"I like Chihin," he said. "And I don't think she's joking."
"She's not joking, if you mean is she serious," Tiar warned him bluntly. But Tiar wasn't stupid, and she seemed to catch on, then. "You like her."
He nodded.
Tiar raked a hand through her mane, sat back and stared at the boards a second as if she were dumbfounded.
"I don't think," he said, in the chance she hadn't just dismissed him, "I don't think she's acting the way everybody says she is. I just don't think that."
Tiar looked in his direction, and slowly swung her chair around. "I've known her a long time. I know her in ways Tarras and Fala don't. And if that's what you're picking up — next serious question: do you want a rescue?"
He shook his head; and Tiar looked oddly, vaguely satisfied.
"You're sure."
He nodded; and Tiar frowned and seemed to have thoughts she wasn't saying.
Finally she did say: "You're gods-be young. You won't always understand her. But if you get to that side of her — good luck, you'll need it; and I'd like to see it happen. Just don't let her run over you.
She needs a full stop now and again. Keeps her honest."
He sat there a moment, trying to sort through that, and deciding it meant he wasn't crazy and things were the way he thought, and things could be the way he hoped for—
"But Fala," he said.
"But Fala," Tiar said. "I'll talk to her."
"No!"
"She'll live. You don't dislike her."
"No. I like her fine, just not—"
"People have to respect that, in clans, on ships, doesn't matter: there's serious and there's not-serious, and Fala will forgive me saying she'd run the other way from a real commitment. That's what I think. I've been wrong before, but I don't think I am. If you want my further advice, I'd say Fala's more interested in feeling she's not unattractive to young men."
"Fala? She's beautiful."
"Beautiful doesn't matter. She wants to be attractive. Doesn't everyone?" "I understand."
"So you pretty well know how to handle it, don't you?"
He was just not used to things going right. Something in him was still knotted up expecting disaster, like maybe the ship would fall apart in hyperspace just when things were about to sort themselves out. The gods didn't intend he should get absolutely everything he wanted. The captain was going to throw him off the ship. Chihin was going to decide she didn't like him.The kif were going to turn on them after all and all the ships around them were going to join in.
"I hope you're right," he said.
"Kid, you go follow your instincts — but don't present too much temptation to anybody till we get this ship out of this godsforsaken port in one piece."
"Yes, ker Tiar."
Besides, the stsho were down there. So he couldn't get to downside ops. He decided he should go clean up, and when he had showered, he was hungry. All of a sudden he had a ravenous appetite, when nothing had much appealed to him since before he was arrested on Meetpoint.
Even Kefk seemed wonderful to him of a sudden. He was grateful to Vikktakkht. He liked the stsho gentleman. He hoped the stsho would be all right and all of them would be happy. He liked everything and everyone around him, and he scrubbed the galley down and set up the meals for undocking, and did everything he could think of to do, the way everyone else aboard was seeing to every detail they could find…
He was absolutely happy. In this port, with kif all around them, and with the ship feeling the strain of a lot of quick turnarounds. Because when Chihin came topside and off duty he could talk to her.
And beyond that prospect he couldn't get his thoughts straight at all.
Gtstwas clean, at least. Gtst looked very feeble.
Wants to talk to you, Tarras had said, although in Hilfy's opinion Atli-lyen-tlas could do with a few hours of sleep and a minimum of excitement before they even talked about business or arranged what could become a very stressful meeting.
"Your excellency," Hilfy said. "I have the honor to introduce myself: Hilfy Chanur, captain of. How may I make your excellency welcome aboard? I apologize for the utilitarian nature of this present accommodation…"
"Most, most gracious." The voice was very faint. "You are more fluent than any hani I ever met."
“I was protocol officer and communications on The Pride. Please make requests of us for your comfort or information. I shall answer everything to your satisfaction, and not ask but one question myself, in order not to exhaust your excellency's strength at this moment. Please feel that you may be very direct and brief in your answer as we know your energy is limited. Were you fleeing us, with the kif? Please be assured we mean your excellency only help."
"Do you know of Paehisna-ma-to? "
"I have met one of her agents."
"This vile person…" A pause for breath. "This tasteless individual has committed violence against my staff at Urtur."
"Some of your staff left aboard a mahen ship."
"They dared not, dared not the darksomeness of a kifish vessel. I am greatly apprehensive for their lives and persons. The mahendo'sat are in fear of the Momentum."
Numa'sho: it was in the mahen psyche that a new force that suffered no setbacks had something — mystic about it; they were loath to fight against what had never been beaten.
"Paehisna-ma-to has met reverses. Her agents have resorted to extreme measures which may cause fear in some governments, but which have met brave resistance from the Personages of Urtur and Kshshti.
And we have eluded their efforts to divert us."
"This is excellent news," gtst whispered. "Most excellent news, as my staff relied on these individuals regarding the selection of transportation. Please accept my profound gratitude that you followed where few hani venture. The kif made small efforts at hospitality, and they would have conveyed me on to Meetpoint, but I should have perished by then. The long, long flight… the food… I cannot describe…"
"We will place your excellency in tasteful surroundings and delay in this port until your excellency is able to travel."
"Has No'shto-shti-stlen sent you? Is your ship the bearer of the oji?"
"Yes. I hope that this is a felicitous event for your excellency. Please advise me if otherwise."
A weak hand fluttered and fell. "I am otherwise. I shall make all effort to accept. But I fear that I have fled too far and lost too much."
"Your excellency will recover!"
"It is indelicate to say. Forgive me. Persons of my stage in life have lost all energies in such regard. I am Gtsta.”
Neuter?
Perhaps she let the dismay show. No'shto-shti-stlen sent a… whatever it was… and the object of gtst proposal was—
"Gtsta,"Atli-lyen-tlas said faintly. "I am incapable of accepting the inestimable distinction which gtst excellency of Meetpoint wished to convey. This — iiii— rarely changes."
"I should not wish to distress your excellency further. Please advise me where a hani might be ignorant, but be aware I view this as a personal matter of most extreme delicacy, and ask only for your excellency's welfare: Is there medical treatment which might avail?"
"Most excellent hani, it is age. To attempt to sustain the energies will take years from my life, yet I am motivated to do so. Paehisna-ma-to has conspired within stsho space itself to create disaffections and hesitations, which have threatened gtst excellency of Meetpoint, whom I most ardently have admired. I overestimated my endurance. I underestimated the persistence of the agents of Paehisna-ma-to. I can only hope to find the strength."