Page 8 of Advance and Retreat
“I’m sorry you missed my act as Sleeping Beauty.Are you familiar with the story?I think I was miscast.I should have played the evil hag fairy queen.”She fought the urge to hide her face in her too-thin hands.It was obvious they’d been prepared for how wan she looked.Only their rapt gazes taking her in betrayed any hint of her state.
“You’ve suffered nothing a little food and rest won’t cure,” Nobek Wovir declared.He took her hand and gave the back of it a courtly kiss.
It was a chivalrous gesture from a man who looked as little the part as anyone could.The warrior of the clan managed the unlikely feat of brutish handsomeness.He was chiseled menace by sight, but no slouch when it came to a warm personality.Coarse hair waved past his shoulders, which appeared to Toni nearly as wide as he was tall.
“What’s important is you’ll recover, and I have a little while to wait on you hand and foot while you do so,” the third man of the clan enthused.
Imdiko Feru couldn’t have been more opposite of Wovir.His high cheekbones and aristocratic nose gave him all the trappings of civilization the Nobek was missing.There was none of Imon’s mischief in his sweet smile or Wovir’s subdued ferocity in his features.Stunning Feru was pure caregiving Imdiko.
Toni could have basked in their attention all day, but she realized they had no business on Earth.“I’m not complaining, but why have you returned so soon?”
“We took leave to see you.Good thing we did, because we had no idea until we got here you’d been so ill.”Imon shook a disapproving finger at her, pretending severity.“I’m very disappointed in you keeping such secrets, young lady.”
“When we last spoke, I knew my chances of recovery were slim,” she admitted.“I hated the idea of our final conversation being gloomy.Wait, you came before you knew I was sick?But we’d just visited.”
Feru checked the time and frowned.“They’ll kick us out soon so you can rest.Have you heard of the Coydidak?”
“That’s a new one on me.Are they members of the Galactic Council?”
“They’re a group of Kalquorians who wander space.They aren’t big on fitting in society,” Wovir said.
“We’re joining them,” Imon told her.
Toni blinked.The clan had told her they’d grown bored working on a military transport as members of the Kalquorian fleet.Still, it was a surprise to hear they’d resigned when the threat of the Darks was present.
The trio caught her up on the concern the All could succeed in decimating the Galactic Council’s membership and how Emperor Clajak had decided to have the natural explorers of the Coydidak venture to unknown space in the effort to save humans and Kalquorian-Earther hybrids from extinction.Toni was chilled to discover how dire the situation with the All and the Darks had become.
She concentrated on Clan Imon’s anticipation of the opportunity.“The Coydidak will set foot on planets no one from here has dreamed existed.”Imon’s face lit in excitement.
“It’s difficult to leave the empire to fight the Darks without us,” Wovir allowed, his brow wrinkling in concern.“But since our transport’s part is merely ferrying ground troops where they’re required, it means I wouldn’t get to fight myself...though there’s always the chance.At any rate, this Coydidak mission is important.And potentially dangerous.”He saiddangerousthe way most men would have saidthrilling.He was a Nobek through and through.
“The deep space voyage is an essential alternative,” Feru put in.
“You aren’t coming back.”Toni’s heart ached at the thought.
“No.”
She could understand why they’d jump at the chance to see and experience things no one else had.She herself had long sought to figure out a meaningful life.Thus far, she’d simply moved from one situation to another, never quite feeling she’d found the place she ought to be.
“Tell me more,” she begged, wanting to at least enjoy a taste of their enthusiasm.
Dr.Bowen chose that moment to stick his head in the room.“Time’s up, gentlemen.Ms.Nichols needs to rest.”
“But—” Toni started.
“No ma’am.”He shook his finger at her as Imon had, but he wasn’t joking.
“Don’t worry,” Feru said.“We don’t set off for a least a few weeks.The emperor has apparently had plans underway for a while, but an expedition of this size and duration takes serious planning and preparation.We’ll have the opportunity to give you the full story later.”
“You’d better,” she said.
Each man kissed her gently.Then they filed out, glancing back at her until the door shut behind them.
Toni could feel fatigue dragging at her, but they’d given her much to think about.The Coydidak sounded like the nomad tribes of Earth.To hear they represented insurance against utter defeat to the All...her stomach lurched to think of such a fragile hope for humanity’s future.Yet the idea of striking out for unknown space, to see what was beyond the familiar borders, thrilled her.
“Here I sit on Earth, plugging away in the same old ruts,” she sighed.If they were truly up against extinction, Stacy would need her more than ever.Or would she?Toni’s expertise was in the education of young people.She’d meant teaching to be a temporary job until she decided which career would bring real meaning to her life.
She was good at her job; damned good.So good, Stacy had put her in charge of the planet’s education department.
