Nabukko, page 8
“Well, if he’s not here, he’s probably in Engineering.”
“So this Benedeck fellow, he’s an engineer but also in charge of everyone’s assignments? I’d think that would be Merula’s job,” I said.
“It used to be, but now she has her hands full with—well, there’s just a lot of things that go into running a sh—I mean, colony. You know? Anyway, she delegated the task. And Benedeck is the Sub-Chief Engineer, so he has no lack of experience managing people.” Eoghan rubbed the back of his neck as we walked.
“Who’s the Chief Engineer?”
“Cylar, now. But he’s pretty busy lately, too.”
I almost protested going to the building they called Engineering because I was worried about seeing Leaf Man there again. But then I remembered he was still in the mess hall when we left. I didn’t think he could sprint down here that quickly.
Did no one else care about someone glaring at them constantly? Maybe I was just on edge from receiving a double dosage between Leaf Man and Gia.
So many people around me now. It was going to take some getting used to.
We entered Engineering through a hangar door, sidestepping wires, gel pack relays, transistor couplings, and scrap metal shreds.
“Does any of this stuff work?” I asked Eoghan, thinking back to the lack of functioning equipment in the med tent.
Eoghan opened his mouth, but it was a different, deeper voice that answered.
“Choot! It’s no gator bait, gal, but it will be! Once we get it workin’, that is of course,” said the soulful voice. It belonged to a beefy man no less than six foot four. His arms were hairy and brawny, just like the rest of him. He looked like a blacksmith right out of a renaissance textbook.
“Benedeck, gal,” he said, thrusting out his hand. “Pleased to meet tha subject o’ tha tee-tot o’ flurry and stirin’ in tha camp!”
I shifted my bag to shake to his hand, but my brain was still trying to parse together his words into something coherent.
“You’re speaking a bit thick, Benny,” Eoghan said after a pause.
“T’weren’t!” he bellowed.
“Yes, ya are! Ah, you got me doing it too. Where’s a translator when you need one?”
“Couyon,” Benedeck muttered. Then he turned back to me. “What can I help ya with, gal?” He deliberately spoke slower for me this time.
“Um, hello. I need to be put on the duty roster. However that works.”
Benedeck raised his bushy eyebrows at me, his gaze flickering between me and Eoghan.
“Stayin’ a smidge are ya? Ol’ Merula twist yer arm enough? Choot, let’s see what ya handle best?”
When Benedeck kept staring at me, I realized he was waiting for some kind of response. I glanced over at Eoghan, at a loss.
He chuckled softly. “He’s asking what you are good at, what your skills are. Sometimes we assign by need, but since most people here trained at the Academy, we usually just start with their area of expertise.”
I gulped.
I couldn’t remember what I had studied at the Academy, but it was starting to sound more and more familiar. Since this morning, I’ve had flashes of listening to a professor lecture, or training in a lab on an orbital station around Earth, and mundane things like walking around the campus gardens.
But no details.
Eoghan tilted his head, a frown just starting to form as the moment stretched on a second too long.
“Not guard duty,” I blurted out, a touch too forcefully.
One of Benedeck’s bushy eyebrows barreled upward again.
“Ya don’t fancy workin’ with the little Couyon here, gal?”
“Ahh, no, that’s not—Eoghan’s fine. Really fine actually—” I cut myself off, realizing that I was rambling and perhaps revealing a bit too much. “What I meant was, I don’t think Jarl and I would get on too well.”
Eoghan laughed softly, but there was no humor in it. “I’d have to agree with Eff here on that, Benny.”
Benedeck rubbed his beard. “Aight, what else, gal?”
“Um . . . I have decent survival skills. Good at locating and retrieving supplies from those pod caches.”
Benedeck squinted his eyes at me, thinking. “Ya probably can’t go on one o’ tha scavenge or explorin’ trips yet, but ya can help in tha inventories. How are yer foragin’ skills, gal? Yer standin’, eh?”
“. . . Eoghan?” I asked.
