Starkissed. Part 10

"How are we going to store it? To keep it away from bugs and small critters?"

"Tomorrow we make ba.s.ssketsss," J'Qhir said.

"I think you mean today." Leith nodded sleepily toward the opening where dawn had lightened the world.

"Good! You will be able to sssee to cut tall gra.s.ss and vine. Or young sssaplingsss sssince they are plentiful here."

Leith just stared at him. "How do you know how to do all this-this survival stuff?"

J'Qhir stabbed the knife into the remains of the beast carca.s.s and leaned back against the rock wall, resting the backs of his bloodied hands on his thighs. "Thisss isss our way of life, Leith. Only three generationsss ago we had no idea anyone elssse in the universsse exisssted. When the Cruciansss came, our culture wa.s.ss very primitive. The Cruciansss claimed to come in peace. Sssince we knew no other way, we believed them."

"You didn't fight among yourselves?" Leith asked incredulously.

"Not for many centuriesss. There are talesss, of courssse, of battlesss fought between desssertsss, but we overcame our belligerent nature long ago. Until the Cruciansss came. They took our young and ssstrong, male and female. The Cruciansss promisssed them a visssit to a world of lusssh abundance and proposssed sssettlementsss if they found it agreeable. They would only be gone a ssshort while, the Cruciansss sssaid, but it wa.s.ss many yearsss before the Cruciansss returned without our people. Both of my grandfathersss had gone with them."

When J'Qhir seemed to be lost in thought, Leith asked quietly, "What happened to them?

"The Cruciansss never intended for the Zi to sssettle on their planet. They enssslaved usss, to work their crysssium minesss. They returned for more ssslavesss. We fought them and thousssandsss died, yet they captured thousssandsss more to carry back to Crux." J'Qhir shook his head and hesitated. "Perhapsss we have not evolved enough, Leith. The Cruciansss had never intended to return to Zi. Their plan wa.s.ss to breed thossse they captured the firssst time, but they found we do not breed in captivity. Our reproductive sssyssstemsss ssshut down when threatened."

"I am so sorry," Leith murmured, fighting back tears. He wouldn't appreciate what he might interpret as pity. "The Crucians tell a much different story. It was what I tried to make you understand before. Why haven't you ever told anyone what really happened?"

"It isss our fight," J'Qhir explained. "Our duty. No one elssse'sss. We are resssponsssible for our own."

"Sometimes it's all right to ask for help. It doesn't mean you relinquish the responsibility or sit back and let someone else take over."

J'Qhir nodded and sighed. "Of courssse, you are correct. Perhapsss it isss time to a.s.ssk for help. My people are very weary of fighting-and losssing. If we find sssome way to essscape thisss planet, I will approach the Council of Eldersss."

"Since the Crucians just came to capture your people, how did you attain s.p.a.ce travel? I'm sure they didn't give you ships and teach you how to fly."

"It isss, in effect, exactly what they did," J'Qhir said with a trace of humor in his voice. "About the time my father reached maturity, the Cruciansss began to ussse Zi as a refussse dump. Mossst of it wa.s.ss ussselesss tra.s.ssh, but they alssso left behind old warssshipsss and broken weaponsss. Leith, my people learn quickly when they mussst, and it helped that we had a few captivesss of our own to teach usss. We rebuilt warssshipsss and weaponsss from the sssc.r.a.psss they dissscarded. Many died in the firssst attemptsss, but we finally moved out into sss.p.a.ce and learned how to trade for what we need. By the time I wa.s.ss born, sss.p.a.ce travel had become common and we were no longer at the mercy of the Cruciansss. We have not won, but we have not lossst either."

He straightened and, grabbing the knife, started slicing strips of meat. "Go, Leith. I have hunger enough to eat the ressst of this bea.s.sst raw. We cannot eat until our work isss done."

Leith left the cave and did as J'Qhir said. She mulled over what he had told her about the Crucians as she searched for the basket making materials he wanted. Part of her problem was resolved for she knew he had told her the truth of the Zi-Crucian conflict. Now, all she needed to learn was the truth about her parents.

