Dreelig didn’t come back, and Peters declared “down tools” well before the end of the ande. Most of what they could do with rags, brooms, and swabs was done, so they’d used the time to polish brightwork. The work was useful, even necessary, but they needed to tackle the decks, and for that they needed serious tools—a buffer was high on his wish list, maybe two of them—and materials: stripper, wax, maybe paint.
Dreelig was in the mess room, sitting at a table near the entrance with another Grallt. “Pleasant greetings,” he said. “I introduce you to Donollo. What do you think of his costume?”
Donollo—the double-”l” was the almost-y they were getting used to—was older, or at least grizzled. He was wearing a dark gray tunic, collarless but open over a turtleneck of soft fabric with an iridescent luster, and a pair of trousers the same color but with a slightly duller finish. On the roll of the turtleneck, just below his left ear, he had an amber jewel that flashed in the light. “Looks distinguished,” Peters said. “This your boss?”
“Kh Kh.” Dreelig translated that for Donollo, who joined in the staccato Grallt laugh. “Donollo is retired. We explained the problem, and offered him a fee, and now he will help us. Your reaction is just what we hoped.”
“What did you have in mind?” asked Peters.
“I am a failure,” Dreelig said dully, and hunched over, face down. “My superior must now accompany me, so that I get it right in future.”
Donollo said something in Grallt; it sounded harsh and admonitory. Dreelig responded, also in Grallt, but in a soft monotone, to which Donollo responded by folding his arms and pronouncing a single syllable, accompanied by a sharp nod.
“The Senior suggests that we discuss provisioning, and defer more significant matters to a later time, when he is better informed,” said Dreelig in deferential tones. “What is your thinking on this?”
Peters grinned. “Yeah, Mr. Ambassador, tell the Senior we can do that.”
Dreelig translated; Donollo pronounced a short phrase and gave a quick flap of one hand, then settled back in his chair as if bored. “This is correct procedure then?” Dreelig asked, tone still deferential.
“If it ain’t perfect, it’s damn-sure close,” Peters told him. “Who thought of the topaz stickpin? It’s great.”
“It is good you approve,” said Dreelig, returning to his normal manner as Donollo sat up attentively. “Donollo suggested the jewel. I had noticed that your people often wore jewelry, not prominently but small attractive pieces. He thought it might serve the purpose.”
“It’s just right,” Todd said. “No suit is really complete without a watch or something, sometimes a ring. This is different, but the same style.”
“You know how to walk?” Peters asked.
“Oh, yes.” Dreelig settled back. “Donollo goes ahead, with head up, looking straight ahead but glancing aside from time to time. I follow half a step behind, head down, carrying a small case. Very easy.”
“There’s something else you could add,” Todd suggested, his tone a little sly. “The finishing touch, so to speak. Is Dee busy just now?”
“Dee has many duties. But it is important that we finish up here.” Dreelig shrugged. “The ship people do not like sitting in orbit with little or nothing to do. If Dee can help speed the process, she will help.”
“What’re you drivin’ at?” Peters inquired.
“You ever see a big shot without a secretary?” Todd waved his hand to indicate Donollo. “Cute little mamacita hovering at his elbow, bringing coffee for the Great Man and taking notes with a gold pen?”
“He’s right,” Peters approved with a nod. “The finishin’ touch.” He stared at Donollo, furrowing his forehead in thought. “Dress her up in a junior-grade version of what he’s wearin’, and add more jewelry. Gold chain around the neck an’ a bracelet with little dangles, hey, Todd?”
“Yeah. No shirt, though, show some skin.” Todd made a gesture across his chest. “Give her a shoulder bag and a note pad. Oh, and a supply of, Hell, I don’t know, mints or something.”
“I still don’t understand,” Dreelig said, giving an impression of wariness. “What would Dee’s duties be?”
“From your point of view she ain’t got duties,” Peters said. “It’s all gonna be dumbshow. She walks on the other side of Donollo, keepin’ level with him, and never says nothin’ to nobody but him, right, Todd?”
Todd nodded. “That’s right. She’s always there, right by his elbow. From time to time he says something and she writes it down. You say something to him, mostly he just answers, but once in a while he asks her and she flips through the notebook and reads something back.”
Donollo asked something, and Dreelig replied, first absently, then at length. The elder laughed the Grallt chuckle, heavy on the percussion, and made a little speech, clearly the old head explaining to the newbie. Finally Dreelig laughed, a single explosive bark, and pounded the table with the flat of his hand. “Why did we not think of this before?” he asked in English. “We could have left a zul ago.”
Peters shrugged. “Like I said before, you been listenin’ to the words and not watchin’ the dance. Listen up to the Chief, there. Looks like he knows what he’s doin’.”
“Yes, Donollo has many years of experience. Sometimes we forget how valuable that can be,” Dreelig said ruefully. “If I understand you, and him, correctly, Dee would almost be like a piece of jewelry herself.”
“Not almost,” Todd corrected. “Exactly like. Real big shots don’t wear much actual jewelry, it isn’t, ah, I dunno—”
“Elegant,” Peters put in. “It ain’t elegant. That pin’s just right, expensive-lookin’ but not too gaudy, but he’s gotta have some way of showin’ off what he’s got—”
“—and so Dee wears it for him, besides being an ornament herself,” Dreelig finished. “Status display.” He shook his head. “Todd, you said that Dee should carry some small foods, I think. What are those for?”
Todd shrugged. “I dunno. Medicine, maybe.” He grinned. “That’s it. He’s an old guy, and he needs to take pills. Once in a while she looks at her watch, then pulls something out of her bag and gives it to him.” He pantomimed handing something to Peters. “Donollo grumbles a bit but takes it and eats it. Then he says something to her, real gentle and polite like.”
“And never explain,” said Peters. “If they ask, you change the subject.”
Donollo laughed at that and made a short comment. “More power display,” Dreelig translated. “A small mystery, and a little action to distract them. You are acute observers.”
Peters shrugged. “We been around, is all.”
“Yes.” Dreelig pulled his eyebrows together, glancing at Donollo, then at his watch. “It too late to go Down, so we must wait until the beginning of the next day. This is good, because we need to practice our act. Dee’s schedule is awkward, but she can change if necessary.”
“Speakin’ of schedules, what’ve you got arranged for us?” Peters asked. “We don’t need to be sittin’ around.”
Dreelig frowned again. “We can check with Znereda. Perhaps he has time to give you another language lesson. After that…” he paused, making a nervous gesture with his fingers on the table. “You have kathir suits now. Perhaps you would like to explore around the ship, yes?”