Yana nodded ruefully. 'No kidding. There's been so much of it I haven't even begun to read it all, much less answer it. Sean's been doing a lot of the footwork, I suppose you'd call it, and that leaves Diego as the only other literate person in the north, other than his father and Steve Margolies, who are busy enough with their own work. Loncie Ondelacy is able to do some in the South. Diego's been teaching Bunny to read and write but, fast as she is, she can't learn enough in a couple of months to do more than help with alphabetical filing. Most of the letters seem to be from people who want to come to Petaybee for some reason or other - I can't believe there's so many out there all of a sudden when the planet's been so quiet for years. 'We've had several enquiries from drug companies too and I have no idea how Clodagh's cures can be reproduced at this point. Even with a good growing season this year, the planet so far has provided just about enough to keep native Petaybeans supplied - if we're actually going to try to farm some of Clodagh's plants and produce her cures for a wider population we'll have to do it in some way that doesn't overtax Petaybee. Clodagh's not even sure, at this point, if some of the ingredients can live off-planet. I knew this was going to take a lot of work, but it seems to me that someone's been broadcasting outside the committee a lot of what ought to be classified information about the planet's sentient nature. It's pushing us to go much faster than we're equipped to do at present.’
Marmion said, 'I understand your concern, and discretion certainly has been urged on all parties where Petaybee is concerned. I'm afraid what you're dealing with now is only, if you'll pardon the expression, the tip of the iceberg. Some of our board members are expressing concern that other colonized worlds might try to claim similar status. They're worried that Petaybee will set a precedent. If there were some way to reassure them that this is a one-off case of planetary sentience…' and she cocked her head hopefully at Yana.
‘You expect me to be able to answer that, Marmion? I can barely cope with the knowledge that there's one…’
‘And that's exactly the attitude you ought to take, if I may make such a suggestion. Reaffirming it whenever asked just as you did to me now.’
‘But suppose Petaybee isn't a one-off…' Yana liked to know she was telling the truth, inadvertently or otherwise.
Marmion sighed. 'All the more reason, from the board's standpoint, for keeping information about Petaybee hush-hush. They'd just as soon not give inhabitants of other terraformed planets any ideas but, at the same time, I expect CIS is going to want some sort of poll to try to determine if other worlds formerly considered habitats are indeed sentient beings.’
She gave a gusty sigh. 'It all seemed so easy back there,' and she flicked her fingers in the general spatial direction of Petaybee. 'Lots of things seemed easy back there.’
‘Mostly because there weren't so many things to cloud perceptions,' Yana said.
‘Well, that's item one, Yana,' Marmion went on briskly. 'We have no way of knowing if there are more sentient planets so we'll pretend Petaybee's an exception. As such, it will make our job that much easier. I think.’
‘What's item two?’
‘Matthew Luzon is recovering from his injuries and…’
‘Determined to somehow make us all pay for the indignities he suffered?' Yana supplied when Marmion hesitated.
‘Yes, not to refine too much on it. That's why I've put some precautions in train. Sally…' and she gestured to her aide who immediately handed Yana a slim device which had a variety of depressible keys. 'This is precaution number one. Carry it with you at all times and as inconspicuously as possible. It'll fit nicely in your brassiere. Put it on the left, depression side up and memorize the positions of the various function keys so you can just…" and she placed a casual hand over her left breast '… signal what's needed.' She grinned. 'As you'll see, it's got a sensitive recorder and a few off-stage tricks that can be implemented. Rather handy.’
‘Have you needed such a device?' Yana examined it, noting the icons as well as the abbreviations like REC and MAY which were self-explanatory.
‘Not "needed" precisely,' Marmion allowed, 'but I always felt more… secure… when I was in unknown space as it were, with that gadget in place. Then I've also appointed you "assistants",' and now she did look slightly embarrassed.
‘Assistants?' Yana cocked her head at Marmion.
‘Yes, well, everyone who is anyone has them…’
‘And I must appear to be "everyone" or "anyone"… And who's my assistant?’
‘You have three, Sally and Millard Ephasios for show, and someone you don't need to have named as undercover guardian,' Marmion explained, finishing with her charmingly ingenuous smile immediately counteracted by a sly wink. 'And you won't know who that is.’
‘Hmm. All these subversive measures’
‘Discreet, my dear Yana,' Marmion corrected her.
‘Are necessary, you feel?’
‘I don't like the weather report,' Marmion said.
‘Have you minders for Diego and Bunny?’
‘I do and I know they'll suit right down to the ground.’
‘Are you giving Bunny one of these?' Yana held up the slim device, which was no more than two fingers long and two knuckles wide. 'She loves gadgetry.’
‘No, their bracelets should be adequate. As I'm sure you noticed, Bunny's unsettled enough about the venturing forth. I don't want to upset her further. She's naturally shrewd anyway and what she doesn't know about human nature, Diego knows about space-faring ways.’
‘This trip will do her understanding of the galaxy a world of good,' Yana remarked and, when Marmion gave her a startled look and started to laugh at her choice of words, she joined in. 'Where's the galley on this boat? You'd think the way I eat, I hadn't seen food since break-up!’
‘You go with Sally to see your wardrobe and I'll just fix a little something to tide you over to dinner time,' Marmion said.
‘You? Cook?' Yana said.
Marmion smiled a trifle archly. 'Actually I'm rather good, aren't I, Sally?' And when her aide nodded affirmatively, 'But I only do it for very special people.’
‘So you get to bear-lead me, huh, Sally?' Yana said as she followed Sally to her cabin.
They passed the ones assigned to Diego and Bunny and heard the spirited discussions within.
‘And people wear things like this? I'd freeze…’
‘You're not going to be on Petaybee and it's a great colour for you, gatita…’
‘Well, I dunno about the way it clings…’
‘Trust me,' Diego said, 'it's terrific.’
Yana grinned to Sally as they passed.
The selection made for Yana quite took her breath away. She'd never had many occasions to dress up and the extent of the apparel displayed for her approval ranged from severely tailored to rich formal attire.
‘Whenever would I wear something like this?' she asked Sally, holding out a gore of the garnet synthi-silk full skirt, even as she was mentally trying it on. Then she noticed the decorations - copying Petaybean designs - on the neck and sleeve bands.
‘There will be one or two formal occasions when you'll need to be extra elegant,' said Sally, taking another fold and holding it up to Yana's face. 'Yes, I thought this would be a good colour for you.’
‘I've never had anything so… so soft and…' She couldn't resist stroking the fine fabric against her cheek.
‘Feminine?' asked Sally. 'About time, then.' Then she went to the more tailored semi-uniform garments. 'You'll have more use of these and’