Disclaimer: Star Trek is the property of Paramount/Viacom. This story is the
property of Johanna Cantor and is copyright © l975 by Johanna Cantor. Originally published in Furaha
#3, Virginia Walker, editor.
The Summer Place
Johanna Cantor
Amanda moved forward and
touched Sarek's elbow. "You go ahead," she whispered. "I want to
go to the office to see if there are any messages. I'll be right back."
"Yes, go, my
wife."
On her way up the
suspended staircase, Amanda acknowledged the salutes of a group of couriers
correctly, but so abstractedly that they began to consider how they might have
offended the Vulcan delegation. But Amanda was simply lost in anxious
consideration of Sarek's response. Spock had missed his weekly tape before and
Sarek had never seemed concerned. But this time, after only four days, Sarek
was worried. Had he sensed some-thing wrong?
In their suite, Amanda
quickly scanned the messages. Yes, there it was. With a sigh of relief, she
began the tape. Then she stiffened. The message was in Terran!
"My
respected mother.
Do not let the contents of this message alarm you. I was wounded, but am
already recovering. Honored father ..."
Now it was Vulcan.
Amanda hurriedly switched on the translator so as not to miss anything. But the
message was unsatisfactory. Spock was merely informing Sarek, as etiquette
required, that for the next few weeks he would be on Vulcan, undergoing
treatments at the T'Nog Institute under the care of T'Pan, doctor of healing.
The short tape ended immediately after the obligatory inquiries after respected
parents' health, and professions of duty.
A message from the
Aurelian delegation played unheeded. Amanda sat, fist in her mouth, in near
panic. The T'Nog Institute -- the Vulcan clinic for mental healing! What could
have happened to Spock? Then she remembered the first part of the message, and
reversed the tape. Somehow she could almost hear his voice behind the flat
computer tones. Calmer now, she found the beginning again and punched the
transcriber. While the print-out was being made she composed herself, using one
of the first Vulcan exercises she had ever learned. Then she picked up the
printout and descended the stairs.
Sarek had not gone ahead
to the luncheon; he stood in the corridor waiting for her. As she handed him
the message, she again wondered if he had sensed something.
"This was
all?"
"Yes. That's the
entire message. Sarek, did you know something had happened?"
"I have suspected
for some days that all was not well with Spock. But I do not know what troubles
him."
"It must be
serious."
"Yes." Sarek
read the message again. "On the other hand, my wife, there is no reason to
discount the message to you."
"Is there anything
we can do?"
"Yes. Since he has
communicated the name of his healer, we can seek information directly from her.
I believe our best course is to ask T'Pau to make enquiries for us. Any
communication from the T'Nog Institute will mean more to her than to me, and
she can explain to us what has happened."
"All
right."
Sarek's calm was, as always, reassuring. And the thought of T'Pau brought
comfort. A healer of magnificent strength, she had so often come to the aid of
her human kinswoman. For the first time, Amanda began to think that everything
might be all right.
"My
wife?"
Sarek seemed almost embarrassed. "Would you object to leaving this
conference and returning to Vulcan?"
"Object? Oh,
no."
"Our presence may,
of course, be quite superfluous as far as Spock is concerned."
"For
Spock, maybe.
But not for me."
"Or me. Can you be
ready to board this evening's shuttle?"
* * *
The waiting room of the
clinic was cool. Amanda listened to the sounds of the water sculpture,
decorated in many tones of blue and green, until she was sure she was calm
enough. Then she spoke firmly. "Sarek, you see T'Pan alone. My presence
might make it awkward for her. You can explain it all to me later."
Sarek nodded. "Quite logical." A chime sounded and he walked
firmly through an inner door. Amanda remained alone,
concentrating on keeping her composure, until an outer door opened and a human
stepped through.
"Why, Jim
Kirk!" Amanda held out both hands as the captain of the
"I am tired. We had
an explosion on board five days ago."
"Were you
hurt?"
"No,
not at all.
But Scotty was badly injured, along with half of Engineering. All we could do
was limp back to drydock."
"Oh, I'm sorry.
Will he be all right?"
'"Yes, he's
mending."
"No wonder you're
tired. Have you slept at all since the explosion?"
"No chance. I have
some time off now, though. Amanda, how's Spock?"
"I don't know. When
we docked, we received a message setting this appointment, saying 'prognosis
good.' But that's all we know. Jim, what happened?"
"Spock established
a mind fusion with a Medusan, then saw it, unvisored. Here,
sit down."
"I'm all right. Is
he insane?"
"I don't think: so.
