A Mind For Trade Part 8

"Now last climb-behold, here is camp," Lossin said. But he didn't move forward, instead pointing to a truncated pyramid of some earthlike substance, vague in the gloom. "Your cielanite."

Dane and Rip approached the cache, which resolved into a neat stack of what looked like rocks. But their shape was almost organic, short chains of spheres melted into each other, almost like some kind of bacterium.

Dane picked one up. It was light, rough, porous; his helmet lamp struck glints of light from the water in the pores as he hefted it. What kind of mining device would refine the ore into such an odd form?

"Looks like some sort of scoria or pumice," said Rip. He slipped a small sample of the sphere-chains into his beltpack. "Stotz will need to a.n.a.lyze it to build his refiner."

Rip said to Lossin, "Your mining machinery, is it automatic?"

After a brief exchange with his fellow Tath, Lossin replied, "The ethianhuru are autonomous, yes."

"Autonomous," Tooe said. "Goes by self-like a creature?"

"Correct," the Tath replied.

Tooe gave a quick nod and chirped a note or two. "Kand-doyd tech," she said to Dane. "Ethianhuru-mining slugs, it means. Some of Kandder tech come from Tathi Trade."

Dane nodded back, thinking that Stotz needed to know how much cielanite might be awaiting them on the island when the latest series of storms abated. But what was a "mining slug"?

Without further comment the Tath turned away and led them up a very steep trail into a cl.u.s.ter of fantastically giant trees. The darkness was so intense here that the Queen's Traders all flicked on their high-intensity lamps-even Tooe.

Dense, rubbery shrubs grew close to the mighty trees, half-obscuring roots that were several meters thick. Dane glanced up, awed at the gigantic scale of the trees. The trunk of the nearest tree started maybe ten meters over his head. Below that, all around, was the root system. He wondered as the others picked their way carefully over the smooth, stonelike roots just how far down those roots reached into the island.

He thought about the planetary report that Craig had given them. The trees had a linked root system that reached all the way downhill to a salt fog zone created by the crashing of the storm waves on the rocks below at high tide. Some even grew in the tidal zone, and the rhythmic wash of salt water did not harm their growth; Tau had pointed out salt deposits below the trees. The report speculated that the trees used the salts to create the high conductivity that made them relatively immune to lightning damage, instead grounding it harmlessly.

He glanced at the others of his party, and saw them all looking up at the great trees. Tooe whistled, and, seeing Dane's glance, she said, "One tree-big as all Exchange, it looks!"

"Does seem that way," Rip said, turning to the Tath. "I hope we don't have to climb?"

"Here is lift," Lossin said, indicating for them to follow around to the lee side of the nearest tree.

Dane scanned the narrow elevator that was built right onto the mighty bole, knowing that Jasper and Ali would both pester him with questions about its unique construction. It was a simple wooden box, but its construction had a spa.r.s.e elegance to his eyes. The gloom hid the cable where it attached to the top, but the rest of the cable glistened wetly in his hel-met light as his eyes followed it up into darkness. There was a track of some lighter wood along the elevator's path. Wear from friction? He couldn't see what held the box against the trunk when it rose-surely they didn't let it dangle free?

Faint washes of light from unseen sources brought tree branches and leaves into silhouette as Dane's eyes adjusted. A sudden gust of frigid wind brought icy, stinging needles of frozen rain, and Dane was glad to crowd into the narrow elevator. Lossin squeezed in with them; the other Traders remained behind.

Lossin pressed a b.u.t.ton and they rose slowly, buffeted by occasional blasts of wind. The little box had a queasy, bouncy feel to it, as though the mechanism that lifted it was wearing out. It also seemed to pull in against the tree trunk, then back out again in a regular rhythm. Dane thought he heard a peculiar ripping noise in the same rhythm, like the catch-tabs on clothing, but before he could look for the source, he became aware of a small hand clutching the back of his coat. He glanced over his shoulder and saw to his dismay that Tooe's face had gone a peculiar greenish gray.

Her eyes lifted to his, huge and dilated. "Up and down," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the howling of the rising wind. Dane had to lean close to hear her. "Not used to up and down, not with a very bad down." She closed her eyes and swallowed. "Tooe has control," she added firmly. "I learn. Up and down, not in and out."

