“Location,” I snapped as I neared the edge of the clearing.
“Frisk is to the left of the hut, center way, facing me. Crigo is at the edge of the jungle, five yards behind Frisk. The angle of attack will be northeast to southwest.”
“Cover Frisk. I’ll handle Crigo.”
The light gradually brightened without the leaves to block the sun’s last rays, and I spotted Crigo the instant I cleared the trees. He was crouched low to the ground, ears flattened and lips curled back to expose wicked-looking teeth. His powerful hindquarters were bunched, his intent amber gaze locked on Frisk.
My brain had just registered the scenario when he sprang. I went into overdrive and time slowed to a crawl as I launched myself at Crigo. His tightly muscled body expanded as he rose into the air. Reached with his front paws, claws visibly extended.
I slammed into him at the very apex of his leap, a mere second before he reached Frisk, the hot scent of pissed-off rock cat assailing my nostrils. Part of my consciousness noted Frisk turning, pulling out his laser. And then our momentum carried us into him, knocked the gun from his hand and sent it flying.
All three of us crashed into the side of the hut. I heard a loud crack, then time resumed its normal pace and I was busy trying to contain a spitting, snarling rock cat. It wasn’t easy, but at least he recognized me and retracted his claws.
When the dust cleared, Crigo and I were facing each other, his tail lashing in annoyance and frustration as he glared at me. I glared right back, hands on my hips as I drew in a deep cleansing breath. “Go cool off,” I told him. “I’ll handle it.”
With a final sneer in Frisk’s direction, he turned his back and started grooming his paws.
Frisk was climbing to his feet, so the crack I’d heard must not have been bone. I positioned myself between him and his laser before I spoke. “Want to explain what you’re doing sneaking around my hut?”
“Looking for you.” He dusted off his clothing, avoiding a wet spot on the pocket adorning his right leg.
“Oh?” I didn’t believe him for a minute. Unless he was a lot more stupid than I knew him to be, he was well aware that I now resided at the Buri village.
“Someone saw you here earlier. I thought maybe I’d catch you before you left.”
I crossed my arms. “Now, what could we possibly have to talk about, Frisk? I told you the day I arrived, you’ll have my report when I’ve concluded my investigation.”
“That’s kind of what I wanted to talk to you about.” He glanced at Crigo and I could feel a combination of fear and anger erupt before he looked back at me. “Dynatec would like to buy your indenture from Alien Affairs. Our company is always looking for new talent, and you’re one of the best.”
My interest immediately skyrocketed. No one had ever tried to bribe me before. It proved how desperate Dynatec was to hang on to this planet. “You know Alien Affairs won’t sell a GEP’s indenture.”
“No, but they’ll let you buy your freedom.” He glanced nervously at Crigo. “Dynatec will provide the funds, and in return you’ll sign a contract to work for them until you pay the loan off. Plus, they’re willing to pay you a handsome salary above the cost of your indenture.”
“Is that how you acquired Redfield?”
His eyes narrowed. “Something similar.”
I pretended to think it over. A tactic like this could stall the investigation drastically. Alien Affairs would have to send another agent, and that someone would have to be brought up to snuff on what was happening. They also might not be as thorough as I was, especially since the two-month time limit that started the second I landed would still be in effect. Just to see how he’d react, I voiced part of my thoughts to Frisk.
“If a new agent is brought in, they’ll have to cover the same ground I’ve gone over, and do it faster. Remember, the time limit is nearly half over.”
“Dynatec is willing to accept a slight delay while a new agent is briefed,” he responded.
I just bet they were. And while they waited, maybe they could kill off a few more Buri. “Max, are you monitoring his vital signs?”
“Yes.”
Good. It was time for a little digging. “Sorry, Frisk, but I’m not interested. I like my job. It can be real exciting. Why, in the next few days, I’m going to be doing all kinds of mining. Never know what you’ll find on a new planet.”
“His blood pressure just spiked,” Max whispered in my ear.
Bingo. I was definitely on the right track.
