Chaos Space - Marianne de Pierres [72]
Then she dipped under the water and was gone.
THALES
The two women faced each other across a ribbed, odorous cavern that they called the buccal: one was lean and muscular, her face rigid with fury, the other, the Latino aristocrat, was fragile-looking and trembling with emotion. At her shoulder stood the man who had accompanied her to the meeting with Sophos Mianos.
Another man stood behind the muscular woman. All of them, aside from the Baronessa, were of a type that Thales had not previously encountered, and their manner alarmed him in a way that the OLOSS guards had not.
‘What have you done?’ said the muscular woman. ‘Who is this?’ A hiss as she jerked a finger at Thales.
‘OLOSS wanted to impound Insignia while they conducted an investigation—and hold me.’ A glance at Thales. ‘He ... he gave us a chance to get away.’
‘And so you saw fit to tear the ‘zoon from the docking matrix and send us running from an OLOSS envoy.’ The hard-looking woman folded her arms, some of the heat going out of her expression. ‘And you call me foolhardy, Baronessa.’
‘I thought that was what you wanted—to run.’
‘With a distance between us, yes. Not while we’re almost in bed with them.’
‘My action was motivated by survival, not avarice.’ The aristocrat held her head high and Thales watched the emotions play across her face. She seemed at once sane and unbalanced. What situation had he brought himself to? Yet while he’d been standing behind Mianos, listening to her story about her world had been like a spear to his heart. She had been forced to leave her child behind, maybe leaving it to its death.
‘So you think I am motivated by greed?’ said the muscular woman.
The Baronessa didn’t flinch. There seemed to be a weight of feeling between them. ‘What do you call it, then, Rast Randall?’
The woman, Rast, balled her fists in anger and turned to Thales. ‘Your story: quick and to the point.’
Thales licked dry, nervous lips. ‘I am indebted to the Baronessa and her . . . servant for—’ He nodded at the one whom Mira had called Latourn.
‘Yes. Yes,’ said Rast. ‘But why did you help her?’
‘It is not a simple tale. I am not who I appear to be. I am a philosopher who has been wronged. I took work as a courier to help a friend; to help myself. Life had become difficult for me on Scolar.’ Thales swallowed several times before continuing. ‘My misfortune continued, though. When I boarded the OLOSS craft, my nemesis was destined for the same trip.’
‘Sophos Mianos?’ asked the Baronessa.
‘Yes. He had me wrongfully imprisoned on Scolar and more. He kept me from my ... my wife. When he spoke of imprisoning you and your organic craft, I... I... became rash ... I would admit... impulsive. My wife tells me it is my biggest failing. I am recovered now and regret any inconvenience.’
‘Regret any inconvenience, eh?’ Rast Randall sucked in her cheeks as though she might be on the verge of exploding.
The Baronessa nodded her head politely at Thales. ‘I am indebted to you ...’
‘Thales Berniere,’ said Thales.
‘Msr Berniere, I have, I am afraid, put you at further risk.’
He returned her nod. Despite her fragile appearance the woman had fine manners and strength of mind. ‘I have a work obligation to fulfil. Would it be too much trouble to ask you to convey me as far as Scol station?’
The Baronessa smiled at him: a beautiful shy smile that warmed his numb senses.
Rast frowned at them both. ‘Catchut,’ she said to the man at her shoulder, ‘find him a cabin and show him the cucina.’ She then gave Thales a hard look. ‘We’ll take you to Scol station. In the meantime you are in one of those two places unless you are with one of us. Understood? Nowhere else. If I find you roaming around the ‘zoon, I’ll spit you out into the black.’
MIRA
Rast eyed Mira unpleasantly when Catchut Latourn and Berniere left the buccal. ‘I can only think that you are missing your own ilk, Baronessa? Why else would your risk your own and Latourn’s life for him.’’
Mira? said Insignia.
Just a moment.
‘It happened quickly. I-I made