Dane nodded, trying to be encouraging.

The lift jerked to a stop. Tooe tightened her grip on Dane's coat.

Dane followed the others out of the lift, and then everything went out of his head as he stared around in amazement.

It was as though he stood at the center of a vast spiderweb, gossamer spun between the huge trees, here thickening to support rounded structures like giant bird nests, there thinning to invisibility. As he turned his head to look around, a faint shimmer caught his eye, one of many, he realized. He bent over and looked closer. His heart jumped as he saw a rip in the fabric of the web-the arrow of stress from it pointed at his feet. His boots were overstressing the fabric, which was apparently designed with the furred" feet of the Tath in mind.

Dane started to back away, but a tug on his coat kept him in place. Still clutching the fabric, Tooe squatted in front of the tear and gently poked at it. Her curiosity had at least partially overcome her acrophobia.

Tooe's finger stopped just short of the shimmer. "It reweaves itself!" she exclaimed. "Grows like tree?" She looked up at Lossin.

Lossin gestured with his great, furry hands. "Sessile." The Tath paused, said something Dane didn't understand.

"Stomach foot?" Tooe said doubtfully.

Dane straightened up and looked at Rip, who greatly surprised him by chuckling and pointing. "Gastropod. Barnacles. Tree barnacles."

It was a cl.u.s.ter of rough, misshapen cones sunk into the bark of the tree, each with a web of filaments emerging from its tip. Above it Dane noticed a balloonlike swelling that grew as he watched. There was a popping sound, and the balloon collapsed suddenly. A briny mist momentarily tickled their skins. "Vines bring salt water, nutrients up to keep them alive," said Lossin.

"You found these here?" asked Dane. "Part of the tree root system?"

Lossin's expression meant nothing to him as the Tath answered. "No. Tath build these."

Build? Dane felt his stomach lurch slightly-and felt an inner tickle accompanied by an image of Rip. A shared reaction? Since he couldn't ask, he ignored it, and turned his thoughts to the data at hand. The Tath were bioengineers, a discipline rigidly controlled in the Federation. He turned and looked more closely at the lift, and saw the mat of thin, fibrous tentacles sprouting from it where it touched the tree trunk. That explained the lighter track on the wood, and the ripping sound: it was a kind of living catch-tab!

Dane looked over at Rip and saw that he had pulled the lump of cielanite ore from his pouch and was looking at it. The navigator met his glance and raised an eyebrow expressively as he put away the ore again.

"Stotz may have to do more reengineering than he thought" was Rip's only comment.

Dane mulled over the implications of that as Lossin turned and led them along a catwalk with an arching narrow roof overhead. To Dane's surprise, the structure was fairly rigid even far out from the trees-it swayed, but not the way a similar Terran-built structure would. It felt alive under his feet, and his toes curled reflexively. Tooe, of course, displayed no reaction other than interest, except when she happened to glance down-and her grip tightened on his coat. Bioengi-neering was nothing new to her; she'd seen it on Exchange, so for her it was natural and even desirable. Gravity was the menace for her.

Lossin led them to one of the thatchlike structures, but did not bid them enter. Fortunately, although technically they were still outside, and the temperature was still very cold, relatively little wind and rain penetrated the thick canopy of leaves overhead.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Traders arrived. Dane realized that they still had not taken back their own camp, and again he regretted the mistakes that he and Rip had so nearly made.

For a moment they all stood, then Tazcin, the leader, gestured to her crew, and after some glances at the Terrans, all but three of the Tath moved off in various directions, three plunging down one or another of the woven catwalks, walking with a peculiar rhythm that worked with the sway. Others went up ladders and kindled lights. Within moments a spicy, herbal scent drifted in the tamed wind.

"Tooe? Do you recognize that scent?" As he spoke Dane realized her grip on his coat had loosened. The aroma forgotten, he whirled around just in time to see her start to fall.

Rip, the closest, caught her just before she landed, and he laid her gently down. She clung tightly to his hand, her eyes tightly shut.

"I'm falling!" she keened on a plangent note that made Dane's jaw tighten. "Cannot stand up, me. I fall."