“Can you properly identify plants? We have our greenhouse and gardens of course, but we also forage for herbs and anything edible nearby to supplement our stocks.”
“Ah. Well, I haven’t died yet. Only got sick once, but it was pretty tame.”
Benedeck nodded. “Aight, yer on foragin’ duty with Martel, and scavenge inventory with Keir.”
“K-Keir?” I hated how my voice wobbled.
Benedeck threw back his head and laughed. His belly bounced in tune. “Afraid o’ tha benevolent terror? He may look an act scary, gal, but he’s nah choupique! Scurred ya right away, though, eh?” He gave another hearty laugh at my expense.
I glowered at the hairy giant.
“Ah, calm yer skin waves, gal, I’m just havin’ a good time. Keir don’t bite, unless he needs ta, so I s’pose he’s a spoon o' bad in a cup o’ good. But yer not to fret, gal.”
“Um, thanks.”
“Tha inventories will help ya get all acquainted with tha processes, gal. Make ya ready fer tha real deal, when time may come.”
“Great.”
“Keir’s tha typical leader on tha expeditions, so best ta get ya and him better 'sation. Ya be survivin’ skills tagether with him.”
Eoghan kicked a rock at a domed piece of metal scrap. It clanged loudly, the sound reverberating for several seconds. “It’s been ages since a scavenging expedition has gone out, Benedeck. All of the supply containers around here have been tapped.”
“All tha more reason ta be prepared. Tha time comes soon, by necessities.”
I was about to ask about the supply pods, hoping that maybe either Eoghan or Benedeck would be willing to reveal more about them, but then one of the twins—Yula?—appeared in the doorway.
“Benny, Eoghan,” the fragile girl said, nodding to each of them.
“Hey, Yula, what’s the message?” Eoghan asked.
Yula blinked her long lashes at me. “Merula would like to speak with you, Eff.”
“Now?”
The girl’s delicate curls bobbed as she nodded. “Yes, please.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. Why was I nervous? I’d been waiting to talk with this camp’s leader again since yesterday. I just knew that she had loads more information that could possibly help me.
But I would need to find a way to get her to tell me everything without giving up all of my cards. At least for now.
“Okay,” I said, perhaps more sternly than needed. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll take her, Yula,” Eoghan said.
“You sure?” the girl said, her voice quiet and high-pitched.
“Positive. Besides, I wouldn’t want to hold you up. Where are you off to next?”
“Greenhouse. For Bardolf.”
“Speakin’ o’ tha greenhouse, gal, come back when yer finished cajolin’ with Merula. I’ll have Martel show ya 'round 'orticulture-ville, an even brief foragin’ if tha star lasts,” Benedeck said, looking up at the marigold sky.
Jupe was already back as a waxing crescent, broadly visible even during the day.
“Come back for Martel. Got it,” I verified. I didn’t really understand the nuances of what he was saying, but I figured Martel would fill me in with what I needed to know.
I waved goodbye to Benedeck and thanked Yula.
“No problem,” she said back, nodding once more before gliding away in the direction of the greenhouse.
“Are both of the twins messengers, or just Yula?” I asked Eoghan.
“Both. With our communication systems down, we’ve had to get a little old-fashioned. Since they are still too young for the Academy, they don’t have specific training yet. Their parents are working on that, but with us being str—with us struggling here, I mean, there aren’t many spare resources for that yet.”
“Wait, how were they planning on attending the Academy from a new colony? Do you have a ship scheduled to rendezvous?” I couldn’t keep the edge of excitement out of my voice. I needed to get a grip, though, or I was going to blow it. I took a deep breath. “And what do you mean by the communication system?” I hoped my torrent of questions would tamper Eoghan’s suspicion.
“Oh, uh . . . um, I, well—” Eoghan cleared his throat. “The, um—do you remember what the Doc said? About the solar radiation interference?”
I nodded.
“Well . . . it’s affecting pretty much all of our systems.”
“What? But you have power, pumped water—even heating lamps! How?”
