Long View - Rissa And Tregare Part 3

"I believe it." She decided, and spoke. "What Sparline told me is that while she does wish marriage, Liesel must not know of that wish until you have had time to prove your worth to Hulzein Lodge more fully. Does this satisfy your concern?"

His breath came out in a huge sigh. "Then she does understand-I hadn't been sure, quite.

Thank you, Ms. Obrigo."

23."I am sure you call Sparline by her first name, in private. Why not me, also?"

"All right, then-thanks, Tari." The name startled her; then she realized Ernol had heard no other. The correction could wait.

"No need-I am still in your debt-but welcome." She rose. "And I must not keep you longer from your work." She left him and walked a few minutes outdoors, before returning to her room and the never-ending ma.s.s of business papers waiting there.

As usual, she became absorbed in the facts the dry figures conveyed, and would have read through lunchtime had Liesel not called by intercom.

DOWNSTAIRSshe found Liesel picking at a large snack tray. "Not much appet.i.te, today. You want to order something more solid?"

"Thank you, no. This will do for me, also." She ate slowly and said little.

Once Liesel said, "What do you think-" and stopped.

"Of what?"

"No-that one I have to figure out for myself, I guess."

"If you do not share it, then I suppose you do."

"Later, maybe I will." The words were unclear, but Rissa thought she understood. Then Liesel said, "You're going with Bran soon-to his base across the Hills?"

"Yes, but I do not knowhowsoon."

"Or how long you'll stay?" Rissa shook her head. "Then most likely you'll miss the next Board meeting of Bleeker, Ltd. Will you give me your proxy, good for a month?"

"Of course-but why only a month? If I go to s.p.a.ce with Bran-no, make it indefinite, valid until revoked. And a general power of attorney, as Erika holds for me on earth.''

"You think you'll go on Inconnu?'

"Bran thinks not. But I do not fancy being a manless wife for years at a time, so for me the matter is not settled until the fact."

"Can't blame you. On the other hand, you can't establish yourself here very well if you go off sky-hooting within the 24.year. Well, we won't solve it all this minute. Let's sign those papers and have that much out of the way, at least.''

They did so, and Rissa went to her room. On her viewscreen a light blinked; she turned a switch and Tregare's face appeared, a bandage over part of his left cheek. He smiled briefly, then said, "I was hoping to catch you in person-never mind, though. The message is, I'm finished up, here. I'll be back there sometime tonight. Late, probably; don't wait up. Might start packing, if you want-we can leave for the scoutship tomorrow."

He touched the bandage. "Don't worry about this; I'm not hurt or anything." He paused, then said, "You know something? I've missed you a lot." The screen went blank.

Rissa called Maison Renalle. A recorded voice answered. "Occupant has vacated. No relay code was given." She shrugged, cut the circuit and called Liesel, telling her of Tregare's call.

"Good thing he lets somebody know-I haven't heard from him in-oh, the past four days, I suppose. He said nothing more? Just that he's coming tonight and you two leaving to- morrow?"

"That we can leave-not that we must.''

"Nothing wrong with tomorrow-after all, you're not going off-planet yet, are you?"

"I would think not."

"Well, I want to see him before you leave. You'll tell him?"

"Of course."

SHE thought of packing and decided the ch.o.r.e was too slight to merit doing in advance.

She went outside and walked up-trail an hour, then back, enjoying the pull of muscles and the complete lack, now, of pain. As she neared the Lodge, a flash of light caught her attention; at a table on a roof-deck now facing the sun, Hawkman sat, apparently nude.

He motioned toward an outside stair, narrow and steep; she climbed it and joined him.

He was shorts-clad, not nude, and what he had waved to catch her eye was a wine flagon, now half-full. He laughed and said, "I'm enjoying the pleasure of good wine in sunlight.

* 25.

Sit and have some? Your walk probably gut-dried you well enough."

"Thank you." She drained half the gla.s.s to quench thirst, then sipped. "It is pleasant here-I had not noticed this place before." She told him of Tregare's call. "I am glad he returns."

"I'm glad he's here at all, after so long. My thanks, Rissa."

She shook her head. "It was largely luck, my part. And perhaps bad luck that he did not come sooner, in earlier times."

