02
When I had finished my work, I climbed up to join them I found ships arriving, one after the other, at a rate of four or five an hour. For the most part, they came from the other side of the island, and on arrival, spread out over the broad savanna, scattered here and there, as if each had their own traditional place. Within hours, lines of arriving ships were forming a virtual city seeded from the sky. As each ship arrived, with their long, colorful banners waving from their assorted masts, the crews alighted and quickly staked the ships to the ground. Then, without a pause, they began to set up tents, tables and booths alongside of them. By the time we went down to the gig, two dozen ships had arrived, and more could be seen in the offing. Nestled in the vines we exchanged the glasses every so often, and exchanged idle, inconsequential comments as the breeze carried the smoke and fragrant scents from the grills and ovens that were being set up as soon as the ship was tied down.
'Looks like the gathering of a nomadic trading clan, since the ships have women and children on board. They look to be clustered as well marked by similar banners. Probably family groupings...' said Cin. 'We're going to have to keep under cover. Couples are already pairing up and wandering off out of sight, I suspect in search of some privacy.'
I glanced across to her. 'Speaking of which...'
She put down the glasses and looked at me with a rather sarcastic smile. 'Yes?'
'I think we came to an understanding just before we were interrupted by the inopportune arrival of that ship. But I'm not quite sure what it was. I know what I said, but I don't recall you saying anything...'
And she didn't now. She just watched me with a faint smile and amused eyes.
'So I was wondering just how things stand between us.'
'A kiss is not enough?'
'That, my dear Cin, is a loaded question,' I laughed. 'One I'm not prepared to answer. I believe that kiss sealed something, but I'm not quite sure what. One of the wonderful things about you is that you've always been rather open with me on what you're thinking, but I'm not quite sure where we stand. And I want us to start out on the same chart. It could be just the two... three... of us for some time to come, and well, it could be a lot of fun, now that you've abandoned the idea of killing me. But it could be very awkward as well, if we're not on the same course. So you see...'
'Oh, alright, Wil. I've just realized that I can't kill you, after spending several weeks working up to it. You'll need to give me time to reset my thinking. I've just abandoned a lifetime of sacred vows and broken free of an organization and a mindset that has controlled me for nearly my entire life. I need to come to terms with that as well. And I'm not prepared to substitute one set of controls for another just yet. I am going to need time to adjust. If you give me that time, I believe everything will work out. But I need some time.'
'Of course. I'm sure we both need time. And you can count on me for any support you might need, as a friend, shipmate or lover.'
'As a friend, for now.'
'Right. As a friend, Naylea.'
I may've hoped for more, but I could be patient. Well, I had to be patient; I'd no confidence in sweeping Cin off her feet. And, all things considered, it might be safest just to let her lead.
'Well, good. With that settled, point two. I find I'm hungry, and thinking back, I realize that I never had breakfast, or at least got to eat it. What do you say, we have something to eat? Shall I push a button, or do you want to prepare a special feast for the occasion.'
'You still need to make yourself useful, Litang. Push a button. I'll be down directly.'
Careful to stay under cover, I rose, and slipping over the edge, said, 'I like it when you play hard to get, Cin. Dinner will be ready shortly.'
The ships continued to arrive over the next two rounds. Cin watched the proceedings for hours on end from the upper ledge, concealed behind a screen of vines. We were lucky in that it seemed that we were too remote for the eager, amorous couples who were casually, but constantly wandering off to find some quiet bower, hopefully with better luck than I. In any event, it seemed that none had the patience to reach this far into the hills. I spent hours watching the proceeding as well, if only to savor the smoke and smells from the many food stands amongst the ships. I also spent a lot of time inside the wreck. I rebuilt my com link and put the final touches on the interior fittings, getting everything ready to sail.
Siss, however, became more annoying than ever. It had become apparent that sentry-serpents were common passengers on board the ships since they could be seen floating about the ship-city in a surprisingly wide variety of sizes and colors - they seemed to come in dozens of races. Siss was in a fever to meet and socialize with her fellow dragons, but, for some reason, seemed to feel that it was her duty to stay with us. On one hand, I didn't think she'd compromise our presence by standing out. But on the other hand, if she was telepathic, then they were too, so could our presence remain a secret? And would those sentry-serpents accept an outsider in their ranks? I couldn't order her to stay; she was a companion, not a pet. I didn't feel comfortable giving her leave to go down, either - and yet I was ready to wring her long neck as she whirled around me - a green ring of feathers - with her impatient excitement, as I tried to get some work done. And whenever I sat down for a break, she'd set herself down on my lap and demand, with a menacing growl, that every one of her feathers be put in its proper place.
