Metal Swarm - Kevin J. Anderson [23]
'That old lens kithman who talked to you about the Lightsource? No. I didn't realize he was such a close friend of yours.'
Kolker continued in a wistful voice, Tery'l was laid out on a platform of impervious stone inside something called a blazarium. Handler kithmen swung focusing mirrors into place and tilted the crematory lenses. In only a second, the focused light of all the suns consumed him. It was beautiful and bright, just like a green priest being absorbed into the forest. I knew for certain my friend had become a part of the Lightsource. It's a whole racial tapestry that humans can't see. Ildirans are so much closer than we are, so united… while humans are separate, like billions of islands in a cosmic archipelago.'
Kolker stared down into the flashing medallion. Tery'l taught me that telink isn't as all-encompassing as I'd imagined. Only green priests can tap into the verdani mind, but encompasses the entire Ildiran race. I want to be a part of that.'
Sullivan said, 'A human can't just become an alien by working hard at it, any more than a horse can become an eagle.'
'Nevertheless, I intend to study with other lens kithmen until I know the truth. The Mage-Imperator has given us permission to leave here, but I am staying on Ildira.'
Twelve
Tasia Tamblyn
No shower had ever felt so marvellous, no meal tasted so delicious, no clean set of clothes felt so wonderful against Tasia's skin. She was alive, and with Robb, and far from the purgatory where the drogues had held them.
Robb's father had taken aboard the prisoners rescued from the gas giant by a wental-charged Jess and flown away with them in his EDF transport. After delivering the haggard group to the nearest Hansa outpost for medical attention, Conrad Brindle insisted that his son go home with him. And Tasia refused to be separated from her friend and lover.
She and Robb luxuriated, taking turns in the ship's cramped hygiene facilities. Even when Robb was cleaned up and dressed in a fresh uniform, he still looked like a wild man with his hair and wiry beard sticking out in every direction, untrimmed and ungroomed during years of captivity.
Having grown accustomed to EDF-regulation length, Tasia felt that her own hair was long and unruly as well. And so, they cut each other's hair. At first it was just a task, then it became play.
Next she shaved Robb's beard, unearthing the young and eager face she had fallen in love with.
When they went to the cockpit to show Conrad their handiwork, he took a long time to break into a smile. 'I'll put a recommendation in your EDF files that neither of you ever be reassigned as a barber.'
'This is the most presentable I've looked in three years!' Robb said.
'The sad thing is, I believe you.'
Now, headed back to the Hansa to present themselves to their superior officers, Robb was as eager to find answers as he was to make his report to the EDF. Tasia felt out of touch, too, and wanted mainly to know what had happened with her family. She'd had very little contact with the clans since joining the EDF. After what they'd done to Roamers - and to her - she was no longer enamoured with the Earth Defence Forces.
When Tasia called up nav diagrams and projected the spray of nearby stars, she saw that their course took them near the frozen moon of Plumas. Those are my family's water mines. It's right on the way. You can drop me off.'
'Your duty is to the EDF, Captain Tamblyn,' Conrad Brindle said. 'Our priority is to report to Earth, or at least the nearest official outpost.'
'I've been gone from the EDF for so long, I don't know who to report to anymore,' Robb said.
'Neither of us does,' Tasia said. 'We're talking about my family here.' She cocked her head and looked at Robb's father as if he were a new recruit. 'My uniform may be a little tattered, but I still outrank you, Lieutenant Commander - if you want to split hairs.'
Conrad looked briefly