Phantom of the Wind (7 page)

Paton Dougherty, Quinn’s 2-I-C, was standing at the end of the corridor, his arms crossed over a wide, brawny chest, and with his face set into a fierce scowl, he asked his captain what he was doing. “
Cre’n obbyr t’ayd?”

“Ny bee imnea ort!”
Quinn replied, telling Paton not to worry.

“T’ee mooadaghey y boirey,”
Paton snapped.

“There’s no reason for her to add to your worries, Paton,” Quinn stated. “She’s not our enemy.”

Dougherty turned his angry stare to Kendall. “Milady, do you not know what
couthutlaugh
means?”

“Paton, for the love of Alel…” Quinn began.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t speak Cengusian,” Kendall told the man glaring at her.

“
Couthutlaugh
isn’t a Cengusian word. It is Serenian and it is a crime under Coalition Law. Their High Council has made it a hanging offense to aid and abet any person who has been declared an outlaw.”

“I’m not going to allow anything to happen to her, Paton,” Quinn said, adding he loved the woman at his side.
“Ta graih aym urree.”

The 2-I-C nodded slowly. “I know you do.
Ta dooinney ayns graih ny vlebbin.”
He unfolded his arms and walked away.

“What did he say?” Kendall asked for Quinn’s face had turned red.

“He said a man in love is a fool.”

Kendall turned at the sound of a woman’s voice, surprised to see a female among the Phantom’s crew.

“I am Fenella,” the woman said, holding out her hand. “I am the idjut’s cousin.”

“And our healer aboard the
Lhong Shee,”
Quinn injected as the two women shook hands.

“I am a shamaness,” Fenella corrected him, “not a healer.” She smiled at Kendall. “I use holistic methods to treat my patients.”

“I’d be interested in watching you,” Kendall said.

“Perhaps you can take her to our sick bay,” Quinn suggested, but when Fenella shook her head, he asked why not.

“Paton is right, Rory. She shouldn’t be here. Her status is neutral in this conflict and it should remain so for her safety. Just by bringing her aboard our ship, you have placed her in harm’s way. All it would take is for one spy to see her here and report her to the Coalition. If you love her as you say you do, then take her out of here now,” his cousin warned. She turned to Kendall. “I am not saying this to hurt you, but you are a liability to him. The Coalition would use you against him if they get wind of this.”

“I won’t let that happen,” Quinn said through clenched teeth.

“Take her back to the palace,
paitchey
,” Fenella said then continued on her way.

“What did she call you?”

“
Paitchey
,” he said with a sigh. “It means bantling. She’s ten years older than me and never lets me forget she used to change my diapers.”

He turned back the way they’d come, taking her hand once more in his. “As much as I hate to admit Paton is right, I may have blundered royally,
Lhiannan
.”

She leaned against him. “Is Paton your cousin too?”

“He’s Fenella’s husband. They’ve been married almost thirty years now.”

“She must have been a child!” Kendall exclaimed.

“A very ripe old seventeen, actually,” he said. “And
dymmyrk ee mac
.”
He smiled. “She brought forth a son.”

“She was pregnant when they married?”

He nodded. “It was the only way they knew my uncle would allow them to
coventyn
, to Join.”

“Your uncle didn’t approve of Paton?”

Quinn laughed. “What man ever truly approves of the man his daughter chooses? Paton was from across the Kayagh Glion, the Misty Valley. He is not
Scaanagh
. He is Najooragh, the only one of the crew who is.” He looked at her. “You know there are three races on Cengus?”

“
Scaanagh
, Najooragh
and what else?”

“The Shuitelagh,” he replied. “They keep to themselves up in the Sleitoil, the Highlands.”

“Why?”

“They are shape-shifters, werefoxes,” he said. “Most Cengusians fear them.”

Kendall shuddered as they started down the gangplank of his ship. She looked back once they moved off the last step but there was nothing behind her, the
Lhong Shee
was once more cloaked in invisibility.

