The Hermnaen was alone when it neared Homeworld's defense perimeter.
Arjen's fleet, under Acting Fleet-Captain Jannor, had returned to the
combat zone, and the extra ships had been ordered back to their regular
duties.
Tarlac and Hovan were seated at two of the control central supervisor
consoles, watching the repeater screen. The Ranger never grew tired of
watching planetary approaches, even on a screen instead of through a
lander's windows. There was something awe-inspiring about watching a
world grow from a featureless point to a globe boasting continents and
seas--though cloud cover obscured most details on Terra-type worlds.
The Hermnaen descended slowly, gently, on null-grav, and the globe grew
until it was beneath them, rather than ahead. Clouds like snow-softened
mountains showed rifts, then gave way to clear skies as the
flagship let down toward a city-sized spaceport. The guide beam
brought them to a precision landing near the central control building.
Leave for combat crews was automatic any time a warship made friendly
planetfall, and Homeworld was the only place where that meant everyone
could go to his own clanhome. That it was a branch home, in most
cases, didn't matter; being in-clan was what counted. Ship-Captain
Exvani, as anxious as anyone to rejoin his family, had called ahead so
that every clan with a member aboard the Hermnaen could send
transportation, and the ship emptied without delay.
Less than ten minutes after landing, Hovan and Tarlac and the other
three members of Ch'kara who'd been at the adoption were being greeted
by the driver of a large cream-and-green null-grav car. She was the
first Traiti female that Tarlac, and as far as he knew, any human, had
ever seen.
She was only slightly less massive than the males, yet she was
undeniably attractive by Traiti standards, as he knew from the art he'd
studied, and she had an air of lithe grace. Tarlac, though he knew it
was inappropriate, found she made him think of a Valkyrie. She was no
fighter, couldn't possibly be if all he'd learned about the Traiti was
correct, but she gave the impression of a warrior maiden.
Seated between the driver and Hovan, Tarlac had a sudden feeling of
belonging here; despite his misgivings, he liked it. He'd already
decided, since there was no way to ignore his apprehension, to refuse
to let himself be distracted by his fear. He couldn't afford it.
While he still knew almost nothing about the Ordeal he'd agreed to
take, he had no doubt that it would call on every resource he had.
In the meantime, he'd learned enough to know that his original idea
about the status of females was not just mistaken but laughable. Yes,
they were only a fourth of the Traiti population, cherished and
protected from any possible harm, and even a discussion of endangering
one unnecessarily bordered on obscenity. But they weren't considered,
as he'd wrongly speculated, either inferior in any way, or as breeding
stock or valuable property. Far from it. If anything, they had more
status than any males except the n'Cor'naya, the Honored Ones who'd
passed the Ordeal. They were responsible for both religion and clan
life, things which were far more important to the Traiti than humans
had guessed.
The clans, not warfare, were the center of Traiti culture. And yet,
even with females running those two vital areas, it wasn't a
matriarchy. Males ran commerce and, obviously, the military; in other
fields such as science or the arts, gender had no bearing. The
combination made for a "government," if you felt generous about the
definition, that couldn't possibly work for humans. Not even if it had
been imposed by a god, as Hovan assured Tarlac it had. There were two
rulers, the male Supreme who was exactly that in secular affairs, and
the female First Speaker for the Circle of Lords, equally powerful in
religious matters.
But those two acted only when something concerned the entire race.
Everything else was handled on a clan level, from education to
deep-space colonization. Despite Hovan's attempts to explain, Tarlac
didn't quite understand how some of what the Traiti had accomplished
could be done on such a seemingly casual basis, and he could only suppose
they would find the human bureaucracy equally puzzling.
The two civilizations were most similar, ironically enough, in the
structure of their military forces. Even that was largely on the
surface; any military required a clear chain of command. Otherwise
. . . the clans cooperated to produce both commercial ships and
warcraft, and in crewing them, with the crew members supported by their
individual clans. Then, under the Supreme's command, the war fleets
defended the race.
Tarlac shrugged and turned his attention to his surroundings. The
spaceport, so much like its Imperial counterparts, was behind them and
they were approaching the capital city. Hovan had described it, so
Tarlac knew what to expect: large, relatively low buildings, none over
three stories high, set apart from each other in almost parklike
surroundings. In several of the larger buildings they passed, females
stood at the central doors; they were the clan's sub-Mothers, though
rarely--when this was the clan's main home--it might be the Ka'ruchaya
herself waiting to formally welcome her clan-children.
