Third watch, p.25
Third Watch, page 25
“No,” Akasa said. “No. I might have to go through that terrible ordeal again. I suppose if Grimalkin, even in cat form, thinks this object might be of use to you in undoing what Odus began”—Khorii noticed Akasa took none of the blame on herself—“then it might be. If you point it—no, other end around—and press the trigger on the head of it, it has the ability to tighten molecular structure. Our people share with the creatures that made our houses a loose molecular structure that allows us to shift shapes easily. This condenses the form, compresses it into a smaller more closely connected being that cannot alter its shape, at least no more than normal growth patterns. A small cat was the smallest of Grimalkin’s many shapes, so that is what he became.”
“So, maybe if we use this on the creature, we could condense it back into a muddy spot in the road?” Uncle Joh said. “It’s worth a try.”
The Condor carried two more passengers on its next run over Corazon. Sona and Akasa rode with them. This time they did not fly over the creature, but set down in the field, on the far side of the encampment.
Jalonzo jogged out to meet them, followed by several of their other friends. “You have brought your abuelita, Capitan José?” he asked Becker.
“No, no, she’s not my grandma,” Uncle Joh said.
Mother quickly explained the situation to Jalonzo.
“But it is too far for her to walk to the creature,” he said, and before the Linyaari or Maak or Elviiz could do so themselves, he swept Akasa into his arms and began jogging with her toward the creature.
“Come, children, they may need us,” Mother called.
“Wait for us, Jalonzo,” Mikaaye cried, running to catch up.
“Maak, you, Elviiz, and me, back on the bird,” Uncle Joh said, running back to the Condor as Khorii and her family galloped after Jalonzo and Mikaaye.
They arrived in time to see Akasa raise a hand that at first trembled, but then, with the imperious assurance Ariin knew so well, aimed the shining cylinder at the nearest portion of the undulating, sludgy mass of the monstrous inogre.
Khorii fully expected disappointment again, despite the feeling she had had since Khiindi first brought her the object that it could be the key they needed.
She had not expected the immediate and dramatic shrinking of the creature as it retreated farther and farther toward the center of the city from which it had spread. Jalonzo started to charge in after it with Akasa in his arms but Father stopped him, shaking his head, and took her from him.
The Condor flew in a circle over the city, dropping “feeding tubes” into the mass ahead of Father’s advance with Akasa. Perhaps that was why Khorii saw no more red dots.
In the end, they were back in a patch of grass measuring the length and breadth of a city block. This was the town square, and the graveyard, Khorii realized with a start. The carefully placed markers had disappeared, but beside the square, in the middle of what used to be a street, the last of the inogre congealed into a vibrating, brown-colored mass. When it had become as small as it seemed likely to, Akasa lowered her hand, Father lowered Akasa to the ground, and everyone gathered around the mass.
“It looks like a face,” Mikaaye said.
“It looks like Odus,” Ariin and Akasa said together.
The last bit of the Corazon inogre was killed by one small application of the viral salt and synthesized sap mixture from the Condor’s arsenal.
Uncle Joh, having delivered the final blow to the thing, shook his head, and said, “Too bad there’s only one of those gizmos. We could use thousands, but I bet those fancy pants on Boss World wouldn’t make more of them for a little thing like saving the universe.”
“They don’t have to,” Mother said. “They didn’t make that one. Grimalkin invented it, and later modified the device enhancing it with the catseyes. He used it to freeze the mutable acid beings on a hostile planet. It’s a long story. But it was a created thing. If we need more advice on how to modify them for this purpose than the elders are willing to give us, we can still resort to time travel, I suppose.”
There was no need for that, although in the last push to rid the universe of the final effects of Odus’s experiments, the Linyaari fleet and all of the weary volunteers who had only recently returned home were called out again. Since the creature was not an independent race, but an artificially produced menace, Linyaari ethics were not compromised by combating it.
The catseye chrysoberyls required to fuel the devices were mostly obtained from Hafiz’s stores. Only the smallest ones were used, and when more of that size were needed, the Makahomians willingly supplied them.
As the universe once more grew as safe as it ever had been for mankind, for commerce, salvagers and pirates included, Khorii’s family, the Balakiire, and the Condor headed back to MOO. Jaya and the Mana were under a new, long-term contract from House Harakamian to begin mass supply runs to worlds that had suffered from the plague and its aftereffects.
Uncle Joh, Maak, and RK stopped off on MOO to discuss an “interesting business proposition” Uncle Hafiz had for them.
Khorii’s family and Mikaaye joined the Balakiire’s crew and at last arrived home.
Before Mikaaye followed his mother and the rest of her crew to their pavilions, he squeezed her hand. “If you find a bouquet at your tent flap some morning, it’s meant for you, Khorii,” he told her. For one of the very few times in her life so far, she was left speechless.
They traveled to their old quarantine area, in the heart of the Ancestral grazing grounds, and wearily entered the family pavilion.
However, no sooner had they taken to their mats than Khiindi jumped onto Ariin, pawing at the crono she still wore around her wrist.
