Pathways - Jeri Taylor [165]
Jabin’s eyes narrowed and he peered at Neelix through the darkness. “If you’re thinking what I suspect, don’t bother. She’s a cold one as well.”
Neelix shrugged. “I was thinking more of what I could get for her in return. I know some families that would be interested in having a serving girl.”
Jabin snorted and took a sip of the water, a surprisingly delicate gesture from such a brutish man, but the Kazon had learned to ration their water carefully, and to savor each small swallow. “She’s worth nothing to me as a worker, but she has information I’m determined to get. She’s proved recalcitrant so far, but I’m ready to move to more persuasive methods.”
Neelix felt his stomach clutch. The maggot intended to torture this poor child! He had to prevent that somehow. His mind scurried to find a way, even as he bought time by chatting with Jabin. “Information? What kind of information could be so valuable as to bother with a wretched thing like this?”
“Her people live underground, protected by an entity that sends them energy for all their needs. If I knew how to get down there, the Ogla would have that energy. And then, little man, I wouldn’t have need for avaricious barterers like you.”
What Jabin had said seemed quite remarkable. An entire species that dwelt underground? He’d never known of such a thing. And what was this entity that protected them? This tale was becoming altogether fascinating. “If they live beneath the surface, how did you find this one?” he inquired.
Jabin cackled. “She’s too curious for her own good. She wanted to see what was up here. She’d no more stopped squinting at the sun than we had her, and I’m keeping her until she tells me what I want to know.”
Despair clutched at Neelix. He couldn’t let this happen. He couldn’t bear to think of this lovely being suffering at Jabin’s hands. He glanced over at her and found her looking at him for the first time, blue eyes fixed on him in a kind of desperation. He felt a thought stirring in his head, then realized it was more than a thought, it was a sound. “Please. . . help me . . .”
Startled, he realized she was communicating with him telepathically. He blinked, hoping this would tell her that he had received her thought, but kept his face impassive, as though he were simply assessing her.
“Send her away, Jabin,” he said suddenly. “I’d like to talk to you alone.”
Jabin jerked his head and the nymph exited the chamber. Neelix looked at him with a sly confidence. “Let me spend some time with her. By myself. I think I can get the information you want.”
The big man exhaled explosively, a grunt of derision. “How could you possibly do that, Talaxian?” he queried.
“My people have a saying: Sweetness brings the tillah birds, tartness leaves them wanting. You haven’t been able to get anything from her with brute force—why not let me try to win her over? Become her confidant. Her friend. Before she knows it, she’ll be telling me anything I want.”
Jabin was silent, staring down at the floor. Neelix was heartened that he hadn’t negated the idea right away. A moment passed, then Jabin looked up. “How long do you think this effort would take?”
“A few weeks, perhaps. It depends on how quickly I can establish a relationship with her. But I warn you—this information won’t come cheaply.”
Another long silence. Neelix concentrated on looking unconcerned, as though this were nothing more than a typical bartering situation. It wouldn’t do for Jabin to know how important it was to him that he be able to protect this girl, to keep her safe until he’d figured out a way to rescue her.
Finally Jabin stirred, then touched his tongue once more to the cup of water. “All right, then, we’ll try it. But if nothing is accomplished within four weeks, the arrangement is canceled and I’ll resort to my own methods.