Tarlac enjoyed the drive and the scenery. It reminded him of a Terran
college campus or an Irschchan town, though with a greater similarity
to Terra since Homeworld's sky was blue, not green. The air smelled
good, clean and alive after the flatness of recycled ship's air, and he
could tell the Traiti liked it as much as he did.
They passed a shopping area, where the buildings were more brightly
colored and closer together, yet still not crowded, and the Terran got
his first look at groups of Traiti civilians. Most were closed-shirt
males who hadn't earned Honor scars, but he saw some females, one with
an infant, and a few n'Cor'naya. All wore loose-fitting, brightly
colored clothing, though there was no other uniformity of dress.
Styles varied by clan and by individual taste, from what most Imperials
would consider barely decent to full-coverage robes.
They did have one other thing in common. Much to Tarlac's amazement,
all seemed genuinely cheerful. He turned to his sponsor. "Don't they
know how the war's going?"
"Of course." Hovan was surprised by the question. "Such things must
in honor known be. Why? Do yours not know?"
"Sure they do," Tarlac replied. "But we're winning--we don't have any
reason to be depressed."
"Sadness would no good do," Hovan said calmly. "What the Lords decree,
is." He looked around. "This area familiar seems . . . we should the
clanhome nearing be. I have only once to Homeworld been, though, so I
cannot sure be."
His memory was accurate; less than a minute later, the car came to a
halt in front of one of the branch clanhome buildings. It was of
average size, perhaps a quarter-kilometer on a side--plenty of room for
the five hundred or so who represented Ch'kara on Homeworld. It would
be good, Hovan thought, simply to be back in-clan, back in the
closeness and peace he valued so highly--and there was Ka'ruchaya
Yarra's promise. He looked at Steve, pleased to see the man's
expression was calm and interested.
Tarlac indicated the female standing motionless in front of the open
door and asked quietly, "Ka'chaya Yvian?"
"Yes, of--" Hovan broke off as he glanced upward, inhaling with a hiss
through surprise-thinned nostrils. "Yarra! She here came?"
Tarlac recalled one of the fine points of custom he'd learned, that the
Clan Mother very rarely left the main clanhome, and then only if it was
important to the clan's survival or honor. That Yarra was here, now,
could only be because of him, to show she regarded her alien
es'ruesten, her new clan-child, as fully one of Ch'kara.
It was something he hadn't expected; it was an honor, and it added to
his determination to succeed in the Ordeal, to bring credit to his
adopted clan. He climbed out of the car with the others and followed
them up the steps to accept her formal welcome. The Ranger, ranking
almost at the top in the Terran Empire, was the only one in the group
without Honor scars, so he ranked lowest here. When the others bowed,
holding out dagger hilts so the Ka'ruchaya could touch those and then
her n'ruesten, Tarlac knelt as was proper for an unscarred male,
drawing his blaster and extending its grip. He was pleased when she
welcomed him as she had them, touching the blaster's grip and then his
forehead.
Still kneeling, he looked up. "Ka'ruchaya, Hovan says you speak
English, so I want you to know firsthand that I had to qualify my oath
to the clan. I don't want to be accepted under the wrong assumptions.
I took my oath as a Ranger of the Empire first, and that obligation
will always be first for me."
"Yes, I English speak," Yarra replied, "and I your reservation
understand. I that expected, in one Hovan would worthy of adoption
find. You must, of course, that first oath first honor." She smiled,
and raised him to his feet. "I will to you later speak, ruesten. Now
come. You n'ruhar have to meet, after you are to the Lords
introduced."
Tarlac holstered his blaster, following his Clan Mother and clanmates
into the building. The entranceway was about ten meters square, with
halls to either side and double doors straight ahead leading to the
clanhome's heart, the gathering hall. When the double doors slid open,
Tarlac couldn't see much except Traiti. The hall was filled with them,
leaving only one open lane down the center of the room. He knew what
the hall looked like, from Hovan's descriptions: a hundred meters wide
by a hundred and fifty deep, and unlike the rest of the clanhome,
undecorated. Its only furnishing, except for special occasions, was
the silvery two-tiered altar opposite the entrance. The clan's Speaker
for the Circle of Lords, Daria, waited there to introduce Tarlac to the
Traiti gods.
He smiled at that. He and Hovan had, inevitably, touched on religion
in their discussions, and Hovan had found his agnosticism at first
baffling, then amusing. It seemed the Traiti took their gods pretty
much for granted, absolutely certain of their reality but expecting
nothing from them other than acceptance at death. Hovan had finally
given up on that debate with the extended-claw gesture that was roughly
equivalent to a shrug, saying that Steve would learn.
