Raising Caine - eARC by Charles E. Gannon Page B

invitation. They no doubt wish to ensure that envoys from your species would be drawn from a pool of persons unlikely to have been subject to Ktoran influence.”
    Caine leaned toward the Dornaani’s image. “That’s an interesting speculation, Alnduul. I don’t see how you could arrive at it unless you also presumed that the Slaasriithi have a strong suspicion—or know —that the Ktor are another branch of humanity and that therefore they could have infiltrated us earlier.”
    Alnduul’s nictating eyelids cycled even more slowly this time. “I cannot comment on your conjecture, Caine Riordan. But the fundamental logic is inarguable.”
    Huh: typical Dornaani. They manage to tell you you’re right without coming straight out and telling you that you’re right . “Alnduul, am I correct in assuming that you believe it would be in our best interests to comply with the Slaasriithi request?” Which is to say, go completely unprepared?
    One of Alnduul’s hands rose into view: his long fingers trailed like streamers in a sad, slow wind. “As a Custodian, I am unable to share my personal counsel on this matter. However, I have approached the on-site representative of the Dornaani Collective with a request that my ship, the Olsloov , be allowed to provide you with transport on your journey.” The end of his statement was abrupt, clipped. Among Dornaani, that was the equivalent of a pregnant pause.
    Caine managed not to smile. Okay, so you’re willing to piss off your boss to try to get us a high-security ride to the Slaasriithis’ party. So, yes; you think it’s important that we go. “Thank you, Alnduul. I am unsure if you’re familiar with the human expression, ‘a wink is as good as a nod’?”
    “I cannot recall hearing that expression,” said Alnduul. Who then nictated his left inner eyelid with uncharacteristic speed.
    “Did he just wink?” whispered Downing.
    “If not, he developed a very timely facial tic,” Caine replied.
    Alnduul glanced off-screen. “I am summoned to discuss my request to transport you aboard the Olsloov .”
    Downing nodded. “We’ll start making our preparations.”
    Alnduul’s fingers made a gesture that somehow used the rotary motion of a pinwheel to impart an impression of a passing ocean swell. “I shall update you with all speed. Enlightenment unto you both.” The screen went dark.
    Downing leaned back in his acceleration couch. “Well, now we have to find a Consul to send along with you as a plenipotentiary ambassador.”
    “We’ll need a world-class technical expert as well. Thank God we’ve got Lemuel Wasserman traveling with the fleet.”
    Downing elected—somewhat conspicuously—to begin studying personnel rosters at that very moment. “Doctor Wasserman is no longer with the fleet.”
    Caine started. “Wait a minute, just two days ago, you said Lemuel had been sent with the fleet to—”
    “He’d been sent with the fleet, yes. But he didn’t make the shift with us into Sigma Draconis from V 1517. He stayed behind with the two shift-carriers we left there, the Gyananakashu and the Arbitrage. ”
    Caine stared at Downing, started breaking down the improbability of Wasserman simply being “left behind.” “Lemuel was assigned to assess which Arat Kur technologies we needed to get our hands on. No one else can match his ability to see beyond the current theoretical horizon, even if he is a pain in the ass. And he trained for months to do this job. Which now, all of a sudden, he’s not doing.” Riordan frowned. “So Wasserman saw, or learned, something on the way from Earth to V 1517. Something so important that he’s being sent back home.”
    Downing shrugged. “Assignments change.”
    Caine sat back slowly. “No, not in the case of someone like Lemuel Wasserman. Assignments like his don’t simply ‘change.’ But they might get preempted if something more urgent comes along.” Riordan considered what might warrant that kind of preemption and