"I'll settle for now, and the way it did happen." He laughed again. " 'Perhaps' never won stakes, Rissa-it applies only to the future, never to the past."

They talked of other things-her study of the politics and economics of Number One.

The "private money," such as Bleeker's certificates, was new to her-he explained how it worked as a handy credit device, and how, if used carelessly, it could ruin the user. "The Hulzeins issue it sparingly," he said. "We prefer to deal in others' paper; it's safer."

They discussed trends and situations on the planet. Finally he said, "You've got most of it, and rapidly. But one thing you're missing. Just because the landowners' power lessens as industry develops, don't sell land short. Industry needs it as much as farms and herds do- in the end, here the same as on Earth, it gains the value of what's built on it. Remember that, for you'll be here to see it happen-especially if I've guessed right and you're not done stretching your years by star travel." His brows slanted as he raised them. "Well? Am I right?"

"In all respects, I think-except that I do not know when I will next travel."

"Well, at your age that's no matter. Here-a last gla.s.s before we lose the sun?"

Emptying the flagon, he poured their gla.s.ses full.

Reddening as it sank, Number One's sun neared the horizon. The light breeze grew chill; the sipped wine warmed Rissa's stomach. She saw Hawkman's gaze intent on her.

"Is there something?"

"My womenfolks, and their games about the boy Ernol." She began to speak but he waved her silent. "Rissa, don't let 26.them involve you in their web of interlocking confidences -this to be kept from one and that from the other. They're Hulzeins, that's all-it's in the genes, and no malice to it. I learned that before I was twenty."

Now the sun touched the horizon; he held his gla.s.s toward it; refracted light purpled his cheeks and forehead. "Sunset seen through wine," he said. "Beautiful." Then; "Their games needn't worry you. The reason is that Liesel can-always could-read Sparline like an open book. Almost as if all their genes, not just half, were the same. Don't tell Sparline that, of course."

Rissa drained her gla.s.s; she rose abruptly. "d.a.m.n! Now you are doing it! Hawkman, do you suppose the Hulzein genes are venereally contagious?" The jest drained her momentary anger; when he laughed, she did also. Then she said, "And can she read her son as well as her daughter?"

"Not likely. If anyone can read Bran Tregare, Rissa, it's yourself." He stood. "Come on- let's go to our ablutions and meet at dinner. Wine and sun give me a fine appet.i.te."

RISSA, Liesel, Hawkman, and Sparline-with an empty place for Tregare. Remembering Hawkman's words, Rissa observed the game-Liesel circling in on the subject of Ernol while pretending interest in something quite different, Sparline answering the pretenses and ignoring the real thrusts. Fascinated, Rissa followed the several levels of meaning with real enjoyment.

Then Liesel, balked on one line, tried another. "I need someone to handle liaison with the outland holdings-but I can't think who. Hawkman-Sparline-whose work has impressed you lately?"

Hawkman shrugged. Rissa thought, That is a weak move; she is running low on ideas.

Sparline said, "Right now, the cook's; this meat's delicious. '' Rissa could not hold back her laugh; it rang.

"Well," said Liesel. "I didn't think it was that funny."

"By itself, no-but all of it-you and Sparline, like two cats playing, each pretending the other is a mouse."

Red-faced, Liesel scowled. "And of course you know what it's all about-don't you?"

* 27.

"I would never claim to know all-about anything. If I have offended you, I did not mean to. I am sorry."

"Don't think to beg off with apologies! Tell me what you know!"

Rissa stood. "I beg for nothing, and I tell only what I wish to tell. Perhaps it is as well that Tregare and I leave here tomorrow. "She turned away.

"Wait!" Hawkman's voice, almost a shout. "Liesel- Rissa-this is partly my fault, I think-but only partly. Rissa, don't be so quick to take hurt from a strong woman's lapse into habits of authority. And Liesel! You know better, if you think, than to try such methods on this young woman." He paused, waiting.

Rissa turned back again. "Since you scorn apologies, Liesel, I will make no more. But I had no wish to anger you. And-no, that is all, I think."

Liesel's face slowly regained normal color. "All right." She nodded. "I pushed too hard; I do that sometimes. These games-maybe I take them too seriously."