Well, there was always a chance that Hovan was right. Tarlac was well
aware the universe held a lot more things than he knew, but this was
one he had no intention of bothering about. If the gods were
interested in him, they'd shown no signs of it, and he saw no reason to
change his stand on the matter unless they did.
The procession including Tarlac, Hovan and Yarra was at the altar by
then, and this time the new clanmember was the only one who didn't
kneel. He bowed to the green-robed Speaker standing on the dais, then,
at her gesture, ascended the three steps to stand facing her. She
grasped his wrist, led him to the altar, and indicated that he should
place his hands on it, palms down.
Tarlac cooperated willingly, but his attention was less on what he was
doing or the chant Daria had begun than the statuettes on the altar's
upper tier. There were eleven of them, images of the Traiti gods--
three of whom were actually, by his definition, goddesses--as
exquisitely crafted as a cloudcat-made tapestry. They were about
thirty centimeters high, sculpted and colored with such artistry that
they might have been miniature Traiti, perfect but unmoving.
Then Daria's chant ended. Tarlac stepped back from the altar, crossed
hands over his chest, and bowed. That ended the ceremony, and started
the party.
As Tarlac rejoined Hovan, he discovered there weren't as many Traiti in
the gathering hall as he'd thought. The lane of bodies which was all
he'd been able to see had concealed tables laden with food and drink,
as well as other members of the clan.
Several females and younglings came forward carrying drinks--and
something the Ranger had known only intellectually suddenly became an
emotional reality to him. This was a family, as close and loving as
any human family, and he was a part of it. Until now, no living human
could testify to anything but Traiti enthusiasm and skill in battle.
The remains of those who'd run into Traiti suicide commandos were even
more eloquent. But these adolescent females offering glasses to the
five from the Hermnaen weren't fighters. They were no taller than
Tarlac, and he had adapted enough, thanks to the shipboard artwork, to
think of them as attractive young ladies.
The girl who approached him said something, smiling, took a sip from
one of the two glasses she held and handed it to him, then touched his
forehead. Hovan had told him about this; it was part of the adoption.
It wasn't essential, but it was a good way to let him meet his new
relatives and vice versa--as well as being a good excuse for a party.
Tarlac took a small drink, returned the touch, and traded glasses to
drink again.
Then Hovan tapped him on the shoulder, and after they traded drinks and
touches--just once, this time--he introduced the girls who had served
the two of them, smiling widely. "Sharya and Casti my n'ka'esten are,
from one birth."
Tarlac greeted Casti as he had Sharya, impressed. Twin daughters! No
wonder Hovan wanted to play the proud parent, with multiple births in
any given clan averaging about a century apart. "I see why you asked
me to restrain my curiosity, ruhar. It was worth the wait."
Others, three boys and five women, one carrying an infant, joined them
as he was attempting a polite comment to the girls in what little
Language he knew. The first one Hovan introduced was Sandre, mother of
the twins and the only open-shirted female Tarlac had seen. She had
Honor scars identical to Hovan's, which surprised Tarlac for a moment
since he knew she couldn't have taken the Ordeal. He decided--and
later learned he was correct--that they must be because she'd borne the
twins. He didn't know whether it was proper or not, but it shouldn't
hurt to be polite; he gave her the respectful crossed-arm bow.
It didn't. He heard approving comments, then she said one of the few
things he understood: "You do me honor, ruhar," and traded drinks and
touches.
Tarlac had no time to reply before he had to greet the rest of what he
could only think of as Hovan's immediate family. The last he met was
the youngest, and when Tarlac reached to touch the baby girl, he found
out the truth of something he'd heard about babies.
They liked to taste things.
Tarlac yelped, more in surprise than pain, pulled his finger out of her
grasp, and ruefully inspected the small wounds. "Hey, youngster, I
thought there was only supposed to be one exchange of blood."
She gurgled happily at him while her mother spoke.
"She teething is," Hovan translated, then examined the bite himself.
"Want you medical help?"
Tarlac shook his head, grinning. "I'm not that fragile--she just
startled me."
"Good. She really too young is, here to be, but I wanted you all to
meet."
