Death in Winter - Michael Jan Friedman [61]
Hanafaejas considered the Romulan for a moment. Then he held up his hand, calling for restraint from the other Kevrata. “We will treat him as we treat our other guests.”
The captain was glad to hear that also. He said so.
By then, additional lights had been activated, and Picard could see that Greyhorse-despite his own injury-was running a tricorder over Joseph. After a moment, the doctor turned to Picard and said, “He is suffering from a mild concussion, nothing more. Unfortunately, I have no stimulants with which to wake him.”
“We do,” said Hanafaejas.
At his signal, one of the other Kevrata produced a small bag made of what looked like natural fibers and gave it to Greyhorse. The doctor opened it, sniffed its contents, and then placed it under Joseph’s nose.
With a groan, Joseph regained consciousness and looked around. Seeing the Kevrata standing about him, he tried to sit up-and grimaced at the pain it cost him. Clutching his head, he asked, “What happened?”
“You were hit with a directed-energy beam,” Greyhorse explained, “but you sustained no serious damage.”
“Also,” said Picard with a glance at Hanafaejas, “we appear to have located the Kevratan underground.”
“We will take you back to our place of concealment,” said the giant. “We have medicines there that can assuage your comrade’s disruptor shock.”
Picard nodded. “Thank you.”
The giant made a snuffling sound and said, “I regret from my heart that you will find our lair inadequately provisioned. We would very much like to be better hosts, but we labor under the burden of a long, bitter occupation.”
“I assure you,” said Picard, “we do not feel slighted in the least. To tell you the truth, I am far less interested in feasting than I am in information about Doctor Crusher. Have you heard anything about her?”
Hanafaejas hesitated for a moment, giving Picard the impression that he had unhappy news to impart. The captain bit his lip as he braced himself for it.
“Unfortunately,” said the rebel, “I cannot help you in that regard. We have no current intelligence concerning the doctor. All we know is that she escaped the tavern where Commander Sela burst in on her.”
Picard frowned. “It was Sela herself who took Doctor Crusher prisoner?”
“Yes,” said Hanafaejas. “She took charge of Kevratas only recently, but she has already proven to be a most unpleasant individual.”
“I know,” said the captain. “I have made her acquaintance.”
9
BEVERLY HAD SEEN A PARADE OF CENTURIONS COME down the corridor outside her cell and check on her at intervals. However, the one who had whispered to her hadn’t been among them.
She couldn’t help wondering if something had happened to him. Had he gotten hurt in a skirmish with the underground-maybe even killed? Or had Sela caught him in an act of disloyalty and thrown him in another cell?
Of course, his absence might have meant nothing. However, he was Beverly’s only hope of escaping this place. That made his welfare a subject of more than passing interest to her.
Finally, on the third day of her captivity, she caught sight of the centurion in question. He was as alive and well as she had hoped. Sitting forward on the side of her bed, she wondered if he would say something to her again.
But when he stopped at her cell, he didn’t look her in the eye. He just examined the emitters that maintained her barrier, as if that were his only concern.
Maybe it is, Crusher thought. Maybe he only said those things the other day to get my hopes up. To tease me.
No. The centurion had been in earnest-she was certain of it. If he wasn’t talking now, he had a reason. She would just have to accept it and remain silent as well.
Just as she made that decision, the Romulan did something none of the others had done. He moved to the control pad on the wall beside her cell and tapped in a code.
What’s he up to? she wondered.
Before Beverly knew it, she got her answer-as she saw her plasma barrier fizzle away. Suddenly and unbelievably, the mouth of her cell was unbarred.
“Come,” the centurion said,