Spirit Walk_ Old Wounds (Book 1) - Christie Golden [74]
“He’d put on his battered old expedition hat and say, ‘Let’s go.’ ”
As they stood in the turbolift, Sekaya said, “I should tell Marius where I’m going.”
“It’s Marius now, is it?” her brother grinned at her.
She blushed a little, then looked down. “We…have a lot in common. It seemed silly to keep using titles—we’re both civilians, after all.”
“I’m just teasing, Sekky. Let me do it.” He tapped his combadge. “Chakotay to Fortier.”
“Fortier here. What is it, Captain?”
“We’ve had a report of discoveries on Loran II of archeological interest,” said Chakotay. “Sekaya and I are going to investigate them. My first officer and his team are continuing to check out the planet to see if it’s safe for rehabitation by your people. We’ll let you know as soon as we hear from him.”
“Please do, Captain. Sekaya has given us much food for thought, but we are anxious to take our nuanka directly to our home. We cannot have closure until we are there. I trust you understand.”
Chakotay raised an eyebrow at Fortier’s usage of a word that had originated with Chakotay’s tribe.
“I do indeed, Mr. Fortier. You and your people are the reason for this mission. I won’t forget you, but do understand that your safety is our top priority.”
“Of course, Captain. I hope to hear from you soon.”
They stepped off the turbolift and headed for the shuttlebay.
“Nuanka?” Chakotay asked as they walked. “You’ll have Fortier and his people rattling off our chants in no time at this rate.”
“It’s appropriate,” said Sekaya. “A nuanka is a time of mourning, and that is precisely what these people are undergoing.”
“You really do seem to have developed a rapport with them,” said Chakotay as they continued on their way to the shuttlebay. “You’re a natural as a spiritual adviser.”
“Thanks. It’s hard, though,” Sekaya admitted.
They got into the shuttle. As they settled in and Chakotay ran through the standard readiness checklist, he said, “We have some private time here, as we approach the planet. I really want to hear what you have to tell me, my sister.”
She didn’t look at him, but nodded her agreement. “All the signs are present that assure me that you should be told. And for so bitter a thing, it will not be long in the telling,” she said.
He looked swiftly, searchingly at her. Her hands were balled tightly in her lap.
“Shuttlecraft Carrington to Voyager.”
“Campbell here, Captain.”
“Requesting launch permission.”
“Permission granted. Shuttlebay doors opening. You are cleared to launch, Carrington.”
“You have to request permission? You’re the captain,” Sekaya said as the mammoth doors of the shuttlebay slowly opened, revealing a velvety field of black space and white stars.
He shushed her with a gesture and continued. “Readying launching sequence Alpha Beta Four. Launching.”
Smoothly, the small craft lifted itself from the floor of the shuttlebay and moved forward.
“It’s just standard procedure,” Chakotay told Sekaya. “Everyone, from an admiral on down to an ensign, needs to obey it.”
“Tradition,” she said softly. “Ritual.”
“If you want to call it that,” he said.
He didn’t want to prod her any more, and when he glanced over at her he saw that her eyes were closed. She opened her mouth and began to chant. The hairs on the back of his neck lifted at the familiar words, which he recognized although he could not fully understand or speak them himself.
At last, she opened her eyes and stared out first at the stars, then at the planet that was rapidly approaching. Anxious as he was to investigate the chamozi he had seen on the planet, Chakotay was more anxious for Sekaya to finally reveal what had happened to their people.
“You have never shown me what is in your medicine bundle, brother,” she said.
Chakotay was surprised at the comment. “No,” he admitted. “Would you like me to?”
She shook her dark head. “It’s not necessary, but I have a question. Among the items you consider precious to you…is there a stone from the river?”
Of course, Chakotay thought. She probably kept hers too. “Yes,” he said. “Given to me