we’re… uh…”
“Involved,” She supplied.
I nodded. “Believe it or not, you’re the only female in the fleet that I know other than in passing.”
She grinned. “I believe it. But if anyone down there knows anything about Frejans, they’ll know a Firster would never be involved with a paleskin. I mean…”
My heart sank. “I know what you mean. I’m sorry. I can see that I wasn’t considering your sensibilities…” I started for the door again, and again she put a hand on my sleeve.
“No, damn it!” she said fiercely, “You don’t know what I meant! And don’t say ‘sensibilities’ when you mean ‘prejudices’! Dark or light, you’re the most man I’ve ever met. I’ve learned more about myself in the past few months than in all the years before them. I’ve learned about prejudice, and I’ve learned about friendship, and…” she flushed, “other things.
“For the first time since leaving Freja, I feel like a member of a crew, instead of some kind of target. I have pale-skinned friends now! People I like and respect, that like and respect me. And I owe that to you. You wouldn’t let me hide inside my small prejudices; you made me come out and greet the world — the real world, not the nonsense that passes for reality on Freja.
“I’ll be delighted to be your protector, Admiral,” she continued. “I owe you much more than that.”
I shook my head. “You don’t owe me anything. I just pointed out the obvious. You were the one that took action. If your life has changed for the better, it’s your doing, not mine.”
She threw me a sidelong glance. “Y’know, Admiral, excessive modesty is just as irritating as a lack of modesty. Maybe you’d better work on that!”
After a few more minutes’ conversation, I reluctantly excused myself. As I left, she took my hand. I stared at my hairy white paw holding that slim black hand, and a thrill of excitement ran through me. I was shocked. I again reminded myself I was no horny teenager, to get excited about a handshake!
There was one more piece of real business for me before becoming Cord’s sacrificial lamb.
Luckily, there was one unarmed tramp in the Haven system at the time. I summoned her captain.
“I have a job for you,” I began. “I want you to go to Thaeron.”
His eyes widened. “Uh, that could be dangerous, Admiral,” he protested.
I nodded. “Yes, it could. However, we must know what’s going on there, and make sure that they know what’s happened here.
“Actually,” I continued, “I suspect they’re so starved for information that you’ll be in no danger at all. I doubt they know anything that’s happened since Gyrfalcon was sent back for repair. Keeping Thaeron informed was probably low on Jonas’ priority lists.”
We worked out a cover story for the tramp. We’d load her up with a typical cargo for Thaeron, mostly luxury foodstuffs. He’d tell whoever asked about the battle here, and portray himself as so greedy a trader that he’d run the risk of destruction to be first into Thaeron with a cargo to sell.
“I expect them to pump you for information, and they may not be particularly gentle about it,” I told him. “But if you talk willingly, I doubt they’ll get rough. While you’re talking, keep your eyes open. I’ll want to know about everything you see and hear, and even how you feel about what you see and hear. Any detail may save lives.”
I issued orders for the tramp to be provisioned with whatever the Captain ordered, and sent him on his way. I breathed a huge sigh of relief. At least I could feel that I was accomplishing something besides being an animated display for Cord.
A few hours later, we shuttled down to Haven. I’d been hoping we’d be able to sneak in unnoticed, but it was not to be. When the shuttle’s hatch opened, a roar erupted from a large crowd. Spaceport guards formed a human chain and held a path open for us through the throng. I turned and offered my arm to Suli, just behind me. She flashed me a grin and a wink before taking the arm as though it was the most natural thing in the world. When we appeared in the hatch, the crowd’s roar increased, and then trailed off, as they became aware of Suli. She was breathtaking in a red hooded cloak that framed her midnight skin and white hair dramatically. She was wonderful, behaving as though a throng greeted her everywhere she went.
A lot of the crowd seemed to be reporters. People shouted inane questions at me while I muttered “No comment!” over and over. Suddenly I noticed that more than half the cameras were now pointed at Suli. I could see the headlines now: ‘Mystery Woman Accompanies Kedron!’ Nevertheless, her exotic beauty knocked them off balance long enough for us to reach our ground car and escape.
