Read Online Direct Descent by Frank Herbert - Free Book Online Page A

of the careful repression that had kept him grinning upward in the Archival hierarchy, everything of his past peeled away. It was an effort to wrench himself back to duty. He cleared his throat.
    Before he could speak, she said: “I told them that runway was too short. But no! They had to get off right away on the hunt!”
    “Easy, Hep,” the man said. His voice floated out in an effortless baritone.
    Sil-Chan shook his head to clear it of that lovely female vision. “Would you direct me to the Paternomer, please?” he asked.
    “He won’t be back for two days,” the man said. “I’m David. This is Hepzebah.” He spoke the names as though they should convey important information. “We’re to take care of you until the PN returns.”
    Stiffly, painfully, Sil-Chan levered himself to his feet, waving away David’s proffered help. “I have to see the Paternomer as soon as possible. Can you take me to him?” He glanced at the wreck. “This hardly seems the way to get to him anymore.”
    “We’re very sorry about that,” Hepzebah said. “Really, we had nothing to do with the arrangements.”
    “I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for the PN’s return,” David said. “No way to get to him when he’s on a hunt.”
    “But it’s urgent and I …”
    “You sure aren’t going back to the mainland in that.” Hepzebah indicated the wreck. “Best you stay. My brother here has tight quarters and he’s a good host when he wants to be.”
    Brother!
    Once more, Sil-Chan found himself staring at Hepzebah. Lovely. Lovely. And such a charming name. There was a painful constriction in his chest where the crash harness could not have touched him. Brother. Sil-Chan had feared they might be a mated pair. She still might have a mate somewhere.
    She blushed under the steadiness of his stare.
    I mustn’t stare. I must say something.
    “It’s a very nice day,” he said.
    “Yes, it is,” she agreed. “Let’s go over to David’s.” She waved at a low structure in the trees at the side of the field. Sil-Chan had not noticed it until she pointed, as though she had created the structure by some wild magic—red-brown logs, rock chimney, small windows. It nestled among the trees as though it had grown there.
    “You’re favoring your left arm,” David said. “We’d best go in and have a look at it.” He turned and led the way across the tall grass.
    Sil-Chan kept pace behind with Hepzebah walking close beside, studying him. There was a penetrating quality to her stare which made Sil-Chan uncomfortable but he would not have had her look away for anything. Lovely! “I’m sorry I blew up back there,” he said.
    “You had a perfect right,” she said. “I’d have never permitted it, but the PN makes all his own rules. He sent us in from Big North Cape to greet you and didn’t give us enough help. They wouldn’t make other arrangements—only what the PN ordered.”
    “There was the hunt,” David said. He spoke without turning.
    “The hunt!” she flared. “You’re here because you’re the Aitch Aye.” She turned to Sil-Chan. “David has to do all the official work that the PN doesn’t want to do. The PN made me come because I wouldn’t take the trothing. He thinks he’s punishing me.”
    Sil-Chan shook his head. What were they talking about? He said: “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
    “He’s from far mainland,” David said. “You’re making no sense to him.” David slowed his pace and walked beside Hepzebah, speaking across her to explain. “Hep wouldn’t accept the mate the brothers picked for her. Made the PN angry. She really doesn’t have to accept, but the PN’s K-cousins are expected to obey. Things are different with H- and B-cousins.”
    Sil-Chan stared back at David without comprehension.
    “No sense yourself!” Hepzebah laughed.
    “Is it some special language?” Sil-Chan asked.
    David grinned. They were into the trees now, within only a few steps of a wide split-wood