Power Play - Anne McCaffrey [45]
“As for you, Colonel Maddock, in addition to the demands we list there, I suggest that you have your husband send along some of the famous Petaybean cough syrup that cured you the first time. Signing over the patent to the party we suggest, of course. I warn you that any resistance or reluctance on your part will result in unfortunate consequences for the young people accompanying you, as well as for yourself. It will also prolong your stay with us, and we are not equipped with any provisions for delivering babies. I trust when you record your messages, you ladies will endeavor to sound sincere and very, very convincing . . . Begin.”
11
Kilcoole
Sean Shongili was awakened by Adak, who had just received word via Johnny Greene that stragglers from the shuttle containing the first group of hunters showed up in Harrison’s Fjord, suffering from exposure and demanding to make contact with their attorneys.
He was still sorting that out when Una Monaghan located him in Clodagh’s cabin, dragged him down the road to Yana’s, and pointed at the comm link. Yana’s voice transmission was staticky, but the words appearing on the screen were unmistakable.
“We’ve been kidnapped, Sean—me, Marmion, Bunny, and Diego—and this is what the ransom is,” she began as his knees, suddenly unable to support him, folded and his butt hit the seat of the chair. “They don’t intend to let us go until the ransom’s all paid.”
“But we don’t have any credit!” Sean began in protest.
“We’re apparently in possession of a valuable planet—” Yana began coughing.
“Yana? Are you all right?”
“She is not all right,” another voice said. “She coughs much and bloodily and—”
The transmission was abruptly cut off. Sean stared at the comm unit, then tapped it, thinking the connection had merely been interrupted. But after a few more moments of useless tinkering, he had to admit that wasn’t the case.
“And the ransom is Petaybee?” And just how did the kidnappers expect him to hand over a planet? A planet that certainly wasn’t his to give!
“Sean?” Una had popped her head around the door.
“Una! Get Johnny and find out how we can reestablish contact with the parties who’ve kidnapped Yana, our baby, Bunny and Diego, and Madame Algemeine!”
“Kidnapped?” Una’s voice broke. “Johnny! Yes, I’ll get Johnny. He’ll know.”
Johnny didn’t, but he opened a channel to the space station and Dr. Whittaker Fiske. Whit, recovering nobly and quickly from the shock of the news, said that he’d find out or die trying.
Sean was unable to attend to any of even the most pressing duties. Una and the other offworlders who were being assigned to useful services for the benefit of the emerging Petaybean government carried on as best they could. Though the true nature of the problem was not mentioned to anyone but Johnny Greene, very shortly everyone in Kilcoole knew that Yana, Bunny, Diego, and Marmion had been kidnapped.
Nanook crept in to occupy a corner, saying nothing but keeping his amber eyes softly on Sean. Coaxtl, minus ’Cita, arrived shortly and stationed herself on the opposite side. Orange cats appeared briefly in the doorway and disappeared as Sean sat and stared at the comm link, willing it to work and provide good news. Good news only!
In his head thoughts went round and round on a mental carousel: Yana and his unborn child were kidnapped; Bunny, Diego, and Marmion, too. By whom? For what reason? He had no right to give a planet as security! Not to anyone!