“I thought your job was to investigate the Buri.” He did his best to keep his expression clear, but his eyes gave him away. He was worried.
“Oh, it is. But if the Buri aren’t dying out, we’ll need to know what types of resources they have available for future Federation trade.”
“You don’t really believe the Buri are going to survive, do you?” He started to put his hands in his pockets, changed his mind, and propped them on his hips. “Come on, Smith. There are only a handful of them left, and only one child.”
“Funny thing about that.” I bared my teeth in a smile.
“One of the females is pregnant, and I can’t find a single reason, medically speaking, why they shouldn’t continue to procreate very nicely. Is there something you’d like to share with me as to why you don’t think they will?”
“I’m no scientist. But just because a female is pregnant doesn’t mean she’ll have a viable infant.”
“Kiera,” Max spoke softly. “There is a seventy-six percent probability that the liquid staining Frisk’s leg is a fast-acting poison.”
A chill went through me. If someone really wanted to do me in stealthily, a fast-acting poison was the way to go. Even my souped-up body couldn’t work quickly enough to save me from its effects. Slip it into the cafftea reservoir on my food preparation unit, and it would be over before I knew what hit me. Which explained why Frisk had tried my door, and why Crigo had disobeyed my orders. Guess I owed the cat an apology. Again.
I gestured toward his pants. “Looks like you had an accident.”
He looked down as though he’d only then noticed the wet spot. “Oh, yeah. Almost forgot. When Redfield found out I was coming to speak with you, he asked me to bring you a sample of some weird plant he’s been studying. Guess it broke when I hit your hut. I better get back to our camp and change. No telling what was in the stuff.” He lowered his hands. “Keep our offer in mind, Smith. It could be the best career move you’ve ever made.”
I watched Frisk walk away and wondered if Dorn knew what he was up to, or if he’d acted on his own. He gave Crigo a wide berth, pausing only to scoop up his laser before heading toward the Dynatec camp. As excuses went, the one the captain had offered was pretty good.
“Max?”
“He was lying.”
“Yeah, I thought so.”
“And Second Lieutenant Karle reported in right before Frisk showed up.”
I hadn’t expected to hear from Claudia again until we met for dinner on her day off, so the fact that she’d contacted Max surprised me. “What did she say?”
“First, she thinks she may be onto something but isn’t sure what yet. She’ll keep trying. And second, Dr. Redfield asked her to pass on a message. He apologizes for what happened in the jungle the day he showed you the black flower and hopes you didn’t misunderstand his intent. He needs to speak with you desperately, but either Frisk or Dorn is always watching him.”
“Okay.” The communication from Redfield was worrisome. It meant Dorn and Frisk no longer trusted him, and that he was in danger. Unfortunately, the laws concerning GEPs and their indenture holders were complicated. I couldn’t march into Dynatec’s camp and drag him out even though I might want to. In a court of law that could be considered coercion of testimony. To make any charges of indenture abuse against Frisk stick, the doctor needed to find a way to ditch his followers and come to me so he could legally request sanctuary. “Keep an eye on him, and if it looks like he’s ever out alon
e, let me know. I can at least try to put myself in his path.”
Crigo still had his back to me, but he’d stopped grooming to watch Frisk leave the area. I went to him and knelt. “Thank you. You may have saved my life. But I couldn’t let you kill him yet. I’m making you a promise, though. If it ever becomes necessary, he’s yours.”
He licked his lips, his amber eyes glowing with anticipation, and I could swear he grinned. I had a feeling that in Crigo’s book, Frisk’s termination was already deemed necessary.
“You can’t have him until I say so,” I warned. “Next time you think he’s up to something, come get me.”
His ears went back and he lifted his nose with an air of hauteur before he focused on something over my shoulder. I shifted to see what he was looking at, and abruptly lurched to my feet.
Eight Buri, all armed with those evilly sharp spears, were arrayed in a semicircle at the edge of the jungle. Thor stood in the middle, a two-handed grip on his weapon, glaring daggers at me.