Fortunately, we had a telepath aboard who was able to reach his mind and bring
him around." Kirk rose, and began to pace. "I thought he was all
right, Amanda. So did McCoy. Spock slept for about 24 hours, and then he got up
to see Miranda -- Dr. Jones, the telepath -- off. He seemed fine then. But that
evening he reported back to Sickbay. He asked McCoy to make arrangements for
him to come here, sent one message tape, and fell into a sleep so deep McCoy
said it was almost a coma. He hadn't emerged from it when we beamed him down
here."
"Some
kind of damage?"
"Apparently. There wasn't much we
could do to--"
Kirk broke off as the door
opened. Sarek spoke quickly. "Spock is recovering, Amanda. We can see him
today." Then he recognized the Captain and came over to greet him formally.
"T'Pan said Spock is well enough to see us. Captain Kirk, if you wish, I
will ask if you may come too."
"If
it is permitted."
"I will
enquire." Sarek crossed to a communicator. The answer soon came, and
almost simultaneously, an elevator door opened.
In the elevator Amanda found
herself trembling slightly. Sarek put an arm around her. "He is all right,
Amanda. He is very weak, and still in a state where ordinary sensory stimuli
tend to impinge too strongly. But that will clear up in time, and his strength
will return."
"Can he come home?"
"Soon."
Amanda had expected a
hospital corridor. Instead, the elevator door opened on a large airy suite ,with a magnificent view of the ancient harbor.
The light momentarily
disoriented her, but then she saw that the figure seated at the large table was
Spock. He rose as she moved toward him and held out his hands, offering the
ritual embrace. They studied each other, then Spock gently
wiped away the one tear which rolled down her cheek, and turned to embrace his
father.
Kirk, watching form the
door, felt a large lump rise in his throat. He'd barely gotten it down when Spock
turned to him and held out his hand.
"What has happened,
sir?" he asked quietly.
Kirk jumped. He hadn't intended
to tell Spock about the accident. Damn the Vulcan's perceptiveness! "We
had an explosion," he answered as calmly as he could. "Thirty-two
casualties, all recovering. The ship's in drydock."
Spock nodded. "Will
you have some refreshment?" He waved them to the table and activated a
servitor. As host, he began to serve them. Amanda noticed that his hands
trembled slightly. Sarek noticed it too, and quietly took
over the job. They drank in silence, contrary to custom, but no one wished to
disturb the peace in the room. When they had finished, Spock pressed a button
and rose. Almost immediately, a very old Vulcan woman entered. Sarek introduced
Amanda and Kirk to T'Pan, the famous head of the T'Nog Institute. She greeted
them with polite formality, then crossed to Spock.
"Sit down," she said quietly. She checked him with a medical
tricorder, then touched his face and established a brief meld.
"Excellent,"
she said. "Lie down, now, and rest."
Spock lay down
obediently, but spoke. "May I go?"
"In three days, if
you wish." Spock closed his eyes, and T'Pan waved his visitors to the
elevator and joined them. As soon as the doors closed, she spoke again. "Spock
is exhausted now, as is only to be expected. But he stood the stimulation of
your visit very well. He will regain strength rapidly now."
Back in the waiting
room, Kirk and Amanda moved back to allow Sarek to thank T'Pan and take formal
leave of her. Amanda took Kirk's arm and gave it a hug. His return squeeze
reminded her of Spock's gentle touch on her cheek. At last, she thought, Spock
was learning not to be embarrassed by her human reactions. "Jim, I owe you
so much," she said.
"Damn it, Amanda,
I'm the one who got him hurt."
"No, I don't mean
that. And I'm sure that wasn't your fault."
They echoed Sarek' s formal bow to T'Pan and followed him out.
"Sarek, I've been
thinking. Why don't we open Fr'ot?"
"It would mean work
for you, my wife."
"I don't mind. We
could take Spon and T'Pin, and T'Pau could come to take care of Spock. I'm sure
it would be good for him."
"Very
well."
"Fr'ot's a seaside
cottage that's been in the family for generations," Amanda explained to
Kirk. "It hasn't been modernized for over five centuries -- it's still lit
by gas, just like Earth 19th century. But it's a marvelously relaxing place. We
always spent summers there when Spock was a child. He loves it."
"It sounds
lovely."
"Why don't you join
us there, Jim. Sarek?"
"Of course, my
wife," Sarek said, and cordially issued the formal invitation.
"Why, thank
you," Kirk said. "I'd be honored."
* * *
Five days later Amanda
lay happily in a restchair on the balcony at Fr'ot. It was good to be here.
