“We will have to contactcommand,” Xi said.
“You are forbidden to doso before the mission is complete,” Tau said pointedly. “When wehave done what is required of us, then you may complain to commandabout how I performed my duty—but not before,” he said tightly, andstrode toward a tent at some distance from them.
Uneasiness flickered throughXi.
Quan was frowning. “He has been actingstrange since we captured the female,” he said finally.
Xi glanced at him sharply. “I cannotthink it is that.” He frowned, realizing the assassin had seemed …possessive of her almost from the first. He dismissed it after amoment, however. “More likely it is the transition. The weight andclumsiness of the body and also the multitude of input the sensorspick up are disorienting. I have not grown accustomed yet and Ihave been here longer. I just cannot fathom why he believes themission is somehow connected to the female, though. It seems …irrational.”
“He is assassin. It isborderline treason even to question him.”
Xi shrugged. “I would feel better if Icould understand the vast transition in him between the time weleft to find something to collect water and returned.”
* * * *
Tau met them at the opening in thetent when they arrived. “Do not take much. They have little,” hesaid in a quiet voice.
Xi frowned. “These drones needstrength to fight—even to think rationally.”
Tau nodded. “Nevertheless … these arefighters, as well, and they are completely biological. They haveneeds we do not. We will have to find resources forourselves.”
Xi nodded and headed over to the foodline. When he was served, he returned a portion to the pot andwalked off. Quan mimicked his behavior.
There seemed a lessoning in tensionwhen they left the tent to find a spot to settle.
“How did know they wouldreact with hostility if we took what we wished?” Quan asked as soonas he joined Tau.
Tau merely shrugged. “I am notcertain.” He frowned. “I feel that I have begun to understand thesecreatures.”
Xi was tempted to argue until itdawned upon him that Tau had picked up a far greater understandingof and skills with their language than he would have thoughtpossible in so short a time. And the language was key tounderstanding.
“Ultima will know how tofind the traitor,” Tau said after a few moments.
Xi and Quan both whipped sharp looksat him.
“She told you that? How?She cannot speak our language and you could not speak more thanthree or four words of hers before.”
Tau frowned. “I will ask her if she iswilling to share the information with the two of you when she isbetter.”
“Why do you think she willbe better?”
“Her sister will make herwell.”
“So we will camp hereuntil she is … well enough to show us the way?” Quanasked.
“We will stay as long aswe can to allow her to heal before we leave,” Tau corrected him.“The traitor will come after her.”
“How do you knowthat?”
“Because she gavesomething into my keeping and it is something the traitor wantsvery much.”
“Sooo … he knows that younow carry it?”
“He does not.”
“How is that possible …unless it is a physical thing that holds thisinformation?”
Tau frowned. “I cannot tell you more.My woman will tell you when she is ready.”
