Marooned - Christie Golden [52]
"One of your crew is gone. I am sorry."
"Gone? What do you mean?"
"He left. He stayed up last night talking with Grrua, asking her all kinds of questions about the meals she prepared." closed her eyes. Who among her crewmen Janeway would want to leave on his own, after having inquired about food preparation? "That would have to be Neelix."
"The little one, yes. I am very sorry. We will hold a tkk ttk in his memory if you like."
Janeway knew the suggestion was meant kindly, but she bristled nonetheless. "Thank you for your concern, Hrrri, but I wouldn't count Mr. Neelix dead just yet. He had many years of traveling on his own through unfriendly territory before he came to us. If anyone knows how to take care of himself, it's he."
"But-we treated him with all respect." Hrrrl's voice held hurt and puzzlement. "I do not understand why he would choose the wilds of Mishkara to our hospitality."
"It's not that, Hrrrl," Janeway hastened to soothe him, putting out a groping hand and touching his furry shoulder. "I told you about our friend, Kes, the girl who was kidnapped by Aren Yashar. Kes is very special to Neelix, and when he learned that we weren't going directly after her, I suspect he decided to do so himself."
"That is foolish, if you will forgive my saying so."
In the cool darkness of the cavern, Janeway smiled. "I didn't say it wasn't." She got to her feet, extending a hand above her head. She was disoriented in the blinding darkness, and didn't want to crack her skull against a forgotten overhang. "We'll have to go after him immediately."
"That is not possible."
Janeway wished she could see him. She knew Hrrrl could see her, even in this darkness, and she turned her face in the direction in which his voice came. "He's one of my crew. I won't see him harmed."
"Janeway, I have seen the scout ships. Your starrobber is looking for you. You do not move like a Sshoush-shin, you would be spotted at once." A deep, rumbling sigh. "We will scout for him ourselves, if you feel it is necessary. But I promise nothing."
"Thank you, Hrrrl. He might not have wandered as far as you think. We've got to try, at least, to find him."
The rest of the crew was waking up; Janeway heard the sounds of yawns and stretches and low conversa tion. She also knew they were as confused as she was. "Do you think someone could bring us some light, please?" she asked Hrrrl. The tallow candles they had been given last night-again, made from the fat of deceased Sshoush-shin-had guttered and died during the night, and Janeway knew that any attempt to ascend to the surface in this darkness would result in more injuries to her already battered crew.
"I will bring light and food and drink for your crew," said Hrrrl, rising to put action to his words. "It would be safer if you waited until nightfall to begin your quest to New Hann."
Hrrrl shuffled off in the blackness, and Janeway strained to sense where her crew was. "Good morning," she said to the darkness, aware that her voice was pitched louder than usual.
Various versions of "good morning" reached her ears. "We can't see one another yet, but I assume you all heard the news. Mr. Neelix has left us."
"Damn it," said Paris, with real heat. "Does he really think he can sneak up on Yashar all by himself'?"
"Do we?" Janeway shot back. Paris did not answer. "It was unwise of him, and I'll be sure to let him know it when Hrrrl finds him, which I believe he will. Lieutenant Tuvok, how is your arm?"
"The splint provided by Hrrrl's healer, while crude, is certainly effective." Cool as the cave itself, Janeway thought.
She touched the bandage on her own head with gentle fingers. Hrrrl's healer, whose name escaped her at the present moment, had declined to tell her what was in the vile-smelling ointment he applied with a delicate touch, and she hadn't asked. "My injury appears to be healing as well."
Janeway turned toward the faint source of light that stretched tentative fingers into the darkness. It was Hrrrl,