Their small party had settled in comfortably. Spock was much stronger, and the resilient
captain, already recovered from his exhaustion, was taking full advantage of
the sporting facilities. Sarek and T'Pau seemed tired, but Sarek had assured
her that this was simply the result of the frequent melds necessary for
checking Spock's progress and guiding his healing meditations. They were
careful to rest, he told her. There was no problem.
Amanda saw Jim inside
and called to him. He lay down in the restchair next to hers and sighed in
contentment. "I have it on the very best of authority that this is a very
different ocean," he said. "But I feel supremely at home here."
"I always have,
too. The water tastes different, of course, but an ocean's an ocean."
"This is a wonderful
house. How old is it?"
"The oldest part
goes back to the T'Bat Dynasty. Family tradition says that Sarg of T'Bola hid
here while gathering his forces for the Battle of Fr'lal. There's still an
escape hatch leading from the cellar to the inner tunnel. But you can't find it
unless you know exactly where to look; it's been covered over since the days of
the First Peace."
"What a place to
live!"
"Yes. Vulcans like
to stay close to their history, you know. We really ought to modernize the
place, but somehow--"
"Oh, I wouldn't
touch it."
"Sarek's
grandfather put the lift in. That's the last major alteration."
"How did they get
to the beach before then?"
"There are hand and
foot holds chipped in the face of the cliff, and a wide
rope netting. It's a pleasant climb -- down, at least."
"I think I'll try
it. It sounds like good exercise."
"It is. There's a
large cave about halfway down, and of course when you get all the way down you
can swim. It makes a marvelous constitutional. Wait a minute. I'll come with
you. You start just under this balcony."
On their way through the
house, they found Spock toying with one of the antique books. Bored with
inactivity, he decided to make the climb too. Delighted, Amanda started down
first. As always, she lost herself in the activity, enjoying the sun and the
breeze and the marvelous feel of the climb.
Suddenly Kirk called
sharply, "Amanda, wait. Spock's in trouble."
He climbed up to Spock's
side. Amanda heard him say "All right. Don't try to talk. Just hang on,"
as she climbed up to the other side. Spock was rigid, gripping the net tightly.
Amanda saw the sweat on his face, and said, "The cave's only about thirty
feet down."
"Good. Okay. You're
all right. Amanda, can you get above him to guide his hands? I'll get his
feet." Kirk climbed down, and spoke in his command voice. "Put your
right foot in my hand. Good. Now give Amanda your hand. That's right..."
Painfully, they moved down. Amanda saw Jim reach the ledge outside the cave. He
found a footing and helped Spock descend the last few feet. Then he circled him
firmly with one arm. "Just let go. I have you." Spock managed to obey
once more, and Amanda lost sight of them. She climbed hastily down to the cave.
Spock was on the floor, head buried in his knees, trembling violently. As she
entered, she saw Jim reach for his hand. "Can you get Sarek?" he
asked.
She nodded and climbed
back up as quickly as she could. Finding Sarek and T'Pau asleep on the upstairs
veranda, she shook Sarek awake and told him rapidly what had happened. Then she
climbed back down to the cave. Jim was speaking, still in his command voice,
firm and authoritative. She heard him say "Article Four," but the
rest did not register. He was sitting on the floor, holding Spock tightly with
one arm. Spock had stopped shuddering, but he was resting limply on Kirk's
shoulder, and Amanda knew he was still in difficulty.
"Sarek is
coming," she said and knelt beside them. The captain had one of Spock's hands;
she took the other in both of hers.
Outside she heard the
scraping of Sarek's descent, but to her surprise, it was T'Pau who entered
first. "T'Pau, you shouldn't try that climb."
"Nonsense,
Amanda," T'Pau said in the sharpest tone Amanda had ever heard her use.
The two Vulcans knelt by Spock and touched his temples. Amanda saw them wince
as contact was made, and then there was silence. She and Kirk watched
anxiously. Slowly Spock's face changed, and at last T'Pau took him from the
captain and laid him back to rest on her lap. Sarek broke contact and sat back,
slumping forward. Amanda hurried to him, and he allowed her to embrace him.
"It is all right, my wife," he assured her. Amanda let him rest and
turned her attention to calming her agitation until he spoke again. "There
is a sling in the cupboard in the cellar. Can you get it and rig it?"
"I can make the
climb," Spock murmured, but his voice sounded so dull and exhausted that
he was immediately silenced by four vetoes.
"I'll help you,
Amanda," Kirk said.
