Singing the Dogstar Blues (6 page)

‘I don't need addresses either,' I muttered.

‘Noted.'

This computer was so formal, I was getting constipated just listening to it. Maybe it had a language modification program.

‘Computer, do you have an informal voice and comment dictionary?'

‘This facility can access up to level ten of the Johnson-Hargrave Informal Dictionary.'

‘Use that dictionary from now on. Also, if I get any commcalls, just take a message.'

‘Okay. Will do,' the computer said.

Don't you just love level ten of the Johnson-Hargrave? Far more relaxed. I pulled the Reader out of Port A and put it in my duffel. Now for Mavkel's room.

Mavkel's bedroom was like a bad party; lights too low and no one around. It was hot, too.

‘Can you increase the lighting?' I asked the computer.

‘Not a chance. This is the level of light that's been program-locked for the room.'

‘What about the temperature?' I asked.

‘Same deal,' the computer said.

I stood still. All I could see were those coloured cells that stream in front of your eyes until you adjust to the dark. If Johnny was watching, I hoped he was also having problems with the lighting levels.

I made out two groups of heavy-looking moulded containers stacked against the back wall. A thermo-roll, the kind they use for hypothermic patients, was on the floor. By the time I got to the ensuite, I could see everything. I've always had great night vision. In the end I always got banned from the school games of
Murder in the Dark.

The bathroom was outrageous. I couldn't even imagine how Mavkel used the strange looking gizmo that stuck out of the wall. If it was a toilet, I wouldn't want to be peeing too often. That is, if Chorian's peed. The bather was metal
and all the taps were different. I turned one on. It rumbled for a second then a blast of sand caught me on the arm just above my wrist-band, gravelling about two layers of skin off. Thank God for soundproof rooms.

‘Computer. Medical aid!' I yelled at the computer.

‘Human or Chorian?'

‘Human. Quick!'

I was probably giving Johnny a real laugh. It took two pain patches and some pseudo-skin before I was out of whine mode. Another pain patch finally had me zooming along, ready for more snooping. Something a bit safer. Something like the boxes.

Each box was moulded to fit the one below so that all together, they formed two purply columns spanned at the top by a longer carved box. I touched one and it ranked me out — just like living human skin. The whole construction stood a bit taller than me. All I had to do was pull the carved box down. I pushed at it to test the weight and found a hover switch. A minute later the box was on the ground.

There was no lock, only a catch made up of two interlocking circles. I prodded and poked them until the top slid open. It folded in on itself until half of its mass just disappeared. I felt around to see where it had been hidden, but it was just missing. I hunched my shoulders against that crawly feeling you get up your back and scalp when something spooks you. It had finally hit home. I was dealing with something so different that none of the normal laws applied. Not even physics.

The first thing I pulled out of the box was an instrument. At least, it looked like an instrument. There were valves and holes and two mouthpieces. I blew into one. Nothing. It was
obviously a duo kind of thing. The whole instrument was carved in something that was like rock except it was flexible. A line of symbols curved down the body and ended with the same interlocking circle design that was on the box. I placed the instrument carefully beside me on the carpet.

My next lucky dip produced a small matte-black cube. I tapped it. Shook it. Looked for a clasp. Then held it up to my eye.

‘It is a thought cube,' Mavkel's voice sang behind me.

I jumped around, my heart in overload. I was sprung bad.

‘Holy screte. You scared the life out of me. How'd you get in?' I demanded. ‘Computer, I thought I locked the door.'

‘It's not my fault. You locked it to all visitors. Mavkel is a resident,' the computer whined.

Sometimes that level ten dictionary could be a pain in the neck. ‘From now on, tell me if anyone even comes near that door.'

‘Sure thing,' the computer said.

Mavkel held up its left hand. A mem-met band circled its wrist.

‘This opened the door. Sorry to scare Joss-partner.'

‘Yeah, well, that's okay. You're early. Weren't you supposed to be coming tomorrow?'

Mavkel nodded. Its ears flattened up the top. For a second, it looked just like a guilty kid.

‘Did not wait anymore.'

‘You mean, you gave all your minders the slip?'

Mavkel tilted its head to one side, obviously trying to understand.

‘What I mean is, did you leave all of your Elders without them knowing about it?'

It nodded, double-smiling.

‘Yes. It is easy to do what Mavkel wants to do when there is no …' It faltered, running out of vocab. Then it touched its head and moved forward, touching mine.

