Nimisha's Ship
- Автор: Маккефри Энн
- Язык: английский
- Жанр: Научная фантастика
Электронная книга - «Nimisha's Ship». Краткое содержание книги:
When Nimisha takes an experimental ship on a solo test flight, something goes horribly awry, marooning her light-years from home on a planet as deadly as it is beautiful. Now the ruthless members of a rival branch of the Rondymense family are given the chance they've been waiting for: to reclaim the Ship Yards by any means necessary.
Only Nimisha's ingenious child, Cuiva, stands in their way. But for how long? For just when her daughter needs her most, Nimisha is in a precarious situation herself--and unable to help. But Nimisha has never given up in her life--and she's not about to start now . . .
It wasn't, however, the Residence Manager (one of the latest Class T AI's) but Lady Cuiva herself who opened the door.
"I heard Grandam say you were coming today," she said, slipping outside.
Caleb smiled down at the girl's anxious expression, and since they were not in a public spot, he gave her a quick hug. That's when he realised that she had both hands clasped behind her back.
"You don't happen to have news about my mother?" she asked so plaintively that Caleb wanted more than ever to have good news for her.
He shook his head, stroking the silky hair that hung loose down her back. Nimi's hair… He broke off that thought.
"Jeska says they can't go any further with the Mark Five; you need to find my mother," Her tone was interrogatory as she tilted her head up at him.
He took two steps downward so they were at eye-level. "That's true enough. I'm here to…"
Her hands came from behind her back and, with one, she seized his much bigger hand and closed his fingers around what she put in the palm.
"My birth-mother would want you to have these now, then." She stepped back, holding her lips closed, but her eyes watered.
Rustin closed his fingers about the round circles: six of them, a full stack and exactly what he had come about.
"You had them?" he whispered in astonishment.
She nodded and then, with a lift to her chin and in a louder voice, said, "My grandam is expecting you. Commander Rustin. If you will be pleased to enter…"
"Mimicking the RM is not done, Lady Cuiva," he said, grinning as he followed her into the impressive foyer with its ancient Terran marble floor in alternating black and white squares. There were fine statues in the many niches, all artfully restored to the condition in which they had left their sculptors' yards. The flowery Acaderillus shrub filled the room with a delicate odour. It was the only indigenous Vegan object in the Residence entrance hall.
Cuiva slipped over to the stationary RM and flicked it back on.
"That's all right, RM," she said. "Commander Rustin is expected. You may conduct him to my grandam." With that and a saucy wink at Caleb, she glided over to the door into her quarters and was gone.
"I will conduct you to Lady Rezalla directly, Commander." The RM turned and started up the left-hand side of the double staircase, also of priceless Terran marble. It moved with the dignity befitting its occupation. Rustin followed, wishing he could have followed Cuiva instead as he slipped the data circles into his tunic pocket.
With his errand accomplished, what excuse could he give Lady Rezalla as the purpose for this visit? And how like Nimisha to have entrusted the data files to her daughter, rather than her mother! Who would have thought it? Well, he should have. But one simply didn't go about asking underage children if they just happened to have been entrusted with irreplaceable documents. What to say to Lady Rezalla? She must be thinking he was the bearer of tidings.
He could be! His hand brushed the data disks. He could well be. The Fleet already had permission of Lady Rezalla to take the finished hull out of the Yard. Yes, that was why he was requesting this interview. To inform her that the removal would occur shortly- as soon as he had added to the ship the special adjustments he now had deposited safely in a uniform pocket.
Though Lady Rezalla's quick and piercing glance begged for news of another kind, she did not refer to her missing daughter when Caleb explained the purpose of his visit. He deeply wished he could relieve her fears with some sort of reassurance. No news was still, in its own way, good news.
"And you feel safe," she asked, pausing on the word, "taking out the Prototype Five, Commander?"
"It has passed every single test the Fleet can give it, Lady Rezalla," he said quite truthfully. "I have no hesitation at all in putting it through the most gruelling manoeuvres."
"Except those that would take you down the maw of a worm-hole, I trust," she said drolly.
"Indeed, Lady Rezalla. I shall avoid them as I would a black hole."
"Do." And she inclined her head graciously.
As a little present for her courtesy in receiving him, he presented her with the latest "book" of scents-fine sheets of paper, no longer than the palm of his hand, each impregnated with a different aroma-from the perfumeries of the Outer City, famed for their exquisite fragrances.
"How charming," she said with a delighted smile. "You are much too good to me, Commander."
"Nothing can be too good for a lady of your charm and eminence," he replied in words formulaic but delivered sincerely.
She opened the first sheet, inhaling delicately. "Oh, like roses. Terran roses. Attar made from them was supposed to be the most seductive fragrance of all."
She passed the tiny sheet to him and he inhaled obediently without informing her that his nose was woefully inept at distinguishing "pleasant" smells. The funk of recycled air he knew; florals, he did not.
"Elegant. Truly elegant."
"I'd term it dainty, Commander, but then"-she smiled winsomely at him, cocking her head in such a way that he wished she was neither a First Family Lady nor related to the woman he did love-"this scent was contrived for feminine, not masculine, tastes."
"Indeed." He inclined his head, smiling in such a way as to thank her for her discreet flirtatiousness. "I would also like your permission to bring Lady Cuiva to see how we are progressing with her mother's design."
Lady Rezalla gave him a long, almost acid look. Then she made a graceful gesture with her lovely hand. "Forgive me, but I could wish that my granddaughter was not quite so fascinated by her mother's profession." Caleb made a small bow of comprehension. "She has lately insisted that she be tutored in space navigation… and doubtless the anomalies that are… hazards." Her mouth closed firmly for a moment as she took a deep breath before continuing. "However, the child's loyalty and dedication must be considered. I shall not have it said that I denied her."
"Never, Lady Rezalla," Caleb protested.
The long hand was lifted again, forestalling further reassurances. "You may have heard rumours about the machinations of that young… young…" A proper term seemed to escape her.
"Scut, milady?"
She gave him a stern look but her eyes twinkled. "That will do until I can think of something more thoroughly derogatory. That scut Vestrin."
"He can't still be pursuing a court action on the grounds that his father made the bequest to Lady Nimisha?"
She nodded, smiling with a wicked and determined gleam in her gentian-blue eyes-so like her daughter's. "As well we were forewarned by you, Commander, for, of course, my body-heir had made a will prior to her departure and, in it, bequeaths all her estate and assets to Lady Cuiva. You will shortly meet Perdimia, who will accompany Lady Cuiva wherever she may go."
"Oh! Yes, I see. Sensible precaution. But surely not even Lord Vestrin would attempt to… harm a child. A First Family child wearing such a prestigious tattoo."
"Cuiva is not yet Necklaced in her minor majority, Commander. I would not put anything past that-no, 'scut' is not appropriate. He may not BE a bastard"-Lady Rezalla spat the epithet-"but roue he most certainly is. I would put nothing past a creature of so little honour and such great greed. He has laughed… LAUGHED…" she paused again, "at public functions over my body-heir's disappearance." She drew in a deep breath, her nostrils pinched by her wrath.
"You may be sure that I would protect Lady Cuiva with my life," Caleb said, bowing again and feeling almost sick with a combination of anxiety for the child and animosity toward Lord Vestrin.