Oblivion - Michael Jan Friedman [47]
Like The Heavenly Meadow, the Singing Waters was a hotel that catered to Zartani. Tain hoped to have better luck there than in the other places he had visited.
“I’m looking for someone,” he said.
The manager’s expression indicated that he didn’t often see Cardassians. But then, Tain wouldn’t have expected him to.
“Maybe you’ve seen him,” he added, handing over a palm-sized recorder with Demmix’s likeness on it.
The Zartani studied it for a moment. Then he returned the recorder. “He doesn’t look familiar.”
“You’re certain?” Tain asked.
“Quite certain,” the Zartani told him. “I have no reason to conceal anything from you.”
Tain nodded. “I’m glad to hear that.”
His eyes were drawn to the wall behind the Zartani. There was a shelf there supporting a holoprojector—not the latest kind, but one that seemed to work pretty well nonetheless.
It depicted the hotel manager along with three others. One was a female, obviously his mate. The other two were his offspring, both males.
They seemed to be enjoying each other’s company. It was a nice scene, a family scene.
Touching, thought Tain.
He held out the recorder again. “So you’re certain you haven’t seen this man?”
The Zartani nodded. “Yes.”
Tain pointed to the hologram. “Lovely family.”
The Zartani didn’t turn around to look at it. However, the furrow in his brow indicated that he knew what the Cardassian was referring to.
“Thank you,” he said a little shakily.
“You must be very attached to them,” Tain observed.
The Zartani swallowed hard and visibly. “Of course.”
“Do they live in Oblivion?” Tain asked.
He didn’t get an answer.
“I’ll bet they do,” said Tain. “A family man like you wouldn’t want to be separated from his wife and children.”
The furrow in the Zartani’s brow grew deeper.
“It would be a pity,” the Cardassian continued matter-of-factly, “if anything happened to them.”
The Zartani’s eyes widened. “Please,” he said, his voice taut with apprehension, “it’s as I told you—I don’t know anything about the man you’re looking for.”
Tain studied the fellow’s face for a moment. As far as he could tell, the Zartani was telling the truth.
“That’s unfortunate,” he said reasonably. “I guess I’ll have to look elsewhere.”
The manager appeared to relax a bit.
Tain eyed him a little longer. Then he left, his men following in his wake.
Time is running out, he told himself. He had to find Demmix soon, or risk losing him to the human.
And Tain wasn’t a very good loser.
Chapter Twelve
IT’S TIME, Ulelo thought.
Time to report to the bridge, as he did at least once a day, and take over the communications panel from Paxton or one of the other com officers. Time to do his work until he was sure that no one was looking.
And, once he felt sure he was unobserved, time for him to betray the captain and crew of the Stargazer.
At least, that was the way it had gone for the last several weeks, as Ulelo transmitted to his comrades whatever data he thought they might find useful.
“My stop,” said Emily Bender.
Ulelo halted in his tracks. He was so deep in thought, he had missed the small sign identifying the double set of doors as the entrance to the science section.
“Sorry,” he said.
“Man,” said Emily Bender, “you seem like you’re in another world today.”
“Do I?” asked Ulelo.
“Uh-huh.” Emily Bender smiled. “Try not to accidentally open a channel to Romulus, all right?”
He managed to return her smile. “Don’t worry.”
She looked into his eyes. “What’s on your mind, anyway?”
“Nothing, really,” said Ulelo. “I just didn’t sleep very well last night.”
It was a lie, of course. He had experienced a peaceful, uninterrupted sleep, as always.
But Emily Bender didn’t question the veracity of his answer. She just nodded.
“I should go,” said the com officer.
“Of course,” Emily Bender responded. “Thanks for walking me to work. And—”
“Yes?” he said.
“I’m glad we’re friends.”
He hadn’t expected her to say that. “Er…me, too.”
It was the truth. One of the few he had uttered since he joined the crew, in fact.
Emily Bender shrugged. “I know