Together they climbed up
to the ancient cellars, found the sling, rigged it, and sent it down. Sarek
strapped Spock in and signaled, then climbed up, keeping abreast of Spock to
steady him. Amanda wanted to send the sling down for T'Pau, but Sarek overruled
her gently. While the men helped Spock out of the sling, Amanda listened
anxiously, but T'Pau made the climb smoothly and disdained the hand Amanda
extended to help her over the edge.
"Get that child to
bed," she ordered, and followed Sarek as he carried Spock into the house.
The humans watched them
go. "They'll take care of him, Amanda."
"Yes. Jim, what
happened?"
"I have no idea. I
just saw that he'd stopped climbing. Maybe he got dizzy."
"But in the cave he
was so--"
"I know. I've seen
him like that a couple of times after a mind meld, but never for more than a
few seconds. This time--"
"I'm glad you were
there. Jim, what were you saying?"
"What?"
"In
the cave.
I heard you say 'Article Four,' but--"
"Oh, that." He
grinned at her sheepishly. "I guess I was reciting the Articles of Command.
It was the only thing I could think of fast enough. It didn't matter what I
said. He just needed to hear my voice -- to be in touch."
Sarek started down the
path toward them, and they hurried up. "He is all right," he assured
them. "He is already asleep. T'Pau is with him."
"What happened,
sir?"
"An
overload, essentially. The play of light on the cliff, the smells of the sea and
seashrubs, the noise of the birds and wind and water, and the effort of coordinating
his hands and feet to climb -- it was too much stimulation all at once. He'll rest
now, and be better." Sarek studied the two humans carefully.
"Come," he said firmly. "It is time for lunch."
Amanda could not refrain
from looking in on Spock several times during the afternoon. Each time he seemed
soundly asleep. T'Pau slept beside him; she couldn't tell whether they were
melded or not. Around sunset, as she left them again, she heard a gentle cough.
"'Will there be
seven eating, Respected One?"
"Oh, forgive me, Spon,
Respected Old One," she said contritely. "I should have told you at
once. Spock was taken ill this morning, but Sarek says he is all right."
The old man waited, too polite to ask a direct question, but she knew how
anxious he and his wife must be for the child they had helped rear. As much as
she could, she explained what had happened, and was relieved to see his
unmistakable relief.
"I will prepare for
seven," he said.
"Tell T' Pin, will
you please?"
"Most certainly,
Respected One."
Spon was right. Spock
was at dinner. He apologized formally to his mother and the captain, and
thanked them. Amanda saw Kirk give him the searching look she had refrained
from, and saw Spock's slight nod. Reassured, she waved them toward the table.
Once seated, she found it necessary to spend several minutes composing herself; she did not catch T'Pin's signal until Sarek had
almost finished serving the captain's plate. Then she remembered.
"Oh! Jim, try some
of this casserole."
"All
right."
He took his plate from Sarek. "What is it? Por Pie!"
"Yes. Spon made it
for you especially. Do you like it?"
"Why, it tastes
exactly like my mother's."
"Thank you, Captain
Kirk," Sarek spoke gravely. "You have preserved the peace of my
house."
Amanda laughed aloud.
"T'Pin made Sarek reserve space in a diplomatic pouch for the
nutmeg," she confided.
"And Spon exhorted
your mother's address from Spock so he could get her ingredients and
method," Sarek added, obviously for the benefit of the two Vulcans.
"Tell me, Spock," he continued. :Spon and
T'Pin have been in the family so long that they had, of course, no problem
bullying me. But how did they blackmail you?"
"It was simple, my
father. T'Pin caught me pouring out Spon's tonic medicine instead of drinking
it."
"My
stars!"
Sarek was grave. "How long will it take you to expiate that crime?"
"I should live so
long," Spock quoted. Amanda and Kirk exchanged grins, but all four Vulcans
rose and moved toward Spock. Sarek put his hand behind Spock's neck, supporting
him as T'Pau touched his face to establish a meld. "I am quite all
right," Spock said somewhat agitatedly. "It is an old Earth
expression that the captain uses -- a joke. Forgive me for alarming you."
"There is no cause
for alarm," T'Pau agreed. "But I think perhaps you are still
overtired, Spock. Let me take you to your room." She hushed his protests,
and she and Sarek gently urged Spock to the door.
Kirk grinned at Amanda
again. "Think he'll talk his way out?"
"Not a chance! He's
grounded for the evening. Poor Spock." She went on
more seriously, "Vulcans tease, but they don't joke that way."
"I know. Teasing's
the first way I ever made real contact with Spock. For months, it was the only
way. But it was a long time before he was comfortable with my brand of
jokes."
