fingernail. What had he to lose?”
“He went home sooner than he’d been scheduled to,” said Hebo grimly.
“Which proves nothing. I had only a hunch. But—what harm?—I had a watch put on him. Not intensive, simply an eye out for anything unusual.
“And now— Obviously he’s been in hyperwave contact with Susaians. Because a Confederacy ship has come to take him there. Him and Esker. To the mother planet. Which means the Dominance.
“It can’t be hidden, no, but it’s been kept as inconspicuous as possible. The, ship took a remote cometary orbit, and they were brought to it on one of the few interplanetary boats the Seafells have. Which implies that higher-ups in that House have approved the whole undertaking. They did give out, very quietly, that the trip is for purposes of discussing a joint venture. The implication was that it’s fairly minor. Nothing for anybody else to worry about.”
“Except us,” Hebo growled.
“Maybe all of us. Who can tell what capabilities the Domination may gain, and what that may mean in the course of centuries? Remember how they tried to keep the black hole collision itself secret. Most Susaians are nice people, yes, lovable, but the Dominators aren’t.”
“Same as with humans. This wouldn’t be the first time in history businessmen looking for a quick profit cut a deal with a government that in the long run intended to hang them.” Hebo rose and prowled the room. “Yeah, I can see it plain. They send an armed ship or two to the giant star for a look-see. If my idea about it turns out to be right, they’ll claim ‘discovery,’ then ‘security,’ and mount guard over the system, same as they meant to do with the black holes, while they milk whatever technology they can from the site. If others protest and invoke the Covenant, why, keep the arguments and diplomacy dragging on and on for decades. After that, if they’ve gotten what they hope for, it’ll be too late.”
His fist crashed against the wall. “If I could arrive first, and announce the discovery! I can’t!”
Lissa got up also and went over to him. “Easy, Torben, easy.” She laid a hand on his. “I’ve been thinking about this, you know. It’ll take Romon time to persuade the Dominators, and then time for them to organize an expedition. Meanwhile, we have a chance.”
Chance indeed, she thought. The stake might include their lives. It thrilled in her.
XLII
Once more she spoke alone with her father atop the watchtower of Ernhurst.
They could have been as private in his study, and warmer. The northern half of Asborg had slanted into winter. But when she told him that this mattered greatly to her, he made a slight gesture, she nodded, and they clad themselves for outdoors and went up. She wondered fleetingly how much their race lived by such unspoken symbolisms. And what of other races?
The air rested quiet and keen beneath an enormous blue. Breath smoked. Paler blue shadows crossed snow lately fallen and still pure. The forest afar stood in its coppery-umber phase. The village and its works showed themselves as knife-sharp. The line of sea to the south sheened too bright to look at for long. A flight of swartwings passed high overhead. Their cries drifted down, a faint steely ringing.
He regarded her for a silent span before he smiled. It didn’t mask the trouble in him. “Well, what’s your newest recklessness?”
“None,” she declared. “Not my style. Really.” While she would never outright lie to him, she could make her own interpretations of the truth, couldn’t she? “I’m still alive.”
“Frankly,” he said low, “I’ve paid my thanks to God for that.”
“You know I don’t charge blindly ahead. I like living.”
“Especially living on the edge.”
“Once in a while, maybe. Though that’s more fun to remember than experience.” Don’t get sidetracked. Persuade. “Daddy, some risks have got to be taken. Else we’ll never gain anything.” And we can lose what we do have to those who will take them.
“Knowledge, or treasure, or achievement—” Davy sighed. “You are what you are, darling.”
“I think the House has benefited a little.”
“More than a little. Which I almost hate to admit.”
Lissa gave him back his smile, hers less rueful. “You mean you’re conceding me a point in advance?”
“I suppose so. Go on.”
“You do trust me,” she murmured.
“Yes.”
She locked his gaze onto his. “I’m about to ask you for the most faith ever.”
He waited.
“I have a journey to make that I can’t tell you or anyone about, not yet,” she said. “I can only give you my word of honor that it’s not crazy, it may have a tremendous payoff, and, win or lose, I ought to come safely home. But it’s urgent.”
“What do you want from me?”
“The use of the
She saw him stiffen, heard him catch his breath. “What? Where are you going?”
“Nowhere like those black holes, I swear. However, yes, there are unknowns, there will be surprises, it calls for a ship that can cope.”
“Recruiting a crew—”
She shook her head. “That’s taken care of. I’m sorry, Dad. I wish—” in a tidal rush she felt how deeply she wished it, and for a moment her eyes stung—“I wish I could say more. I just can’t. I—we—have to leave in a hurry. No time to collect the three or four who could fit in with me. Not here on Asborg,” as slowly as such things always moved. The more so when the objective would raise a sensation she could ill afford.
Again Davy studied her before he said, slowly, “I might make a guess or two.”
It angered Lissa to feel the blood hot in her face. “We know what we’ll be doing, and we’re able to,” she snapped. “Don’t you believe I’ve learned a few things in my life?”
“You have,” he whispered. “Enough?”
Her heart and her tone melted. “I’ll communicate along the way.
“
“Of course. But you have authority to order a special, short, inexpensive mission, without giving notice, when a ship is currently idle.”
If he knew what she intended, quite possibly his sense of honor would require that he consult his associates in the planetary governance, which would bring on the questions and debates and long-winded arguments that would eat up what time remained. She couldn’t chance it.
“I’ll have to answer to the council,” he reminded her.
“That’ll be then,” she said, “and you’ll give them a blaze of a good answer.”
“Meanwhile,” and she heard the pain, “I’ll have to pray for that. Pray for you, Lissa.”
“Oh, Dad!” she cried. Hardly thinking, she came into his embrace and laid her head against his shoulder. Yet soon she was crooning, “You will. You’ll trust me. You always have.”
At what cost to him? The question pierced. But she’d make it up to him, she’d make him proud and glad, truly, truly.
XLIII
