“That asshole Carson gets to be Landing Signal Officer. Well, ain’t that great.”
“You got it,” Howell repeated. “First utle after next chow, in full drag, ready to receive the words of wisdom from On High. Be there or be square.”
“Walkin’ our posts in proper military manner,” Peters added. “Well, I reckon there ain’t nothin’ for it.”
Howell just nodded and pulled the door closed. Peters shook his head, looking over at his book, which he’d laid down carefully, using a four-ornh note for a bookmark. Cherin had explained to him in some detail the reason for not laying books open and face down. He’d never had much to do with books before, but the precaution seemed sensible, like securing watertight doors… which had nothing to do with the present situation, which was not looking like a pleasant prospect. Among other things, having a real officer on the deck would disrupt the command structure they’d improvised. By virtue of his rank, Carson would be the constituted authority, making Chief Joshua’s role as default Air Boss moot. “Come!” he shouted when the tapping on his door was repeated.
“I guess you’ve heard the news,” Dee said.
“Yeah, and it don’t thrill me,” Peters understated.
“I expected that,” Dee told him wryly. “I hate to impose, but I need some help.”
“What do you need?”
“Chief Joshua told me to arrange for a member of Llapaaloapalla‘s crew to be present for the additional instruction he ordered.” She looked a little sheepish. “I’m not very familiar with the zerkre, and they don’t know me at all. Would you go along and help me out? They know you a lot better.”
“You sure?” Peters asked softly. “I’m one of the ones in the shit.”
“Yes, I know, but I don’t even know where to go or who to ask.”
“Jus’ go to the control room and ask for Dhuvenig. If he ain’t around, either Heelinig or Deenerin can help you.”
“But I’m afraid!” she almost wailed. “Won’t you please go along? In all my life I never imagined that I would visit the control room.”
“What’re you afraid of?” Peters asked gently. “They’re nice folks up there.”
“Maybe for you, but I’m only a trader, and a junior one at that,” Dee pointed out. “Please help.”
“You’re jumpin’ at shadows.” Peters held up a hand when she started to object. “OK, I’ll go, but we can’t be seen together, leastwise not by any of the humans.” He thought for a moment. “You know where the library’s at?”
“I think so. I’ve never been there.”
“Learnin’ that’ll be good for you,” Peters said with some amusement. “It’s an interestin’ place. I done learned a lot there.”
“So I should meet you in the library?”
“Yeah. Wait a tle or so, then go to the library. Don’t wait too long. It’s gettin’ close to mealtime, and after that we won’t be able to get away with much.”
“All right,” she said a trifle wanly. “Come as soon as you can. I don’t feel welcome in that part of the ship.”
“You’ll be fine,” Peters assured. “Go. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“OK.” She turned and left, pulling the door closed.
Now isn’t this a Helluva deal? Peters waited a few minutes, then pulled on dungarees over his kathir suit and searched out his hat. The requirement to wear clothing over the airsuit was honored much more in the breach than in the observance, but the order had never been rescinded, and if he was already on somebody’s shit list there was no point in adding tick marks.
Dee had managed to find the library, but hadn’t mustered up the courage to go in; she was standing outside the door, looking fidgety and getting odd looks from the occasional passerby. “Calm yourself,” Peters told her. “They won’t bite you.”
“I’m not emotionally certain of that,” she said, with more humor than he’d expected.
“Let’s go inside for a moment,” Peters suggested. “The librarian is a good person. Perhaps if you meet her you can become more easy about meeting the others.”
“That might help,” she agreed.
“Come, then.” Peters pushed open the library door. “Hello, Cherin,” he greeted the woman at the desk. “I introduce Dee.”
Cherin glanced at him with a little quirk of the mouth. “Hello, Peters,” she said, amusement in her voice. “Welcome to the library, Dee. I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.”
“No, I’ve never been here before,” Dee agreed.
“You’re a Trader, aren’t you? Is there anything special you like to read?”
“No, I have never read very much,” Dee admitted. “I read some books when I was in school, but never since.”
“That’s too bad,” the librarian chided. “Reading is a good way to learn new things. Look at Peters. He reads more than almost anyone I know, and as a result he knows much more than you’d expect.”
“Perhaps I should try it,” Dee said dubiously. “Am I permitted to come here?”
“Well, of course you are,” Cherin told her with some force. “The library is for everyone.”
“Thank you.” Dee looked around. Several patrons, some in kathir suits with zerkre markings, were sitting in comfortable chairs. “It’s a very quiet place, isn’t it?” she commented.
“Yes, libraries are quiet places,” Peters told her. “When you’re reading it’s better to have quiet, so you can listen to the voices the book makes in your head.”
“That’s a very poetic way to put it, but Peters is right,” Cherin told her. “Come any time, even if all you want is to be quiet for a while. I’ll suggest some things for you to read if you like.”
“Thank you, Cherin.”
“No thanks necessary. Peters, why did you bring Dee here? I don’t think it was romantic interest.”
Dee colored. “No, not romantic interest,” Peters assured the librarian with a smile. “Dee needs to visit the control room, and she’s a little afraid of the reception she might find there. I thought perhaps if she could meet you she might realize that not all of the zerkre eat babies.”
“That isn’t funny,” Cherin said sharply. “And to think I complimented you for being poetic only a moment ago! Dee, if you have business in the control room, just go there and ask. Even if you’re only curious you should go and ask. They might say no, but so long as you’re polite that’s the worst thing you should expect.”
“I suppose I know that intellectually,” Dee admitted. “But it’s hard to change old habits.”
“I’ll have to speak with some of the others,” Cherin said to Peters. “I knew not many of the Traders ever came up here, but I didn’t realize that they were afraid.”
“Perhaps Dee won’t be any more,” Peters said. “But now, if you will excuse us, we need to go to the control room.”
“You don’t need my permission,” the librarian pointed out. “Come again soon. You come too, Dee.”
“Thank you,” Dee said quietly.
“Now see, that wasn’t so bad,” Peters said when they were in the passageway.
“No, it wasn’t,” Dee admitted, and took a few steps. “It doesn’t seem right.”.
“What doesn’t?”
“I have lived on Llapaaloapalla all my life. You have been here only a little over five zul, yet you know more about the ship than I do!”
“Perhaps so,” Peters admitted. “I found an interest and followed it. You could do the same if you wanted to.”
“Yes, that’s true, isn’t it? It’s unfortunate that I didn’t know that before.” Dee squared her narrow shoulders. “Lead on. I’m still not looking forward to this, but it’s starting to feel like something I should have done long ago.”