"Yes. You go along
thinking you're phasing, and suddenly you realize you're completely out of
sync. I felt so sorry for a young alien who's studying here. He's the son of
the Catullan ambassador, a brilliant--"
"
"Why yes. Do you
know him?"
"Yes, very well. I
didn't know he was on Vulcan."
"He's studying
here, and teaching at the middle school. Unfortunately, he's an inveterate
practical joker. Vulcans just can't comprehend that. He snuck into the school
one night and adjusted the computer to play an ancient war march instead of the
T'A for the opening exercises. They knew right away that he'd done it, of
course, because he was the only one laughing. He was almost sent for
rehabilitation. Sarek had to go down to the school and explain that the
Catullans resemble humans in that respect. That made it all right, of
course."
Jim laughed, and she
joined in, a little ruefully. "I'll have to look up young Rad while I'm
here," he said.
"He's spending a
few weeks with Sarek' s nephew back in ShiKahr. You
can see him there.
* * *
But as things turned
out, Kirk saw Rad much sooner than that. That evening, Amanda received a
message from T'Pauve. In the midst of the summer, with a full house; she and
St'in, Sarek's nephew, had been injured in an air-car malfunction. They must
convalesce for a few weeks. Could Amanda possibly entertain the children and
their honored guest? Amanda sighed, and went to find Sarek.
Thus is
was that two days later she sat on the balcony drafting a message to
T'Pauve to inform her of the party's safe arrival. "Sarek wishes me to
assure you that the children's behavior during the journey' occasioned him no
embarrassment," she finished formally. Then she added a quick, warm
message to her young kinspeople. Sarek would raise an eyebrow when he saw it,
but she would permit herself the luxury of those few words.
She laid down her stylus
as Jim came out on the balcony. "Jim, I'm sorry to have put you in the
middle of this school party."
"Not
at all, Amanda.
I'm enjoying it. Is it permitted to ask who the little girl is? The six-year-old?!!
"Her Vulcan name is
T'Lan. She's one of the hostages the Romulans sent here during the treaty
negotiations last year. We found out only after they'd arrived that most of
them were children, and all of them were from families disgraced for one cause
or another. When the treaty was signed, T'Lan begged to stay here; in fact,
most of the hostages did. The ambassador gave permission, so they were returned
to the families which had cared for them during the negotiations."
"I'm glad she has a
good home. She is a beautiful little girl."
"Yes,
and highly intelligent. I think St'in and T'Pauve may adopt her."
"Rad says that she
is already at junior level."
"I wouldn't be
surprised. He's spending a lot of time training her."
"He seems to be a
good teacher."
"Yes. It's a pity
he's so unstable."
"He seems much more
stable now than he did when I first met him. Maybe Vulcan's calming him down."
"Well, I can't
think of a more likely place!" Kirk laughed, and escorted her in for lunch.
At the table, Amanda looked at T'Pau apprehensively. The Vulcans had been far
from pleased at the necessity of inviting Rad to their retreat. Spock sensed
the constraint and began to discuss the recently proposed Stegner Hypothesis.
Rad joined in and the Vulcans thawed perceptively, impressed by his undeniable
brilliance. Kirk followed the discussion eagerly, but physics was not Amanda's
strong suit, so she let her mind wander to the feminine personnel of the Terran
colony. Should she invite Mary Hakado to spend a few days? Or
Grace Gish? Or maybe Jim would prefer a selection?
"And how is your
father?" Kirk was asking.
Rad replied suitably, then turned to Spock. "I can communicate with my father
now. I want to thank you for that."
"I was happy to be
of service," Spock replied, and smoothly changed the subject.
As soon as lunch was
over, Amanda captured Kirk and got the full story from him. He told her how Spock
had won the respect of the wild young crew who had hijacked the
Amanda was silent,
remembering another son estranged from his father. Kirk eyed her uncertainly, then spoke heartily: "Well, I'm going to climb down for
a swim. Want to come?"
"You start ahead. I
have a message to correct and send. I'll be down shortly."
"Okay."
Amanda picked up the
board to check her grammar before. showing it to
Sarek. She was wondering if the first verb should be a middle
instead of a passive when she heard Jim, underneath the balcony, start down the
cliff. She changed the verb and suddenly the quiet was shattered .by a hoarse shout followed by a scream. For a moment she could not
locate the sound. Then she realized it must have come from the cliff. Running
to the edge of the balcony, she called the captain. There was no answer.
Quickly she explained to the others, who had run out at the scream, and ran
after Sarek as he strode down to the head of the cliff. Sarek knelt and pulled
at the rope ladder; a short length of one side dangled from his hands. He laid
it on the flat in silence.