Ariin glared at him, but Khorii slipped off the crono she had taken from Pircifir and held it out to her cat. “I will miss you, Khiindi kitty, but you’ve earned your freedom, and if you want to live in the past, where you can be Grimalkin, then I will gladly do without you,” she said.
But he didn’t take it from her. Instead he nudged her hand until it rested on Ariin, then walked to Mother’s pallet and Father’s and finally, somewhat hesitantly, Elviiz’s. All the time he meowed in a very bossy and irritating fashion, as if ordering them about.
“I think he wants us touching,” Khorii said. “He wants us together so we can all time travel with him.”
“Oh, no,” Father groaned. “Not tonight. Grimalkin, I just want to be home.”
“It seems important, Aari,” Mother said, and took his hand and Ariin’s. Father took Elviiz’s hand, and he took Khorii’s free hand, the one that wasn’t touching Ariin. They formed a tight circle, with Elviiz in the middle and Khiindi on his shoulders, with his whiskers against Khorii’s cheek and his tail brushing Father’s. Khorii held up the hand she’d joined with Ariin’s for the cat to choose his time.
The pavilion blurred and disappeared so that they stood in an open meadow with the sea shining in the distance and down the shore, an early and comparatively unimpressive version of Kubiilikaan. Khiindi was no more. Grimalkin stood behind Elviiz.
“When are we and what is this all about?” Father asked. “If this is another trick…”
Grimalkin smiled and shook his head. “This is no trick, my friend and grandson. But since you have all endured rude treatment at the hands of my race as they pursued the origins of your race, I thought you deserved to see what those origins are. Khorii, I may return to you from time to time to have my ears scratched as only you can, but you gave me leave to go, and I wish to take it here with your original Ancestor and many times great-granddam, my true lifemate, Halili. Don’t laugh, Aari. You and I know I have helped found many races, but yours is the most interesting, and Halili is the mate I love best. Fortunately for you, but inconveniently for me, she is not feline. Now pardon me while I change.”
Khorii’s family stood together as they watched Grimalkin’s body lengthen into the sleek, fleet form of an Ancestor, and he galloped away into the meadow, meeting up with another beautiful, snow-white unicorn that was part of a small herd. They nuzzled each other’s necks, then the herd galloped off over the hills. Grimalkin’s mate rushed to race with them, and the mischievous erstwhile feline reared once, pawing the air with his hooves as if actually saying good-bye, before running over the hill to join his new family.
Glossary of Terms and Proper Names in the Acorna Universe
aagroni—Linyaari name for a vocation that is a combination of ecologist, agriculturalist, botanist, and biologist. Aagroni are responsible for terraforming new planets for settlement as well as maintaining the well-being of populated planets.
Aari—a Linyaari of the Nyaarya clan, captured by the Khleevi during the invasion of Vhiliinyar, tortured, and left for dead on the abandoned planet. He’s Maati’s older brother. Aari survived and was rescued and restored to his people by Jonas Becker and Roadkill. But Aari’s differences, the physical and psychological scars left behind by his adventures, make it difficult for him to fit in among the Linyaari.
Aarkiiyi—member of the Linyaari survey team on Vhiliinyar.
Aarlii—a Linyaari survey team member, firstborn daughter of Captain Yaniriin.
Abuelita—grandmother to Jalonzo Allende.
Acorna—a unicorn-like humanoid discovered as an infant by three human miners—Calum, Gill, and Rafik. She has the power to heal and purify with her horn. Her uniqueness has already shaken up the human galaxy, especially the planet Kezdet. She’s now fully grown and changing the lives of her own people, as well. Among her own people, she is known as Khornya.
Akasa—One of the Ancestral Friends who raised and experimented on “Narhii,” better known as Ariin, Khorii’s twin.
Al y Cassidro, Dr. Phador—headmaster and dean of the mining engineering school at Maganos Moonbase.
Ali Baba—Aziza’s ship.
Allende, Jalonzo—a young genius from the planet Paloduro.
Ancestors—unicorn-like sentient species, precursor race to the Linyaari. Also known as ki-lin.
Ancestral Friends—an ancient shape-changing and spacefaring race responsible for saving the unicorns (or Ancestors) from Old Terra, and using them to create the Linyaari race on Vhiliinyar.
Ancestral Hosts—see Ancestral Friends.
Andina—owner of the cleaning concession on MOO, and sometimes lady companion to Captain Becker.
Annunciata—a victim of the space plague on the planet Paloduro, whose form was appropriated by the Ghosts.
Aridimi Desert—a vast, barren desert on the Makahomian planet, site of a hidden Temple and a sacred lake.
Aridimis—people from the Makahomian Aridimi desert.
Arrinye—Ariin for short, Khorii’s twin sister, stolen from Acorna while still a tiny embryo, and raised by the Ancestral Friends in a different time and place under the name Narhii.
Attendant—Linyaari who have been selected for the task of caring for the Ancestors.
avvi—Linyaari word for “daddy.”
