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She let her voice carry more than a hint of sensuality, and watched a flush
spread across Varian's cheek. So ... did she really think older women had no
such interests, or was it jealousy?
"I've only encountered a few of his generation - "
"Yes, generation." Sassinak decided to probe a little deeper. "You're now
forty-three years behind your own. Will you need counseling? For yourself or
the others?" She knew they would, but saw Varian push that possibility away.
Did she not realize the truth, or was she unwilling to show weakness in front
of a stranger?
"I'll know when I get back to them," Varian was saying. "The phenomenon hasn't
caught up with me yet."
Sassinak thought it had, at least in part, but admired the woman for denying
it. And what was this going to do to Lunzie? Somehow she wasn't nearly as
worried about her. Varian asked again about the ARCT-
10, as if Sassinak would have lied in the first place. A civilian response,
Sass thought: she never lied without a good reason, and usually managed
without needing to. Someone came in to report that Varian's sled had been
repaired, and Sass brought the interview to a close.
Supplies - of course, a planetary governor could requisition anything she
required - just contact Ford. Sass knew he would be glad for a chance to get
off the plateau and see some of the exotic wildlife. But now ...
"Your medic's name is Lunzie, isn't it?" she asked. Varian, slightly puzzled,
nodded. Sass let her grin widen, enjoying the bombshell she was about to drop.
"I suppose it was inevitable that one of us would encounter her. A celebration
is in order. Will you convey my deepest respects to Lunzie?" Varian's
expression now almost made her burst out laughing: total confusion and
disbelief. "I cannot miss the chance to meet
Lunzie," Sass finished up. "It isn't often one gets the chance to entertain
one's great-great-great grandmother." Varian's mouth hung slightly open, and
her eyes were glazed. Gotcha, thought Sass wickedly, and in the gentlest
possible tones asked one of the junior officers to escort Varian to her sled.
Nothing wrong with that young woman that seasoning wouldn't cure, but
- Sass chuckled to herself - it was fun to outwit a planetary governor.
Even one who'd had a concussion. She followed Varian's progress through the
ship, and was pleased to note that shock or not, she remembered to check on
her crewmate. When Med queried, with a discreet push of buttons, Sass
acknowledged and approved his leaving with Varian. Varian, she suspected,
never considered that he might have been held.
Ford appeared, and shook his head at her expression. "Captain, you look
entirely too pleased about something."
"I may be. But compared to the last cruise, things are going extremely well,
complications and all. Of course we don't know why the Thek are here, or what
they're going to do, or if that heavyworlder transport has allies following
after - " Ford shook his head. "I doubt that. A hull that size could carry
colony seedstock, machinery and all - "
"True. That's what I'm hoping - but you notice I put a relay satellite in
orbit, and left a streaker net out. Just in case. Oh yes - you're interested
in the sort of wild-life they've got here, aren't you?"
"Sure - it was kind of a hobby of mine, and when I was on the staff at
Sector III, they had this big museum just down the hill - "
"Good. Are you willing to take on a fairly dangerous outside job? And do some
acting in the meantime?"
"Of course." He blanked all the expression off his face and faked a Diplo
accent. "I could pretend to be a heavyworlder if you want, but I'm afraid
they'd notice something ..."
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Sass shook her head at him. "Be serious. I need to know more about this world
- direct data, not interpreted by those survivors, no matter how expert they
are in their fields. Varian, the co-leader who came today, is entirely too
eager to claim sentient status for an avian species. It may be justified, or
it may not, but I want independent data. There's something odd about her
reactions to the Iretan-born heavyworlders, too. She ought to be furious,
still - she's less than a ten-day out of coldsleep; she witnessed a murder;
the initial indictment filed with Godheir spoke of intentional injury to both
co-leaders. That's all fresh in her mind, or should be. Her reasoning's
correct; the grandchildren of mutineers are not responsible. But it's just not
normal for her to think that clearly when her friends and colleagues have
suffered. I've seen this kind of idealism backfire - this determination to
save every living thing can be carried too far. She's very dedicated, and very
spirited, but I'm not sure how stable she is. With a tribunal coming up to
determine the fate of this planet and those people, I need something solid."
"I see your point, captain, but what do you want me to do?" "Well - I'd guess
she'd fall for unconditional enthusiasm. Boyish gush, if you can manage it -
and I know you can." She let her eyes caress him, and he laughed aloud. "Yes -
exactly that. Be dinosaur-crazy, act as if you'd do anything for a mere
glimpse of them - you're so lucky to have the chance, and so on. You can start
by being skeptical - are they really dinosaurs? Are they sure? Let's pick a
survey team today, and brief them
- you can introduce them as fellow hobbyists tomorrow. They'll probably accept
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