Crudrat, page 23
The Patrona and Dr Sillous shared some sort of significant, if surprised, look.
Maura shifted from one foot to the next, nervous, and turned to Quy. She’d thought this was a known thing. She’d thought she’d made it clear, what life was like for her kind. Guess not. Guess maybe I should do a bit more talking once in a spin or so.
Quy raised his eyebrows but did not explain what was happening.
“It would be an excellent countervail recruitment base,” said Dr Sillous to his wife, after a long moment.
“A very dangerous recruitment process though. Imagine, pulling agents out of Wheel space, training them up, taking them in, then sending them back when active.”
Maura was seized with a sudden shock of real hope. First time in all her ticks. She could go back for Rees! She looked to Quy. They could go back for Rees? They could get him out. They could get others out. The very idea made all the tiny hairs on her legs stand up.
“That would be wonderful trick, though,” she said, unguarded for once in her life.
The Patrona frowned. “Worth the risk?”
“If they could provide this kind of quality skill,” Dr Sillous gestured once more at the maze of a court, referencing Maura’s spectacular performance, “And the Wheel just murders them.” His voice was rich with disgust.
“’Tis not murder,” said Maura, all honestly.
“Murder through neglect is still murder.”
“But murder has to be done to a person.”
Quy jumped in to explain, “Crudrat is trying to say that rejects aren’t real people, not by Wheel standards. Right?”
Maura nodded, she’d thought that was obvious.
“You mean, they’re like animals?”
“Worse. Animals are useful. Rejects that can’t crudrat have no purpose at all.” Maura was beginning to think the Kill’ki would never understand this concept.
“This one is surprised they don’t use you rejects for food,” interjected Asherat.
Maura raised her eyebrows. “This one is, too, now that you speak to it.”
Most everyone else looked a little sick, except Dr Sillous. He and Asherat shared a Jakaa Nova’s irreverent amusement.
“It is an interesting idea,” said the Patrona, sounding like Eeaa the Hydraborn. “No, not the cannibalism. I will give it some serious consideration and perhaps bring it before the Council of Cities at the next potlatch. For now, however, we have more pressing business.”
She stood. “I have made my final decision.”
Oh, thought Maura, so quickly as that.
The Patrona straightened up tall, which was mighty high, and fussed at the robe about her shoulders so it fell perfectly. “It has not been an easy one.”
“Yes it has,” said Quy sullenly, “You had your mind made up from the start.”
The Patrona did not get angry with him. For a change.
Dr Sillous gave Quy a grave look. “You are already imperiled by breaking the testing strictures and handing your bonded a weapon illegally. Though she did right and refrained from using it. It is time for you to be mindful of your tongue, son of my brother-in-law.”
Quy, unused to being admonished by his uncle, sat back cowed.
The Patrona continued. “The petitioner, Crudrat, received scores on her targeting test that were unexpectedly high. Plus, she recognized a sensory flaw in the simulation system that no one else has ever remarked upon. The first, is a mark of a wari, the second a mark of an engineer. Nevertheless, in her questions and her social relations, the petitioner remains essentially disconnected. Her interests are in observation rather than understanding, stealth rather than confrontation, and these are marks of a countervail. In her physical tests she has performed unlike any other petitioner, it is hard to measure the worth of one who instead of beating a test, merely avoids it. But that, too, marks a countervail, choosing options that are neither wrong nor right, but just evasive.”
The Patrona paused. She turned to address Maura directly, rather than the crowd.
Maura faced her, head tilted back to see her face. Behind the ruler’s massive headdress stars twinkled in endless black.
Manzanilla said, “It is possible that you might socialize and integrate fully into the Coalition, but it is my assessment that it is not your origin culture but your nature that has lead to these test results. There would always be the chance that, if you were wari, you would slide too easily into subterfuge and individual action.” She looked at her nibling. “Even you must admit to that, Quy.”