I lifted one hand in a tiny wave, and gave him a weak smile. “Hi. Looking for me?”
CHAPTER 9
The next morning I awoke with a feeling of well-being so foreign that I had to study it before I climbed from my sleeping platform. It sprang, I finally decided, from Thor’s I’m-the-leader, you-will-obey attitude.
An odd thing to get happy about, but considering who and what I am, maybe it was to be expected. Normally, I’m the one people come to for protection, the one in charge. Even the zorfa’s ass had constantly deferred to me on the occasions when we were together, which was enormously frustrating. But Thor had demonstrated repeatedly that not only was he determined to protect me, he considered me very soft and feminine in a good kind of way.
Also, as senior agent for Alien Affairs, I’m usually the first official representative of the Federation that most species come in contact with after the scientists leave. This generates a certain amount of awe from native populations. After all, I hold their future in my hands.
But Thor didn’t know about the Federation, and I had a sneaky suspicion he wouldn’t care even if I spelled it out in plain Buri. He just didn’t strike me as the kowtowing type.
And then there was the personal side of things. I’d finally found a male I didn’t have to worry about breaking if things got…intense. Take my word for it, to a GEP, Naturals are very delicate creatures. This makes it a little hard to let go and really enjoy yourself. Mainly due to the fact that part of your mind is always focused on not doing permanent physical damage to your partner during a moment of ecstasy.
We had made quite a picture yesterday, eight fierce-looking Buri warriors marching silently back to the village. Me, upended over Thor’s shoulder, grinning like an idiot. Even the indignity of being treated like a sack of grain couldn’t quell my happiness.
It also hadn’t hurt that he’d kept me by his side the rest of the evening. I figured that was more because he wanted to make sure I stayed put than it was for the joy of my company, though. He’d even escorted me back to my quarters after we’d shared the evening meal, and made sure I was safely tucked away for the night.
There was only one dark spot in my mood. He hadn’t touched me. At least, not like I wanted him to. Was I being too subtle? Had it somehow escaped his attention that I was ready, willing and avid to make love?
I knew damn well he wanted me. I could see it every time he looked at me, could feel it floating in the air around him like static electricity whenever we were within a yard of each other. So what was he waiting for? Could it be that I was lacking some come-hither cue that Buri females performed to entice their males into a sexual romp?
Too bad Max’s cameras couldn’t see through walls. Some footage of Buri mating rituals would really come in handy right about now. I’d never been a voyeur, but if it helped me snag Thor, I was willing to make an exception.
I climbed off the sleeping platform and took a jumpsuit from one of the pegs on the wall, still thinking about Thor as I pulled it on. I’d give him a few more days, and if he hadn’t made his move by then, I’d take matters into my own hands. Literally. I could have that loincloth off him in two seconds flat.
That image had me smiling as I pushed the curtain aside and stepped outside. Then I came to a rapid halt, blinking in surprise. I’d overslept. The sun was already high, nearly noon from the looks of it.
My gaze was drawn to the new building. It was finished, rising sturdy and proud in front of the cliffs, and my compulsion to go inside was climbing steadily with every hour I spent in the thing’s proximity. It was strange, but I could swear the thing was calling me.
I blinked and refocused on a stream of Buri, both male and female, carrying goods inside. Some of the items were identifiable as curtains and floor coverings, but others were concealed in wrappings. All of the Buri seemed in very good spirits, laughing and talking as they passed each other going in and out.
For that matter, the entire village was abuzz with activity. To one side of the communal kitchen, four males were digging two long pits. From behind Thor’s house, I could hear the steady bang of metal on metal. Since the forge was located back there, and he was the only one I’d ever seen use it, I had to assume he was working again.
Near the pool, in the shade of the cliff, Junior sat on a flat rock, legs crossed tailor fashion. Elder was with him, and the youngster listened raptly to every word the older Buri spoke. Even though I couldn’t understand the language, it was clear he was giving Junior important instructions.