“With the Coalition in control of my home world, only the gods know how the Shuitelagh have fared. Their Council of Elders voted against going to war alongside the Aduaidh so maybe the occupation hasn’t been as bad for them as it has for the rest of my people.”

They were walking toward the Fiach shuttlecraft in which he would fly them back to the Burgon’s palace.

“How long has it been since you’ve been home to Cengus?” she asked.

“Too long,” he replied. “But one day I’ll go back and reclaim all I lost.”

* * * * *

2149 CMT

“He’s dreaming,” Andrews marveled. “How is that possible with a strong narcotic zinging through his system?”

Kendall didn’t answer. She was studying the mapping of the treatment being administered to Quinn’s knees and wasn’t happy with what she was seeing. “There was a hell of a lot of damage done,” she said. “The TAOS is just now finishing up reattaching the ligaments. It hasn’t even begun realigning and re-fusing the bones.”

“He must be in a lot of pain,” Parks commented.

“He is,” Kendall said. “Keep him under for a few more hours.”

“Why don’t you go get some sleep, Doc?” Andrews suggested. “You are starting to look a little frayed around the edges.”

It was on the tip of Kendall’s tongue to tell her med tech to mind his own business, but she was tired and cranky and her headache was a living torment squeezing at her temples. She drew in a long breath then exhaled slowly. “You’ll wake me if I’m needed?”

“On my honor,” Andrews swore, hand to heart.

She took one last look at Quinn. “Don’t let that Amazeen take him anywhere while I’m down.”

“Ain’t going to happen,” Parks promised for the both of them.

She hesitated for a moment longer then turned away. Her shoulders felt stiff, her neck aching as she walked down the corridor to the elevator. What she needed was a long, hot soak in a tub, her soft cotton pajamas and about four hours of uninterrupted sleep. She knew she’d settle for a quick shower, a clean medical tunic and pants, and a stretch out across her bed.

On the way down to her quarters, Kendall kept going over the ‘bot’s words to Quinn. Why, she wondered, would the AIU be apologizing to him? And for what? There had been respect in the cybot’s tone and—she knew she had not been imagining it—misery in the way the creation gave its apology. AIUs were not programmed to have emotions and especially not a Class 10 construct.

Putting aside the suspicions growing inside her, she unlocked the door to her quarters and went in.

Her quarters were nothing to write home about, she thought as she opened the door then locked it behind her. It was utilitarian, nothing more. Sparse on furniture—only one sofa and one chair—in the living area, the dining area was even more Spartan with one barstool at the peninsula, no table or chairs. The peninsula served as her eating area as well as her desk. Her sleeping quarters consisted of a full-sized MemFoam mattress lying on the floor, a bedside table with lamp and a chair over the back of which she threw her clothes. Wall built-ins concealed her worldly possessions, which consisted of clothing, shoes and boots, and a few jackets. There were no decorations, no paintings, no bric-a-brac scattered about the quarters. Not even one framed photo was to be found. The room could have belonged to any nameless, faceless, personality-deficient member of the crew, she thought.

The only personal thing in the place was the feline who looked up from the foot of the mattress when Kendall came in to take off her clothes.

“Hey, Munch,” Kendall greeted the Elfinish. She kicked off her shoes and flopped down beside the cat to rub it behind its overly large, overly pointed ears. “How’s it going, sweetie?”

“My bowl is devoid of milk,” Munchkin accused in a droll tone. “The room temperature is not precisely at seventy degrees as I prefer and you did not leave the
An Éigipt
music on as I asked you. I do not find such behavior on your part tolerable, humanoid.” With a shake of her body, a flit of her hairless tail, the feline hopped off the mattress and strolled regally from the room, looking for the entire world like a huge dust bunny on stilts.

Kendall sighed. Elfinish were highly intelligent creatures and prone to sarcasm when annoyed. Kendall sighed again, this time accompanied by a groan. She pushed herself up and went into the galley area, opened the refrigerator unit and realized there was no milk. She hung her head. “I’m sorry, Munch,” she said. “We’re out of milk.”

