Free Chanur's Homecoming by C. J. Cherryh Page B

moment. "While you are on the dock."
    "I hope," Pyanfar said ever so softly, "that nothing's been launched toward my ship-bearing in mind there might be agencies still on the station that would like to damage the hakkikt's ally. I hope the hakkikt will protect us against a thing like that."
    Deathly stillness. At last the hakkikt lapped at his cup again and blinked with, for a kif, bland good humor. "You have been foolish, hunter Pyanfar. There's far too much opportunity for error. And you have delivered far too much power into the hands of subordinates. We will talk about this."
    Another weighty silence, in which perhaps she was expected to reply. She simply sat still, having achieved a position in which she could sit and stare thoughtfully at the hakkikt.
    Eggsucking bastard, she thought. Where's Jik, you earless assassin?
    She tried not to think of what kind of demonstration Sikkukkut was capable.
    "We will have a discussion on the matter," Sikkukkut said; and there was the subtle, soft whisper of arrival in the outer corridor. "Is that Tahar? Yes. Alone except for my escort. I wonder at this new tactic."
    Tahar hesitated in the doorway, then ventured close-a quiet step, a quiet settling into place when the hakkikt gestured her to sit at the table: a rippled-maned, bronze-pelted southern hani with a black scar across her mouth that gave her a grim and raffish look.
    "So all the ships in your hand," Sikkukkut said, looking at Pyanfar, "are in mine."
    "/ am in your hand," Pyanfar said, with as steady a voice as ever she faced down a dockside official bent on penalties. But never suggest I don't control those ships, no, not to a kif. Status, Pyanfar Chanur. Status is all there is with him. "It's a complex situation, hakkikt. Hani minds are not, after all, kifish. But that's my value to you.''
     
    "Godsawful gibberish," Haral said from her station. The printout was ten pages long, and full of code words that only Jik and his Personage might know. Hilfy Chanur stared at the same set of papers and flipped this way and that, trying to get some idea what they applied to.
    -Ghost is proceeding on the course suggested in her previous report.
    Pieces and bits of information depending on other information.
    -reports from inconvenience/Inconvenience? are negative.
    "I think Inconvenience is another codename," Hilfy said.
    "We knew," said Tirun, from the end of the consoles, "that that son was in connivance up to his nose."
    "Who are we?" Haral wondered. "Could we be that Ghost?"
    "Inconvenience," Hilfy suggested. "If-"
    "Priority," Geran exclaimed, atop a sound from Tully. "Priority, engine live, coming over station rim vicinity berth 23-"
    Harukk's neighborhood. Kif ship.
     
    "I am glad to know your value to me," said Sikkukkut carefully. "It's always helpful to have those things explained." His fingers moved delicately over the projections on the cup he held, restless, sensual movement. "I have held such a discussion with my friend Keia. He has tried to explain. I'm not sure with what success."
    "He's very valuable," Pyanfar said, her heart thudding the harder against her ribs. Careful, careful, don't tie the crew and all we've got to him. "He's a force we'd miss. Against Meetpoint."
    "You assume Meetpoint."
    "Hakkikt, I've expected the order hourly."
    "Is that why your ship's engines are live?"
    She grinned, honest hani grin, a gentle pursing of the mouth. "I'm quite ready to go."
    "Kkkt. Skku of mine."
    "Congruent interests."
    And do your subordinates share your enthusiasm?"
    "They'll follow."
    "They've followed you here. Meetpoint might be far more dangerous."
    "They're well aware of that."
    "What is their motive, do you suppose?"
    "Self-interest. Survival."
    "They think then that your guidance will advance them."
    "Evidently they think that. They're here."
    "You see outside my ship the results of miscalculation."
    "I noticed, hakkikt."
    "You still consider Keia Nomesteturjai a friend, hunter Pyanfar."
    "Hakkikt, when you use