Free Acorna’s Search by Anne McCaffrey Page A

interference. It’s very good to speak with you. As a matter of fact, I was calling to ask Uncle Hafiz if he would send down some personnel locators to Vhiliinyar. We seem to have mislaid two of the people who landed here.” She explained why she thought the locators might be useful.
    “Well, don’t that beat all? Liriili is missing and that other guy, too? Princess, Liriili can’t still be on the planet. You can hear that woman grousing three solar systems away whenever she’s conscious. If you can’t find her, she ain’t there.”
    “Maybe not, Captain, but there is another person missing as well, and we cannot hear thought-talk from either of them. We need enough locators for every person here. Uncle Hafiz has the records from our expedition, so he will know the quantity of receivers to send. Do you think that can be managed?”
    “I think if you think it’s necessary, old Hafiz will make it so. He dotes on you, Princess. But it’ll be better if you explain it to him yourself. Let me patch you through to his mobile unit. And—Princess?”
    “Yes, Captain?”
    “Look, in case there’s some bogeyman or Khleevi scum left there kidnapping Linyaari, don’t you take any chances. Mac has a few tricks that even some of your folks don’t, as you know. You want me to send him down to help?”
    “No, Captain, you need Mac to help you with the salvage.”
    “Not really. I got whole messes of brawny young stallions wanting to show off their muscles to the Linyaari ladies by helping me out. And—I think Mac misses you. I’d feel better if he was there looking out for you and Aari and the little girl.”
    “That’s very kind, Captain. I think it best, however, if we try to solve this problem ourselves for now. You know how some of the traditionalists can be about off-world people coming here.”
    “Yeah, you’d think we all were Khleevi. But technically speaking, you should pardon the expression, Mac is not a people. Mac is a device. I mean, you and I know he’s got a lot more personality than say, Liriili, but some folk wouldn’t look at it that way.”
    At that point Hafiz’s voice said, “Acorna, dear girl, how delightful to hear from you! Your scientists at the base camp let us know of the unfortunate disappearances. I certainly hope you are not calling to relate more such news to me?”
    “No, but it is related to why I’m calling, Uncle,” Acorna said. Becker made a loud smooching sound into the transmitter and broke his own connection, and she told Hafiz her reason for calling.
    Hafiz promised to send the locators at once to as many Linyaari as were on the planet’s surface, and also assured her that all future personnel who came to Vhiliinyar would be similarly equipped.
    Then Karina came on and said, “Acorna, darling, be careful, be very careful. My spirit guides tell me there are mysterious forces at work on Vhiliinyar.”
    Acorna thought of several things to say to the obviousness of Karina’s “prediction” and was very glad that Karina could not read minds as well as she claimed. Instead, she thanked the Harakamians, asked how her Uncles and their wives were and where they were at the moment—all well but off planet—and signed off.
    Or tried to. Immediately the light on the console was blinking for her attention again.
    Aari’s mother’s voice said, “Khornya, we cannot locate Kaarlye or the aagroni.”
    “Miiri,” Acorna said, “I’ll get Aari and Maati. We will come and help immediately.”
    She left the flitter and found Thariinye dozing lightly against the outside hull, RK fast asleep with front paws and chin laid proprietarily across Thariinye’s outstretched leg. There was no need to disturb them right now, of course. She could thought-call the others easily from here.
    (Aari? Maati? Come back to the flitter. Your mother wants to speak to you,) she broadcast her thoughts into the late afternoon storm. The tops of the carnivorous plants dipped and bobbed in a freshening