Aziza Amunpul—head of a troupe of dancers and thieves, who, after being reformed, becomes Hafiz’s chief security officer on MOO.
Balakiire—the Linyaari spaceship commanded by Acorna’s aunt Neeva.
Basic—shorthand for Standard Galactic, the language used throughout human-settled space.
Bates, Asha—teacher on the Maganos Moonbase, then temporary captain of the supply ship Mana after its original crew was killed by the plague.
Becker—see Jonas Becker.
Boca Rio—a planet in the Solojo star system.
Bogan—An Ancestral Friend in charge of security.
Bulaybub Felidar sach Pilau ardo Agorah—a Makahomian Temple priest, better known by his real name—Tagoth. A priest who supports modernizing the Makahomian way of life, he was a favorite of Nadhari Kando, before her departure from the planet. He has a close relationship in his young relative, Miw-Sher.
Calum Baird—one of three miners who discovered Acorna and raised her.
chrysoberyl—a precious catseye gemstone available in large supply and great size on the planet of Makahomia, but also, very rarely and in smaller sizes, throughout the known universe. The stones are considered sacred on Makahomia, and are guarded by the priest class and the Temples. Throughout the rest of the universe, they are used in the mining and terraforming industries.
Cleda—one of Coco’s pirate band.
Coco—leader of the pirates that Marl Fidd tries to enlist in his efforts to kidnap Khorii and use her to purify the riches on other deserted worlds.
Commodore Crezhale—an officer in the Federation Health Service.
Condor—Jonas Becker’s salvage ship, heavily modified to incorporate various “found” items Becker has come across in his space voyages.
Crow—Becker’s shuttle, used to go between the Condor and places in which the Condor is unable to land.
Declan “Gill” Giloglie—one of three human miners who discovered Acorna and raised her.
Delszaki Li—once the richest man on Kezdet, opposed to child exploitation, made many political enemies. He lived his life paralyzed, floating in an antigravity chair. Clever and devious, he both hijacked and rescued Acorna and gave her a cause—saving the children of Kezdet. He became her adopted father. Li’s death was a source of tremendous sadness to all but his enemies.
Dinan—Temple priest and doctor in Hissim.
Dinero Grande—a world in the Solojo star system.
Domestic Goddess—Andina’s spaceship.
Dsu Macostut—Federation officer, Lieutenant Commander of the Federation base on Makahomia.
Edacki Ganoosh—corrupt Kezdet count, uncle of Kisla Manjari.
Egstynkeraht—A planet supporting several forms of sulfur-based sentient life.
Elena—a youngster who survived the space plague on the planet Paloduro.
Elviiz—Mac’s son, a Linyaari childlike android, given as a wedding/birth gift to Acorna and Aari. According to Mac, the android is named for an ancient Terran king, and is often called Viiz for short.
enye-ghanyii—Linyaari time unit, small portion of ghaanye.
Estrella Blanca—Also known as the White Star, a pleasure spacecraft that was where Acorna, Aari, Khorii, Jonas Becker, and Khiindi first encountered the plague. It was a ghost ship after Captain Delores Grimwald killed the crew and passengers to prevent the plague from spreading.
Fagad—Temple priest in the Aridimi desert, who spied for Mulzar Edu Kando.
Felihari—one of the Makavitian Rain Forest tribes on Makahomia.
Feriila—Acorna’s mother.
Fidd, Marl—a student on Maganos Moonbase, later a committed criminal and pirate. A true cad.
Fiicki—Linyaari communications officer on Vhiliinyar expedition.
Fiirki Miilkar—a Linyaari animal specialist.
Fiiryi—a Linyaari.
fraaki—Linyaari word for fish.
Frida—A moon in the Solojo system.
Friends—also known as Ancestral Friends. A shape-changing and spacefaring race responsible for saving the unicorns from Old Terra and using them to create the Linyaari race on Vhiliinyar.
Gaali—highest peak on Vhiliinyar, never scaled by the Linyaari people. The official marker for Vhiliinyar’s date line, anchoring the meridian line that sets the end of the old day and the beginning of the new day across the planet as it rotates Our Star at the center of the solar system. With nearby peaks Zaami and Kaahi, the high mountains are a mystical place for most Linyaari.
ghaanye (pl. ghaanyi)—a Linyaari year.
gheraalye malivii—Linyaari for navigation officer.
gheraalye ve-khanyii—Linyaari for senior communications Officer.
Ghost—a deadly alien life-form with the ability to take on the forms of the dead of other species and cultures, which feed on the higher forms of inorganic matter produced by those other cultures.
giirange—office of toast-master in a Linyaari social organization.
Grimalkin—an Ancestral Friend who has become entangled with Aari and Acorna and their children in their voyages through time. He even impersonated Aari for a while. He was punished for his impudence by his people, who trapped him in the body of a cat and took away his machinery for time travel and time control. He has become Khorii’s boon companion—she calls him Khiindi. He is the key to a number of secrets that none of the humans or Linyaari are privy to, including the fate of Khorii’s formerly lost twin, Ariin.