“We’ve managed to harness energy the old-fashioned way. We use hydropower from the stream, and our solar cells seem to work just fine. But most of our computers, subspace communication relays, and just general complicated equipment, like the med machines—we just can’t get them working.” Eoghan clenched his fists and let out a heaving sigh. “We have some of the most talented engineers in the Fleet, and they can’t do a thing!”
“I—I didn’t realize it was so bad. But I’m confused, Eoghan. Why would you settle here if there was significant solar interference? I mean, that’s something that can be detected from any nearby spaceship, not to mention the orbital stations. So why?”
Eoghan glanced away. “I’m sorry, Eff. I—It’s not my place to say more.”
I followed Eoghan’s gaze to the metal cylinder in front of us. Message received loud and clear.
“Okay. Take me to the one who can tell me more.”
Eoghan’s face had lost some of its glimmer. “I don’t mean to keep you in the dark, Eff. I think we should all just work together, really. But—but I can’t just go behind my ca—my leader’s back like that. Even for personal reasons.”
Eoghan valued loyalty. But his loyalty clearly followed a hierarchy. I would do well to remember that.
But for now, could I really blame him?
“Eoghan, it’s fine. You hardly know me. Skegs, if I were in your boots, I would trust my commander over a random stranger any day. That’s just how it is.”
Eoghan’s face lifted a tiny bit. “Sorry, I guess I’m still not okay with how things went with Jarl when we first found you. Jarl is such a—” Eoghan huffed. “He’s too eager, too ready to see the unknown as an enemy. And maybe that is the smart way to go for self-preservation. But I just can’t help but think that working together, seeing the best in someone, is the way true preservation happens, for oneself and everyone else.” He rubbed the back of his neck and laughed sheepishly. “I’m sorry, I’m getting all philosophical on you.”
“I appreciate your philosophy, Eoghan. I don’t know that I’m always so optimistic about things—I’m more of a realistic, I think—but, I know I for one would have preferred if Jarl had talked before attacking. Jarl’s a right twat, though.”
A laugh escaped Eoghan, and he placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’m gonna have to use that, Eff! Ha- Jarl is a right twat!”
I couldn’t help but smile. It felt good to make Eoghan laugh.
We approached the perforated metal stairs, and Eoghan paused. “There’s only one door up there. Right around the corner.”
“You’re not coming up with me?”
“No. But . . . I could come back afterward? Escort you back to Benedeck?”
“Why do I get the feeling that I’m being guarded?”
Eoghan flashed me a wide smile. “I am a guard, if you’re in need of guarding services. I’d be happy to follow you around all day.”
I smothered my grin. I didn’t know how I was going to navigate this.
Did I even want to?
I wiggled my bag of clothes at him. “Actually, I was thinking of stowing this in Gia’s room first. I don’t fancy carrying it around with me all day. I’d go now, but . . .”
“Yeah, best to not keep Merula waiting.”
I hesitated at the bottom of the staircase. Eoghan kicked up dirt with his shoe.
“So, Eff, do you want me to come back?”
I looked over at him, my blue eyes finding his, their shade of brown so perfectly reminiscent of warm chocolate chip cookies. “Yeah, Eoghan, I do.”
Chapter 7
I left Eoghan at the bottom of the stairs. The metal railings were cold to the touch. Fall would be turning into winter before long. I shook my head. I was still getting used to these shorter seasons.
I reached the second floor and tiptoed around to the side Eoghan had indicated. I felt like a Kreeplet approaching a Munkrave’s den. In front of me was a set of heavy wooden doors. They were a crimson red, matching the bark of the Black Forest pine trees.
Should I just barge in? Knock?
Somehow I didn’t think Merula, like Gia, would appreciate a challenge to their authority. I went with the more compliant tactic. For now.
I gave the thick wood a few quick rasps. A muted “come in” floated through the door. I pried the door open and gingerly set foot inside.
The space was dimmer than outside, and it took my eyes a moment to adjust. The floor was wooden with a scraggly rug covering a section near Merula’s desk, which stood imposingly on the far edge of the room. A long table with carved tree stumps as chairs occupied the center of the room. There were two windows built into the metal walls.
