“Tell me about the towers, if you would.”
“They’re all the same, or almost the same, both inside and out—except for the one that held the artifact.”
“And they’re all made of those various anomalous composites that Cleon and the others think can extrude themselves into almost any shape and function? The outsides as well?” Another enigmatic smile crossed her lips.
I opened my mouth, then shut it. I should have seen that as well. We’re all so used to seeing things as they are and not as they could be. Even I had fallen into that trap. When you see towers, kays and kays of ancient towers, that look identical, the question is why they look identical. That wasn’t the right question.
“They had to be an incredibly artistic culture as well,” I said slowly. “Every tower was a blank canvas. Probably every single one represented the artistic abilities and views of its owner, its inhabitant.” Because, if the insides changed to meet the needs of the ancient Danannians, so could the outsides. There wasn’t any art because, in a way, everything was art that changed to match the designs and desires of those who lived there. Yet it was all functional. I paused. Was it art? In the way I understood art?
I looked to Elysen. “How did you know?”
“I didn’t, not much before you. When I saw the images of the artifact, a model, but one created lovingly and artistically, there had to be a reason why there was no other visible art.”
I understood that as well. Sometimes you can get too close. I’d had to look at a map to find the tower, because there were too many towers everywhere. “Would you like to go to dinner with me?”
“I’m tired, Chendor, and I’m not all that hungry, not these days.”
“You need to eat.”
“I’m eating enough, Dr. DeLisle says. I don’t have that much of a metabolism left.”
I didn’t want to drag her up to the mess, but I didn’t like leaving her alone.
“You’re kind, Chendor. I did have a small dinner earlier, and I need to rest. I’ll be fine… as fine as possible, anyway, and you need to eat.”
I wasn’t so certain about any of that.
“Chendor.” The words were strong and firm. “I will be fine. Go and leave an old lady in peace. You can tell me more tomorrow when we’re both rested.”
“Yes, Dr. Taube.” I softened the formal words with a grin.
“Go, you young imp.”
Only Elysen could have called me that and meant it. I went, worrying, but obeying. I had my doubts about resting in her work spaces. Was what she needed to finish that important?
61
Chang
In the days after I’d had dinner at the mess with the professor, the shuttle schedule had gotten more and more cramped. Morgan didn’t take any more replenishment runs. Only said that the needle pilots had to stay ready, and he couldn’t direct them if he were somewhere with a shuttle. That told me that he expected visitors of the unfriendly human kind.
Twoday came. I took shuttle one down to Danann, came back heavy on both passengers and cargo. Wondered if that meant Morgan had detected visitors, or that the Owens had brought information about them. But I didn’t see Morgan, and didn’t want to chase him down to ask.
Threeday, Lerrys had the duty. Screen plot showed he was headed back to the Magellan. He’d reported full load, close to max—both passengers and cargo. I was stretched out on one of the chairs in the ready room. Didn’t have to be there, but I’d already done my workout Besides, most times, it was quiet on the launch deck.
Fitzhugh peered in, then stepped inside. Looked around, saw me, smiled. “I haven’t seen you in the mess.”
“Schedule’s been a bitch.”
“I suppose I shouldn’t be here, but I marched up as if I were headed to be transported or fitted for armor, and no one even looked.” He grinned. “Such an approach is advantageous in that it usually works. That is, if you’ve been cleared before and are in the system.”
“You know more about things than you let on.” I gestured to the seat across from me.
He slipped into it. Gracefully. Had forgotten how he moved.
“I know a modicum about some things. All military organizations operate on essentially identical principles, requiring discipline above individual initiative, command accountability above responsibility, structural regularity above functionality…” He shrugged. “Unfortunately, I talk to excess, and my speech is filled not only with detailed relevancy, but with irrelevant and equally detailed digressions.”
“You’re more comfortable with principles, facts, and abstract concepts.”
“And you, Lieutenant, are more comfortable with action and silence.”
“Silence is better, sometimes,” I pointed out.
“It is. I enjoy it, paradoxical as that may seem from someone as verbose as I appear.”
Appear? If he enjoyed silence, then why did he speak at such length? Almost shook my head. Because it was a way of keeping people in a crowd at a distance? “You need time to yourself.”
“Most people do. They just don’t recognize it They’re afraid of the silence.”
“You’re afraid of the silence in a crowd.”
He shrugged. “It’s impolite to be standoffish.”
“Ex-commando conditioning?” Frig! Spoke before I thought. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“You are the first to have made that connection, at least, the first to have had the courage to verbalize it.” His lips twisted. “It’s easier to work within the conditioning parameters.”
“You’re… you’re really a shy and private person, but all that… stuff… so you fill the space so that people won’t pry… so that they’ll keep everything on an intellectual level?”
“You’re most perceptive, Lieutenant—”
“Tar too blunt.”
“But honest You are honest, and that has laid a toll upon you, Lieutenant—”
“My name is Jiendra. Appreciate it if you’d use it.” Couldn’t believe I’d blurted that out.
“Only if you will return the favor and call me Liam.”
“Done.” Silence—the awkward kind. “Why did you come up here?”
“Can you think of a more appropriate locale in which to find you?” Fitzhugh—Liam—hard to make that change in my mind—flushed slightly.
“Don’t know as I’m worth finding.”
“I’ve enjoyed your company and found your absence created a void I had not realized existed.”
Most would have told me they missed me. Would have been saying they missed my body. His indirection was true… touching. “I would have liked to be in the mess more. The schedule makes it hard.”
“You’re always combating fatigue.”
“Happens when you’re short of pilots.” Felt like we were dancing, trying to get where we both wanted and not knowing how.
“Chang!” Morgan hurried in. First time I’d seen him move that fast—or breathe hard. Looked at Fitzhugh. “If you’ll excuse us, Professor…”
“I understand. I’ll leave you to your duties, Commander.” Fitzhugh stood, turned to me. “Until later, Lieutenant.”
“Until later.” I made sure I smiled. Knew Morgan would catch that, as well as Liam, but I didn’t care.
Morgan didn’t say anything until Liam was out of the ready room. “You seem to have made an impression upon the professor. Or is it the other way around?”
Ignored the question. None of Morgan’s business. “What’s so urgent? Do we have company?”