Chapter 7.

Leith added to the twist of gra.s.s and secured it to the side of the misshapen basket with a narrow strip of bark. Surrept.i.tiously, she watched J'Qhir seated on the other side of the fire. He had already finished one basket while teaching her the technique and had another half completed.

He made short work of the basket as he had the beast. His large hands worked quickly, efficiently, wasting no movement or effort. She wondered where his thoughts drifted. Did he think of Zi and wish to be home as much as she?

Leith sighed softly and looked down at her basket. After learning the basics she had quickly grown bored with the process. She had always needed to keep her mind busy, not her hands. She tried to concentrate on wrapping the bark around the gra.s.s, keeping it smooth and even, but her thoughts wandered again.

"I have been thinking," J'Qhir said suddenly.

Leith perked up. Neither of them was p.r.o.ne to small talk. He had sat close to her, showing her how to begin with a hank of gra.s.s as large as his thumb. He had patiently explained every step in his quiet, soothing tones. He told her how to create the circular bottom, weave the strips of bark around the gra.s.s, catching the previous round of gra.s.s to bind the two together, then how to begin making the sides when the bottom was as large as she wanted it to be. After he was sure she had grasped the concept and could continue without him, he had moved to the pallet on the other side of the fire, and they said little else.

She wished he had remained at her side. She had grown a little nervous with him so close, his hands on hers showing her how to hold the gra.s.s and bark. Her thoughts had then wandered into areas best left unexplored. His fingers, too, had trembled on hers. She thought that perhaps he wasn't comfortable in the role of instructor even though he was an excellent teacher. Or maybe he simply didn't like to be near her if he didn't have to be. She had shared her body heat with him under the solar film for several nights, but they now had the shelter of the cave and a warm fire. He didn't need her now, and obviously didn't want her near if he could avoid it.

J'Qhir halted his weaving and stared across the flames at her. "The mossst peculiar thing ha.s.ss happened. I have begun to think in Terran Ssstandard. But I digresss." He picked up his work again and continued. "Hanc.o.c.k sssaid Arreisss allowsss no one on thisss planet. Then how wa.s.ss he able to land the lifecraft without fear of retaliation from the Arreisssansss?"

"They must have no detection devices in place on or around the planet," Leith offered.

"Correct," J'Qhir agreed. "Yet, how do they maintain sssecurity? They would have to canva.s.ss Paradissse on a regular ba.s.ssisss."

Hope dared to rise within her. "That means they would have to physically come here and check the planet. Would they be able to detect the engine residue from the lifecraft?"

"Only if they ssscanned the area where it landed within a certain period of time." J'Qhir shrugged his broad shoulders. Silently, Leith appreciated the gesture. He had removed his war jacket earlier. His shirt, made of the same dark gray wool-like material, fit his body snugly and accentuated his breadth and musculature. "It ssseemsss Hanc.o.c.k would be taking a terrible risssk unlesss he had sssomehow learned their ssschedule."

"Anyone can be bought for the right price." Leith set aside her basket and stretched her cramped limbs. "Steve could have bought the information. Or he could have bribed the Arreisan in charge of monitoring the planet."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that even if an Arreisan ship scanned this place tomorrow and found evidence of the lifecraft landing or us, it might never be reported or investigated because Steve had paid him off. Just as he bribed whomever was in charge of the s.p.a.ceport log on Arreis. In the grand scheme of things, our presence here will not wreck the development of this planet. We won't live forever even if we do manage to survive to live long and healthy lives. The Arreisan has a nice retirement fund, and Steve has his revenge. Everyone is happy, and we are disposed of with a minimal amount of effort for anyone."

J'Qhir hissed thoughtfully. "I have moved among humansss for decadesss. I have read your literature and viewed your moving picturesss that tell ssstoriesss. I am, however, continually sssurprisssed at how treacherousss your people are among your own kind."

