Read Online Orion Shall Rise by Poul Anderson - Free Book Online

informed. (His father, Aruturu, was chief of the intelligence division, Terai Lohannaso’s ultimate commander.)
    Thus, piecemeal, the Lodges were persuaded to give up and make the best of things. The situation remained acridly bad for them. By treaty, the Northwest Union forswore future attempts to get energy from the nucleus. Its navy was limited to a coast guard and its industry to whatever the Maurai Ecological Service should decide was not too dangerous. For enforcement, the Federation would keep bases at strategic spots and exercise unlimited rights of inspection. Such inducements as favorable terms of commerce scarcely healed the bleeding pride or lessened the weight of the shackles.
    But at least there was peace. Terai could soon go home.
    4
    Walking down the village street, he had seldom felt so alone.
    The place was lovely. Frame houses with flowering sod roofs stood well back from the pavement, surrounded by lawns and gardens, jauntily painted, many displaying carved designs on doors, gables, or beam ends. Behind them reared a fir forest; its odor brought the springtime coolness alive. To south, the snowpeak of Mount Rainier filled heaven with purity.
    Yet isolation radiated from Terai, the outlander. Fair-skinned Norries and occasional squat brown Injuns stiffened when they saw him; children ceased their games; dogs snuffed wrongness, bristled, and snarled. None ignored him but a cat sunning itself on a porch and a raven that flapped hoarse overhead.
    Well,
he thought tiredly,
what else did I expect? Maybe I shouldn’t have come. But I told you, Launy, I’d show you my friendship whenever I could.
    He found the house he wanted, mounted the steps, swung the wooden knocker. Anneth Birken opened the door. She was a tall woman, well formed, brown braids hanging down over the midcalf dress that was customary in this part of the Union. ‘Good day,’ she said, and recognized him and stepped back. Her eyeswidened till white ringed blue. ‘Oh –!’
    Terai honored local custom by tipping his cap. He had been careful to don dress uniform, white tunic and trousers, but to leave off his decorations. ‘Good day, Mizza Birken,’ he said. When previously they met, almost four years ago, it had been on first-name terms. ‘I hope I’m not intruding. If you want, I’ll leave immediately.’
    She made no response.
    ‘I wrote ahead, but I suppose you didn’t get my letter,’ he plowed on. The mails are still in poor shape. I learned your community radiophone is out of order too. This was my last chance to visit you, though. Next week I return to N’Zealann.’
    Resolution congealed in her. ‘What do you want?’ she demanded.
    He stood humbly, as if the upper hand were hers, and answered, ‘Only to call on you, for old times’ sake and to see whether I can help with anything. And, uh, and … if you wish … I can tell you about Launy’s last days, and his death. I was there, you see.’
    She stood for a number of raven-croaks before she said, ‘Come in,’ and led the way.
    The house was pleasant, in its somewhat dark and cluttered Northwestern fashion: it was full of mementos. She took him to the living room and gestured him to a chair as heavily built as the rest of her furniture. Above the fireplace he saw an oak panel carved with the emblem of the Lodge that had been Launy’s, and was hers too, as it happened: a wolf at full speed, a broken chain around its neck, and underneath it the motto
Run Free.
    ‘Please be seated, Commander Lohannaso,’ Anneth said. ‘I read your insignia correctly, don’t I? You have commander’s rank now? Can I offer you refreshment? I’m afraid we’ve no coffee or proper tea at the moment, but there’s herb tea, or milk or beer or cider if you prefer.’
    ‘Not unless you want it, thank you,’ he replied, thinking what an effort hospitality would be for her and what explaining to her neighbors she might have to do afterward. He longed for a smoke but remembered that she