For Love of Mother-Not - Alan Dean Foster [63]
“Don’t try to deny that you couldn’t use a little help and don’t give me any of that archaic nonsense about your not wanting me along because I’m a woman.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” he told her crisply. “The last thing I’d try to do would be to inflict any archaic nonsense on you.”
That caused her to hesitate momentarily, uncertain whether he was joking or not. “Anyway,” she added, “if I can’t go, not that you can stop me, then you couldn’t go, either. Because I’m the only one who has access to the skimmer.”
It was not hard for Flinx to give in. “I haven’t got time to argue with you.”
“And also the sense not to, I suspect. But you’re right about the time. The tracker should pick up the gel underneath their skimmer right away, but let’s not play our luck to the limit. I don’t know what kind of skimmer they were using. I’ve never seen the like before, so I’ve no idea if it’s faster than usual. We go together, then?”
“Together. On two conditions, Lauren.”
Again, she found herself frowning at him. Just when she thought she could predict his actions, he would do something to surprise her again. “Say them, anyway.”
“First, that Pip continues to tolerate you.” He rubbed the back of the flying snake’s head affectionately. It rose delightedly against the pressure. “You see, I have certain feelings toward animals myself.”
“And the other condition?” she inquired.
“If you ever touch my hair like that again, you’d better be prepared for me to kick your lovely backside all the way to the Pole. Old ladies have been doing that to me ever since I can remember, and I’ve had my fill of it!”
She grinned at him. “It’s a deal, then. I’m glad your snake isn’t as touchy as you are. Let’s go. I have to leave a message for my superiors in case they call in and want to know not only where their skimmer is but their lodge manager as well.”
When she informed the assistant manager of the lodge, he was very upset. “But what do I tell Kilkenny if he calls from Attoka? What if he has guests to send up?”
“We’re not expecting anyone for another week. You know that, Sal. Tell him anything you want.” She was arranging items in a small sack as she spoke. “No, tell him I’ve gone to the aid of a traveler in distress across the lake. That’s an acceptable excuse in any circumstance.”
The assistant looked past her to where Flinx stood waiting impatiently, chucking Pip under its jaw and staring in the direction of the lake.
“He doesn’t look like he’s very distressed to me.”
“His distress is well hidden,” Lauren informed him, “which is more than I can say for you, Sal. I’m surprised at you. We’ll be back real soon.”
“Uh-huh. It’s just that I’m not a very good liar, Lauren. You know that.”
“Do the best you can.” She patted his cheek affectionately. “And I’m not lying. He really is in trouble.”
“But the skimmer, Lauren.”
“You still have the lodge mudders and the boats. Short of a major catastrophe of some kind, I can see no reason why you’d need the skimmer. It’s really only here to be used in case of emergency. To my mind”—she gestured toward Flinx—“this is an emergency.”
The assistant kicked at the dirt. “It’s your neck.”
“Yes, it’s my neck.”
“Suppose they ask which way you went?”
“Tell them I’ve headed—” A cough interrupted her. She looked back at Flinx and nodded once. “Just say that I’ve had to go across Patra.”
“But which way across?”
“Across the lake, Sal.”
“Oh. Okay, I understand. You’ve got your reasons for doing this, I guess.”
“I guess I do. And if I’m wrong, well, you always wanted to be manager here, anyway, Sal.”
“Now hold on a minute, Lauren. I never said—”
“Do the best you can for me,” she gently admonished him. “This means something to me.”
“You really expect to be back soon?’
“Depends on how things go. See you, Sal.”
“Take care of yourself, Lauren.” He watched as she turned to rejoin the strange youth, then shrugged and started back up the steps into the lodge.