"I'm glad you did," Tarlac said, as the mother and baby left for the
nursery. "She's a pretty little one." He meant it. She was prettier
than a human at the same age, he found himself thinking. The infant
Traiti seemed somehow more . . . finished, maybe because Traiti never
grew noticeable hair, or maybe because he had adapted more thoroughly
than he knew. Whatever the reason, the fact was undeniable. So was
the fact, he thought grimly, that if he died in the Ordeal she would
very probably die too, under Imperial weapons.
"You only that say, because she the first you met have who smaller than
you is," Hovan said, wondering at Steve's brief frown. This was
supposed to be a glad celebration--and it was all right; the man's
expression was clearing.
"Well, maybe a little," Tarlac conceded. "When a teenage kid's as tall
as I am and masses at least twice as much, it's nice to see someone
smaller. And speaking of size--" He held up his drink, about the
tenth or twelfth glass he'd traded. "This wine doesn't have much of a
kick, but even if I only take a sip every time I meet someone, it won't
be long before I'm wiped out. You might stay fairly sober, but I won't
be able to, even if I were used to drinking. I'll probably make an
ungodly fool of myself."
Hovan grinned. "Probably, and it expected is. The wine mild is
because you small are. If you Traiti were, we would something stronger
drinking be. No adoption party successful is, unless the new ruhar must
in bed poured be."
Tarlac had to laugh. "By that standard, ruhar, this'll likely be the
most successful adoption party in Traiti history! But let's not make
it a success too early, okay? I'm hungry."
"Food good sounds," Hovan agreed. "And I will with you stay, in case
anything must translated be. Ka'ruchaya Yarra and I the only two are,
who much English speak."
Several more drink-trades later, Tarlac made it to one of the
well-stocked tables and built himself a thick sandwich. That process
got quite a few interested comments, but by Traiti custom none were
addressed to him until he'd finished eating. When he was done, the
interest in getting him drunk was replaced, at least temporarily, by
inquiries about the new way of fixing something to eat. It was hard
for the Ranger to believe that people as enthusiastic about food as the
Traiti hadn't either stumbled across something as simple as a sandwich,
or purposely developed it, but their keen attention and the eager
experimentation that followed made it clear they hadn't.
Unfortunately for Tarlac's sobriety, that respite didn't last long.
Within half an hour, his n'ruhar were again introducing themselves.
Hovan wasn't needed often as a translator; with so many anxious to meet
their new relative, Tarlac had very limited opportunities for
conversation.
He soon lost any trace of doubt that he would live up to custom, too,
whether he wanted to or not. By the time about a third of those in the
gathering hall had introduced themselves, he had a distinct buzz on.
He had also come to the firm, if rather woozy, conclusion that these
people, his new family, were the finest in the galaxy. Especially the
big gray-skinned guy beside him, the brother he'd never had. Before.
He was never sure, later, how many more of Ch'kara he did meet. Things
were getting blurry and disconnected, and never improved. He did
remember singing, probably off-key, and later hanging onto Hovan's arm
for support.
Hovan felt a tug on his sleeve and looked down to see a silly grin on
Steve's upturned face. The man mumbled something, so slurred Hovan
couldn't make it out, then released Hovan's arm and closed unfocussed
eyes to slump bonelessly to the floor, still smiling.
Looking around at the n'ruhar who had seen Steve's collapse, Hovan
translated the Ranger's earlier prediction aloud into Language, then
smiled indulgently down at him. "And it seems he was right. He has
had a very successful party. Time to pour him, as I promised, into
bed." He stooped, picked up the slightly-built man with no difficulty,
and turned to Yarra. "I think he'd better sleep in the infirmary
tonight, Ka'ruchaya."
"I agree. And tell the nurse to let him sleep until he wakes by
himself. The Supreme has said he and the First Speaker will wait until
Steve is ready to see them."
"They do him much honor."
Tarlac woke up once during the night, and was vaguely aware of being
helped to someplace where he vomited and afterwards collapsed. Then he
was carried back to bed, where dim light showed him a reassuring
shark-toothed smile before a cool cloth covered his forehead and eyes
and he went out again.
The next time he woke it was to lights that were too bright. He
squeezed his eyes shut and groaned, wishing he were still unconscious.
There was a light touch on his arm, and a musical voice said something
he couldn't understand but thought was sympathetic. He didn't want
sympathy, he wanted to die. Well, maybe he just wanted anything that
would end the misery. He recognized a hangover, though he'd never had
one this bad before; while it would end in time, he wouldn't enjoy the
next few hours.
Then an arm under his head and shoulders raised him and a different
voice, Hovan's, said, "Drink." There was a glass at his lips; he
obeyed without thought.
