Power Play - Anne McCaffrey [4]
But Sean denied that choice with a firm shake of his head. “After all she’s been through, she’s much too fragile in my opinion. ’Cita stays here. Besides, Coaxtl frets herself into molting mountains of hair if the girl is out of sight for any extended period.”
“I can tell what needs to be told, to anyone who asks,” Bunny said at her staunchest.
“Sean,” Yana said, turning to look into his dear, worried face. “Duty does have a way of calling regardless of personal convenience, love.”
“I wouldn’t stop you from doing what you think you need to do, even if I thought I could get away with it, Yana.” His grin was slightly strained and anxious, and so were his eyes. “But be careful.”
Yana understood his concern, maybe more than just “understood” after their union in the cave, and she deeply regretted the necessity of leaving her new husband so precipitously. She consoled herself with the knowledge that what they had between them would keep, on the ice and in the heat, come what may.
Two hours later the envoys were ready to depart.
Clodagh gave each of them an almost ritualistic kiss and embrace, putting a little leather bag on a thong around each of their necks.
“What’s this?” Yana asked.
“It’s dirt,” Clodagh said simply.
“Dirt?”
“Yes. Petaybee wants you to have something to remember it by. The dirt’s from the cave.”
Not long before, Yana would have been stymied by such a statement, but now she squeezed Clodagh warmly in an embrace of her own. “This makes me feel a lot better.”
Then Sean clasped her in a farewell embrace and she, Bunny, and Diego boarded the company shuttle that would take them to Marmion’s executive spaceliner, waiting in orbit. In Yana’s carryall was Sean’s wedding vest, to sleep with, and a hastily made town recording to Petaybean relatives in company service. Bunny carried a frozen fish for her cousin Charlie from his parents and a basket of pemmican from the wedding feast for homesick Petaybeans. Diego carried letters from his father to his mother, and a basket of his favorite Petaybean foods, plus nutrients to keep himself and Bunny healthy on the journey.
Once aboard the spaceliner, Sally Point-Jefferson, Marmion’s aide, carefully placed Charlie’s fish in the freezer. Bunny remained glued to the viewscreen, watching Petaybee disappear into a tiny point of light in the vastness of black space. She bent and unbent her fingers against the port in farewell as her home disappeared altogether.
2
Bunny turned away from the window, a little gasp of dismay escaping her throat, her eyes misty with suppressed tears.
“I never thought I’d see the last of Petaybee,” she said mournfully. Diego immediately took her into a warm embrace, murmuring reassurances and some of the silly names that he had created for her.
“Now, gatita,” he said, the name meaning “little cat” or “kitten,” “it’s not as if you won’t be coming back, or anything. It’s only for a little while. And I bet no one from Kilcoole has ever seen Petaybee from space like you just did. Looks like one of those stones Aisling polishes up, the bluey ones with the white bands.”
“Yes, I guess it does at that,” Bunny said, sniffling until Marmion handed her a tissue. “Oh, sorry. Didn’t bring anything to blow into.”
“What the well-appointed vessel has in quantity—things you don’t remember to bring with you,” Marmion said kindly. “I forget how hard it is to leave a place you love. Only think how excited you’ll be to see it in the viewscreen on your way back. The better view!”
Marmion then organized everyone into keeping busy; settling into their cubicles, getting food, making themselves comfortable. “I’ve had Sally acquire clothing for you, since you’d all be overwarmly dressed where we’re going. It’s also very important, I think, that we choose garments that will seem appropriate to our mission.”
“What’s wrong with