The Ship Who Sang by Anne McCaffrey Page A

Helva did not fail to note that the girl clung to her planetary designation, rather than a ship-partner identity as KH-834.
    â€˜Your presence is required at High Temple to discuss the donation,’ Noneth said in hollow, measured tones.
    â€˜Time is of the essence in a transfer of this nature,’ Kira began smoothly.
    â€˜Time,’ intoned the officer, ‘is at the disposal of Him Who Orders. It is at his command you are to come.’
    â€˜The seed is ready for shipment?’ Kira asked, insistent on some information.
    A shudder rippled the fabric surrounding the figure of Noneth.
    â€˜Do not blaspheme.’
    â€˜Unintentional, I assure you,’ Kira said, calmly refusing to offer further apology.
    â€˜Come,’ ordered the officer in a voice of command that crackled with authority.
    â€˜He Who Orders bids you come, woman,’ a sepulchral, harsh voice echoed shrilly through the tiny cabin.
    Kira won another mark of respect from Helva when she gave no indication of surprise at that awesome bellow. The scout’s eyes flicked briefly over the smooth oval fastening on Noneth’s hood. Helva as well as Kira recognized the device for what it was, a two-way control similar to the one Kira wore: a type issued only to Service personnel.
    There’d be a nova of a scandal when Central Worlds discovered who was distributing these restricted designs on backward planets.
    â€˜The order must be obeyed. The Temple itself has spoken,’ Noneth cried in a voice quavering with reverence. ‘Dally, not.’
    The temple was feminine, Helva realized, having appraised the timbre of the voice.
    â€˜I am under orders,’ Kira said evasively.
    â€˜That is the Eternal Truth,’ Noneth replied, nodding solemn accord, as Kira apparently responded in a manner consonant with his religion. He raised his hand in a stylized gesture and added, ‘May Death come to you at the moment of your triumph.’
    Kira, about to make a graceful obeisance,halted and stared up at the hidden face, her eyes wide with shock.
    â€˜May Death come to you at the moment of your triumph?’ she murmured. The blood drained from her face.
    â€˜Is not Death the greatest of blessings?’ asked the priest, mildly surprised at her ignorance.
    It was all Helva could do to remain silent but a deep instinct stifled her half-formed groan of protest. It took little extra interpolation to surmise that death on Alioth would be the greatest of blessings; relief from the terrible drudgery, the grim and gloomy aspect of the planet, with its hovering, smoking mountains. The normal perils of molten mining plus the daily anxiety of a volcano emerging and erupting underfoot had emphasized the brevity of existence until the emphasis had swung toward death as a welcome respite from grinding toil and miserable conditions. Was Cencom out of its alleged mind when it did not ban Kira from landing on Alioth, knowing her compulsion? She wouldn’t even have to strain against her conditioning.
    â€˜Yes, Death is the greatest of blessings. That is Eternal Truth,’ Kira repeated, trancelike.
    â€˜Come with me,’ Noneth enjoined, gently persuasive, his gaunt hand beckoning to Kira. ‘Come,’ echoed the sepulchral voice greedily.
    The ground car had no sooner left the base of the KH-834 than the guard began to move.
    â€˜She will see Him Who Orders,’ one sighedenviously. ‘The bareface harlot will be given an unjust reward. Now! Up the lift and let us secure the cargo. Think of it! Thousands more to die to expiate the sin against Him Who Orders.’
    That was sufficient for Helva. She locked the lift controls and slid the airlock securely tight. Curse, hammer, buffet though those Aliothites might, Helva was invulnerable against such weapons as Alioth’s technology possessed. She activated the tight beam to Cencom. Alioth would rue the day its religious hierarchy decided to hijack the cargo of a