"Perhaps," said Rissa. "But that is your judgment, not mine."

"For a minute there it looked like a power play, and you in the middle of it. Sol-"

"I am only in the middle-not by my choice-of your game. And I regret that there must be sides to it, for I wish the best to each of you. Do you see?"

After a moment, Liesel nodded. "Yes-and I'll bet you don't know why I believe you."

She waited, but Rissa did not answer. "Well, when you got up to flounce out of here, you didn't say a word about all the proxies and such you signed today-to revoke them, or anything- so I knew that with you at least, power was no part of it."

Laughter seemed incongruous, but Rissa could not suppress it. "Liesel! I am glad I do not have to explain, for I am not sure I could have done so. And now will you release me from your game?"

"Oh, sit the h.e.l.l down and finish your dinner before it gets cold, will you?"

"It has already cooled-but still I have appet.i.te." She sat again, ate, and drank. Slowly and hesitantly the talk resumed, but now more straightforward, devoid of hints and traps.

28.When Rissa had enough of food and drink, she said, "Do we wish to play at cards? If not, I will go and pack for tomorrow after all, as Bran Tregare suggested."

Sparline said, "Cards? Too artifical a game for me tonight."

"Then a goodnight to all of you," and Rissa left the group. Upstairs she packed all but what she would need to use in the morning, before departure.

She supposed there would be no luxurious hot tub on the scoutship; certainly there had been none on Inconnu. So she ran her bath full and for a long time lay in it, relaxed. Afterward she brushed her wet hair back and down, inspected it in a mirror, and decided it did not need tr.i.m.m.i.n.g so soon again. Then she dried it and went to bed.

She was nearly asleep when Tregare entered; the lights came on and she sat up, blinking.

He moved slowly and carefully as he came and bent to kiss her; on his breath she smelled raw .spirits.

"I'm all waste and half-jettisoned, Rissa." He put a brown envelope on a dresser near the bed. "Been drinking with an old acquaintance, off a ship just in today." He began to undress. "News-not sure what it means, yet-lots to think about." He visited the bathroom, returned and got into bed. "Lots to talk about, too-but tomorrow, if I don't sleep clear through the day." He kissed her again and lay back, breathing deeply.

"I will wake you-you can get up or go back to sleep." She smoothed his hair. "At any rate, I am glad you are here." With the bedside switch she darkened the room, and lay wondering what had happened. When Tregare's breathing took on the pattern of sleep, she shook her head and cleared her thoughts. After a time, she slept also.

WAKING, Rissa washed, dressed, and ordered up a pot of coffee and a pitcher of juice. When the tray arrived, she woke Bran.

"Do you wish to get up or to sleep longer?"

"Neither." He stretched, and gathered the pillows behind him to prop up against.

Rissa placed the tray handy to him 29.and brought a chair for herself. He poured for them. "I'm not hungry yet, "he said, "so this is just right."

"Do you suffer from last night's drink?"

"Me? No, we stuck to good booze all the way. I wasn't all that far off course, anyway- mostly just tired. Or I wouldn't have tried to bring the aircar home at night." He scratched at the bandage on his cheek. "You got my call, did you?"

"Yes. I tried to return it, but you left no relay code."

"Couldn't-wasn't sure where I was going to be."

"My luggage is packed, as you said. When do we depart?"

"I want to make a family report first, and see what everybody thinks. Maybe right here, if n.o.body objects." He got out of bed. "You want to call Liesel while I see to the plumbing?"

He went into the bathroom.

Rissa reached Liesel in her office and relayed Tregare's suggestion. "It's all right with me,"

Liesel said. "Now?"

"If that is convenient for you."

"It's fine. I'll be right up."

Tregare returned and got into bed again, shifting the pillows to sit more upright. LiesePs knock came soon; Rissa admitted her and arranged another chair.

"Hawkman's in the city and Sparline's meeting with the section chiefs this morning, so let me pipe the intercom to my office recorder." That done and coffee at hand, she said, "All right, Bran-let's have it."

"The brown envelope on the dresser." Rissa reached to hand it to him. "No-you two look. They're a little fuzzy- copies of copies, at best, but-"

The women looked at the first color print. Rissa said, "This ship, Bran-what kind of insigne is that? And the markings-"