Quy, Korakay, and Asherat were all looking gloomy. It was a particularly odd expression on the face of the Jakaa Nova.
“This one has failed her testing,” Maura realized.
“There is no failure, there is only fit. You do not fit a wari life.” It was Dr Sillous who explained, all kindness.
Maura looked about. “This one could have told you that. This one may be reject, but there’s nothing but progenetor genes floating her body, no armiger at all.”
Quy looked ever sadder.
The largest of the three wari semi-cousins stepped forward and clapped her paws together six slowly measured times. “The Patrona will now render judgment.”
Manzanilla cleared her throat. “Given the social and physical test results, her small size, and relative youth, Pikillacta will accept the petitioner, Crudrat, into the Kill’ki Coalition on the condition that she undertake formal training to become a countervail.”
Maura bowed her head. Despite what Quy thought, it couldn’t be that bad. At least they don’t want me dead. And if they find use for other former crudrats too, some part of my ticks here have been well spent.
“Of bloody course,” spat Quy.
Without looking at him, the Patrona signaled with one massive paw. Bracelets around her wrists jingled together.
Once more the largest of the three wari semi-cousins moved to join them at the front and clapped her paws together six times. “The Patrona will now render judgment,” she repeated.
“Child of my brother, quoin, called Quy in the City of Pikillacta, called Xeegan in the city of his birth, called Fuzzy by his bonded.” Someone snorted at that. Maura felt guilty – how’d that gotten out? “You, too, have been under testing and are called to judgment.”
Quy started violently, and jumped to his feet, coming to stand next to Maura facing the Patrona. He looked very, very nervous.
“As is the law, we cannot separate a bonded pair prior to adulthood. Given good reason, the Coalition can break the bond, for the benefit of the whole. In this instance, it is my judgment that the bond stand. The pair will profit from continued association.”
Quy looked suddenly hopeful and surprised. “This one did not know that law existed. Is it strong enough to overturn your previous ruling and keep Crudrat here with me?”
“Silence,” said the large semi-cousin.
Quy snapped his mouth shut.
The Patrona looked infinitely sad. Maura wondered, for the first time, how old she was. “After much consultation with the rest of the gens, we have decided, Quy, you are to accompany your bonded.”
Quy reeled back slightly, mental shock as physical blow. “What?”
“Oh no,” said Korakay softly.
As though she had not heard his shocked exclamation, his Aunt continued. “You have disobeyed the strictures of quoin orders once too often. I will not list the sum total of your transgressions, but today alone you chose to assist outside of approval in the testing and interrupted a judgment in session. Though you have lived amongst the Coalition all your life, it was your bonded, a stranger to us and a countervail by nature, who knew enough not to accept your assistance.”
“Aunt, what are you doing?”
“You are undisciplined. You are also a good fighter and you might have been a great one, like your mother. You are an excellent pilot. You are certainly neither the sly nor stealth personality prototype that chooses countervail.”
“Exactly!” said Quy.
“But if nothing else, the countervail field boasts the most discipline of any in the Coalition. It has been decided that you would benefit from this aspect, regardless of tested fit.”
“No!” Quy roared. “You can’t do this.”
“I think you will find that I can. The decision of the gens is final.”
Quy’s eyes were desperate. Maura’s plight was forgotten with the threat to his own future. “But all I ever wanted was to be wari!”
His aunt sighed, relaxing her stance and rubbing the back of her neck under the collar of her robe with one paw. “Then you should have taken to that life with greater caution and behaved like a wari.”
“But…”
“There are no choices left for you, my problematic little nibling.”
Maura saw real regret and affection in the Patrona’s gaze.
“All your options have been spent. You have used all your goodwill barter with the gens and must be on the receiving end of its authority now.”
“Please,” said Quy, voice soft.
