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He shook the sand out of his clothes and climbed into them. "If you'll pardon
me a moment, I'll see what the ship's computer can tell us about what's been
going on."
They had found Dennis's body. The fleet captain had finally accepted the fact
that Arshel had killed him. Accordingly, the fleet captain had her guards
posted out-side Arshel's door. Zref's absence had been noted, as had
Balachandran's, but it wasn't known whether Zref had left in the lander with
the Low Rep. Zref apprised Arshel of the situation.
"I don't think the captain is in this with Balachandran," she said.
Zref told the ship's computer to open a channel to the captain's desk. The
woman was startled when her screen lit up by itself. She was an older woman,
tall and thin, but human.
Zref said, "Zref, Guild of Interfaces, Captain Diesen." "Where are you?"
"Arshel Lakely's quarters, being held prisoner by your guards."
Her gaze went beyond Zref, and he knew she was looking Arshel over. "Well,
they told me the only way she'd survive was if someone pledged her bhirhir."
"Is there any reason we must remain prisoner now?" Zref asked.
She considered. "I'm not sure. I didn't know an Interface could take a
bhirhir. You'll vouch for her? We could really use your help. We seem to have
lost the Low Rep and a lander down on the planet. Would you raise the lander's
computer?"
Zref averted his eyes just in time for the opening reflex. He was back to her
in less than an eyeblink. "I have the lander's ID beacon. Arshel and I would
like to be on the ship that goes down."
The captain put out a hand to open the intercom and issue the appropriate
orders and then turned back to Zref. "With Lakely dead and Balachandran
missing, I don't know who's in charge of the civilian half of this expedition.
Does the comnet have anything on that?"
"Full command of the expedition falls back on your shoulders, Captain," Zref
answered almost without pause. "But if I were you, I wouldn't try to order
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Balachandran's own crew " He flicked open to theFly's computer and had to
breathe twice before he could go on. "Apparently, he missed a routine
check-in, and now there is open fight-ing on that vessel. I believe
Balachandran was known to be 'Ossminid' by some of the crew but not by others.
The followers of 'Ossminid' are trying to take over the ship and send another
lander down."
" 'Ossminid'?" she said, incredulity marring her profes-sional calm.
"Yes. He admitted it to me."
"I'll have to send over an armed boarding party, then."
There was the sound of the door signal. Arshel went to answer it, while Zref
said, "Captain, there are two prison-ers aboard that vessel whomust not be
harmed. One is a kren blue priest named Khelin, and the other is his bhirhir,
Ley. They were being kept in the brig."
"I'll see to it."
The two guards at the door now flanked two Jernal pilots. Zref and Arshel
followed them to their lander, which was fully stocked for the archeological
mission. The two pilots took their places at the rear of the cabin, while Zref
and Arshel along with four Sirwini males, their sharpened horns gleaming,
armed and ready for anything, occupied the six seats.
"Master Interface," said the Jernal pilot with the pink tones to its fluff.
"The guidance computer is yours."
"Thank you." Zref went to stand behind the pilot, point-ing to the screens as
he said, "There's the blip from the lander. See it?"
"Yes, very near the center of the ruins where we were told not to land."
"The other lander has already plowed a trough of destruction there. We'll
come in along the same mark and not do any additional damage." He coordinated
the data from the downed lander with the orbital data they carried.
"Balachandran was no pilot, and he made a mess of that landing. See?" He put
the numbers on another display. "Now, if we can shave a bit off our landing
speed. . . " Yes! We can do it."
Two of the Jernal's spindly appendages flew delicately over the board,
lighting up the computer circuits. The other pilot picked up communications
with the fleet. Zref returned to his place beside Arshel.
"You could have done that from here," she said.
"Yes, I suppose."
"Why did you do it like that?"
He shrugged. "It made them feel secure." And, he admitted, it had felt
utterly splendid to work the com-puters, better than ever before. Exhilarated,
he said, "Arshel, we have some time until we land. With your per-mission, I'd
like to file my report to the Guild." He told her about accidentally
contacting another Interface. Inter-faces must be dropping dead of curiosity
all over the galaxy!"
His wry humor lightened her mood.' "Oh, I certainly wouldn't want to be the
cause of that! Go right ahead."
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They settled back in their deep cushions as the pilot jammed the ship out of
orbit. Zref filed his report and then added a plea:I'm already bhirhir to
Arshel in all but formal pledge. Now she's totally fixed on the Balachandran
problem. But when that's over, she may become hysterical or despondent, and I
won't be able to control her as a bhirhir must. I ask permission to pledge to
her formally and then to take her to the Mautri at Firestrip and stay with her
until she can survive balbhirhir. Zref.
Your request will be considered. Rodeen.
When Zref came to awareness again, the cabin was shaking under the strain of
reentry. He checked the com-puter, watching the grounded lander being used as
guidance by the one in motion. It all ran as smoothly as any landing at a
major shuttleport. And then, with a screeching crunch, they were down and
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