The three Traders still with them exchanged quick remarks. Lossin pointed to Tooe and said, "This Rigelian. Lives previous in varigrav?"

"Yes," Dane exclaimed.

Lossin nodded his s.h.a.ggy head. "As did we. Give her some of our glostuin?"

Rip looked up. "Is it safe for her metabolism?"

Dane said, "I'll check." He keyed his comlink, and requested Jasper to relay the question to Tau.

Moments later he said in relief, "It should be fine."

Lossin turned and relayed the message in his own language.

A minute or so later a tall, thin feline being ran down one of the catwalks. Dane watched, mesmerized; the person, a male, was astoundingly graceful, his silver tail flicking back and forth to help him balance. He leaped with soundless step onto the platform and knelt beside Tooe, a sprayjector in one hand.

This he applied gently to her neck. A tiny screen flashed readouts that Dane couldn't interpret, but the medic seemed satisfied. He triggered the spray. Moments later Tooe's coloring slowly returned to normal, and she relaxed her death grip on the navigator's hands. Rip stood slowly, flexing his'fingers.

The feline stood as well. His great slanted green eyes took them all in, and he said in a scratchy voice, "Dizzinessss. Inner ear takesss time to adjusssst. Ha.s.sss your medic a ssssupply of glostuin? Sssshe will need it for the heightssss."

Again Dane contacted the Queen, and then returned a positive answer. By then Tooe had recovered enough to stand.

"Do you want to return to the ship?" Dane asked.

She gave her head a resolute shake. "Tooe well now. See everything."

Dane looked at Rip, who shrugged, spreading his hands. He would not decide for Tooe.

"Then let's finish the tour," Dane said.

Lossin made a sign of agreement, and they proceeded out onto one of the catwalks. This time the feline medic walked with Tooe, supporting her arm. Dane dropped back and left him to it. It was hard enough for him to balance for himself. He clung to the cables strung at either side, sliding his hands slowly between each step.

To keep his mind off the wiggling catwalk-and the unguessable drop below-Dane observed the feline medic, who walked just in front of him. At first Dane thought he might be the only member of the other Traders who was not humanoid. Was he an Arvas? But he was smaller, and his hands were human, with five fingers. Probably one of the genetically altered human strains, Dane realized. For what purpose? Climbing, obviously. He moved with the beauty of a cat-but he had a cat's unlovely voice.

He seemed to be a good medic. Tooe appeared much recovered, but the medic still kept right with her, watching carefully.

They finally reached the next platform, after what seemed to Dane a kilometer-long walk, and he sighed in relief. Now they were in a cl.u.s.ter of platforms-which were surprisingly neat despite their thatchy appearance-all connected by ladders as well as catwalks.

Lossin took them rapidly up and down them all, explaining as they went. As Craig had surmised, the trees were actually the safest place to be during lightning storms, for their conductive outer layers helped make the forest into a huge Faraday cage almost as effective as the Queen's hull metal.

To Dane's surprise, only the medic had his own platform. All the Tath slept together in a quadruple hammock arrangement where they could touch one another if they wished. It seemed horribly crowded to Dane-even more crowded than the small compartments on the Queen. At least on the ship each had his or her own cabin.

Two more platforms were for sleeping, each with two occupants. Then there was a small platform, more sheltered than any of the others except the galley-and-mess area, which housed the sick. Here they found the dappled being that Dane had seen before.

This time the medic drew Tooe aside and talked to her in his yowly, hissing voice. Apparently he knew Rigelian, for it was in that language that he spoke.

While this was going on, Rip followed Lossin to the last platform, which seemed to house their computer and communication equipment. This platform was the most stable, tucked right against the bole of the mighty tree.

Dane watched them go upward. As he observed Rip's slender form in his bulky winter gear working his way up the ladder he got another one of those flashes-Rip's intense interest. No, it was stronger than that. Purpose. Rip wanted something.

Comp equipment-of course.

Dane gave in to impulse. " Lossin."

The Tath paused at the top of the ladder and peered down. Rip disappeared from view. Dane felt a flash of triumph and a kind of weird dismay: he had been right, then.