The Patrona swallowed, dipping her head forward slightly. “I too have no more choices.” She took a breath. “You are hereby stripped of the title quoin, and all the authority and rights thereby connected. Your personal whale will be repossessed by the gens unless you can dispose of it before your departure. You will leave at the end of this shift.”
“Request barter,” said Asherat instantly, upon hearing that little gem. He was the only one who seemed unperturbed by this whole turn of events.
Quy recovered from his shock long enough to say, “Not on your red-eyed life.” He turned to look at the crowd, some sympathetic, some nodding approval. He rubbed at his eyes briefly. “Korakay,” he said, strength back in his voice, “want a skiff? Good condition, hardly used.”
His friend looked up, there were tears in her eyes. “Barter accepted. It will have to be left unfulfilled. You know this one does not have enough to trade for a whole whale yet.”
“What good would barter do where we are going anyway?” said Quy starkly. He lifted the keycard from about his neck. Maura hadn’t even known it was there, hidden in his fur, and tossed it to his friend. Korakay caught it deftly and ceremoniously pulled it over her own fuzzy head.
Maura was beginning to feel worse and worse. That she had got herself into this countervail thing was all to the truth, and fine with her. But to drag Quy along with her?
“This one is vastly sorry,” she said to him.
Quy straightened his back. "This one is not so mean as all that. It is not your fault, it is my own misdeeds. This one knew there would be consequences, there always are. Just not what form they would take. This one’s birth mother approves?”
The Patrona nodded.
“As the universe wills it, and as gens bid, so it be done. This one will do as ordered. It will be nice to see this one’s cousin again, if nothing else.”
Maura recognized that as a little dig, to remind the Patrona that her own child was already set to be a countervail. Already a shame on the gens.
Manzanilla winced. “Perhaps they will curb that razor tongue of yours as well.”
“And perhaps they will twist it to better use.” Dr Sillous smiled softly. It was as though he knew something his wife did not. As though this wouldn’t be so bad.
Maura took courage in that.
“Judgments have ended for this shift.” The Patrona sagged down to sit, looking tired.
Quy whirled about and marched rapidly away, his long furry legs eating up the distance.
Maura wondered if she should follow him.
Dr Sillous stood and patted Maura’s shoulder. “This is a positive thing, you will see. My wife makes good decisions, hard ones, but good.”
“And the other crudrats? Will you really do a mite for them?”
“She said she would consult with the council, and you can rely on her keeping that word. But you must understand that the decision to recruit intentionally from Wheel ranks will rest, in part, on how well you do in this new life that she has selected for you.”
Maura took a sharp breath. She was testing for the saving of all crudrats? Maura vowed then and there to be the best counterveil the Kill’ki never knew to want. “Then this one shall do brilliantly. And the murmel, would you, perhaps, look after him?”
Dr Sillous shook his head. “We are not so cruel as that. You will be allowed to take him with you. I have noted in your medical records that you have an emotional symbiotic relationship with the animal, and you are not to be separated.”
Maura did not know what to say. “Thank you.” Then she remembered what she was supposed to say at that kind of favor. Thank you wasn’t enough. “This one owes you barter.”
The surgeon smiled, white teeth flashed. “I would consider it settled if you would say hello to my son when you get there. Remind him that it was his choice, and he need not cut us off, nor be ashamed. I, at least, would like to hear from him once in a while.”
Maura nodded. “Of course. By what name is he called?”
Dr Sillous shrugged. “I do not know. New place, new name, what you are called is earned or given, not taken with you. It is the Kill'ki way. And we have not heard from him since he left.”
“This one will do her best,” said Maura wondering how many half Kill’ki half Jakaa Nova there could be. She turned to go, worried about Quy.
“Wait!”
Asherat and Korakay stopped her.
“Best if this one goes after him,” explained Korakay.
Maura nodded. If Korakay thought so. She’d known Quy longer, after all.
That left Asherat standing next to her. “You know, this one has never seen anyone move like that. A real test of the leathers. This one thinks you will do remarkable things as a countervail.”