Amanda insisted on
riding down in the lift, but at the sight of Spock's set face, she could not
help breaking into sobs. Sarek and Spock could not respond, but T'Pau
wordlessly took her arm and drew it through her own. They searched the shore in
silence. There was no sign of the captain and Amanda began to hope. Quickly
they took the lift up and broke out the sling and several climbing kits. Spock
climbed directly down to the cave and so it was he who found the captain,
battered and unconscious, but alive. His shout brought the others. Spon forced
Spock to let him move the human and Sarek and T'Pau climbed up with Spock.
Amanda led the way up and raced to the house to get the medical kit. She watched
Spock anxiously as the captain was carried in and put on the bed.
"Sarek, have a care
for your son," T'Pau said sharply as she began her examination. Sarek went
to him immediately, but Spock shook his head. "I remain here," he
said firmly. Sarek yielded, only insisting on supporting his son with one arm.
Spock watched as though his concentration could heal the unconscious man, but
he retained his calm.
"It is not
serious," T'Pau announced. Amanda sat down. "He has a broken right
humerus and fibula, and numerous contusions and abrasions on that side. There
may also be a mild concussion from that blow on his temple. I would guess that
he had hold of the net with his left hand when it broke and managed to cling to
it long enough to slide down to the cave. It is most fortunate that his
injuries are no more serious than they are."
T'Pau began immediately
to repair the broken bones with the portable bone-knitting laser. Spock allowed
Sarek to seat him, but still insisted on remaining. When T'Pau finished, she
enlisted Spock's aid in rubbing a healing, anesthetic cream into the lacerated
flesh. Amanda watched Spock as he rubbed, then had to turn away.
Suddenly the captain
came to with a shout. They all jumped, but Spock leaned forward. "It is
all right, Jim. You are safe."
The captain focused, then managed a grin. "Recuperative shore leave," he
muttered. Spock lifted an eyebrow in acknowledgement and tucked the bedsheet
around him. "Sleep." Kirk tried to turn on
his injured side, but Spock stopped him before he could put his weight on it.
"You'll be more comfortable on your back."
"Right." Kirk leaned back.
"What happened?"
"The net
broke," Sarek replied and recited a formal apology. Kirk listened
dutifully, but he was clearly drowsy.
"I will respond for
you, sir," Spock said. The captain closed his eyes, then opened them and
spoke firmly.
"You are not to sit
up with me, Spock, and that's an order."
"Very well, sir. I
will go to bed as soon as you are asleep." Kirk was satisfied, and his
eyes closed.
Sarek walked over to
Amanda; she rose and followed him out the door. "Sarek, why would that net
break? Spon checked it the first day here. He must have replaced any weak links
then."
Sarek was silent for
several moments, then he spoke reluctantly. "I believe, my wife, that the rope was cut. I noticed when I
pulled it up that the edges were not frayed. "Amanda followed him down the
path in horrified silence. At the head of the cliff they stopped. The net that Sarek
had laid down so carefully was gone.
* * *
The
rest of.
that day was a nightmare for Amanda. Sarek took Spon and
searched every inch of the cliff face and shore. Amanda took T'Pin and searched
the house, stopping at intervals to look in on the two sleeping invalids. T'Pau
was watching them carefully; she assured Amanda that they were both doing well.
By late in the day, they
had to admit that the net must have been taken deliberately; every possible
accidental or casual resting place had been searched. For the first time,
Amanda thought of Rad and the children, and went back to the large apartment
set aside for their use. There she found Rad teaching T'Naw how to measure the
force of a series of pulleys, with the dutiful assistance of S'oc and T'Lan.
Amanda started to thank him for keeping the children occupied, then the
sentence died in her throat. The largest pulley was attached with part of the
brown net-rope.
That evening, the family
held a brief council. Sarek could not be sure, he said, that the net had been
cut. And the rope had been cut in so many pieces for the experiment that there
was now no way of checking it. On the other hand, as Spock pointed out, it was
extremely unlikely that the net would simply break by itself. He was supported
strongly by Spon, shocked out of his Vulcan calm by an accident happening to a
guest of the house on equipment he had checked. He had insisted on swearing
formally to Sarek that he had repaired all the weak spots, and Sarek had
reassured him only with difficulty .
Amanda could not tell
whether they had thought of the possibility that was agitating her, and at last
she felt obliged to discuss it. Was it possible that the rope could have been
cut as a prank? A prankster might not realize how badly someone might be hurt.
Spock was wooden with distress, but Sarek agreed, in measured tones, that it
was well-known that so-called practical jokers seldom thought through the
possible consequences of their deeds.
