Read Online Exile by Al Sarrantonio - Free Book Online
Authors: Al Sarrantonio
Tags: Science-Fiction
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her; outside, the world had come alive, with people leaving buildings to make their way from one end of the compound to the other. Out on the waved water a few sturdy-looking boats had set out, sails unfurled; in their midst a sleek powered craft shot over the waves, pushing water aside in a deep trough, becoming a tiny dot at the distant shore in a matter of moments, while in the sky the two Saturnian moons, now joined by a third, moved languidly among the lighter wash of stars.
"It all looks so ... peaceful," Tabrel said.
"For now," Jamal answered, a note of despondency entering his voice. "These are unsettled times, Tabrel. The people of Titan have many grave decisions to make. The Four Worlds are facing a serious crisis. With the changes on Marsâ"
As if waking from a dream, Tabrel turned to regard him.
"How did I get here, Jamal? And what happened to Captain Weens?"
Jamal looked at her blankly.
"There was a navigator, and a pilot also, on the ship that was taking me hereâwhat became of them?"
"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean," Jamal answered.
"How did I get on Titan?"
"Wrath-Pei brought you to me; he said you had
been adrift in a derelict after an attack by piratesâ"
"That's not true! There were others with me!" With a sincere look, Jamal shrugged and said,
"I'm afraid I don't know."
"Then I must talk with this Wrath-Pei. My father entrusted me to Captain Weens, and I have an obligation to see that he's all right."
Jamal frowned. "That is not something you would be wise to do."
"Then you must help me. And I wish to have news of Marsâand of my father. I claim these rights under diplomatic privilege."
Jamal studied her for a moment. Tabrel was not sure that he liked what he saw; she had the feeling that he was about to speak to her the way a parent speaks to a headstrong and foolish child.
"Tabrel," he said softly, in his beautiful voice, "you and I are betrothed. We are to be wed. Though I never laid eyes upon you until three days ago, I already feel close to you. Please listen to me when I tell you this: There is much about Titan that you do not know. We are an insular people, peaceful when left alone, fierce when stepped upon. Though originally of Mars, Wrath-Pei is.. . indicative of the Titan personality, only more so. He is larger than life, if you will. But one does not bother him. He comes and goes as he pleases; he does not bother us, we do not bother him. This is a tacit agreementâ"
With barely contained fury, Tabrel said, "He is a pirate!"
Jamal took a deep breath. "Not a pirate, exactly. More of a free spirit. In fact, he has been very helpful with our pirate problem. In return we . . . leave him to his own devices."
Tabrel's anger had not flagged. "Do you pay him?"
Jamal Clan's manner suddenly resolved itself in Tabrel's eyes: He was acting like any diplomat in a tight situation. This Tabrel understood.
"Not in coin, so much . . ."
"What does he take, then?"
Flustered, Jamal threw up his hands and said, "Pretty much .. . anything he wants."
"So he rules Titan!"
Splitting hairs, Jamal said, "I . . . wouldn't say rules After all, that is my job. And my mother's. I would say rather that he . . ."
Again he shrugged.
"Leave me alone," Tabrel Kris commanded. Suddenly her diplomatic aura dissolved into frustration and disgust. "Get out of my sight! You are a coward, coming to me like this! I wouldn't marry you if you were the last slug on the underside of the last rock!"
"Tabrel. . ." Jamal Clan said soothingly, his melodious voice suddenly sounding slick, Unctuous. "You must understand the way things are done hereâ"
"I cannot believe .1 was betrothed to you! My parents must have been insane when I was born! The marriage will never take place!"
Jamal brought himself up to his full height and put a stern look on his face.
"Oh, we will definitely be married, Tabrel. Even if this union means little for Mars at the moment, it means a great deal for the
"It all looks so ... peaceful," Tabrel said.
"For now," Jamal answered, a note of despondency entering his voice. "These are unsettled times, Tabrel. The people of Titan have many grave decisions to make. The Four Worlds are facing a serious crisis. With the changes on Marsâ"
As if waking from a dream, Tabrel turned to regard him.
"How did I get here, Jamal? And what happened to Captain Weens?"
Jamal looked at her blankly.
"There was a navigator, and a pilot also, on the ship that was taking me hereâwhat became of them?"
"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean," Jamal answered.
"How did I get on Titan?"
"Wrath-Pei brought you to me; he said you had
been adrift in a derelict after an attack by piratesâ"
"That's not true! There were others with me!" With a sincere look, Jamal shrugged and said,
"I'm afraid I don't know."
"Then I must talk with this Wrath-Pei. My father entrusted me to Captain Weens, and I have an obligation to see that he's all right."
Jamal frowned. "That is not something you would be wise to do."
"Then you must help me. And I wish to have news of Marsâand of my father. I claim these rights under diplomatic privilege."
Jamal studied her for a moment. Tabrel was not sure that he liked what he saw; she had the feeling that he was about to speak to her the way a parent speaks to a headstrong and foolish child.
"Tabrel," he said softly, in his beautiful voice, "you and I are betrothed. We are to be wed. Though I never laid eyes upon you until three days ago, I already feel close to you. Please listen to me when I tell you this: There is much about Titan that you do not know. We are an insular people, peaceful when left alone, fierce when stepped upon. Though originally of Mars, Wrath-Pei is.. . indicative of the Titan personality, only more so. He is larger than life, if you will. But one does not bother him. He comes and goes as he pleases; he does not bother us, we do not bother him. This is a tacit agreementâ"
With barely contained fury, Tabrel said, "He is a pirate!"
Jamal took a deep breath. "Not a pirate, exactly. More of a free spirit. In fact, he has been very helpful with our pirate problem. In return we . . . leave him to his own devices."
Tabrel's anger had not flagged. "Do you pay him?"
Jamal Clan's manner suddenly resolved itself in Tabrel's eyes: He was acting like any diplomat in a tight situation. This Tabrel understood.
"Not in coin, so much . . ."
"What does he take, then?"
Flustered, Jamal threw up his hands and said, "Pretty much .. . anything he wants."
"So he rules Titan!"
Splitting hairs, Jamal said, "I . . . wouldn't say rules After all, that is my job. And my mother's. I would say rather that he . . ."
Again he shrugged.
"Leave me alone," Tabrel Kris commanded. Suddenly her diplomatic aura dissolved into frustration and disgust. "Get out of my sight! You are a coward, coming to me like this! I wouldn't marry you if you were the last slug on the underside of the last rock!"
"Tabrel. . ." Jamal Clan said soothingly, his melodious voice suddenly sounding slick, Unctuous. "You must understand the way things are done hereâ"
"I cannot believe .1 was betrothed to you! My parents must have been insane when I was born! The marriage will never take place!"
Jamal brought himself up to his full height and put a stern look on his face.
"Oh, we will definitely be married, Tabrel. Even if this union means little for Mars at the moment, it means a great deal for the
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