‘You mean when there is no telepathy. That's what we call a link between minds,' I said. Finally a use for all of those brain-numbing games of charades I'd been forced to play at my last school.

‘Yes. Yes. No telepathy. Does Joss-partner like this no-telepathy?'

‘I dunno. I've never felt telepathy.'

‘Maybe there will be telepathy soon,' Mavkel said.

It knelt down beside me, a few centimetres too close for comfort. I leaned back on my hand. Mavkel was rearranging its heavy clothing and didn't seem to notice. I leaned back a bit further, watching as it smoothed down about ten layers of regulation jumpers and woollen wraps.

‘Joss-partner will not inform the Elders where Mavkel is?' it asked, its primary mouth pursed anxiously.

I had a feeling Joss-partner would not need to inform the Elders. Johnny Dirtbag and Mavkel's wrist-band would take care of that.

‘No. I won't tell.'

‘That is good. Mavkel will show Joss-partner the thought cube,' it sang.

I gave it the cube. It was excited, resonating little harmonised scales as it placed the cube on the floor.

‘The cube makes a memory come out of the minds,' Mavkel sang, touching its head, ‘and run like … VR-movie?' It looked at me to see if that was the right word. I nodded. ‘Mavkel show Joss-partner.'

Mavkel leaned down until the cube was a few centimetres from its face. It flicked back its protective second eyelid then stared into the top plane. The matte cube changed tones until it looked shiny-wet. Then, a wisp of smoky colour curled into an image a few centimetres above the top. It was a tiny Mavkel sitting in front of Refmol and a sour looking government man. Refmol was bouncing up and down on the spot.

Then I think Mavkel laughed. It sounded like Indian music, rhythmic and discordant.

‘Joss-partner can see Mavkel learning human sounds. There were many jumps of frustration. It is hard to learn your sounds.'

The image rearranged itself. Mavkel pressed its primary mouth closed, its ears angled back and stiff. This next memory was obviously no laughing matter.

We were watching a rerun of the moment when Mavkel chose me as its partner. It was weird seeing a tiny version of the ceremony from Mavkel's point of view.

First, I saw me being mind scanned. Suddenly the four Chorian Elders jumped up and down in shock. They seemed to move in closer together, as though conferring. Then they stopped, gestured with their hands and concentrated.

‘Your Elders scanned me again!' I said, recognising the stance. Mavkel nodded, its eyes flicking to me. The image wavered.

I hadn't realised they'd scanned me again. They must have caused that sudden pain that had nearly knocked me out. Mavkel concentrated on the cube again.

I watched myself start to fall. Tiny Mavkel caught me. The Elders closed in, but Mavkel stretched out its other hand,
commanding them to stop. Mavkel had stopped the pain. That bright white burn that had ripped through my head.

‘Why did they scan me again? Couldn't they tell it was hurting me?' I said.

Mavkel pushed itself upright. Immediately the tiny scene disappeared, the cube fading to its original matte-black. Mavkel twitched its ears around, almost as though it was looking over its shoulder.

‘Joss-partner has resonance,' Mavkel said softly. ‘The Elders searched. Too deep.'

‘What resonance? I don't understand.'

Mavkel bounced gently against its heels, sounding a clash of frustrated chords. We stared at each other. Mavkel suddenly shielded its eyes with the milky second eyelids, a shutter being slammed down. It picked up the thought cube and placed it in front of me.

‘The thought cube is for Joss-partner. Mavkel has learned of your custom for gift giving.'

That drove the knife of guilt straight through my snooping little heart. I could almost hear Louise ordering me to apologise.

‘Look, I'm sorry about going through your things,' I said. ‘I just wanted to find out a bit more about you.'

‘Mavkel learned about sorry. Sorry is not right here.' It motioned towards the two columns.

‘These two are the pair. Before the fire the pair was Mavkel and Kelmav. Now it is Mavkel and Joss-partner.' It pointed to the long box. ‘This is that which connects Mavkel and Joss-partner.'

‘I'm sorry I opened it up.'

It bounced up and down gently.

‘No. No requirement for sorry.' It pushed the thought cube towards me.

‘Try the thought cube,' it sang. ‘Joss-partner must try the thought cube.'

The computer interrupted.

‘Joss, You've got a comm-message from Diana Rosso-Pike. She's the head honcho at Foreign Affairs. Sounds like she's real excited because she won't log off. There's also a group of people heading this way with a master-band.'

