Chapter 17
Zephrum
Despite there being no room to pace, Zeph still managed it by walking in a tight little circle near the ship’s hatch. He held his Ident in a grip that might damage his hand eventually, but he couldn’t make himself loosen his hold.
They hadn’t heard anything from Rensom or Han. It had been a full mark, and Zeph couldn’t stop imagining all the worst scenarios.
“Han is very smart, and Rensom is with her,” Tumoro said. “He is big and can keep her safe against anything she can’t think her way out of.”
Sandar sounded a rumble of amusement, although Zeph could tell it was forced. “My husband is intelligent also.”
“I’m sure he is,” Tumoro said. “But he can’t be as smart as Han.
She once talked a Tulk into walking into the broker’s office.
That species is notorious for their tempers.
Instead of trying to subdue him, she convinced him to turn her in as a bounty because she was too afraid to go alone.
He walked in and she jolted him from behind, making it easy for Broker Kilso to drag him into a cell.
Broker Kilso said it was the strangest thing he’d ever seen. ”
Having her admit to being a bounty hunter hadn’t bothered him, but that was because he really hadn’t thought about how dangerous the job was.
She’d said she dealt with murders and violent criminals, but he’d always pictured her subduing them early.
It never occurred to him how much time she’d probably spent with them unprotected.
Going up against a Tulk? How often did that end in violence? She’d gotten hurt fighting the two men hunting for him, but he’d thought that was an anomaly. What if she was injured on a regular basis?
How many times had she almost died? That made him think about how dangerous this situation was, and all of a sudden it was much too real.
“If Han dies because of your children, I’ll never forgive you!” he yelled at Sandar. “She’s so small and fragile. Don’t you realize—”
Sandar held up her hand and he went silent.
“I understand you’re in distress and not thinking clearly,” she said. “Those are my children and my husband with your human. Don’t you think I’m scared also?”
Despite her soft voice, her words carried enough power to push the anger out of him. Deflated, he sagged against the closed hatch.
“How can you be so calm?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “We could lose everyone.”
“I’m here,” Tumoro said, edging closer. The young Ugarian looked scared and anxious. He’d been mostly calm before, so his current agitation was a direct result of Zeph’s outburst. Guilt hit Zeph hard.
Like humans, Ugarians liked a lot of physical contact. Zeph pushed aside all the taboos he was raised with. Straightening away from the hatch, he opened his arms to offer Tumoro a clutch or cling.
He flew at Zeph, wrapping his arms tightly around Zeph’s body. He was shaking, and a slight sob bubbled out of him. “I’m so scared,” he whispered. “I only just got a new family. I can’t lose any of you!”
Tumoro was barely an adult and had been thrust out into the universe without a safety net. Out of all of them, he was the one who’d experienced true abandonment and loss.
Between Sandar’s quiet words and Tumoro’s need for reassurance, Zeph found his control. He was no good to anyone if he let base emotions control him.
Wrapping his arms around the thin Ugarian, he squeezed hard. It was the right thing to do. Tumoro let out a long breath and the soft sobs abated.
The hatch behind them shifted and slid open. He let go of Tumoro, eager to greet everyone, except only Rensom stepped through.
“We had to go with Han’s third plan,” he stated grimly.
“No!” Zeph said and almost went out the hatch, but Rensom was quick to shove him back.
“We wait for a mark. If she’s not here then, I go after her,” Rensom reminded him.
“Zephrum, remember what Han told you before she left,” Sandar said, getting clumsily to her feet to join Rensom near the hatch.
Zeph rubbed his hands over his face before answering Sandar. “Have faith in me.” He met Sandar’s gaze. “I have faith in her, but she’s such a tiny human in a vicious universe.”
“At that level, we’re all tiny,” Sandar pointed out.
“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” he said.
“It wasn’t meant to,” she answered. “It’s to remind you that when you look at the whole length and breadth of the universe, we’re all helpless. If it all ends today, I won’t regret anything I’ve done because I got to experience true joy. Few Talins can say that.”
“I can,” Zeph murmured. “And I want more of it.”
I have faith, he repeated in his head like a mantra. I have faith. I have faith. I have faith.