The car had been sent by Cord, and it whisked us to the Viceregal Palace, where adjoining quarters had been arranged for us.
I introduced her to Cord, and he was as instantly smitten as every other male that meets Suli. At lunch, he was holding her chair and monopolizing her conversation. I began to get irritated.
“If you’ll excuse me sir,” I said. “I’ll just return to Valkyrie and blast off for Betelgeuse.”
He waved a hand dismissively. “Of course, Admiral, of course!” Then he seemed to process what I’d said, did a comical double take, and flushed. “Wha…” His expressions ran the gamut from preoccupation to puzzlement, embarrassment, and finally, anger. “How dare you?”
I chuckled. “Sorry, sir, I just couldn’t resist.” It was the first time I’d ever seen him in less than complete control.
After a moment, the humor of the situation struck him, and his anger dissolved in chuckles. 'I take your point, Admiral,' he said with a grin. After that, he was completely in control with Suli, unfailingly polite, reasonably attentive, but not so obviously smitten.
We descended into a maelstrom of social obligations. It seemed everyone on Haven wanted to meet and express his or her gratitude to the ‘hero’. We were mobbed everywhere. Every day it was another ceremony or dedication. Every evening it was another reception or formal dinner, with Cord, me and sometimes even Suli as guests of honor. I had a lifetime’s worth of cold, barely edible food, and was greeted by a seemingly never-ending stream of strangers.
In just one more out of a blurred series of parties at the palace for the local powers-that-be, I’d been shaking hands as usual and exchanging inconsequential chatter when something soft nudged my arm.
I turned. Suli stood there. However, it was a different Suli; looser, somehow. Those beautiful gray eyes were heavy lidded, and she seemed uncoordinated. This was so untypical that it riveted my attention. It took only a few slurred words to let me know that she was completely drunk.
I grabbed her elbow as she staggered, excused myself, and slid my other arm around her waist. She giggled. “Kinda forward, aincha, Adm’ral?”
I felt my face begin to grow warm. “I think we’d better get you to your room.”
She pulled back, looking at me archly. “Why, Adm’ral! What’re your intentions?”
The warmth crept down my neck. “Strictly honorable, Suli,” I replied. “I think you need somewhere to rest for a few moments.” She let me guide her to the lift shaft.
We reached our floor, and I helped her into her room. “What happened, Suli?” I asked, “Is something wrong?”
“Damn ri’ sump’n’s wrong,” she slurred. “Ony man onna planet I wan’, an’ y’don’ wan’ me!”
I stepped back in surprise. Me? She wants me? “Don’t be ridiculous, Suli,” I began, ignoring my own cardinal rule never to argue with a drunk. “Every man on Haven, me included, wants you. Maybe especially me,” I added in a mutter. “Why don’t you lie down for a few minutes, and we’ll talk about it in the morning?”
White hair whipped as she shook her head violently. “Nope!” she said, “You won’ talk inna morning. Y’r scared ’a me!”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” I replied tartly. Me? Scared? Never. Well, maybe a little intimidated…
“I’ll bet if I was a paleskin you’d wan’ me!” she continued as if I’d never spoken. She grabbed my head, and stared into my eyes. “I’m not some kinda statue!” She said fiercely, “I’m a woman! I know what I look like, but I won’ let you turn me into some kinda work of art!
“Val Kedron,” she continued jeeringly, “Big hero. Big brave man. Scared t’tell a woman he wants her! What do I haveta do, Adm’ral? Trip you an’ fall on you?”
I was taken aback. I’d had no idea… “Come on, Suli,” I said uncomfortably. “Why don’t you lie down for a few minutes?” I urged her toward the bed, and she sat on its edge.
She shook her head again. “Don’ wanna lie down,” she protested, but she let me lower her onto her back. She began snoring almost immediately.
