"No one can hear us or observe. Now, Mr. Davidge, tell me the circumstances that gave birth to this distressing doubt."
"There are two things," begins Davidge. "First, there is the latest book of The Talman accepted by the Jetai Diea on Draco. It is the Koda Nusinda and titled The Eyes of Joanne Nicole. Are you familiar with it?"
The way the Timan’s skin blanches as his eyes go wide speaks worlds. The extreme emotional reserve claimed for Timans in Timan Survivor appears to have at least one exception.
"Although I have not read it, I am familiar with its substance. I was not aware that the existence of the work is known outside the Jetai Diea. You said there are two things."
Davidge glances at Kita and she leans forward, issues a tiny bow with her head, and holds an envelope toward the Timan. "Atruin 'do Timan, sir, these are the specifications and test results on a weapon used against Mr. Davidge and Yazi Ro on Friendship. It is an improperly detonated thermal drill and the source of the weapon appears to be Timan Nisak."
The Timan holds the envelope in both hands and stares at it as though it might grow fangs and bite him. After a moment he looks up and says, "There is something missing."
Davidge looks at me and I turn away, frowning. This Timan might be our enemy―probably is our enemy. But then The Talman speaks to me from the corridors of my memory. Aydan said that if there are no secrets, there is nothing to hide, nothing to remember.
I face the Timan and say, "There is a talma whose end may find the war on Amadeen at an end. Through the work of a Jetah Talman on Amadeen and the insights of the Koda Nusinda, the likely paths became visible. Davidge and I are parts to this puzzle. The Koda Nusinda is a third part. If the Koda Nusinda is discredited and the Jetai Diea rescinds its decision to add it to The Talman, the Timan role in the USE-Draco War will never become more than a rumor. If Davidge or I are killed it is not likely that we will be replaced. The talma will probably fail and the Nusinda may be discredited."
The Timan’s lower mandible rests on its bloated chest, his head jerking slightly in time with his breaths. "I see why you came to Timan. You perceive a motive in our desire to have the work disregarded." He looks up and adds: "And you would find out who is behind the attempt to sabotage this talma. Perhaps you would see, as well, if the species you believe gave birth to the war can somehow manipulate the warring factions on Amadeen into a peace."
No one contradicts the Timan and Atruin seems to close himself off from his surroundings. After an uncomfortable moment of this silence, Atruin emerges, his eyes almost glowing. "Please understand, every species has the choice, in response to a threat, to act or to react. Both humans and Dracs attack or run when they react. Timans, as you know from the new book of The Talman, react by manipulating the threat against itself. Most Timans do not respond this way, of course, any more than most humans or Dracs immediately attack and kill every time they perceive a possible threat. Reason and choice have subordinated primitive instinct." Atruin 'do Timan’s head sinks into his shoulders until he exhibits no neck. "Some of us do yield to instinct, however, at least to the extent of using the skills instinct has provided. Regrettably, Hissied 'do Timan was one such."
"Might there be others?" asks Kita.
"Are there murderers on Earth?" asks Atruin, not expecting an answer. He holds up the envelope. "I will turn this over to the Karnarak, our situation resolution force, with an urgent request from Nisak for information. If there are answers, the Karnarak will find them." He orders the windows cleared and I watch the hazy grays of Timan’s landscape as we streak toward Timan Nisak.
TWENTY-FOUR
Timan Nisak provides a business village for alien representatives, contractors, and visitors. Our part of the village is the Keu Vac Ount, which means Oxygen Garden. The air is rich, humid, and scented with something that resembles rather old cheese. We are given individual suites, and shortly after I remove my environmental suit and clean myself, Davidge enters my greeting room and fills a chair, his expression one of intense concentration. After dressing, I enter and sit opposite him. "You have come to say what?"
He lifts his gaze slowly and faces me. "I have a favor to ask."
"Ask."
He looks around at the room, sniffs the air, and shakes his head. "God, this place stinks. It smells like old feta cheese. You don’t suppose this is what the Timans think we want to smell."
"Perhaps their olfactory thresholds are higher than ours."
"Hell, you could use a dead skunk for an air freshener in here." He rubs his eyes then clasps his hands over his belly. "There are two things we need to accomplish here. First, we’ve got to track down whoever it is who is trying to kill us. Atruin has pledged his complete cooperation. I believe he’ll produce our killer; or die of embarrassment trying. He seems sincere."
"I wonder if he is working you," I add, "or someone higher up is working him."
"Or both," completes the human. Davidge scratches his ear and looks at an animated light display on one wall attempting to resemble a log fire in a fireplace. "Anyhow, Ty, Kita, Falna, and I will be working with Atruin on that."
"And the remaining thing," I prompt.
"Ro, we know the Timans can manipulate other species into destroying themselves. Can they manipulate other species into healing, or at least mutual survival?" Davidge leans forward and rests his forearms on his knees. "One of us needs to know what the Timans know. I want you to enter the Ri Mou Tavii."
I lean back in my chair. "Falna graduated from the Ri Mou Tavii years ago, with honor."
"Ro, sooner or later this talma is going to lead us to Amadeen. I expect you and me to be there. I don’t want to have to tell Estone Nev that its line is finished because I got Falna killed."
"I am not eager to get killed myself," I point out.
Davidge wave, the comment away with a gesture. "There are some other things, too, Ro. You got into this because you want peace on Amadeen. That’s what I want right in the front of your head when you’re in the Ri Mou Tavii. Falna never fought on Amadeen and has different priorities. I think you already suspect how good I am in guessing what goes on in Falna’s head. You I think I understand. How about it?"
I shrug. "Why don’t I go to school, attend a few classes, and speak with the masters? Does it cost much?"
Davidge grins. "Tuition isn’t our problem. The trick is getting you in. Not many Timans make it into one of these schools. An alien, hardly ever."
It was my turn to smile. "Timan Nisak has moved planets. Perhaps they can move this little hill."
"Yeah, maybe." He looks at me, a puzzled expression on his face. "When I asked Falna what kind of qualifications you’d need to be accepted, all it said was: 'Be interesting."
A strange qualification that. Be interesting. Of course, what would interest a Timan? I am not certain that I care. What I know about Timans I do not like.
TWENTY-FIVE
Lahvay ni 'do Timan, Dakiz of the Ri Mou Tavii, squats on its golden cushion before its crystal table and fills its white-eyed sight with my environmentally suited countenance. He speaks in Timan, the flattened translation coming through the link in my helmet. "I perceive a threat, Yazi Ro. Can you see it?"