What he drank was almost too sour to swallow, but within a few minutes
he was feeling better. A little bit. "What time is it?"
"Midday, twelve and a half hours by your timepiece."
Tarlac groaned again, forcing his eyes open. "You do this to everybody
you adopt?"
"No, ruhar. You a bad reaction had, an allergy, Doctor Channath says.
You should soon better feel."
"Uhh. That'll teach me to drink Traiti liquor." Tarlac tried to sit
up, refusing Hovan's assistance, noticing only then that he'd been
undressed and was on a sleeping mat laid atop a platform instead of on
the floor. He made it upright, but the effort brought on a wave of
dizzy sickness, and standing up didn't work. His knees buckled,
forcing Hovan to catch him and sit him back on the bed.
"You should in bed remain," Hovan told him, concerned. "The medicine
more time than that needs."
"I have to get to the 'fresher." Tarlac tried again to stand, somewhat
more successfully, and managed a couple of wobbly steps. Then Hovan's
arm went around his shoulders, steadying and turning him.
"This way, ruhar. That door to the hallway leads."
"Okay." Tarlac was gratefuy for the guidance, but appreciated Hovan's
simple presence and his uncritical support even more.
By the time Tarlac finished cleaning up, the dose of whatever-it-was
had taken full effect and he felt considerably more able to take in his
surroundings. One of the first things he noticed was that Hovan was no
longer in uniform; instead, he wore civilian clothes, a silvery open
shirt with bright blue trousers and quilted mid-calf boots. A chain
fastened his knife to the sash that belted his trousers. He'd brought
similar clothing for the Ranger, in red and gold.
Tarlac put it on, seeing immediately that his badge was already pinned
to the shirt. Wearing something other than a uniform felt strange--he
hadn't worn anything else in public since the war started--but one
uniform certainly wouldn't last forever, and he still didn't know how
long the Ordeal would take. Or what it consisted of.
The clothes fit well, though sleeves and trouser legs were a good ten
centimeters too short by Terran standards. Apparently it was good
style in Ch'kara, though, since Hovan's fit the same way. Tarlac's gun
wasn't there, probably in storage with his uniform; instead, he'd been
given a knife very similar to the one he'd used in the challenge match
aboard the Hermnaen. "I gather you borrowed these from a youngling?"
"Yes. And Sandre them tailored, you to fit. Now come. Food ready for
you is, then I must your education begin. Much there is you have to
learn, before you the Ordeal begin."
"Such as?" Tarlac asked. Maybe he'd finally find out what he'd gotten
himself into.
"Forestcraft, of course, and--" Hovan broke off. "By the Lords! I
never did you tell, even of the parts I now can. I must your pardon
ask."
They were out of the infirmary, walking down a wide tapestry-hung
corridor. "You've got it, if you'll tell me whatever you can.
Wilderness survival is part of it?"
"Yes, and you know not this world's life. Then there the Vision is, if
you one granted are, and you of the Scarring know."
"Yeah, I hurt just thinking about that part. It's in that order?"
"It may be, yes. The first it not my place to discuss is, and the
Scarring always last is. The other three parts may in any order be. I
cannot you of one of them tell, because it would by foreknowledge
influenced be."
Tarlac could understand that, though it didn't quiet his curiosity.
"At least I know more about it now than I did when I agreed to take
it."
"The Fleet-Captain you nothing told?"
"Oh, sure. He told me that according to the First Speaker, if I did
take it and live, I'd be able to bring an honorable peace for both
sides. That didn't leave me much choice."
"The Lords this of you asked?" Hovan said, impressed. "I knew that
not."
"If that's what he meant, yes." Tarlac didn't believe in the Lords,
but Hovan did; it wouldn't hurt to agree.
Hovan smiled widely. "So you us life in honor bring. That good is."
"If I live." Tarlac frowned. "Hovan . . . I don't think I will live.
I haven't thought so since I boarded your ship, and since the fight,
I've been certain of it. This Ordeal's going to kill me." He paused
and shrugged, wondering at his own calm. "Oh, that won't keep me from
trying. Maybe just trying will be enough to do what the First Speaker
said, I don't know. Hell, I don't even know how I'm supposed to bring
peace if I do live!"
"Since the Lords this asked," Hovan said calmly, "you should not so
many doubts have. They nothing ask unless it possible is. And after
you the fight won, I certain am that they intend not for you to fail."
"I won the fight by a trick," Tarlac said bleakly. "I won't live
through the Ordeal by a trick."
