Marooned - Christie Golden [53]
"Since you will be forced to spend the daylight hours, such as they are, below ground, I thought we should use the time to allow you to repair what tools you could. Also, Grrua and Rraagh will give you information about what you will encounter in your journey. I of course will come with you, as I promised, but it is well that you know how to be safe nonetheless. It is possible that something will happen to me, and then you will be on your own."
Janeway saw the uneasy looks on the faces of Torres, Paris, and Bokk. Tuvok, of course, merely raised an eyebrow. She fought back a shudder of apprehension of her own. The thought that anything out there was big enough and violent enough to bring down powerful Hrrrl was unsettling, to say the least. But she couldn't argue with the Sshoush-shin's logic.
"Hffrl, you are a wise leader of your people, " she said honestly. "They are lucky to have you."
He looked at her with those small eyes, and inclined his head, "From what I have heard from you," he said, "I can return the kind words. I leave you in good hands. Listen well, for your lives may depend upon it."
He ascended the makeshift stairs to the surface, dropping to all fours to speed the pace. His bulk nearly filled the narrow corridor. Janeway returned her attention to the other two Sshoush-shin, who had seated themselves in front of their open bundles. Gravely, Rraagh handed some of the tools to Torres and Paris.
"We will continue the repairs we began last night while Grrua begins," he said. Bokk, Tuvok, and Janeway turned to look at the female Sshoush-shin.
"Janeway," said Grrua, "Last night, I spoke long with your friend who has chosen to leave us. He asked many good questions. I did not answer as thoroughly as I might have, as I thought he would still be here today, for the true lesson, but I did tell him much. He will be safer than most. And Hrrrl may be able to scent him, track him down for you when you depart this evening."
"Thank you, Grrua," replied the captain. "I hope you are right."
And then the lesson began.
Grrua placed before them literally dozens of plants that all looked alike to Janeway's untrained eye. Some were deadly. Some were bursting with vital nutrients. Some could stanch bleeding. Janeway wondered if her confusion showed on her face. Certainly Bokk looked hopelessly lost, and B'Elanna and Tom, when they glanced up from their tricorders and phasers and communicators, had blank looks on their faces. Tuvok, however, seemed keenly interested. Janeway hoped that his extensive background in horticulture as a hobby prepared him to detect the tiny differentiations in color, leaf size, texture and shape.
Then Grrua produced small but exquisitely detailed carvings from her pack and passed them around. Janeway held a little statuette in her hands, marveling at the intricacy of the workmanship. It was humanoid, but with a much stockier and more powerfully built torso and smaller legs. The head was enormous, and the face looked cruel.
Grrua waited until everyone held a statuette. Even Paris and Torres were requested to put down their tools for this particular lesson. "Parrris," growled Grrua, "show your carving."
Tom held up a pretty, frail-looking plant. It had a large flower at the top of a stalk, and serrated leaves continuing down to the base. At once, unbidden, the thought of Kes flashed into Janeway's mind.
"That is a kal plant. Avoid it at all costs. It is as high as you are, Parrris, maybe higher, and it smells sweet and innocent. But it likes the taste of flesh, and will as soon consume you as any bird that comes to pluck its petals for nesting."
Tom looked with renewed respect