Chaining the Lady by Piers Anthony Page B

when the appropriate time comes.”
    â€œYes, you make sense. Probably that detonation to the hold was the work of a hostage.”
    Melody wondered about that. No one on the ship besides herself and Captain Boyd had known her mission. How could a hostage have struck so rapidly and accurately?
    â€œCaptain to Llume,” the shipvoice said, startling Melody out of her reverie.
    Llume's tail went up to answer. “Awaiting.”
    â€œAll magnets have been advised not to molest our guest, Yael of Dragon. Pass without hindrance.”
    â€œUnderstood. Captain, may I–”
    But the connection had already been broken.
    Llume made an elegant boneless shrug. “I was about to inquire whether I could courier you for the duration; I could not have been more specific at this time. Yet he did not say negative.”
    Melody laughed. “That's right. I heard him fail to negate.”
    They moved on down the hall, Melody walking, Llume rolling, neither using her natural mode of travel. The magnet hovered in place, ignoring them. But Melody's human flesh crawled as she passed it, and not merely because of Yael's terror. A living cannonball...

    * * *

    â€œI suspect the bomb was placed aboard the shuttle before it left Outworld,” Dash said. “It was intended to destroy both the equipment—which it did—and the operative.”
    â€œThe operative,” Melody said, feeling cold. “Me?”
    â€œYou. For this reason I feel it would be better for you to remain aboard this ship for the time being. Evidently someone on the Imperial Planet is aware of your mission, and you are not safe here. Until that entity is located and neutralized, you are safest here where your identity is unknown.”
    â€œYes,” Melody agreed. She had already decided to remain for a while, but the notion that a direct attempt had been made on her life was appalling, and it unnerved her. But for an accident of timing, that bomb...
    The Captain put his human arm around her shoulders. Suddenly she was crying in very human style against his shoulder. “Oh, Dash—I'm afraid !”
    â€œPerfectly normal reaction. But there is no need to be concerned, now. I have established very thoroughly that no attempt on your life originated here . I regret I had no chance to explain what I was doing, before, but of course I could not be sure until we had investigated. I regret that the equipment was destroyed, but that can be replaced in due course. All is well so long as you are well, and I shall ensure that you remain well.”
    He addressed his magnet. “Slammer, you will accompany Yael of Dragon until further notice, protecting her from any threat whatsoever. Understood?”
    The magnet bobbed.
    Oh, no! “Captain, I'd really rather not have the magnet–”
    â€œThe magnet is your friend,” the Captain assured her. “Pay attention.” He pointed to a metal chair anchored to the floor of Melody's cabin. “I believe that object intends harm to Yael of–”
    A blast of air rocked them back. The chair exploded. Slammer hovered back where he had been, the heat of sudden motion dissipating from his shell.
    Only Dash's strong arm around her had prevented Melody from being blown over by the impact of the magnet's motion. The chair was a flattened mass of partly melted metal. Yet it had been done so quickly that Melody had not even seen it happen.
    The Captain gave her a final squeeze and let her go. “No one will even think of harming you now,” he said. “You are safe. Believe.”
    Melody believed.

    * * *

    â€œI was always a sucker for fortunes,” the Chief of Coordinations said.
    â€œYou must understand, I make no claims for the supernatural,” Melody informed him, tapping the Cluster deck lightly. She had combed out her hair so that it was long and loose, parted in the center and coursing down in brown streams just outside her eyes, in the fashion