Pathways - Jeri Taylor [202]
“I’ll happily volunteer to let you test that theory,” said Neelix. He felt that only exposing himself to the same ordeal would help to get rid of the icy knot in his stomach.
And when, minutes later, he was transported to the second shelter, the process was, if somewhat slower than the beam-outs he was accustomed to, reasonably smooth and comfortable. Harry’s transporter was modified to make the corrections B’Elanna had ordered, and both Neelix and Vorik were beamed back to the first shelter without incident.
It was a unanimous decision that Vorik should get extra rations that night, but if Vorik was to be rewarded for his bravery, he had other ideas as to the compensation.
“It was you who gave me the courage, sir,” said the young man to Tuvok. “I felt your strength sustaining me during the experience.”
“If I was able to contribute to the success of the endeavor, then I am gratified,” replied Tuvok with Vulcan modesty.
“I should like to ask you for something more,” continued Vorik.
“What is that?”
“I would like to share in your wisdom and your experience. If you, like some of the others, would speak of your early years—”
That was as far as he got before Tuvok held up a restraining hand. “I do not care to expose my life in this public company.”
“Hmmm,” said Neelix with a sly twinkle. “Things in that shady past you’re ashamed of?”
“Not at all. It is simply unseemly to disclose the intimate details of my life.”
“That didn’t stop Chakotay, or Harry, or Tom, or B’Elanna or Neelix,” said Seven of Nine, and Neelix could have sworn he saw a glimmer of humor in her blue eyes.
“That’s right,” agreed Chakotay. “I doubt you could shock us after all we’ve heard already.”
“I am not concerned about shocking you.”
“Then what’s the problem?” queried Tom. “Why not give us a peek into that Vulcan mind of yours?”
Tuvok was beginning to feel that a tide of determination had taken over the room. It was as though the collective energy of the group had been galvanized toward one purpose: convincing him to unveil the innermost secrets of his life.
But that, in his mind, was not good enough reason for him to agree to it. He felt quite capable of withstanding the most vigorous onslaught by his fellow crew.
What he wasn’t prepared for was the unexpected plea that came from Vorik.
“Sir,” said the young man with respect, but with an underlying urgency, “you have been my mentor. You assisted me in withstanding the rigors of the Pon farr. You have guided me in meditative techniques. You helped me endure the recent ordeal of transporting. Do you not think that there would be much I could gain from hearing of your own journey toward wisdom and enlightenment?”
Tuvok was silent for a moment, reflecting on what Vorik had said. It was true, he realized, that there were many of his life’s experiences that might prove of value to a young man. He had, after all, done some things, and seen some things, that few Vulcans ever had. If Vorik were to become aware of them, the young man’s moral fiber might be enhanced. For that matter, so might that of everyone else in the room. Perhaps they were right. Perhaps he had no right to withhold the events of his life from them.
And so he regarded the people in the room austerely, and said, simply, “Very well.”
CHAPTER
14
“ARISE, TUVOK. THE MORNING IS HALF GONE.”
Tuvok lifted his head from the pallet and squinted out the window. He saw T’Khut, Vulcan’s sister planet, hanging just above the mountains, huge and ringed with red. Dawn was just beginning to break, and the desert floor was still dark. This didn’t surprise him; his mother usually rose hours before the sun and considered sleeping until daybreak a wastrel’s schedule. He put his head down again and closed his eyes, though reason told him there was no point in this delaying tactic: his mother would loom over him until he pulled himself from the pallet and stood before her, awake and alert.
But on this morning, reason failed to move him. He was fresh from rapturous dreams, and he craved their seductions.