I was putting the finishing touches on restoring the main compartment - its deck back in place and everything shipshape when Cin, who'd been napping in the control room, stepped in.
'What do you think?' she asked, twirling around so I could see her outfit.
She didn't bother to let me reply, not that I could think of anything in the moment.
'I borrowed one of your shirts. They wear them loose. Knew you wouldn't mind. My jumpsuit was roomy enough to be cut down for the pants. Not colorful, but it'll do. I'm not looking to stand out. Just the opposite, in fact. I don't want to be noticed at all. Then I disassembled my green lizard leather jacket to make the vest, and I used its sleeves to disguise and extend my boots. I printed out the belts in plastic, but they look leathery enough for now. I tore down my kit bag to be used for the pouches, and printed out the hat. Done. So what do you think?'
'You're thinking of actually going down there?'
'Good guess, Captain.'
'You can't be serious. You don't know the language or the customs. It's too dangerous! '
'I'll be the judge of that.'
'But why? What purpose does it serve?'
'Don't be dense, Litang. The answer is obvious. So, what do you think? Is it authentic looking or not? I know it's not authentic, but since I'm planning on fading into the background, that shouldn't matter much. Does it pass muster?'
I could see in her eyes that I wasn't going to talk her out of it, so I gave her costume a good look. It seemed authentic enough, but then I'd only observed the dress clan with Cin's survey glasses from more than a kilometer away. No doubt she had studied them in great detail during all those hours staring down on the gathering, so I could trust her judgment. Both sexes dressed alike, wearing brightly colored loose-fitting pants tucked into bands of cloth at the ankles. The broad-feathered race went about either barefoot or with sandals. Fine-feathered people, with claw-toed boots were far less numerous. Both sexes wore several lizard leather and silver work belts around their waist - one with a number of different sized pouches they used in place of pockets. They also wore a belt to hold their swords and daggers, either at their side or on their back, though the women usually settled for just a dagger. Both sexes wore loose blouses, with vests or jumpers, many ornately decorated. Many wore hats and caps, also ornately decorated, though many of the girls had jewels woven into their feathers. Cin, however, had settled on a plain, wide-brimmed hat.
'Oh, it looks right enough, as long as they don't look closely. But nothing is authentic. If they look closely...'
'They won't.'
&n
bsp; 'You can't count on that. Most of them seem to be broad-feathered, so you're going to stand out right without doing anything at all. And you're a stranger. Say something to you and you're lost. One wrong move out of character or custom, one curious look and you could be sunk.'
'Listen, Litang. I've been studying them for the better part of two rounds. I know what to expect. There are thousands of people down there, with more arriving every watch, a stranger isn't going to stick out....
'But most are broad-feathered...'
There are probably two or three hundred fine-feathered people like us. I've paid special attention to them. I suspect that they're servants or slaves. They go about like shadows, unnoticed. The broad-feathered will likely never even see me, even if they look at me.'
'Tell me, Naylea, why are you running the risk? Are you bored?'
'First, I'm not running any risks. I'm a stealth. I spent 15 years learning how to be invisible, and when visible, how not to be noticed, and as many years practicing it. I could've accomplished this recon mission when I was 12. I know how to seem to be part of a group, without the group even knowing it. You've already mentioned that nothing in my costume demands a second glance. I'm completely nondescript, as drab as drab could be. I'm just an extra in a crowd scene. I assure you, no one will notice me.'
'But you know only what you're been able to see from a distance. If someone says anything to you at all, you'd be discovered.'
'I'll have my com link and my knowledge of Cimmadarian. I'll pick up a few words quickly enough. This is my trade, after all.'
'And if something goes wrong?'
'I can look after myself. Besides, I'll have my sissy and Siss along for protection.'
Siss gave me a long taunting hiss, sticking out her forked tongue as well.
'Hopefully Siss won't give you away. And you're forgetting that all those other sentry-serpents can read your mind as well. They're sentry-serpents after all, You'd think it was their job to capture intruders.'
'That's why Siss is coming with me. She'll square things with her kind. I'm sure she's a very charming serpent.'
Siss barked a laugh, and gave me a taunting tongue again.
'You still haven't answered why.'
She gave me a taunting look. 'I would've thought it was obvious.'
