Alan Foster - The Icerigger Trilogy

He jerked around to stare back toward the observation window. No, the shuttle had not returned when he wasn’t looking, nor had he imagined its departure. Any more than he was imagining the massive, familiar figure that blocked the doorway.

It was just as well September spoke first because Ethan was utterly at a loss for words.

“This is all your fault, young feller-me-lad.”

The accusation called for a response. “My fault? What are you talking about, my fault? What’s my fault?” He gestured helplessly back at the window. Beyond, ground crew in small individual vehicles were out on the runway, already commencing preparations for the arrival of next month’s shuttle.

“Why aren’t you on the shuttle?”

“I’m not on the shuttle because I’m here. Can’t be in two places at the same time, now can I?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Skua.”

“Really? I thought I made it quite clear. We’re talking about my being here being your fault. That’s not overly obtuse, now is it?” He unfolded his oversize frame, stood straight. “It’s because of your damn archaic sense of responsibility. Your innocence and your filthy ingratiating personality. Hell, if I pulled a gun right now and blew your grinning head off, your last words would be an apology for the cost of the power surge. Where do you come off making me feel guilty, you and that midget mine of arcane trivia and those tiger-toothed furballs with pretensions of civilization?”

“Nobody can make another person feel guilty like that, Skua. You’ve managed it all by yourself.”

“Oh, now that’s a pithy homily, it is. Here I was, all set and ready to be on my way, and that runt Williams had to go and drag us to that damn meeting. Dangerous meteorological anomaly, my butt! And here I am still stuck on this lousy chunk of slush because somebody sees an anomaly in a fogbank a few thousand kilometers away.”

Ethan knew it was an inappropriate time to smile, but he couldn’t help himself. It was clear Skua was raging not against his friend but against himself.

“Skua, it’s not the worst thing in the world to admit to somebody else that you’re a decent human being.”

“But that’s just it, young feller-me-lad. I ain’t a decent human being. I’ve never been a decent human being. I could give you proof.”

Ethan tried to calm the giant. “You’re confused; that’s all.”

“Confused, hell. I’m mad and I’m frustrated because I don’t know what I’m doing here.” He jabbed a thumb ceilingward. “When I should be up there, relaxed, warm and outbound.”

“Whatever you’re doing here you’re going to be doing it for at least another month, until the next shuttle arrives. What about your archaeologist friend?”

“Who? Oh, Isili. Isili Hasboga.” He shrugged. “I’m two years overdue. I don’t expect she’ll fly into a rage if I don’t show up next week. In fact, I have the feeling she won’t even think about it. Me now, that’s something else.” He turned, ate up distance with enormous strides.

“One thing I’ll warn you about now, Ethan, and you can pass it along. When we’re out on the ice none of those sniveling scientists better thank me for coming along or he’ll find himself skating all the way back to Arsudun on his backside.”

“So you’re coming with us, then?”

“No,” September snapped. “I purposely missed the shuttle so I could squat here and glower at the robots. Of course I’m coming along.”

Ethan struggled to repress a broad grin. “That’ll be nice. Knowing in what regard Hunnar, Elfa, and the rest of the Tran hold you, I’m sure their spirits will be boosted just by your presence.”

“Further proof of how primitive they are and how far they still have to go,” September muttered. “Showing respect for a fool like me. I am a fool, you know. I’ve just gone and proved it again.”

“Quit bawling, already. And you still haven’t convinced me I’m in any way shape or form responsible for your continued presence here.”

“Ain’t it obvious, feller-me-lad? How could I leave with a clean conscience knowing you were all set to run off and get yourself killed. You would, too, without me around to watch after you. If not for old Skua, you’d be dead a dozen times over this past year.”

That was true enough, Ethan knew. It was also true that he’d returned the favor by saving September at least as many times as September had saved him, but he forbore pointing that out. He was too pleased to have his friend back for the forthcoming journey to belabor him with logic.

“What makes you think I’m going to put myself in a position to be killed? You heard Hwang and the others. A straightforward little scouting expedition to check out some weather, that’s all. No barbarian hordes to battle. No exotic cities of unknown persuasion to win over to the union cause. Why should we have any trouble?”

“Because there’s still this world to deal with. Tran-ky-ky. Damned little we know about it after more’n a year sailing its ice. No, you’d get yourself killed for sure without me to yank you back from the brink of disaster, young feller-me-lad. You’re too nice, too empathetic, and far too understanding for this business. Me now, I’m none of those. So I’m still alive when I should’ve been deaded ten times each of the past forty years.

“And if you persist in committing suicide in spite of anything I can do, at least I’ll be around to see to it that you get a decent burial, or cremation, or whatever form of final send-off tickles your soul.”

“Your concern for my welfare is touching, Skua.”

“Yeah, well.” The giant looked over his head, up the corridor. “Just don’t mention it to anyone else, okay? Give me a bad name in certain circles. Let’s get out of here, get something to eat.” He headed up the corridor that led to the central part of the outpost complex. Ethan had to hurry to keep pace with him.

“What do you want me to say if someone asks me why you chose to stay behind?”

“Tell ’em I overslept,” said September irritably.

Only later did it occur to Ethan wonder if his friend might have had some other reason for missing the Spindizzy ’s departure. As September had admitted on more than one occasion, he was a man with a varied and not altogether benign past. Something might have convinced him that it would be in his own best interests to remain on an isolated, unvisited world for another month or so. Maybe there was someone on the KK-drive ship he didn’t want to encounter. Maybe he didn’t want to go where it was going just yet. Maybe, maybe…

Too many maybes for a mind already swamped with plans for the new trading station and the forthcoming expedition. If September was frustrated by his own inability to leave Tran-ky-ky, Ethan knew that frozen world would provide the giant with numerous opportunities to work off his unease.

PROVISIONING AND PREPARATION OF the Slanderscree proceeded apace, thanks to the scientific establishment’s open-ended credit account. In a couple of days the icerigger was bulging with supplies. Only Hunnar’s embarrassment finally put an end to Ta-hoding’s unending requests for still more food, still additional extra rigging and sail. If they didn’t depart soon, the clever and acquisitive captain would have overstocked the ship to the point that no room would be left for her crew. As it was, by the time they were ready to leave, the icerigger was almost bursting.

Those Tran who had volunteered to crew the Slanderscree bade farewell to their colleagues and cousins who would be riding a hired merchant ship back to Sofold. Ethan and Skua had made many friends among the crew and there were handshakes and backslaps to be given in addition to the traditional Tran gestures of parting.