Pathways - Jeri Taylor [195]
Kes pondered this. It sounded possible. Dangerous, but possible. “But what then? Won’t he try to follow us?”
Neelix smiled and patted her hand lovingly. “Don’t you worry about that. I know this part of space better than I know my own spots. I know hiding places. I have friends. And I can always whip up a little bad blood between the Ogla and the Sara, which will give Jabin more to worry about than one escaped serving girl.”
Kes nodded. She was feeling weak from dehydration, and the heat of the sun was making her light-headed. She covered her eyes briefly.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” The concern in Neelix’s voice was palpable.
“Jabin took away my water rations. I’m a little dizzy . . .”
“That monster. I’ll go speak to him.” He rose and was starting back toward the camp, but she grabbed his sleeve.
“No, don’t do anything to provoke him. He’s leaving us alone, let’s keep it that way. It’s only one more day.”
She saw Neelix squeeze his lips together, as though trying hard not to say something that wanted to come out. Finally he nodded, though his eyes were clouded with misgiving.
That night, as she lay on her pallet, thirsty and unable to sleep, full of anticipation for the escape attempt tomorrow, she heard a whispered voice call her name. She raised up, and saw Neelix moving toward her in the darkness. He put a finger over his lips to keep her from speaking aloud, then he gave her a canister.
It was water. Joyfully she clutched it, and reached out a hand to touch his cheek in gratitude. Then he slipped away in the darkness once more. Kes opened the canister and drank greedily, experiencing a euphoria that she thought must be more powerful than that produced by gannit or even Rhuludian crystals. The canister was still at her lips when she heard the muffled shouts from outside.
Quickly she hid the water container and moved to the doorway. Angry shouts carried easily through the night air, and with a chill she realized the Kazon had discovered that Neelix had stolen water, and were chasing him.
She drew back into the room, panicked. She had to find a better hiding place for the water, for if Jabin knew Neelix had brought it to her, he would punish both of them severely. She retrieved the canister from beneath her pallet and stood holding it in two hands, turning in the room, trying to think of a place to secrete it.
That was when Jabin came to the door. He lunged at her, grabbing the canister and jerking her arm so hard she feared he was pulling it from the socket. He dragged her like that into his squalid chamber, where a solitary light burned. “Did you put him up to this?” Jabin demanded, shaking her roughly.
“Yes,” she chattered, “it was my idea. Don’t blame him—I couldn’t help it, I was so thirsty. I begged him. He was just being kind.”
“Do you know what happens to those who steal water?” he challenged, shaking her even more viciously. Kes felt as though her eyes were banging against her brain.
This couldn’t be happening, not on the eve of their escape. Kes tried desperately to think of a way to placate Jabin, to preserve their plan for tomorrow. “It’s all my fault. Please, it wouldn’t be right to punish Neelix. You and he are friends”
“No longer!” snapped Jabin. “I’ve been waiting weeks for him to provide me with certain information, but all I’ve gotten are excuses. Now he betrays me by stealing the most important resource I possess. He’ll discover what betrayal costs a man.” Jabin was interrupted at this point by one of his men, who entered the room breathless from running.
“Well?” the Maje barked.
“He got to his ship and was gone before we reached him,” gasped the Kazon.
Jabin brought down a burly fist onto the table, knocking over several glasses. He turned toward Kes, fury distending the ridges in his forehead. “Tomorrow we begin. I think very shortly