Dawnwind 1: Last Man Standing by George R. Shirer Page A

Her full mouth was expressive, and she grinned at John as she waved him to an overstuffed couch.
    “Sit! Sit!”   She gave him an assessing look.   “You certainly don’t look any the worse for your recent experience.”
    “I’d be a lot happier if everyone would stop treating me like I’m made of glass,” said John, rolling his eyes.
    Lewij laughed.   “Have Olu and Vesu been overprotective?”
    “No, not really.   They’ve just been very diligent regarding their promise to look after me.”
    “Do you need looking after?” asked Lewij.   Her eyes glimmered with amusement.
    “Sometimes.   Maybe.”
    “Hah! I’m sure!”   She crossed to the far wall, opened a panel and pulled out a tall, dark blue bottle and a pair of glasses.   “Have a drink with me.”
    He took a glass.   “What is it?”
    “ Tiel ,” said Lewij.   She tucked the bottle under one arm and twisted a cap off, one-handed.  
    “A wine?” asked John, as Lewij filled his glass with a dark, red liquid.   He brought the glass to his nose and sniffed.   The tiel had a surprisingly pungent aroma.
    “Hardly,” said Lewij.   “A synthetic, cooked up by Institute cadets ages ago.”   She poured herself a glass, raised it to John, and then tossed it back.   “It smells like an industrial solvent, but goes down smooth.”
    Tentatively, John tried the beverage.   It tasted . . . well, it didn’t really have a taste.   He swallowed a mouthful.   Lewij watched him with interest.  
    John shrugged. “Maybe it’s too mild for me.”
    “Ah well,” said Lewij.   She poured herself another glass and sat next to him.   “So, what did you want to see me about, John?   Something about the Zerraxi, wasn’t it?”
    “I’d like to know what’s going to happen to the Zerraxi behind the assaults in the Alien Sector.”
    “Hmm.” Lewij considered her glass.   “That’s difficult to say.   They’ll be returned to Zerrax, obviously, where they’ll be judged by their respective tribes.   Depending on their status within the tribe and Zerraxi society at large, the punishments can be varied.”   She eyed him.   “Why do you ask?”
    “You know that one of the Zerraxi there, during the attack on me, was the ambassador’s son?”
    Lewij nodded.   “I’d heard.   Bad luck for old Zaquo.”
    “The thing is, I went and checked the other assault reports.   The ambassador’s son wasn’t present at the other attacks.   Just mine.   And he was . . . very young.”
    “Hmm,” murmured Lewij.   “Young Katis.   I don’t believe he’s even had his satok ze yet.”
    “So, he’s still just a kid?”
    “Not exactly.   He definitely wouldn’t be viewed as a child by his race.   His status would be akin to our own Junian youth, going through the lifechange.   A certain amount of leeway would be given in view of his age and development, but only a certain amount.   And, of course, there would be other factors taken into account during his trail.”
    “Like what?”
    “His status,” said Lewij.   “As the son of an ambassador, Katis has a higher status than most Zerraxi his age.   He would be held to a higher standard of conduct, not just because he’s helping to represent his tribe, but his entire culture.”
    John winced.   “That’s got to be a lot of pressure.”
    “I imagine it is,” said Lewij.   “His involvement in this scandal is going to have some serious repercussions for himself and his entire tribe.   They’ve all been tainted by association.   The only way they can preserve their status, is by dealing harshly with the boy and the people responsible for raising him.”
    “Ambassador Zaquo could lose his position,” said John.
    “That won’t be up to Zaquo’s tribe, unless they’re currently dominating the Zerraxi Council.   But I’ll be shocked if old Zaquo doesn’t resign his post, to try and repair some of the damage to his tribe’s reputation.”
    “You know the