'Not to me. We're safe and snug here. Why take needless risks? Or are you doing it just for fun?'
'And what if I am?' she asked with a taunting smile.
Siss chimed in with another taunting hiss as well.
'Are you going to forbid me from going?' she added, darkly.
I was on a dangerous course and knew it. 'No. Of course not. I have great faith in your skills, Naylea. And I know I've no right to order you about...'
'Good. Then there's no problem.'
'It's just that I don't like to see you run unnecessary risks. I've grown very fond of you, as you know.'
'They're not unnecessary, Litang. They're absolutely necessary, assuming you were serious a couple of rounds ago about making a life here in the Pela. Or was that just Litang being oily again?'
'I was absolutely serious. I want to be with you, wherever you are, Naylea, and I was thinking you'd be happiest here, beyond St Bleyth.'
'Right. Well then, here we are. We've been handed a golden opportunity to learn where we are and what our prospects are.'
'I wasn't thinking of becoming a pirate.'
'Pirates? You've seen too many costume vids. You don't know what they are. They're likely just a clan of traders and merchants. And so what if they are pirates? It doesn't matter. They're a source of information, and probably a very good one, since they likely range far and wide over this section of the Pela. Down there I can watch and listen in on their conversations while being neural-linked to the boat's AI via my com link. With any luck at all, the AI should be able to compile at least the basics of the language within hours. Once I acquire the language, I'll get a glimpse into all sorts of customs that might well keep us from making fools of ourselves, or even putting us in danger when the time comes for us to integrate ourselves into the local civilizations.'
All too true. I hadn't a leg to stand on.
'I assure you, I've done my homework. I've carefully observed how our guests behave. Plus, I'm a stealth. I wasn't kidding when I said I could do this when I was 12. It'll be easy. All I'm planning to do is observe, watch and listen to transactions and conversations - simple conversations that I might be able to pick up words from. And as I said, I'll just be an extra in a crowd scene.
'Right. I give up. I can't argue with anything you've said. But I'm not going to let you go down there alone....'
Siss gave me a long hissing taunt.
'Siss or no Siss. Let me see if I can work up costume as well.'
'No. You sit tight. I'm not going to babysit you on this first mission. Siss and I will go alone. Once I've acquired enough of the language, once I know enough about how the society works, once I'm comfortable that I can talk our way out of any mistake you make, I'll consider taking you along. For now, however, it's just Siss and me.'
She was right, again.
I sighed. 'Right. No point wasting any more of my breath. But you better keep an eye on Siss. I wouldn't trust her. She's been way too excited lately. I suspect that there's a whole lot of boy sentry-serpents down there she's in a white heat to meet. If you don't watch her closely, she's likely to lose her head and who knows what she'll do, or what the consequences will be?'
Siss gave me a low threatening hiss, narrowing her dark eyes menacingly.
'Right. That's the look I expect you to give all those boys,' I said.
She barked a loud laugh, followed by a long dismissive hiss.
'Alright. Fine. Just remember that you've only just gotten over raising a bunch of kids. I'm sure that was a whole lot of fun... Plus, the last thing we need around this little boat is half a dozen little dragons darting about. It's small enough as it is.'
A low, warning hiss again.
'But then again, those little nippers were rather cute. It might be nice to have some really cute and playful little dragons about the place for a change. Neb knows, they'd keep us very busy arranging all their feathers...'
A deep menacing growl this time.
'Come on Siss, let's go and leave grumpy ol'Wil to his house cleaning,' said Cin.
Siss barked her laughter and swam around us several times before she ended up nose on the closed hatch, waiting, impatiently, for Cin to open it.
Siss is one strange dragon. If she is telepathic, as I'm sure she is, she not only knew I was joking, but was playing along with the joke as the straight man.
I checked the remote camera and sensors we'd installed in the canyon to alert us if anyone wandered up this way before cracking open the hatch. I followed them out into the bright, unending day and after they started on their way through the already renewing jungle, I climbed up to the ledge and followed their progress down to the ship-city with Cin's glasses. I lost them in the jungle and then waited until they reappeared and casually made their way across the half kilometer of savanna to reach the rows of anchored ships that had become a bustling city. They plunged into one of the crowded "streets" between the ships and the various stands and tents set up alongside each ship to sell food, and (perhaps plundered) trinkets and treasures. They were quickly lost beyond the curve of the crowded street, a nondescript girl and her green dragon, who meant so very much to me.