By the time all the repairs had been done, EmassiYoltin did an onboard inspection of every panel and locker of the main ship. Chuck turned an awful deeper shade of gray until she managed to give him a wink. He leaned briefly against the bulkhead in relief.
Yoltin could find nothing to reprimand them for-apart from unwashed dishes in the kitchen, and he ticked them off soundly and loudly for that, while they looked humble, meek, and repentant.
As Yoltin left, Chuck said very angrily to Kris "that the galley must be spotless when Emassi Venlik returned. You are responsible, you will do it."
"Yes, Drassi Chuck;' Kris responded with earnest subservience. Both were close to laughing at their little charade and did, when the passenger hatch was closed.
They heard the vehicles revving up and immediately strode to the bridge compartment to see the last of the crew leaving, dust rising at the speed of their passage. They also saw a smaller transport coming out from the field buildings.
"Oh, God, what now?" Chuck demanded. "Go do the galley thing, in case that's what's to be inspected:'
They really had not been that untidy but she sloshed water and what went for cleaning liquid about the sink. Her hands were raw, and she checked to make sure that the liquid had not taken off her skin dye. It looked paler but she didn't dare do a touch up-the dye had a very no-riceable odor to it-until their latest visitor was gone.
It was Kivel after all, with two Drassi, who inspected the ship as well, spending more time on the exterior to approve a smooth hull.
"You go soon?"
"Emassi Venlik is not back," Chuck replied.
"He must come soon. This field will be needed," Kivel said at his most pompous.
"We have been in space months," Chuck said with a very good imitation of a Zainalian shrug.
"Months? Where?"
The query was innocent enough but there was a gleam in Kivel's eyes that suggested rumors of an abandoned cargo of considerable worth had circulated.
Chuck shrugged again.
"We will talk of this at the evening meal," Kivel said, far too affable to have confused even a Rassi.
Chuck looked slightly eager and then relaxed. "I am on guard. Emassi Venlik is a hard commander."
Kivel inclined his head at Kris. "The little one can stay on guard. We will enjoy ourselves this evening;' he went on, his tone an insidious promise.
Chuck allowed himself to consider this and, looking hard at Kris, he finally nodded. "You will say nothing of this to the Emassi."
"No, Drassi Chuck."
"Come, then," and Kivel gestured affably for Chuck to take precedence out of the hatch.
Chuck, bowing politely, insisted that the higher-ranking officer leave first. With Kivel's back turned, Chuck had a chance to throw an inquiring look at Kris, and she winked in encouragement. She'd close the hatch and not open it until Chuck got back. Mitford really didn't have much choice, not since a Drassi more or less ordered his company.
Kris ate by herself at the com, watching the dark creep across the beautiful forest and then the first moon rise, a large orange crescent. Two, one very far away and small, also started their ascent with the first one mid She almost wished the com unit would blurt at her so she'd have something to do. She poured herself a respectable tot of Mayock's supe-and then wondered how Chuck would be handling the Catteni equivilent Mitford had often boasted that he could drink anything alcoholic and keep his wits about him. She certainly hoped he could tonight.
The fourth moon was rising, and the level in the bottle of Mayock was only a finger high, when she heard a transport, and loud, off-key singing.
Then there was a spirited banging-by more than one fist-on the hatch and she hastened to open it.
Kivel almost threw Chuck inside, waving back to the transport and waving the driver to go on.
"You made it," she said, hearing herself slurring her words.
"On… ly just," Mitford replied, having far more of a problem than: in enunciating.
"I'Ll get you to bed/' she said, pleased that she was so much soberer.
he wan'?"
"Cooooo… orrrr… dinates;' Chuck managed, lurching from side to side even with her trying to keep him upright.
"Thought so."
"Doan… know… 'era. On… ly Drasssssssi;' Chuck said and hic"Stuff… was… worst… thing… ever… drank. Drunk. Drink."
They had reached the captain's quarters, which was nearest, and Chuck went in at that door. Kris didn't object. It was nearer than the crew quarters and in his condition she doubted he could get into the lowest of the three-bunks without cracking his skull.
The captain's bed was also wider and she steered him toward it. He laied down but was sitting up so fast that they cracked skulls.
"Ohhhh;' he groaned. "Can't… get… boots… off;'
She did that service for him with fingers that had trouble opening the The next thing she knew, he had locked his arms about her and pulled her into the bed along with him. By the time his head was down, he was snoringly asleep. She waited a few moments, wanting to get horizontal herself because suddenly the Mayock that she'd been sipping for hours was catching up with her. But he had some sort of a death grip on her and she couldn't disengage herself.
Well, she was as nearly horizontal as he was, though she still had her boots on. She inched her way into a more comfortable position, put her head on his chest and went to sleep.
SHE WOKE FIRST the next morning. Chuck was no longer snoring but he had his head resting on her bare shoulder. She'd had the most remarkably vivid, almost pornographic dreams, and gasped in dismay.
"And I'm bare?" Chuck also was-clothing strewn about the cabin.
"Oh, my god, that Mayock did it again."
She swallowed. "That's unfair. I don't remember anything about it. At least I hope that dream wasn't what we did!" She stared at the relaxed, sleeping face of Chuck Mirford and slowly shook her head. She could not, would not believe he, and she, had done that! Such behavior, even in their super-drunken conditions, was as uncharacteristic as it was unlikely. Even impossible. She shook her head, infuriated and irritated.
Then she tried to remember when she'd last had a period and couldn't.
Between Botany days and the elapse of time on the Catteni trip, she couldn't figure out if she was in a fertile period or not. She glanced over at Chuck.
Well, if she was pregnant by him, at least she'd spared both of them any embarrassment over actually going to bed for that purpose. But she did wish she'd remember something both logical and in character. That was unfair.
A buzzing penetrated her ruminations. The com unit on the bridge was announcing a message coming in.
Mitford was so relaxed-well, she'd done that for him at least-that she was able to withdraw from his side. She covered him with a blanket, hoping that he was so far gone in sleep he wouldn't rouse as she went to answer the buzz. She did grab up her clothing as she left the room. Let him think he slept alone.
She didn't waste time dressing-she'd just leave the visual off but she wanted to stop the buzz. She managed the correct response in her guttural tone.
"Venlik here. All repairs finished?"
"Yes, Emassi:'
"All cargo aboard?"
"Yes, Emassi."
"Prepare the ship for immediate takeoff."
"Yes, Emassi:'
He didn't even ask why she didn't turn on the visuals.
Did she have time for a quick shower? Well, she was going to have anyway. She'd have to take care of that detail, or some of the other Humans might notice a certain other reek about her. And her eyes hurt. Oh, Lord, the contacts. She slipped hers out, and they were the first things she cleansed. Then she remembered that Chuck's would surely still be in so she knelt beside his bed, and delicately stroking the eyelids, managed to slip the contacts out. His eyes might be sore, too, but maybe seeing the lenses in a cup of water might make him think he'd had the sense to do it for himself.