lied about that, I would have known that there was something wrong. Perhaps it is a more subtle trap."
"Or perhaps they're truly in distress. But then . . . why hasn't Kalinda come on—?" It was a disturbing thought. He had simply taken for granted that his sister was truly a passenger on the science vessel. The notion that she might not be was agonizing for him. To have his hopes raised and then dashed in such a manner . . .
But even more disturbing, he realized, was the concept that he had not questioned it for one moment. One did not acquire or maintain power by being easily duped. Had he let his love for his sister, his desire to try and reconstruct some semblance of his former life, completely blind him to all caution? That was a very, very dangerous mind-set to have.
And then a girlish voice came over the comm system. "Si Cwan?" it said.
Si Cwan came close to knocking Kebron aside— or as close as one can come to budging someone who is essentially a walking mountain of granite. "Kally?" he practically shouted.
"Si Cwan, is that you?"
"Yes . . . yes it is . . . Kally, everything is going to be all right . . ."
"I'm so glad to hear your voice, Si Cwan . . ."
Si Cwan felt himself choking with relief, but then Kebron said in a sharp whisper, "Ask her something only she would know."
"What?" He seemed to have trouble focusing, which of course bugged the hell out of Kebron.
"Something only she would know," he repeated. Slowly, Si Cwan nodded. "Kally . . . remember that time? That time shortly before we had to leave? Remember that? When I said that I would always be there for you? Remember, when we spoke at our special place?"
There was a short hesitation, one that made Si Cwan wonder ever so briefly, and then her voice said, "You mean that time by the Fire Falls? That?"
He closed his eyes and nodded. Kalinda, meanwhile, naturally couldn't see him as she continued, "Si Cwan? Is that what you're talking about?"
"Yes, that's it."
"Why did you want to know about that?"
"Just being careful. You understand. These days, we can't be too careful." He looked triumphantly at Kebron, who merely grunted and edged the ship forward toward the Kayven Ryin.
"Okay, Si Cwan . . . whatever you say."
"We'll be there in a few minutes, Kally. Don't worry. We'll be right along."
"Okay, Si Cwan. I'll see you soon." And the connection broke off.
And the moment that happened, Kebron brought the ship to a dead halt in space. Si Cwan was immediately aware of it. "What are you doing?" he demanded.
Zak Kebron turned in his chair. "I don't like it." "What?"
"I said I don't like it."
Si Cwan appeared ready to explode. His body was trembling with repressed fury. "Now, you listen to me," he said sharply. "I know what this is about."
"Do you," asked Kebron, unimpressed by Si Cwan's ire.
"It's not enough that you continue to resent me, or deny my right to be aboard the Excalibur.But now . . . now you'd hurt a young girl whom you've never met . . . who's never done anything to you . . ."