“Apologies are not acceptable, humanoid. I am thirsty.”

“There’s water in your other bowl,” Kendall protested.

“You expect me to drink water that is room temperature?” Munchkin groused. “I am also hungry.”

Kendall looked over at the fluffy rug where the Elfinish’s food and water was kept. “You’ve got a full bowl, Munch.”

“Of some indefinable, tasteless concoction only a warthog would find palatable. Must I remind you I have an extremely delicate constitution that requires a heartier repast than flavored grain?”

“The pellets are a highly nutritional diet that helps promote a healthy skin and coat while maintaining ideal weight and—”

“Humanoid,” Munchkin interrupted with an exasperated roll of her pink eyes, “you have been reading the bag again, and I have discussed this with you previously. I desire moist substance, preferably Chalean lamb or Diabolusian bovine. An occasional Oceanian white fish is tolerable, though I have a preference for Amhantarean cod—which I know is rather difficult to come by out here in the wilds of space. I do not find enjoyment in—nor am I amused by—hard, granulated chunks of indeterminate matter with no taste beyond that of dry sand.” The feline made a wretched gagging, coughing sound, and then regurgitated a slimy ball of fur, which she deposited in the middle of the floor then strolled away as though nothing had happened. “I have refined tastes as I have related to you many times. What part of picky eater do you not understand?”

“Munch,” Kendall complained, wincing at the dark orange-colored fur ball. “The vet on Serenia said this food is better for your fur balls and—”

“You mock me, humanoid!” Munchkin stated with a hiss and an arch of her sparsely covered back. “Must I remind you that Elfinish do not require the same primitive care as creatures such as canines and other lesser members of the felidae family?” She shuddered delicately then padded over to the settee and hopped up. “Please do not insult me further.” She turned around and around until she found a comfortable area of the cushion, curled up and draped one paw over her eyes. “You have disturbed me so I find that I am now in need of a nap.” She flicked her tail. “Good night and please keep it quiet.”

“About the milk, Munch—”

“Run along, humanoid. You are bothering me. I thought it was understood I need quiet in order to nap.”

So regally dismissed from the living area, Kendall went into her bedroom, peeled off her med tunic and then slid the elastic waist of the pants down her legs. Pitching the uniform into the hamper, she went into the bathing area and turned on the water in the shower. After stripping off her bra and panties, she walked barefoot over to the mirror over the basin and leaned forward, staring at her tired face.

“You look like shit,” she said to the image staring back at her.

“Keep it down in there!” Munchkin called out.

“He’s in the sick bay, Munch,” Kendall said softly. She watched tears forming in her eyes then spilling down her cheek.

The Elfinish came into the bathing area and hopped up on the toilet seat, perching there like a statue. “‘He’ as in the Phantom?”

Kendall swiped at her tears. “They tortured him. He—”

“Get in the shower, Kenni,” Munchkin said gently. “We’ll discuss this when you’re through. Go on now.”

Opening the glass door into the shower, Kendall stepped in and stood there beneath the onslaught of the water. She let the heated spray beat down on her shoulders, soaking her cap of short curls, running over her face to mingle with her tears. Listlessly, she took the soap, lathered her body and then rinsed off, moving as though in a daze as she opened the shower door and hooked the towel from the rack.

“Is he going to be all right?” Munchkin asked as she licked her paw and swiped it across her face.

“I think so but he’s in a lot of pain,” Kendall said. She stepped out of the shower, wrapped one of six extravagantly fluffy towels—the only luxuries she afforded herself—around her then tucked the end in at her breasts. She ran her fingers through her wet hair.

“I’m sure you’re doing everything you can to make it comfortable for him.”

Munchkin hopped down from the toilet and followed Kendall back into the bedroom. She jumped up on the mattress and strolled to the head of the bed.

“I don’t want to talk about him anymore right now,” Kendall said. Her heart felt heavy and there was a wicked lump in her throat.