do recreationally.I’ll be enchanted; but if not, don’t worry, I can behave myself. Your physique suggests I’d better.’
He made social talk for a while longer and took his leave, arranging to meet Benyo again in the morning.
When the door had closed behind him, Ronica shifted her weight. The windows were now full of dusk, the room full of its chill. ‘I should be on my way too, sir,’ she said. ‘I’ll write up my notes and give them to you as soon’s may be. If you want, I can guide the recovery team, but that isn’t necessary, and, uh, to be frank, I’m kind of anxious to try my hand at the work undermountain.’
Benyo nodded. ‘Quite.’ He hesitated. ‘You’ll probably have more dealings with Captain Karst.’
‘M-m-m.… I dunno. What can you tell me about him?’
‘Nothing in depth, but we have had encounters in the past, he and I. And one hears things.’ Benyo searched for words. ‘Be careful, dear. He’s a strange and not very savory character. Grew up as a guttersnipe in the slums of Seattle; some say his mother was a prostitute. Got into trouble, was sent to sea. Served on a privateer in the Whale War, later joined the regular Navy and distinguished himself as an intelligence officer in the Power War. Meanwhile he’d been accepted into the Salmon Lodge, and afterward expelled. The reason was never made public, as usual, but the story goes it was because of misconduct with a boy. Possibly that’s untrue. He did marry, into a wealthy house, his father-in-law a Wolf, and his wife seems devoted to him in spite of everything. And as you heard today, he is invaluable to Orion. He may well be our next head of security here; Ab Munso is about ready for retirement. But have a care.’
‘Thanks.’ Impulsively, Ronica leaned across the Lodgemaster’s desk and patted his hand. ‘You are a sweetheart, did you know? Don’t worry. I’m not a simple backwoods maiden. I’ll cope.’
Not a maiden at all.
Pain flashed. She’d had her love affairs in oh-so-sophisticated Vittohrya (if young Maurai are free to indulge, why not young us?), but the last had not been fun or romance or anything, it had been with a professor of hers who was a family man, and in the end they’d agreed they should not destroy his home. That was shortly before she graduated and took ship for Kenai.
The forest and the mountains, in them there is healing.
She rose. ‘Well, goodnight,’ she said. ‘I’m certainly willing totalk further with Captain Karst, if he
is,
but have no fears for my virtue. The prospect of visiting some foreign countries is mighty interesting.’
A thrill went through her.
God damn and hell rejoice, but it is!
Karst had been much too casual about the deaths he described. Orion was supposed to liberate without killing. But done was done, and had apparently been necessary under the circumstances, and she had her own life to attend, clamorous within her.
CHAPTER FIVE
With a whirr of propellers the dirigible left its mooring at Tournev airfield and ascended. It was among those which regularly carried goods and people to Skyholm.
Passengers were few this trip. Iern and Faylis could stand at the forward observation window during approach and see wonder grow huge before them.
‘O-o-oh,’ she whispered, and clasped his hand. Tears started forth. ‘Oh, darling.’
He smiled, brought an arm around to tilt the exquisite face up toward him, leaned down, and kissed her. The lips beneath his were cool but trembled in response. Ever since he had told her about his assignment, she had been more affectionate than at any time after their honeymoon.
Happiness brought that about, he supposed. It would be her first visit aloft, and for three whole months! She went about their town-house singing. She commissioned a new wardrobe, with furs and silks and embroideries and jewels, extravagance which he could not find the heart to scold her for.
She’s so young,
he told himself repeatedly – not much younger in
He made social talk for a while longer and took his leave, arranging to meet Benyo again in the morning.
When the door had closed behind him, Ronica shifted her weight. The windows were now full of dusk, the room full of its chill. ‘I should be on my way too, sir,’ she said. ‘I’ll write up my notes and give them to you as soon’s may be. If you want, I can guide the recovery team, but that isn’t necessary, and, uh, to be frank, I’m kind of anxious to try my hand at the work undermountain.’
Benyo nodded. ‘Quite.’ He hesitated. ‘You’ll probably have more dealings with Captain Karst.’
‘M-m-m.… I dunno. What can you tell me about him?’
‘Nothing in depth, but we have had encounters in the past, he and I. And one hears things.’ Benyo searched for words. ‘Be careful, dear. He’s a strange and not very savory character. Grew up as a guttersnipe in the slums of Seattle; some say his mother was a prostitute. Got into trouble, was sent to sea. Served on a privateer in the Whale War, later joined the regular Navy and distinguished himself as an intelligence officer in the Power War. Meanwhile he’d been accepted into the Salmon Lodge, and afterward expelled. The reason was never made public, as usual, but the story goes it was because of misconduct with a boy. Possibly that’s untrue. He did marry, into a wealthy house, his father-in-law a Wolf, and his wife seems devoted to him in spite of everything. And as you heard today, he is invaluable to Orion. He may well be our next head of security here; Ab Munso is about ready for retirement. But have a care.’
‘Thanks.’ Impulsively, Ronica leaned across the Lodgemaster’s desk and patted his hand. ‘You are a sweetheart, did you know? Don’t worry. I’m not a simple backwoods maiden. I’ll cope.’
Not a maiden at all.
Pain flashed. She’d had her love affairs in oh-so-sophisticated Vittohrya (if young Maurai are free to indulge, why not young us?), but the last had not been fun or romance or anything, it had been with a professor of hers who was a family man, and in the end they’d agreed they should not destroy his home. That was shortly before she graduated and took ship for Kenai.
The forest and the mountains, in them there is healing.
She rose. ‘Well, goodnight,’ she said. ‘I’m certainly willing totalk further with Captain Karst, if he
is,
but have no fears for my virtue. The prospect of visiting some foreign countries is mighty interesting.’
A thrill went through her.
God damn and hell rejoice, but it is!
Karst had been much too casual about the deaths he described. Orion was supposed to liberate without killing. But done was done, and had apparently been necessary under the circumstances, and she had her own life to attend, clamorous within her.
CHAPTER FIVE
With a whirr of propellers the dirigible left its mooring at Tournev airfield and ascended. It was among those which regularly carried goods and people to Skyholm.
Passengers were few this trip. Iern and Faylis could stand at the forward observation window during approach and see wonder grow huge before them.
‘O-o-oh,’ she whispered, and clasped his hand. Tears started forth. ‘Oh, darling.’
He smiled, brought an arm around to tilt the exquisite face up toward him, leaned down, and kissed her. The lips beneath his were cool but trembled in response. Ever since he had told her about his assignment, she had been more affectionate than at any time after their honeymoon.
Happiness brought that about, he supposed. It would be her first visit aloft, and for three whole months! She went about their town-house singing. She commissioned a new wardrobe, with furs and silks and embroideries and jewels, extravagance which he could not find the heart to scold her for.
She’s so young,
he told himself repeatedly – not much younger in
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