Quiet Invasion(97)

Br’sei dipped his muzzle. “The overseers watching the New People report that two of their transports have crashed near Living Highland 76. They believe them to be damaged.”

There are overseers assigned to the New People? This isn’t in the reports. T’sha went very still. “Are their own kind responding?”

“Not yet,” said Br’sei.

“P’tesk, D’han, come with me.” T’sha spread her wings. “Br’sei, you will sweep the base. Bring everyone we have. Get the dirigibles flying and bring the emergency spares. We need whatever we’ve got to work in cold and low pressure.”

“What? Why?” D’han fluttered. “Ambassador—”

T’sha was already flying toward the door. “We have to help.”

“But their own kind will surely respond.” P’tesk held out both forehands, pleading.

T’sha hooked a forehand onto the threshold and turned to face him. “We cannot leave them there. The research D’seun has so kindly gathered indicates they cannot be exposed to air.” The research, based on raw materials he collected, which may not have been raw at the time.

“But if we—” began P’tesk.

“If we what?” demanded T’sha, swelling. “If we go they will find out we’re here. Surely. What if we let them die? We are that desperate for our secrecy? We are that uncertain about our claim to this world that we should fail to help life?”

“No,” said Br’sei softly, more to P’tesk and D’han than to her. “We are not.” He inflated himself. “We have several constructors designed to deal with the New People if necessary. I’ll bring them.”

Br’sei vanished into the corridor. T’sha winged after him, all but exploding into the open air. She pushed all thought, all suspicion of what had happened here before out of her mind. That was for later. For now, the New People needed her.

“Scarab Five, Scarab Five.” The radio called from the main cabin. “Respond. Adrian? Kevin? Come on, answer me!”

“Shit,” exclaimed Josh, and Vee heard him start popping the buckles on his safety straps. She started doing the same.

“Maybe you should—” began Julia.

“No.” Vee shoved the straps aside and made her way up the steeply tilted floor after Josh.

Adrian lay on the floor in the main aisle, dazed. Kevin crouched beside him, little better.

“What happened?” asked Vee, dropping to her knees next to them.

Kevin swallowed hard. “It was an—”

Josh just shoved his way past them to the radio.

“Scarab Five, Scarab Five!” came a frantic voice out of the speaker.

Josh slapped the Reply key. “We’re here, Venera. This is Josh Kenyon.”

“What happened? Kevin said he saw the aliens?”

What? Vee froze.

“I’m not seeing anything except Scarab Fourteen,” said Josh. “They look hurt. Have you been able to raise them?”

“No. We’ve got the rescue on standby. If they leave now, they’ll make it in three hours.”

Josh’s lips moved in silent calculation, or maybe prayer. “Drop them down. Now.”

“Have you got anybody who can get across to Fourteen and check out their situation?” asked the voice from Venera.

Josh looked at the red lights glowing on the control panels, then back at Adrian and Kevin on the floor.

“We’re damaged and have to do control,” he said reluctantly. “There’s no trained personnel to respond.”

Vee stood. Now she could see out the window, and she saw Scarab Fourteen’s crippled body alone on the ragged plain, far too near a lava stream. “How much training does it take to shove someone in a suit and get them over here? How much does it take to look around?”

“You’ll need to get in.” Adrian struggled to sit up. “I can get you in.”

“You saw—” began Kevin.

“I saw null.” Adrian grabbed a cabinet handle and hauled himself to his feet. “I saw null,” he repeated. “We need to get over to Fourteen. We need to stabilize Five.” He glowered down at Kevin.

Pride resurfaced in Kevin’s eyes. “Don’t tell me my job.”

“Somebody has to!” Adrian steadied himself against the wall. Fury shook him. “You’re not doing it!”

Kevin shut his mouth and pulled back. He took a long, shaky breath, leaning a hand against the counter. “You’re right. Take Josh and Dr. Hatch and two of the others over to Fourteen. Give them any help you can. I’ll stabilize us so we can hold out until the rescue drops.” He glanced out the window at the still landscape. “If you saw null, I saw null.”