No one could think of
any steps to take other than to be watchful. It took Amanda almost an hour to
compose herself for sleep that night.
* * *
But the next two days
passed without incident. The captain, under T'Pau's orders, remained in bed. He
was troubled with blurred vision, and since Fr'ot had very few recorded books,
they all took turns reading to him. Spon and T'Pin clucked over him, and though
he teased them, he obviously enjoyed the attention. Spock, in the captain's
room most of the time, got his full share of the coddling. Amanda left them in
the old couple's capable hands most of the time, splitting the teaching duties
with Rad.
At dawn the third day,
she was jerked into wakefulness by Fr'ot's huge gong. "Tbilti!" Spon was shouting.
"It's a low tide. There are tbilti.
Everyone come!" Sarek and Amanda dressed quickly and Sarek went to the
cellars for the buckets. Amanda went to Jim's room and found Spock already
there.
"But what are 'tbilti'?" Kirk was asking.
"They're rather
like a mussel," she explained. "They're a great delicacy, but they
can only be reached at the lowest tides. Are you going down, Spock?"
"You go ahead, Mother.
I will remain here with the captain."
"What causes the
tides here?" Kirk asked.
Spock started to
explain, and Amanda left them to it. Gathering tbilti was fun. Everyone joined in and soon the buckets were brim
full. Then came the serious sorting job. All tbilti were edible except for one
variety, identifiable by a tiny orange band on the inside of the rim. This year
there were only six.
"Shall I leave
these in the sun, sir?" Rad had given the children a careful look. Now he
held the six shells out to Sarek.
"No. I would prefer
that they not multiply here, but there is no need to destroy them. I'll take
them over to Gra't tomorrow."
Rad nodded and put the
shells carefully in a marked crevice where they could survive, yet easily be
found.
Spock was still with
Kirk, who was obviously bored with being invalided. He enthusiastically seconded
Spock's suggestion that Sarek and Amanda join them for lunch and kept up a
constant flow of talk during the meal. Amanda returned his sallies blithely; Spock's
friend was going to be fine.
That afternoon Sarek and
Amanda lay on the beach. Sarek rose and walked away from her and she turned to
watch him fondly. Suddenly she noticed he was staggering; she ran after him in
time to see him regurgitate violently. "Get T'Pau," he said and fell
to his knees. Amanda saw him grit his teeth as he doubled over. Half carrying
him, she got him to the lift. At the house, they found Spock unconscious, with
T'Pau and the others in anxious attendance. T'Pau was trying to meld, thinking
this was a new symptom of the nervous exhaustion, but when she saw Sarek she
looked to more immediate causes. "The tbilti?"
she snapped.
"Impossible,"
Sarek began, but was forced to clench his teeth again.
"T'Pau, we sorted
them," Amanda protested. "And Jim and I also ate from the same
dish."
"The poison in tbilti is a xant'l compound," T'Pau replied curtly. It might well not
affect humans. I will analyze." The analysis of both men's vomitus showed
a high level of xant'l.
Amanda spent the rest of
a ghastly day with her husband and son, helping when she could, keeping out of
the way when she couldn't. By evening they were out of pain, though still very
weak. Finally they both fell asleep. Amanda touched T'Pau's arm in gratitude,
and went to reassure the children.
She found them holding a
subdued but brave picnic on the bluff and joined them in time to hear Kirk wind
up a tall tale so outrageous that even the Vulcan-trained children could not
help giggling.
"Respected lady?"
It was Rad. She allowed him to take her a little aside. He was hesitant,
interrupting himself with many protestations of his wish not to interfere. But
he finally got it out. Spon had been involved in both incidents. Was it
possible that he held some grudge against the captain?
"Oh!" Amanda
cried and ran into the house, not because of the accusation, but because it
reminded her of an unperformed duty. She found Spon in the kitchen, of course.
He was seated at the work surface staring at nothing, but when Amanda entered,
he rose at attention. T'Pin stood by his side loyally. "Respected
One..." he began stiffly.
"Spon, it wasn't
your fault. We all sorted those tbilti.
There is no possibility you are at fault."
Spon sat down, relieved,
but still miserable. "I do not understand it. I simply do not understand
it."
Late that night, Amanda
was still wakeful. For the tenth time, she looked in on the sleeping men,
earning a reproving look from T'Pau, and crossed the hall to check on the
restless captain. Then, chiding herself for a fool, she took the lift down to
the beach. She found the crevice with Rad's marker still in place. But the
orange-striped tbilti were gone.
