Pathways - Jeri Taylor [67]
“You’ve made me proud, Ensign,” the older man said flatly. “I expect you to continue to do just that.”
A sudden and unexpected emotion flooded over Harry, the realization of the gift Nimembeh had given him. He had arrived at the Academy a pampered and spoiled child. Nimembeh had seen that and spent four years toughening him up, turning him into a man—a man of whom he could be proud. Harry was moved, so much so that he could hardly speak.
“Sir,” he began shakily, “what do you think I should do? Stay in San Francisco or take the posting aboard Voyager?”
Nimembeh’s coal-like eyes glinted at him. “I didn’t spend four years on you so you could sit at a desk, Ensign,” he said, and then turned and walked away, erect as ever.
And thus was Harry’s decision made. A week later he had joined Voyager at Deep Space Nine, and walked into Captain Kathryn Janeway’s ready room. “At ease, Ensign, before you sprain something,” she said wryly, and so their adventure began. Harry had endured many losses during their long odyssey through the Delta Quadrant, for he missed Libby, and his parents, and George, and all the people who had been a part of his life. But one of the regrets that he lamented the most was that Nimembeh would never know how well Harry had learned his painful lessons.
CHAPTER
5
HARRY LOOKED UP TO SEE EVERY EYE ON HIM—INCLUDING those of Coris, whose orangy disks caught the light of the fire like mirrors. Everyone was utterly silent, rapt. Harry had a moment’s discomfort, thinking briefly that they were embarrassed by his tale of youthful inadequacy, but soon Chakotay moved to him and put a hand on his shoulder. “I wish he could see you now, Harry,” and in his voice the young ensign heard warmth and approval.
They moved into the shelters after that, stretching out on the ground, young animals strangely at peace after Harry’s tale of innocence and initiation. Coris followed Harry without a word, and curled up next to him, back to back. Within minutes, he was asleep.
Coris lay awake for a long time, listening to the steady, sonorous sound of Harry’s breathing. Her mind was awash with thoughts and sensations, swirling from the stimuli of this remarkable day.
She had fully expected the man in the gold and black uniform to beat her for having tried to steal his boots. When instead he had brought her to his shelter, she assumed she would be raped first.
When she was treated with decency and courtesy, she hardly knew how to respond, and was suspicious of the motives of these people, these Voyagers. She didn’t speak for fear of setting them off, sure they were simply trying to catch her unawares. In this part of space, no one befriended a powerless girl unless they expected something in return.
It was only after listening to Harry’s story, which was so suffused with love and compassion, that she began, somewhat tentatively, to believe that these people were different, that they were as good and decent as they seemed. It was a concept that her mind all but refused to accept, but it was so provocative, so enticing, that she couldn’t resist it.
Of course, it could still turn out that they wanted to use her in some fashion, and that would be no surprise and no disappointment. It was what she expected. If if turned out otherwise, that would be the shock. She would simply bide her time and see which it was to be.
Finally, after some hours, she fell into a fitful sleep, and dreamed of her grandmother, the only person who had ever shown her love.
“We must create a reasonably accurate map of the entire stockade,” said Tuvok to the group that assembled within one of the shelters the next morning. The day had dawned overcast and raw, with a chill breeze that held the hint of rain. B’Elanna felt the cold in her bones, and focused on what Tuvok was saying in order to take her mind off the nippy weather. The group had gathered to discuss the next step in their survival: escape.
It was a daunting task. The wall surrounding the camp looked unassailable. The guards possessed sophisticated and lethal weapons. They were surrounded