Unification - Jeri Taylor [54]
A man from the crowd stepped forward and interjected. “Because he’s not afraid of them. Because he knows we will support him!” Even to D’Tan, the man sounded desperate.
Spock’s composed voice rang through the cavern. “Captain Picard is correct. It is not logical for the proconsul to endorse reunification at this time.”
And now the crowd erupted, clamoring their objec-tions. D’Tan heard his own voice among them, and felt his eyes sting with tears of frustration. How could Spock do this? Could he not see that their dreams, their prayers, were just on the verge of being answered? Was he being swayed by the Starfleet captain who had arrived so unexpectedly? Was he to snatch this bright promise from them when it meant so much?
Shalote was trembling with anger. “Why would Neral lie?” she demanded.
“Perhaps they are hoping to use this to expose members of your movement,” Picard answered, and D’Tan saw the woman flash him a bitter look.
“No,” she cried out, “this is our chance for accept-ance. Finally, to be heard!”
Another man from the crowd joined in. “I believe it is the Federation that fears an alliance between Romulus and Vulcan!”
Now the crowd’s rumble took an ugly turn, and D’Tan felt its wrath as though it were a living animal, coiling and writhing, turning to cast its eye on Picard. The outsider. The interloper. One on whom they could vent their anger and disappointment.
The clamor grew louder and more menacing. Picard faced them, and D’Tan sensed no fear in him, but rather a desire to quell the gathering fury of the mob. “That is not true—” he began, but he was shouted down.
Then Spock stepped forward, his look enough to quiet the unruliest of throngs. He stared at the seeth-ing mass of humanity, silent until they withered under his gaze and settled into a restive, murmuring mass.
“I came here,” said Spock quietly, and by his hushed tone silenced the crowd further, “to determine the potential for reunification. In spite of what has occurred, I intend to continue my efforts. I intend to meet with the proconsul as planned.”
A huge roar of approval thundered through the caves. Instantly the mood of the people had turned once more to joyous approbation.
D’Tan thought he might have been the only person in the cave who saw the look that passed between Spock and Picard. To him, it seemed charged with conflict. Then Spock turned and left the main chamber, and after a moment, Picard followed him.
D’Tan felt that the destiny of his people walked with those two men at that moment.
As Picard followed Spock down the narrow passageway into the small, damp chamber adjoining the large cavern, he was smoldering with anger. He would never have thought that Spock could be swayed by a surly crowd, but he had just seen it happen. Some part of his mind realized that he felt personally betrayed by the ambassador’s actions, and that thought puzzled him for a moment—why personally?rebut then his ire pushed it from his consciousness.
Ahead, Spock turned to face him. Picard perceived suddenly that Spock had not come here to confer with him, but to be alone, and was not pleased to find Picard dogging his heels. He didn’t care; Spock would have to deal with him.
“You let their emotions sway you,” he charged, hoping Spock would answer in angry kind.
But of course he did not. Spock raised an eyebrow and intoned in a slightly surprised fashion, “On the contrary, I am pursuing the most logical course.”
Picard took a breath and tried to calm himselfi It would serve nothing to run at this man in a white heat. “You are as skeptical as I am,” he said, looking for the argument that would appeal to reason. “Is it logical to ignore your own good sense?”
“I fear the influence of Sarek has colored your attitudes, Captain. Toward reunification. And perhaps toward me.”
Picard was taken aback. How did Sarek become a participant in this interpersonal drama? His mind flashed back to the discussion he and Spock had had in the soup stall. Spock had accused him of having a closed mind… and at the