The two men eyed one another a moment longer.
“Go ahead … Colonel.” Iranaputra smiled reassuringly at his old friend. “‘Tarry not, messenger. Let him who knows give the order.’ Kalidasa, Third Chapter.”
Heath shook his head as he climbed to his feet. “You and your bottomless font of ancient nonsense.” He sighed tiredly. “I guess there is neither glory nor despair in a strategic retreat.” His long legs carried him past Shimoda and Hawkins until he was standing next to the slowly bobbing Autothor.
“Old ship: Have you been listening to this discussion?” The commandos’ hands tightened on their weapons.
“I have.”
“Do you understand what these visitors want?”
“I do.”
Heath glanced over to Gelmann, who had cast her eyes downward. He spoke to the patient Autothor. “Then I hereby direct you to comply with their request. Activate your drive and take us to the system they have indicated.” As Praxedes relaxed, the corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that just now.”
Praxedes tensed anew. Heath blinked and looked confused. Even Hawkins perked up.
Bassan gestured threateningly with his weapon and Heath obediently tried again. “I’m giving you a direct order. You’ve always responded to our directives before.”
“I am aware of that. But I really cannot comply with this particular request at this time.”
“When would you be able to comply?”
“I cannot tell you that either.”
His expression less than conciliatory, Bassan hefted the compact shocker and again approached Mina Gelmann. She flinched as he pressed it to her forehead, just above the left orbit.
“This is some kind of a trick. I don’t like being tricked.” He eyed his superior expectantly.
“I don’t want to play anymore,” growled Praxedes. “No more games.”
Iranaputra started forward until Argolo turned her gun in his direction. “It is not a trick. You have been watching all the time. When could we have done anything to fool you?”
“I don’t know and I don’t care.” Bassan could sense the old woman beginning to tremble beneath him.
Iranaputra noticed it too. For the first time a word he had never imagined in relation to her popped into his mind: frail. She was frail. They were all of them after all frail: frail and old.
What am I doing here? he found himself wondering. I should be at the Village, watching vids and eating soft foods.
Heath had the presence of mind to stall desperately. “Maybe your damnable associate is responsible. Difficult as it is to believe, perhaps she has had a crisis of conscience and has chosen to intervene.”
“Ashili?” Praxedes chuckled softly. “Not likely.”
Heath clung to the notion. “Maybe she’s affected the ship’s programming somehow. Of course, you could ask her, but she’s not here, is she? She hasn’t come back.”
Iranaputra picked up the refrain. “Maybe she has decided she does not wish to associate with you anymore.”
Praxedes’ grin faded. “Shut up. Both of you. Ashili’s perfectly executed a difficult assignment. She’s going through normal post-conclusive syndrome. I’m the one who told her to take a walk to calm herself down. She’s sorting out her thoughts, that’s all.” His eyes flicked toward the entrance to the great room. “She’ll be back momentarily.
“Besides, the ship responds only to the five of you. She assured me of that.”
“What if something’s changed, old maggot?” Now Heath was the one doing the smiling.
Praxedes hesitated, then addressed the Autothor. “What about it, ship? Has that changed? Or do you still only respond to directives from these five?”
“That has not changed,” the floating blue ellipse replied.
“Ah.” Praxedes relaxed afresh. “You see? Wherever Ashili is, she’s not affecting the situation here.” Once more he gestured with his weapon. “Ask it again.”
Heath complied. The Autothor’s response was unchanged.
Bassan released Gelmann’s head. “There is a problem here, sir, but I don’t think it’s one of deception on the prisoners’ part.”
“Agreed.” Praxedes spoke to Heath. “Probe. Ask it why it can’t comply.”
Heath shrugged. “Ask it yourself. As long as it’s not an order, it should respond to you.”
Praxedes nodded, turned to the blue ellipse. “Is there a problem with your drive?”
“No. Ship’s propulsive systems are fully operational.”
“Then why can’t you comply with his request?” He gestured in Heath’s direction.
“Because other requisite actions have assumed precedence.”
The commando nodded to himself. This he understood. “Very well. Will the delay in compliance be brief?”