“Thank you.”
“As you are to leave very soon. Shall we walk?”
Maura nodded. She checked quickly to see if she should say goodbye to the Patrona. But the ruler was leaning her head heavily on her husband’s shoulder, looking so sad. Maura could not bear to approach. Perhaps she would come to see them off.
Maura walked with Asherat toward the recreation area exit.
“We have an unfinished barter, Crudrat. You can’t leave such business incomplete without acknowledgement that it will remain so from both parties.”
“Oh, of course.” Maura was ashamed, she had forgotten about that. And he had been so helpful, with the leathers and the talking.
“This one is terribly sorry. What would you ask?” She hoped it was something she could give him quickly, or perhaps defer until later.
Asherat actually looked a little embarrassed. “This one’s friend, the Patrona’s son, he is a mixed species. He finds things difficult, being neither Kill’ki nor Jakaa Nova. This one would ask that you be kind to him, when you meet. Not judge on appearances or attitude. He is shy.”
Maura raised blue eyebrows. “Unusual trait for both Kill’ki and Jakaa Nova.”
Asherat snorted. “Too true. So you will accept this as barter completion?”
“Gladly, but it does not seem like enough. Simply to be kind to a stranger.”
“You have not yet met him.”
“Do you know what name he goes by?”
“No, this one did not even know he had gone countervail until recently. But Quy knows him by sight, of course. What is that horrible noise?"
They reached the entrance to the Patrona’s rooms, where a very angry Biskweet was busy shrieking his little heart out from behind bars even a murmel could not escape.
Maura let him out of the hutch. He streaked away, deeply offended.
They walked slowly on, Asherat talking inconsequential words.
They found Biskweet, ruffled and grumpy, back in Maura’s sleeping quarters. Quy was also there, ruffled and grumpy.
Korakay was looking frustrated. “This one has shift down in engineering in about three ticks. Good luck.” She gave Maura a quick hug before she left. Maura wasn’t sure if that was luck for the journey or luck dealing with Quy.
Asherat also turned to go. “It has been interesting to know you, little Crudrat.”
“Likewise,” replied Maura. The tall youth stooped, took her shoulders in both hands, and touched his forehead to hers. “Remember our barter.”
Maura said nothing.
A tick later, he had gone.
“He likes you,” said Quy, shaken out of his melancholy by this surprised realization.
Maura grimaced. “Would you stop?”
Quy shrugged. “You will have to get used to it eventually. But no point in pushing, this one will already have to fend off suitors, without you responding favorably.” He grinned a sudden flash of teeth. “I guess it’s not so bad that this one goes with you considering someone has to keep an eye on you.”
“Are you sure?” Maura sat down next to him, worried.
He tilted his head to the side. “Truth between bonded?”
“Truth.”
“We all swim the seas before us, this one just stopped looking where he was going.”
“And some of us ain’t never seen the sea.”
Quy’s smile went sad. The murmel, having decided to forgive at least Quy if not Maura, came wandering over and began grooming the Kill’ki’s arm.
“Locillor,” said Quy softly.
“What?” Maura was confused.
“My name or record, it’s Locillor.”
He’d started using the personal pronoun.
Maura was silent, processing for a moment, thinking back to the Patrona’s lessoning on Kill'ki ways. Shared, the Patrona had said. Names are to be shared. He already knew hers of course, but he’d never once used it publicly or privately. So she said, “And mine is Maura Am Vern. So, a great white alien beastie is now my family?”
Locillor/Quy/Fuzzy sighed. “Better that than no family at all, I suppose.”
“Too true.” Maura bumped his shoulder with hers. “Won’t be so bad.”
He looked funny. Maura thought he must be realizing at last that he’d basically adopted a strange blue-haired Wheel child. Then he looked at her even stranger little blue murmel busily licking away at his arm fur. “They have no idea what they are in for, Maura Am Vern, do they?”