A movement caught my eye, and I glanced around in time to see Auntie Em emerge from the jungle. Her right arm was curved around a large wooden bowl that rested against her hip.
When she saw me, she smiled and motioned me toward the kitchen. Once inside, she put the bowl on a table and poured a clay cup full of something that simmered in a pot over the fire, and then pushed it into my hands.
I took a tentative sip, then a larger one as I realized the liquid contained caffeine. It wasn’t cafftea, but it was the next best thing—kind of the consistency of hot chocolate, but with a spicy tang to it. Even the fact that it was the color of tomato juice didn’t slow me down. Thanks to Frisk and his intention to poison me, the food-preparation unit in the hut now felt haunted. I’d replace it the first chance I got, but until then, I only considered the one on board Max to be 100 percent safe.
While I finished that cup and poured myself another, I watched Auntie Em work. The bowl contained three or four gnarled roots, bits of dirt still clinging to them. She rinsed them thoroughly in a separate bowl of water, then peeled and cut them in half. That done, she brought out what looked to be a large mortar and pestle. Placing the roots inside, she pounded until they broke down into a pale bluish-white liquid.
Midway through the process, Churka came in and took a seat beside her, watching in obvious fascination. Auntie Em spoke to her several times, and Churka would nod. When the roots were reduced to stringy pulp and liquid, Churka stood and went to one of the shelves near the fireplace. When she came back, she was carrying a jug with a wooden stopper.
Auntie Em removed the pestle from the bowl and gestured while she gave instructions. Churka nodded, removed the stopper, and poured part of the jug’s contents into the root mixture. Even from across the table I could smell alcohol mixed with a fruity aroma that made me think they were concocting some type of wine. This was good, I decided. Exotic alcoholic beverages were always in big demand, and this one smelled downright sinful.
I didn’t get a chance to find out for sure if that’s what it was, though. After a quick stir, Auntie Em covered the bowl with a cloth and set it to one side; then, with a smile in my direction, she and Churka left the building.
Wondering if I dared swipe a sample for Max to analyze, I finished my drink and took a fast look around the room. Nope. Too many Buri were coming and going. One of them would spot me for sure. Oh, well, maybe later. Now that I’d had my daily quota of caffeine, I was ready to do a little mining
.
Since the episode with Frisk yesterday evening, I’d been assigned two full-time guards. Ghost was still with me, but my other protector was new to the job. We were behind my quarters, going through my supplies, and I studied him from under my lashes as I packed a laser drill, axe, shovel and some specimen containers in a knapsack.
He wasn’t a total stranger. I’d noticed him several times around the village, mostly because, in a race of strikingly beautiful people, he was the exception. His hair was a few shades lighter than Brownie’s, and was also shorter. It curled in tight ringlets that looked like coils of wire. His beard was fuller and bushier than what the other Buri males sported. Lips so thick they were in a permanent pout protruded below a bulbous nose with a well-defined crook in the middle. Combined with the beard, it gave him a real wild-man look.
It was his size that had me worried, though. Other than Thor, he was the biggest Buri I’d seen so far. But where Thor was all sleek lines and tight, sexy muscle, this guy could compete with a mountain and win.
I didn’t doubt I could take him if the necessity arose, but it would be no rapid victory. His weight alone would be enough to slow me down, keep me pinned in place. Especially if I didn’t want to hurt him in the effort.
Which made it pretty obvious what Thor was doing. At the first sign I was about to take off like an out-of-control rocket, mountain man would hang on to me until the troops arrived. Thor wasn’t taking any chances that I’d outrun my guards again.
Oh, well, if I was stuck with the living mountain, might as well give him a name. I mentally shuffled through all the monikers of mountain men that I could remember, and discarded every one. They didn’t seem to fit him somehow.
When I straightened and slung the knapsack over my shoulder, I casually took a step closer to him and lowered my shield. Surprise had me gaping at him in wonder. Around a core of solid steel flowed waves of such gentleness, such sweetness, that I was stunned.