So, the guano had finally hit the fan.

‘Try the thought cube,' Mavkel sang, pushing it up against my knees. ‘Joss-partner must try and make pictures.'

‘Didn't you hear the message? I bet your Elders are on their way.'

‘Elders coming?' Mavkel closed its long hand over the cube, placing it in one of its pockets. ‘Joss-partner try later.' Its ears folded flat against its head.

What was the deal with that cube anyway? Mavkel was acting as if it was a gram of Bliss.

‘It might interest you to know,' the computer said, ‘that Professor Camden-Stone, Elders Gohjec and Jecgoh, Chanter Refmol, and Sergeant Vaughn will be coming through our front door in five seconds.'

‘Thanks,' I said. ‘Come on, Mavkel. We'd better go and say hi.'

‘Refmol comes?' it asked.

‘That's right,' the computer answered.

Mavkel's ears stirred. Was it in relief? From what I could tell, Chorian ears gave away their feelings. I'd have to check that theory out. It could come in useful.

I grabbed Mavkel's arm and pulled it out of the room. We
reached the middle of the hexagon lounge room just as the door slid open.

‘Don't say anything. Just act cool,' I whispered.

Mavkel started to shiver.

‘Like this?' it asked.

‘No, I mean act calm.'

Mavkel stopped shivering.

‘Act is your pretending. Yes?'

I nodded.

The posse charged into the room.

I couldn't understand what the Chorian Elders were screeching, but Camden-Stone came through loud and clear.

‘Aaronson, what do you think you're doing?'

Good old Joe. Blame Aaronson and nine times out of ten you're right. But this was the tenth time and I was going to enjoy it.

‘What do you mean, sir?' I asked.

The Elders were ignoring Mavkel, but their ears were straight up in the air, stiff as plasboard. Refmol, the Chanter, seemed to be acting as some kind of intermediary.

‘Mavkel left without authorisation. Then we find out it's with you. What do you think I mean?' Camden-Stone demanded.

Refmol leaned closer to me. His ears twitched as the Elders sang their disapproval in nasty discordant twangs.

‘Mavkel has disobeyed the Elders. They may remove it from the school,' it sang softly.

Why was Refmol telling me? I studied its face, but that was a waste of time. Carefully expressionless. The Chanter's ears were also at a neutral half-mast.

I had to admit, it would be bad news for me if Mavkel was removed from the Centre. This partnership was the only thing
that could keep Camden-Stone off my back and me in the course. I also kind of liked the prestige of partnering the Chorian. I realised I was going to have to bite the bullet and let Camden-Stone win the round.

‘I'm sorry, sir,' I said loudly to Camden-Stone. ‘It's my fault Mavkel left without authorisation.' The Elders stopped screeching at Refmol and turned to face us. ‘I asked Mavkel to join me earlier than scheduled.'

Refmol raised its ears. So, I had done the right thing, although poor Mavkel looked completely confused. It opened its mouths to protest, but Refmol flipped its ears. Mavkel got the message.

Camden-Stone nodded with satisfaction.

‘I thought as much,' he said, bowing to the Elders. ‘It is the fault of Cadet Aaronson not Mavkel. Now do you see why Aaronson is not a good choice as partner? I hope you will accept my sincere apologies. Aaronson will, of course, be disciplined.'

I'd made Camden-Stone's day. Not only was he ‘right', he got to punish me. His favourite leisure activity.

Refmol stepped forward. ‘Refmol sees this new pair is eager to join.' Refmol bowed to me. ‘Perhaps such eagerness should not be punished. This pairing is, after all, a bridge between our peoples and their knowledge.'

The Elders sang their agreement. No wonder Mavkel liked this Refmol character. Smooth as silk. But Camden-Stone wasn't going to give in so easily.

‘In our culture when one has done wrong, one must accept the consequences,' he said, looking at me. ‘Isn't that right, Aaronson?'

Refmol spread out its hands. ‘As it is with our culture,' it said. ‘However, this young pair was fulfilling the natural law.
Two must join. No harm to any pair has occurred. Perhaps the young pair is correct. The time has come for them to join. The universe does not work to our time or our convenience.'

I'd hate to debate this Refmol character. Camden-Stone knew he was on the losing team. He inclined his head.

‘You have persuaded me, Refmol. Cadet Aaronson and Cadet Mavkel have now officially started their partnership. This episode shall be forgotten.'