"Are you saying the Zi don't betray one another? What about that duel in the desert you told me about? Isn't that for vengeance?"

"To avenge persssonal insssult which isss alwaysss effected openly. We do not betray one another. Ssschemesss to dessstroy another Zi have been rare in our hissstory, and jussstice wa.s.ss ssswift and mercilesss." J'Qhir paused for a few moments then continued quietly. "Perhapsss becaussse we have had to battle a greater betrayal by the Cruciansss, we a.s.ss a people have been brought clossser together than mossst."

Leith shook her head. His self-righteous att.i.tude irritated her. He seemed to think that his people were above such base actions and, therefore, superior. She picked up her deformed basket and threw it at him. Her aim was true, and it hit the side of his head before he could react.

"Leith!"

"You can't condemn an entire species because of the actions of a few. I'm the first to admit humans are capable of the most vile and despicable acts that can be conceived. But we are also the most loyal and dedicated you'l find anywhere in the galaxy."

J'Qhir frowned, his crest knotted tightly. "I did not mean-"

"Didn't you? No species is better or worse than another. Just different. 'The Zi don't fight amongst themselves. The Zi don't betray one another.' Human history is full of wars and betrayal, but on the whole we're just individuals trying to get through one day at a time."

J'Qhir merely stared at her unblinking.

Leith didn't know where the outburst had come from or why. Now that she'd had her say, the irrational anger dissipated as quickly as it flared up. Of course, he hadn't meant the comments the way she had chosen to interpret them. They were going to be here many long days and nights, and there would be innumerable legitimate arguments. There was no need to spin one out of thin air.

Annoyed at herself, she shot to her feet and s.n.a.t.c.hed up her jacket. She suddenly felt cornered and closed in with no way to escape.

When she reached the inner door, J'Qhir called out to her, "Where are you going?"

"Where would I be going? Where else on this d.a.m.ned planet is there to go?" she snapped, then immediately regretted the words. She shook her head. It was best she leave for a while and cool off. "I' m going for a walk."

"Go with care," he said softly, and she was surprised he didn't try to stop her.

The cold night air chilled her instantly, and she put her hands in the pocket of her jacket. One hand found the laserlight and the other found the a.n.a.lyzer. She closed her eyes in relief that she wouldn't have to walk back into the cave right then.

She opened her eyes and stood for a while allowing her eyes to adjust to the night. The sky was a deep, dark blue and filled with a million stars. The Milky Way was a denser band running across the sky like a twisted ribbon. On Earth, she knew the stars and constellations, but here on Paradise she saw them from a different angle. Everything was different-no Big Dipper, no Orion's belt. She had no idea where Sol might be.

A brighter light from behind the trees caught her eye. She walked upstream a short distance and finally comprehended what she saw.

They had seen no moon since their arrival, but now a large crescent hung in the sky. She could see only the top third, the rest hidden by the woods. It was several times the size of Earth's Luna. When the moon became full, it would light up the night as bright as day.

Maybe in a few days when J'Qhir's knee was better, they could make their way up the side of the hill and find a place to view the entire moon.

She turned on the laserlight array and flashed it up through the spa.r.s.e growth on the hillside. In the light of day, she could see the crest. Earlier when she'd gone out to gather the materials J'Qhir had asked for, she'd noticed a thick mist rising from one side in the crisp morning air. She hadn't the time or the energy to investigate then. She had found an open meadow beyond the woods and cut as much of the tall brown gra.s.s as she could carry. J'Qhir had sent her back twice more before she declared they had enough to make a thousand baskets.

Bleary-eyed and more tired than she had ever been in her life, she'd cut enough saplings to start a lumber mill and hauled them into the cave. On her last trip, she'd tossed the laserlight to J'Qhir as she pa.s.sed him. He was wise enough not to say anything to her at all. She would have turned on him then if he dared criticize her quitting. She had paused long enough to turn the roast on the spit then collapsed on the nearest pallet and instantly fell sleep.