He called to Lossin, "Translate here? What's the Trade for medicine for Parkku?"

Tooe looked at Dane in surprise. Could the others read her reaction? Tooe knew he spoke Rigelian.

But the feline medic altered his posture in one of those fluid, balletic motions, and directed a quick stream of words at the silent Tath. Then Lossin faced Dane, and said, " Parkku immune system suffering from allergens in air. Dr. Siere needs fresh supply of medicine. In turn, share data we gathered on local fauna, not in Survey tapes."

Rip appeared behind Lossin, standing at ease-as if he'd been there all along.

Dane said, "Suggest to the doctor that he accompany us back to the ship to talk to our medic. That way you can get the medication right away."

Siere gave a quick nod, his ears flicking forward. "Do thisss," he said in Terran Trade. "I sssshall go with you."

Lossin turned away, and started talking to Rip on the upper platform. Siere led the way back to the lift platform. Tooe followed silently. Once or twice she cast odd looks at Dane, her crest c.o.c.ked at the familiar question angle.

She did not speak again during the trip down the lift. She was quiet even when one of the silent Tath appeared in one of the flitters. A second one trailed them on the swift journey back to the Queen.

Dane was relieved not to have to walk. The wind had risen steadily, and hail and freezing rain clattered over the viewscreen of the flitter; the ride was as uncomfortable as Dane had surmised on first sight of the ungainly craft. Huge gusts of wind sent them sidling, as if smacked by a vast hand, but the Tath pilot appeared unfazed.

But they reached the Queen safely. The driver gave them a brief nod, set the vehicle down, then she slid out and ran to the other flitter. It, too, had settled to the rock-strewn ground, its running lights blinking in stationary mode.

Rip dropped into the control seat, his fingers moving almost without hesitation over the control console. "Jasper," Rip said into his com unit, "open the cargo hatch."

Dane studied the unfamiliar console. It was laid out very differently from the flitters he'd learned to operate, but the same sorts of controls seemed to obtain. It appeared that the wings served the function that on Terran machines was fulfilled by side ducts and deflectors. On the ship the cargo hatch slid open. At the same time the flitter rose on its belly fan, and under Rip's guidance it slid hesitantly into the cargo bay, and then settled to the decking between the two mining-bots that Dane and the others had brought over from the North Star.

The cargo hatch slid shut, and Rip opened the flitter door.

"This way," he said to Dr. Siere, who moved out of the flitter in a quick, flowing motion that reminded Dane strongly of Sinbad, the ship's cat.

Tau met them at the inner hatch. "Dr. Siere?"

"Thisss issss a pleasure," Siere said in his scratchy voice, making a polite gesture. "Dr. Tau."

The two medics disappeared.

Moments later Rip's beltcom beeped. He touched the hatch communicator.

"Better come up to the com room." Jasper's voice held an edge beyond his usual terseness.

Rip slapped the com off and walked through the hatch without a word; Tooe and Dane followed more slowly. The navigator-turned-captain seemed to be lost in thought. Tooe looked from one to the other without speaking.

They went up to the com room, where Jasper swiveled away from the display screen, where they could see Tau accompanying Siere to the waiting flitter. Dawn was just graying the eastern horizon; the medic hurried back into the ship, and the door shut.

"Siere's from Tarquain," said Jasper, slightly tipping his head back toward the screen. "Their heating is extremely acute. I didn't want to risk being overheard."

Ali slipped in the door. "Something to report?"

For answer, Jasper reached over and tapped the console. A speaker came to life, but all that emerged was a kind of gasping noise, repeated three times.

"They bounced it off the second moon," Jasper continued, his naturally pale face taut with strain. "Right at the limit-almost lost in the noise. I can almost guarantee that the pirates didn't hear it."

"Three ships," said Rip. "Unfriendly."

They watched the flitter slip away, moving round the trees and disappearing from view. Then Rip closed down the external viewport.

"I feel better about Lossin, now," he said. "Not that I did anything wrong-just tried to check their communications setup." He shook his head. "Couldn't read it, of course, and didn't have a detector to read its frequency setting."

"You think they're listening to the North Star}" Dane asked..

Rip shrugged. "I don't know. But it's something to consider."