A shelf, filled with records I assumed, stood off to the side of Merula’s desk.
The desk itself was the most ornate object in the cylindrical room. It was properly carved wood, made from the red pines around Nabukko. It was sanded and even covered with some kind of finishing. Several small stacks of tech pads occupied one corner while a few pieces of scrap and rubbish littered the rest.
Merula sat on a matching red pine chair, perusing a tech pad. She didn’t immediately look up when I entered, instead wordlessly making a few notes on the pad.
I waited near the door, not wanting to interrupt the Empress.
A few more seconds passed. I shuffled my feet.
Finally, the aging woman looked up, as if just noticing me standing there.
“Ah, Eff, thank you for coming to see me. Just reviewing winter crop estimates. Quite the task, as I’m sure you are aware.”
She eyed me like a disapproving heiress might evaluate a troublesome commoner.
“Come, now. Sit.” She beckoned toward a second red pine chair near her desk.
I slowly stepped to the chair, quietly sitting down. I felt guilty for sitting down on something so nice while I was still wearing yesterday’s sweaty, dirty, bloody clothes.
Maybe this was all a mind game. Maybe Merula was making me wait and putting me in an uncomfortable position on purpose.
Well, then. If that was the case . . .
I sat up straighter and met Merula’s gaze head-on. Not defiant, but not as complacent as I had been.
“Well, dear, I trust that you’ve been enjoying yourself?”
I nodded.
“Just come back from lunch, yes? And I see you’ve even got a pair of new clothes from Ascelin. She’s got a soft heart, that one.”
Soft heart? Maybe beneath a mound of razors.
“Your arm looks like it’s almost healed. Chandice has quite the touch.”
I glanced down at my arm reflexively. “Still a bit sore.”
“Did you get a chance to walk around the camp, see everything Nabukko has to offer?”
I cleared my throat. “Yes, it was—it was very impressive. You and your colonists must have put a lot of effort into the camp.”
Something flashed across her eyes, but it was gone in an instant. “Indeed. Tell me, how are you getting along with the others? Has Gia gotten you all sorted out?”
“I don’t think Gia much cares for me, to be honest.”
To my surprise, a soft chuckle escaped from Merula.
“Gia is an excellent apprentice and will one day become an accomplished leader. But she takes things very seriously, as you may have noticed.”
“Hard to miss.” A small, winged animal flew by the window, distracting me. “She and I should have gotten on famously.”
The red chair creaked as Merula shifted, resting her elbows on the desk.
“Really? What do you mean by that, Eff?”
My pulse quickened.
“I just used to be more serious is all.”
“I see. You and the young guard Eoghan seem to have hit it off.”
“Um, yes. Eoghan has been quite helpful. Very welcoming.”
What was she after?
“I hope I’m not keeping him from his regular duties,” I added, suddenly concerned that Merula was also fishing for information on her own people.
She smiled, her pale skin wrinkling at the corners.
“No need to worry, dear. Eoghan can help you as much as necessary.”
“Did you tell him to keep an eye on me?”
“Whatever gave you that idea?”
“You’re just so lenient about it. And he always seems to pop up when I need to go somewhere.”
“I think, perhaps, you’ve been away from people too long.”
I stiffened. “Why do you say that?”
Merula leaned back in her chair, tactfully scrutinizing me.
“He is a young man. You are a young woman. Surely even a hermit like yourself can understand these things, no?”
“I don’t like what you’re insinuating.”
She smiled again. “I don’t need to imply what is fact, dear. But, of course, if you would prefer if I told Eoghan to leave you alone . . .”
She let the bait hang in the air. I knew this was a test. The logical thing to do would be to deny any interest, even just for friendship. And I opened my mouth to do just that.
But my intended words didn’t come out.
“You really shouldn’t. He’s sensitive. I wouldn’t want to hurt his feelings.”
“How considerate of you.”
Merula’s smile turned smug just for an instant before vanishing.