She slept for hours, hunger driving her to consciousness. For days, she had been living on protein bars, nuts, and water. She had heaved up the soup from the night before after killing the beast. She was ravenous. J'Qhir had waited until she awakened before eating the roast. She didn't think she would have been as considerate.

She had told J'Qhir about the mist. He, too, had seen it and said they would investigate it later when his knee had healed. But the mist intrigued her. If it had been evenly distributed along the side of the hill, she would have thought nothing more about it, but it had been concentrated in one place and as dense as a cloud.

Leith flashed the light over the ground. The slope was gentle and didn't look dangerous. She wouldn 't take any unnecessary chances. A broken bone could be fatal with their limited medical supplies and knowledge. If the going became too rough, she would retreat.

As she worked her way around gnarled trees, patches of scrub brush, and boulders, she realized the slope was steeper than it had appeared. She decided to press on as long as she felt secure in her footing. Frequently, she broke branches to mark her way.

She stopped to rest and looked down. She could clearly see the silvery stream winding its way through clumps of trees and brush and piles of rock. Looking skyward, she saw the crescent had risen considerably and only its lower tip remained hidden. The view would be spectacular once the moon became full.

Leith shone the light higher up the hillside. She was close enough to the mist that the beam seemed to hit a blank gray wall only a dozen or so meters away.

She had been gone well over an hour. J'Qhir had probably started to worry. She glanced back the way she'd come, then looked ahead to the mist again. She really should wait for daylight, but she was so close. Curiosity overcame her better sense.

She had to cut wide to the left and circle back in toward the mist. It took much longer than she had expected. As soon as she had the thought of J'Qhir back in the cave growing edgy with concern, she was aware of every pa.s.sing minute. Still, she couldn't give up. She was too close to turn back now. The misty swirls were only a few meters away.

Turning the laserlight to wide array she swept the ground in front of her and carefully stepped over scattered rocks and exposed roots. The wind shifted and curling tendrils of mist swept over her in a rush of warm, moist air. The scene would have been eerie had she not been so intent on finding out what lay beneath the mist.

She came to a solid rock wall that reached almost to her knees. The edge was smooth and rounded, and suddenly she heard the sound of rippling water. She picked up a stone and tossed it into the thick of the mist. A splash was her reward. Water. Hot water.

She almost plunged her cold hand into it when she remembered the a.n.a.lyzer. The water could be acidic or hot enough to peel the flesh from her bones or any of a dozen other things that wouldn't be good. She brought out the device and set the laser eye into the water. The readings were good-pure water with high mineral content and bathing temperature. Perfect.

This planet truly was Paradise.

Going downhill was much faster, especially after she found a shorter route. In no time, she was back beside the stream and headed for the cave entrance. She was surprised to find J'Qhir seated uncomfortably beside the fire at the outer door, still working on his basket.

"You are back," he said and sounded relieved.

"I went exploring. I know I shouldn't have in the dark, but I was very careful. I went up the side of the hill where I saw the mist this morning." She couldn't contain the excitement of her discovery. "You'l never guess what I found."

"Hot ssspringsss," he answered and set his basket aside. He twisted his bulk to one side, to rise without putting pressure on his bad knee.

Leith went to him and held out her arm. "How did you know?"

Gratefully, he accepted her help. "It wa.s.ss the only thing I could think of that would caussse the missst."

After he gained his feet, Leith took his arm and put it on her shoulder. "You are supposed to be resting your knee, not moving around so much."

"I wanted to be able to hear you in ca.s.sse anything happened."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been gone so long." She bent under his weight as they walked down the tunnel. "And I shouldn't have snapped. I-I think I'm jealous. Your people have somehow overcome or avoided most of the pitfalls of human nature."

"I did not mean to sssuggessst our way is better than another'sss. We are not perfect, far from it. But our way isss different from yoursss." He lifted his arm away from her as they entered their living quarters. "Sssometimesss I think too different."

