Hal Colebatch: The Wunder War

He activated the restraining webs for the survivors before the wave front of wreckage struck them.

“As well that they were determined to let us all know exactly what they had against the tnuctipun,” said Richard. “And as well their technology was imperfect. As well. Many things were as well.” He began to laugh and found he could not stop.

“Sapient life in the galaxy was saved by a telepath of the kzinti species,” said Gay. “We must tell Humanity.”

“We must tell Kzin,” said Charrgh-Captain, “Let them honor a telepath. A Wunderkzin telepath, for it was Wunderland and the humans that made him what he was. A telepath of the Patriarchy could not have done what he did… nor… nor any Hero.” He pulled from his claw a tuft of Peter Robinson's orange fur, flesh and a fragment of bone adhering to it. “That will go to a worship-shrine,” he said. “He spoke of statues. There will be a statue of him in the sky of Homeworld forever, high above the Patriarch's Palace. I pledge my Name as my Word that it shall be so.”

“Poor Peter Robinson!” said Gay.

“No,” said Charrgh-Captain. “Do not pity his death, though you see a Kzin standing before you who now envies you humans your gift of tears. Sapient life will be his monument forevermore… Forgive my madness.”

“The Amplifier caused it,” said Gay. “Even before the command struck. There is nothing to forgive.”

“At its deepest moment I dreamed of joining the Riit Clan… But he will face the Fanged God as a son honored beyond the Patriarchs… almost an equal. There are no words for such glory.”

“Look there!” Gay pointed at the screen. The electromagnetic pulse of the explosion was being overridden now.

“The Joey !… She survived!”

“I'd forgotten. She is also a General Products hull.”

“She's under some sort of control. He lives… or he lived recently.”

Other screens were clearing now. Charrgh-Captain turned abruptly away before the Joey 's cabin could be seen again.

“I ask you to bring him in without me,” he said. “If he is still alive your waldos can lift him into the kzin autodoc. I go to my cabin. Before the God, I cannot face him… Later, perhaps. Tell him what I will do.” He turned and left.

Richard opened the docking bay. The Joey , carrying Peter Robinson, came into sight and grew. “Can you handle it?” said Gay. “Yes. And then what?”

“Let's go home,” said Gay.

naught, nothing