Hovan stopped and took Steve by the shoulders. "Why did you not all
this say when it first you troubled? I your sponsor am."
"I couldn't. It was something I had to come to terms with by myself."
Tarlac found himself suddenly wishing he had mentioned it that night,
had given in to his urge to seek comfort. "I . . . I've been a Ranger
for fifteen years, Hovan. Almost half my life. I just . . . I
couldn't--"
Hovan shook him with controlled ease, just enough to silence him. "You
of Ch'kara now are, Steve, and in-clan. Yourself be, not another's
image. That not a weakness is."
"What? I--"
"To me listen, ruhar. Everyone help needs, sometimes. That does not
weakness show, or shame bring." Hovan released Steve's shoulders, and
put his arms around the man instead, giving Tarlac the feeling of being
held by something with the weight and patient strength of an oak tree.
"Let me your troubles ease, as my sponsor mine eased."
Feeling himself part of a family for the first time since adolescence,
Steve Tarlac gave in, letting loneliness and detachment melt out of him
in long-delayed tears. When he couldn't push the fear aside any longer
and it took over, he shook in Hovan's embrace with terror of a failure
that would cost more than any mortal should be asked to bear.
He couldn't avoid the risk, or the fear; all he could do was rage at
the sheer injustice of it. Part of him knew that wouldn't do any good,
but he couldn't help himself. He clung to his sponsor for what felt
like an eternity, buffeted by the terror and impossible conflict.
Hovan supported him, sharing what he could of the man's turbulence and
offering strength to help him accept the rest. The Lords never asked
the impossible--but they never asked anything easy, either, and this
was only the first part of what Steve would have to endure. Still,
Steve had already managed to endure loneliness a Traiti would have
found unbearable, and had concealed his terror until he was urged to
accept help; he would work his way through this.
Gradually, the Ranger's emotional stability returned, and he knew that
was due in no little part to Hovan's support. When the worst of his
internal storm had passed, he felt purged--still certain he would die,
but now accepting the fear instead of ignoring it so that it ate
blindly at his confidence. He rested for a moment more, then looked up
at his sponsor. "It's okay now."
"You no longer alone are," Hovan said, releasing him. "As I you told
when you adopted were, all Ch'kara you supports. Come now; you should
something eat."
The brisk return to a favorite, and practical, Traiti subject brought
Tarlac all the way back to his current surroundings. "Food?" He
thought of the earlier nausea, and shook his head. "I don't know about
that, just yet."
"It best for you is, after the medicine you took. Then, if you ready
are, the Supreme and First Speaker will you receive."
"Okay, I'll give it a try. That's one meeting I'm really looking
forward to."
On the way to the dining room, Tarlac had his first experience with the
casual nudity Hovan had told him was an option in-clan. Except for
ceremonies and parties, quite a few members did without clothes.
Tarlac, warned, managed to feel only mildly embarrassed when a female
wearing nothing but a carrying pouch slung over one shoulder stepped
out of a side corridor ahead of them. She saw them and smiled at
Tarlac, then hurried to embrace Hovan. He returned the hug before
introducing her to Steve as Channath, the clan's chief physician. "She
for you last night cared, when you sick were, and this morning's
medicine prescribed."
Tarlac gave her a rueful grin, trying not to stare. "Tell her thanks,
would you?"
"That not necessary is, but I will her tell." Hovan did so, and
translated the reply. "She suggests, you little liquor drink from now
on. And if you bad reactions to anything else find, her tell at once."
"Don't worry," Tarlac said emphatically, "I will!" Then he was in the
air as Channath hugged him. Back on his feet, surprised but too
flattered to mind, he looked bemusedly after Channath's retreating
back. "What was that all about?"
"I told you, there much touching is, in-clan." Hovan put an arm around
the man's shoulders. "The closeness good is, not so?"
"Yes . . ." Tarlac said slowly. "Yes, it is. It's strange--I
shouldn't like it. A Ranger has to be self-sufficient, has to stay
apart--has to be objective and impartial. I'm not, any longer."
"What will that mean, when you to your Empire return?"
Hovan had zeroed in on Tarlac's thought, though the Ranger didn't
believe what he described would ever have a chance to happen. "I'll
have to retake the psych tests, then it depends. Maybe I'll be
disqualified from anything that involves Ch'kara or the Traiti, maybe
I'll have to resign. The decision will be up to His Majesty."
"He would you demote?"
