Another ship had been sent topick up the listed ambassadors but had gone missing before it could do so. Bismarck was to loop around and pick them up. A side note stated that thesafety of the ambassadors already on board was their priority. Scout, reportand pick up if safe to do so. There was also a list of instructions regardingGovernor Cush – and John reasoned that was why someone else had been given thepickup in that area in the first place. He and the Governor had barely managedcivility for the half hour of negotiations. The time required to get back toEarth – that could start a war in itself.
Five ambassadors had agreed on amutually convenient location and John switched the small screen to thoseco-ordinates. He also brought up their own plottings but there was no enemy activityor ships they’d placed in that area.
The office was silent. Johnlooked up to see that McReidy had stopped talking. Gillespie was sprawledcomfortably in a chair, his chin to his chest. Mark rubbed his chin slowly. His eyes drifted between the two of them but his focus was inwards.
“It seems to make some sort ofsense,” Mark spoke quietly, almost to himself. “Have you tried to get involvedin it? Either of you?”
“No,” they chorused.
“Why?” McReidy asked.
“Yes, why?” John added.
They could have been forgiven forforgetting he was there.
“It seems to me as though you’veboth been receiving a telepathic message,” Mark answered.
“That’s impossible,” McReidyblurted out.
Mark raised an eyebrow. “Do youhave a better explanation?”
The dark eyes stared throughher. She shook her head. “No.”
“I’d like an explanation here, ifyou don’t mind,” John cut in.
“We’ve had no contact fromManados for a while now,” Mark told him. “My guess is that it has been takenover by the Andromedans –”
“We’re heading out there.”
“What?” McReidy spun her chair toface John.
“We got a change of orders topick up Cush and bring him in.”
“Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
“It’s just come through.” Johnturned the small screen around so she could see.
She barely glanced at it beforeturning back to the main screen.
“That explains everything,” Marknodded. “The listening post wasn’t operational when we lost contact. I canonly assume this is their attempt at contact. Although there is no record oftelepathic communication through space, Cush is a powerful individual and you,Lieutenant Commander, are extremely susceptible to him. When you’re asleep,your mind is at its most vulnerable and open to suggestion.”
He hesitated, and John sensed himsussing out her vulnerability. It put him on edge.
“With your permission,” Markcontinued, “I’d like to try a little experiment.”
“Hold on a minute –”
“Keep out of this, John. It’sgot nothing to do with you.” Mark’s voice was softer when he turned hisattention back to McReidy. “Go to sleep. Relax completely. When you feelyourself dreaming, step into it. Find out if it is Cush in your head. Talk tohim.”
“Don’t I have to be conscious todo that?” McReidy sounded a little doubtful.
“I don’t believe so. The contacthas already been established.”
“How will I know if it’s Cush?”
“You’ll know.”
“And if it isn’t?” Johnpersisted. Memories of the Nebola hit the front of his brain.
“Then it is a power greater thananything I have ever encountered. And, yes, it could be a great danger… Although I fail to see the reasoning behind singling out Lieutenant CommanderMcReidy.”
“What about me?” asked Gillespie.
“I believe you’re only afailsafe. You’re not getting the same detail, but you provide theconfirmation. And you, my friend,” Mark turned his attention to John andsmiled knowingly, “worry too much. It can all be done under the supervision ofyour doctor if you prefer –”
“No, thank you,” McReidyinterrupted. “I prefer to do my dreaming in my own bed, without you lotaround. A girl’s entitled to some privacy.”
“Then you are willing to try?”Mark asked.
“Yes… I don’t think I’m in anydanger.”
“I’d be most interested to hearthe results.”
Why did it seem to John that Markalready knew the results? Probably because he was confident in his theory. Hewas well respected among the alien worlds and prided himself on knowing morethan he ever revealed.
“There’s some others in thepickup. I could do with your help,” John added.
“Give me your list and I’ll sendwhat I can.”
“Thanks.”
When the communication ended,both John and Gillespie turned to McReidy.
“Uh-uh.” She shook her head. “You’re going to have to wait until tonight. I couldn’t go to sleep now if Itried.”
“I believe you have the bridgetonight, Mister Gillespie,” John hinted.
“And I don’t need a babysitter.” She pointed a warning finger at John.
*
“Change of course. We have moreambassadors to pick up,” John announced as he took his chair back fromHumphries.
Giacomo’s head dropped.
“Don’t worry, Giacomo,” Johnsmiled. “I’m not asking you to accommodate them.”
“Yes,” the pilot whispered, hisfist clenching on the controls.
John flicked the intercom. “Engineering, I need you to set up the cargo bay to accommodate someambassadors.”
The line remained silent beforeCase eventually answered. “Sir, we’re building weapons in there.”
“I know. You’re going to have tomove everything into one bay. We need to accommodate six races.”
“Numbers, sir?”
“No idea,” John shook his head. “Set up some partitions to give them their own areas. They don’t have to go tothe ceiling, just high enough to give some privacy. And grab every mattress,blanket and pillow that’s not being used.”
“Basic hygiene?”
“The doc’s not going to be happy,but they’re going to have to use sick bay.”
The silence was more telling thanany complaints would have been.
“Yes, sir,” Case acknowledged andthe intercom switched off.
Back to top
Chapter twentytwo
It was quiet when McReidy settleddown to sleep that night. Or didn’t settle, as the case was. She was tired,but every time she closed her eyes a hundred different things kept racingthrough her head. She tossed and turned. The pillow was uncomfortable andreceived a good pounding for its trouble. Eventually, it was sheer exhaustionthat won.
She began dreaming. She spoke. Not in words, but in thoughts. Cush answered. She looked around. It wasdark, but not a dark like night or a place without light. It was a darknothing. She couldn’t see or hear Cush, but he was there. She could feel hispresence all around her, as she had when he’d probed her mind previously.
Yes, Manados was now