"Humans are better than they used to be." Leith walked near him as he limped to his pallet. "I think discovering and accepting that there are others besides ourselves have helped. We do have a b.l.o.o.d.y history, but hopefully we won't have a b.l.o.o.d.y future."

"Sss't! I left the ba.s.ssket out there."

"I'l get it, but you have to promise you won't work on it anymore tonight. You need to rest. You look so very tired."

"Very well, Leith."

She retrieved the basket and when she returned, he was asleep. She sat on the solar film and began working on hers again, determined to finish the thing no matter how pitiful the result.

"I do have a quessstion," J'Qhir said, startling her.

"I thought you were asleep!"

"Almossst. Why did you d.a.m.n thisss planet?"

She grinned sheepishly. "It's a way humans have of coping with frustration. I don't swear often, but when I do it's because I feel I'm helpless to change the situation I'm in. I shouldn't have d.a.m.ned the planet. I'm angry with Steve. I should have d.a.m.ned him...and I do. He'l get his in the end, I'm sure of it."

"Then you believe vengeance will take care of itssself?"

"I'm not sure, but it's a comfort to think so. I would like to believe in cosmic retribution, that the good we do, as well as the bad, will be rewarded, and that the universe keeps itself in balance. But most people can't wait. They want the instant gratification of seeing justice served. I think I have to agree. I would like to see Steve punished for what he's done."

"Then we are not a.s.ss disssimilar a.s.ss it ssseemed. The Zi alssso enjoy retaliation. Otherwissse, we would not fight the Cruciansss."

Leith waited, but he said no more. She quietly worked on her basket. Hours pa.s.sed, and she finally did finish it. It wasn't as perfectly round as J'Qhir's, more egg-shaped really with one end larger than the other. If it didn't fall apart, it would hold the jerky as well as his. Her next one would be better, and the next one after that even better. Patience and time. She certainly had plenty of time. She'd have to work on her patience.

She stretched and yawned and looked at J'Qhir. He snored softly and she smiled. Would he be embarra.s.sed to know? Or was snoring a sign of prestige among the Zi? There was so much about his culture she didn't know.

She crawled closer to him and when he didn't stir, crept closer still. She shouldn't...but she couldn't help herself. Lightly, she ran her fingertips over the protruding ridge of his browbone. Her touch disturbed him and he shifted in his sleep, mumbling words she couldn't understand. He might think in Terran Standard, but he obviously still dreamed in Zi.

She sat back on her heels and watched him. Her fingers itched to follow the sharply defined contours of his face, feel the soft leather of his skin. She shouldn't want him, but she did. How was it possible to desire someone so different?

Sitting here so close to him would not answer her question, but only exacerbate the problem. She crawled to her bed and closed her eyes. They were the only two people on the whole planet. It was inevitable, wasn't it? Patience and time, she thought again. They certainly had the time. She would definitely have to work on her patience.

Leith waited until the warmest part of the day, the middle of the afternoon, before she climbed the hillside once again to the pool. The afternoon temperature had risen so high she was perspiring by the time she reached her destination. J'Qhir had suggested she wait until he could accompany her to make sure nothing unfavorable happened, but she couldn't imagine swimming nude while J'Qhir watched. Not that he would actually watch, but he would be near and she would be too aware of him.

Impatiently, she built a small fire in a natural alcove. She undressed and washed every piece of clothing she wore, except her jacket but including her blouse, which she had repaired several days ago. She spread them out over rocks near the fire to dry. Now, she was ready to bathe.

She was a strong swimmer and often swam alone. She wanted to dive right in, but she had no idea how deep the bottom was or what might be in the water. She had visions of a Nessie-type monster rearing out of the water and gulping her up in one bite. Shivering, she tossed a few rocks in and watched the water ripple. Nothing else disturbed the surface.

Now or never. She braced herself on the rock wall and lowered herself into the water. Her toes reached an outcropping of rock, and she found it was a natural ledge that ran along most of the side of the pool. Taking a breath, she pushed off and swam the perimeter.