"Only if he doesn't have a choice; the Empire needs Rangers. And even
if he does have to demote me, I won't be dishonored or anything.
Something like this happened once before, about four hundred years ago,
to a Ranger named Jeff Shining Arrow. He lost his detachment, too--got
married, had kids--so Empress Lindner made him a Duke. Emperor Davis
would probably commission me into the Fleet."
"That no dishonor is, true. Do you think it will to you happen?"
"Yes, if I've changed that much. It could be a lot worse, of course
. . . but falling in love's no crime, it's just something the Empire
can't afford in a Ranger."
"That the real reason is, then, why you no family have."
"Yeah. I didn't mean to evade the question then, I just wasn't sure I
could explain it. I didn't know you very well."
"I understand. You never anyone met, who more to you than the Empire
meant." Hovan shook his head. "That a thing of much sadness is."
Tarlac didn't answer. They were at the dining room by then, and food,
not conversation, was in order.
Not long after their meal, the two were being escorted through the
halls of the single building atop a low hill called Godhome, located in
the center of the Traiti capital. Tarlac, not wanting his skepticism
to be too obvious, had cautiously asked why the gods needed a material
home.
They didn't now, Hovan had told him, and they hadn't since the Supreme
Lord of the Circle, Kranath of St'nar, became the first of the new
gods. The old gods, he explained, the ones the Traiti called "those
who went before," had left Godhome as . . . something. Nobody except
the Speakers had any real idea about its purpose, and they were saying
nothing until the twelfth Lord completed the Circle. At any rate, it
had seemed appropriate to join the centers of spiritual and temporal
power.
Their escort ushered them into the large open double office shared by
the Supreme and the First Speaker; both rulers were waiting for them.
They greeted Hovan first, his due as a Cor'naya, and Tarlac used that
brief time to study them. The Supreme, like all male Traiti leaders,
had Honor scars, but didn't appear distinctive otherwise; he seemed to
be middle-aged. The First Speaker, on the other hand, looked young--was
certainly no older than Hovan, to outward appearance. But she
radiated an aura that awed Tarlac, of immense and serene wisdom that
seemed tremendously old, or perhaps ageless.
When the two turned their attention to him, Tarlac didn't respond to
their greetings in the Traiti fashion Hovan had taught him. Instead he
saluted and introduced himself, as he had when he'd met the Emperor for
the first time. "Ranger Esteban Tarlac, of the Terran Empire. It's an
honor to meet you."
Hovan translated that, and then the Supreme's reply. "I sorry am, that
my invitation more a compulsion was."
"From what Hovan's told me about the way the war's going for you, you
didn't have any more choice putting it that way than I did accepting.
I just hope it does some good, for both sides. May I contact Emperor
Davis, to tell him what I'm doing?"
He knew from the Supreme's tone, even before Hovan translated the
words, that the answer was negative. "Fleet-Captain Arjen said, when I
him interviewed, that your Ship-Captain would to the Emperor report
that you the Ordeal taking are. That all that necessary is." Then he
smiled slightly and added, "But I no reason see, you cannot transcripts
of intercepted Imperial newscasts receive. I will orders give, that
the daily summary to you delivered be."
"Thank you." That was actually more than Tarlac had expected; he'd
only asked because it couldn't hurt to try.
"Ranger Esteban Tarlac," the First Speaker said, her English
pronunciation careful.
Tarlac turned to her. "Yes, my Lady?"
She went on in Language, with Hovan translating. "Your Ordeal will to
human tolerances scaled be. As Fleet-Captain Arjen you told, we ask
not certain death, and the Scarring at least would surely fatal be if
we did not such allowance make. The Lords stern are, but fair, and you
a good sponsor have. There danger is--it must there be--yet no more
for you than for any other."
"That's good to hear." It didn't alter his certainty, but it did make
Tarlac feel good to know the Traiti leaders were taking such care. "I
was wondering, when the Fleet-Captain told me about it. Have you asked
any other humans to try the Ordeal?"
"We have no others asked," the Supreme replied through Hovan. "Another
has it tried, however. You the second human ruhar are; the first his
own mind under questioning destroyed, and was by his interrogator's
clan--N'chark--accepted, as clan-born. He the Ordeal tried and failed,
without dishonor."
"Will you his name--" Tarlac broke off, shaking his head. "Did it
again, Hovan. Sorry. Just ask him the man's name, will you?"
"All that know, ruhar. Horst Marguerre, once a major in the Imperial
Marines. One of those he commanded still a prisoner is."