Han
Han wasn’t surprised when she got Rensom’s message on the small information square she had tucked in her wrap. She’d guessed that Plan C was the most likely. At least it wasn’t as risky as Plan D, but it was still going to be rough.
“Human Han! Human Han!” one of the kids yelled as they ran up to her. “I won this game!”
She waved her hands with excitement. “That’s amazing!”
“I almost won,” another child said. “Next time I know I’ll win.”
“I’m sure you will,” Han agreed.
“This is an excellent game to teach tracking, stealth, and stillness,” Kolsum said. “I think I’ll participate in the new round.”
Things were looking up! With Kolsum playing with the kids, it would be easier for Han and the children to slip out.
Over the last half an hour she’d been slowly moving the game closer to a thick group of trees right on the border of the cresh and the city beyond.
“I’m starting to get a little tired,” she said to Kolsum. “I don’t think I’ll play this round, but I want to stay and watch everyone.”
Predictably, Kolsum sounded a worried rumble. “Should I take you back to your owner?”
The kids all sounded a combination of worried rumbles and purrs. One look from Kolsum silenced them.
Before she could answer, another Talin showed up. He was as large as an adult, but like Tumoro, he wasn’t filled out yet. This newcomer must be at the adultlette stage, making him roughly eighteen to twenty years old.
“Instructor Kolsum, I was told to collect Human Han and take her to the front of the compound,” he explained. Then he looked at her and struck his hand to his chest. “Hello, Human Han, my name is Malsum of the family Tresh within the clan Inik.”
“We don’t greet humans with the same honor we would a fellow Talin,” Kolsum reprimanded Malsum.
“I apologize, Instructor Kolsum,” Malsum said. “I assumed she should have the same respect as any other sapient being.”
“I can see your confusion,” Kolsum said, then launched into a long-winded explanation of greeting requirements for “low intellect” and “subservient” species.
Normally Han would be annoyed with everything Kolsum said, but she was busy cursing her bad luck. She’d been about to make a break for it with the kids, but now that opportunity was lost.
Rishmun and Lirsum must have realized something was wrong because they tucked themselves close to her and grabbed a hand each.
“Are you ready?” Malsum asked.
Han didn’t have a new plan yet. This was bad. She was half tempted to pick up the kids and make a run for it. She was strong enough to carry both of them, but they’d catch her before she even went a few strides.
“Can Rishmun and Lirsum come with me? Please!” she asked Kolsum. “I don’t want to leave; having them walk with me will make it easier.”
“Of course,” Kolsum agreed. “They are your master’s children. Your offspring might be owned by them some day. It’s good that you’re already attached to them. You’ll instill that in your pups.”
It took a lot of willpower to keep from scowling at the instructor.
“After you’re finished, go back to the main hall for this afternoon's lessons,” Kolsum told Rishmun and Lirsum. The children sounded rumbles of agreement.
“This way please,” Malsum said, turning to lead them away.
Her mind whirling, Han and the kids fell in step behind Malsum. She needed to come up with a new plan fast!
If he couldn’t convince the school to let him take the kids, or at least let them spend the day with him so they could make a run for it, then Rensom was supposed to leave quickly and quietly so Han could slip out with the children.
All she needed was a way to get rid of Malsum. She had a few toys hidden on her person. One of them would take down a full-grown Talin, but she really didn’t want to use it on this adultlette. Was there something she could do to get Malsum to leave her alone?
She was so deep in thought she didn’t notice that Malsum had led them to a secluded corner of the property until Rishmun spoke up.
“Malsum, why are you taking us this way?”
“I have something important to talk to Human Han about,” Malsum said.
Rishmun and Lirsum let go of her hands and moved in front of her, as if to protect her from Malsum.
“You can’t steal her,” Lirsum said.
“Your family might be the most powerful on Blish, but we don’t care,” Rishmun said.
Han marveled at the eloquence of the kids. At their age she was singing simple kids songs and making fart jokes.
“He only wants to talk to me,” Han said, seeing an opportunity to talk Malsum into leaving her and the kids alone. “We’ll stay in sight.”
Reluctantly the two stayed and let Han and Malsum move far enough away to speak privately. Before she could say a word, Malsum knelt in front of her and spoke rapidly.