Chaos Space - Marianne de Pierres [31]
You mean we will not be able to breathe.
While I am alive I can support your needs, as long as you remain in Primo. I can support Secondo for long periods as well. Other passengers, though, may not fare as well.
What do you require?
Insignia began to rattle through a list.
After a few moments Mira interrupted. Tell Intel that we request landing rights and request refugee status.
I am pleased that you have made that choice.
The biozoon’s relief surprised Mira. Had Insignia thought that she would run her deliberately into degradation? You must explain your needs. I am unable to read your physiology in the way that you can read mine.
Yes. I forget sometimes that you are so limited.
The biozoon’s ingenuous manner did not offend Mira in the way that Rast’s did.
The mercenary was standing now, staring at her. Hands on hips. ‘Have you finished communing with the big whale?’
‘Whale?’
Rast sighed. ‘The ‘zoon.’
Mira frowned. ‘Biozoons are infinitely more sophisticated than most animals. I would hesitate before insulting them.’
‘You clearly know shit about whales. What’s your call, Fedor?’
‘We will stop for supplies. That should give you long enough to ... relieve yourself.’
Rast nodded. ‘Dandy,’ she said and spun on her heel.
The Intel Stationmaster kept Mira waiting in the chilled functional corridor outside his office. Though she welcomed the coolness on her overheated body, standing seemed to amplify her nausea. Her limbs felt bloodless and she wondered where she might run if the sickness became too great.
Finally, a small bow-legged humanesque dressed in smooth khaki overalls emerged. His hooked nose was like a hand-fashioned dividing line in his narrow face.
‘Baronessa Fedor?’
‘Si.’
‘Master Landhurst.’ He waved Mira through into an unadorned office but did not invite her to sit. ‘Your reports of your planet are grave but I have not been able to verify them,’ he said.
‘Of course not, Signor Landhurst. Dowl station was overrun by the Saqr. There is no communication in or out,’ she said.
‘Yet you escaped?’
‘The biozoon was well hidden and I am fortunate to have the Innate Talent.’
‘Biozoons are rare enough and highly prized—but women do not have the Talent.’
‘It is not usual, no. But I do have it.’ Mira kept her face composed. Landhurst was trying to intimidate her. ‘And if you are implying that I might have stolen Insignia then you do not understand the biozoon nature.’
‘I assume it has an Autonomous function?’
‘Yes. But I would never usurp that. Not unless . . .’
‘You had to?’ Landhurst gave a sharp deprecating laugh.
Mira stiffened. ‘The Autonomy function is for protection of the biozoon and its crew. Should the biozoon be hurt or incapacitated in some way, a skilled pilot may take command. But the disabling itself is a cruel measure to be taken only in extreme situations. On Latino Crux the vaqueros liken it to a bosal.’
‘Aaah, yes, I’ve heard that explanation—the bridle that tortures the nerves of the animal it controls. I gather, then, that your situation is not extreme?’
Landhurst twisted her words easily. ‘I. . . yes .. . but the biozoon was in agreement that I did not need—’
‘Why are you the only one of your clan on board? Where is your…what do you call your governor?’
‘Our Principe was killed in the invasion. His son is the new Principe. Trinder Pellegrini recognised that I was the only one who could take the biozoon and bring news to OLOSS of this atrocity.’
‘Yet he did not come with you?’
‘He is loyal to his home. He wished to command the survivors, to keep them alive. They have withdrawn to the islands in the hope of evading the Saqr.’
Having to defend Trin to this unpleasant man cost Mira much precious energy. Shadows began to steal over the edge of her vision.
Landhurst noticed her swaying. ‘Sit down, Baronessa. It is not usual for women to faint in my rooms.’ He gave her a sly smile. ‘At least, not in my office.’
Mira did not return his smile as she sank onto a hard chair.
Landhurst brushed past her to sit on the edge of his desk. ‘How did you res-shift