"I've heard of him." So Marguerre'd had the A-I conditioning, had he?
Well, that wasn't too surprising; he'd been in Special Forces, most of
whom did have it, and he'd been reported missing and presumed dead
early in the war. "How did he do?"
"No worse than many." Hovan translated that part of the Supreme's
reply, hesitated and spoke to his ruler, then went on to Steve. "He
the part failed that I may not to you describe, ruhar. I can only say,
he no harm suffered, and seems to be in N'chark happy."
That was better than anyone who used A-I conditioning had been told to
expect; Tarlac felt some satisfaction for him. "If he ever gets back
to Terra, he can have his memories reimprinted, if he wants; all he'll
lose is whatever happened between his last mindscan and the time he
used the conditioning." He returned to present duties. "I'd like to
see the prisoners, if I may."
After a brief discussion with both rulers, Hovan turned back to Steve.
"The Supreme your reason asks."
Tarlac shrugged. "Partly curiosity, I admit, but I'm also the senior
Imperial officer here, which makes me responsible for their welfare."
"I will have you to them taken," the Supreme agreed, "since it your
duty is, but there no real need is. They well treated are, and as much
freedom as possible have. Those who it wish, have even been private
quarters given."
The Supreme's expression as he made that last statement would have
convinced Tarlac, even if he hadn't already learned that a Cor'naya's
word was as binding as a Sandeman warrior's. Traiti didn't like
privacy, and tolerated it only when necessary. Rather like him with
newsies, he thought with amusement. "If you say so, I don't see any
need to check. I'll take your word."
When Hovan translated, the Supreme smiled. "You do me honor."
Tarlac understood that phrase without translation, and bowed slightly.
"May I ask a favor, Supreme?"
"Ask."
"Hovan told me you have record tapes of the first encounter between our
scout and your guardship. May I see them?"
It wasn't the Supreme who answered. "You may them see," the First
Speaker told him through Hovan, "though for now they would almost
nothing to you mean. It would best be if you a little time wait, until
you Language know."
"A little time?" Tarlac wasn't sure whether to smile or frown, and did
neither. "All right, but at the rate I'm going, it'll be six months
before I'll be able to understand them."
The First Speaker's reply was gentle. "Do not on that wager. You
might yourself surprise."
There didn't seem any good way to answer that, so Tarlac simply nodded.
"Is there anything else?"
"Not of business," she replied, "though you welcome are here to stay,
if you wish to with us talk."
"I'd like that very much," Tarlac said, "except that my sponsor tells
me I have a lot to learn, and any time I waste costs lives on both
sides. So if you'll excuse me, I'd rather get to work."
"We all wish lives to save, Ranger, if it can with honor done be. Go,
then, with your sponsor."
At the Ch'kara clanhome, a youngling met them and took them to one of
the smaller living rooms, with the information that Ka'ruchaya Yarra
had set it aside for them so ruchaya Steve could study undisturbed.
Only it didn't quite work out that way. Tarlac did learn a
considerable amount that afternoon, but it was as much about his
clanmates as it was about how to survive in Homeworld's wilderness. It
seemed that everyone in Ch'kara who knew anything at all about the
outdoors was anxious to pass the knowledge along to Steve. Tarlac
suspected they were motivated as much by curiosity about him as by
anything else. If so, he didn't mind; he found himself savoring his
n'ruhar's presence and their frequent touches, and the "team teaching"
seemed to be very effective.
What he learned about Homeworld's vegetation and wildlife fascinated
him--especially, under the circumstances, the practical details. He
found out which plant parts were edible and which to avoid, and that he
could eat practically everything that moved. Unfortunately, quite a
few of the moving things would consider him equally edible. Without a
Traiti's natural armor, he'd have to depend on luck and brains to avoid
that fate.
He couldn't help wishing he could turn a shipload of biologists loose
on this planet. Irschcha and Ondrian were the homeworlds of the other
two intelligent Imperial races, yet a Terran without specialized
medical preparation beforehand would die within a few days, trying to
survive in either's wilderness. It wasn't so much nutritional
deficiencies as protein incompatibility and allergic reactions. With
the exception of the Traiti wine, that didn't apply on Homeworld, as
two weeks' experience proved, and Tarlac was extremely curious about
the reason. Well, if he ever got back to the Empire, he'd recommend
that such a study be made.
For now, though, there was nothing he could do, and his first full day
here had been busy; he was tired. He'd get a good night's sleep, then
start fresh in the morning.