A light step behind her
made her whirl. "What is it, Amanda?"
"Jim, you shouldn't
be up."
"I'm all right.
What is it, Amanda?" He was determined to have the whole story, and he
questioned her gently until he had it. He paused for consideration, then
silently took her arm and escorted her back to the house.
By noon the next day
Amanda could cheerfully have slapped her dear friend. The captain had talked
earnestly with the convalescents that morning, then
emerged, only to tell everyone it was fortunate that a regrettable accident had
had no more serious consequences. Amanda was sure he had a plan, but he tacitly
refused to discuss it with her. He insisted on taking Sarek and Spock to the
beach that afternoon, and firmly sent Amanda and T'Pau back to the house.
Amanda was amazed by T'Pau's quiet obedience; did she know what was going on?
It did not improve her temper to discover that Sarek had told Rad to cancel the
afternoon lessons; this was not at all what T'Pauve would expect.
Supper was a strained,
difficult meal. Jim informed Amanda politely that he would be spending the
evening reading to Sarek and Spock, relieving her of that duty so she could
rest. It took all her Vulcan training to keep her from repeating a suggestion
she had once heard her father give an erring subordinate.
Much later, she finally
conquered her anger, summoned a smile, and walked around the veranda to the
window of Spock's room. T'Pau and the three men all stiffened as she entered,
then Kirk hastily put his hand behind him. But Amanda had seen the small
phaser.
"I'm sorry, Amanda.
I didn't want to worry you."
"Didn't want to worry me?" she gasped. But her
training held good again. "Are you expecting trouble?"
"Perhaps. Whatever is going on
here, it seems that either Sarek, Spock, or I am the
target. We hope that if we seem unsuspicious and accessible, another attempt
will be made. Don't worry. Spon is watching Rad."
"Oh." Amanda
had to swallow her distress. "Because of the practical--"
"No,
my wife.
Neither incident could have been a practical joke. Both were potentially too
serious. But is obvious that the captain is at least one of the targets, and
Rad is the only person here with any previous contact with him."
At that precise moment
the gas fixture went out. Amanda gasped, "He'll try something in the
dark!"
"Perhaps." Kirk seemed
superhumanly calm. "But there is another possibility. Simple
gas poisoning." She gasped again. "We are in no danger from
that for a while, at least. Amanda, does that old tunnel go anywhere near the
gas source?"
"Yes. It goes
exactly there." As she spoke, the gas came on again. She heard it hissing
in the unlit fixture.
"I think that's
it," Kirk said calmly. "Where's the passage?"
"You'd never find
it. I'll go."
"Amanda." She
hesitated, halfway out. "All right. I'll stay
here in case this is a false scent. If you see him, don't interfere. Just make
sure who it is." He gave her a hand torch. She nodded, and ran.
At the cellar entrance,
she saw Spon, standing guard inside. Rad must. be in
the cellars -- it was true, then. She signaled him to remain and switched off
her torch. The ancient floors were smooth to her bare feet as she crept
silently toward the center. Suddenly she was grabbed; in her astonishment, she
said "Let me go!" in Terran.
"Respected
lady!"
Rad exclaimed in equal astonishment and let her go. Swiftly gathering her wits,
she said, "Rad, there's someone down here fooling with the gas."
"I saw. It's one of
the children. One of the girls."
"That's
impossible!"
"I saw her.
Come." Together they crept toward the end of the tunnel. Amanda heard
someone breathing harshly. She switched on the torch and froze, speechless with
astonishment. The girl also froze -- T'Lan, the Romulan hostage.
* * *
"Why?" Sarek
asked again. The girl remained silent. Amanda wondered dully what time it was,
and how long this interrogation had gone on. Suddenly Rad spoke.
"Forgive me,
revered host, but this is no way to treat a child. Let me take her and put her
to bed. We'll all feel better in the morning."
"Rad's right,"
Amanda said. "She's only a child." She stepped to the child's side
and put an arm around her. "Come, dear," she said gently.
Suddenly the little girl
crumpled, sobbing. Amanda hugged her, rocking and soothing her, but it was a
long time before she was calm enough to be intelligible.
"Did you do all
those things, T'Lan? Cut the rope, and put the poison tbilti back with the others?"
"Yes!"
"Why?"
The child began to sob
again. I'm not just a child!" she cried out. "I did scare you,
anyway!"
"Why?" Kirk
spoke for the first time. As if goaded by his voice, she turned on him. "You
killed my mother!"
Kirk was silent, in
shock. Then he said gently, "in battle?"
"That would have
been an honorable death! You couldn't give her that! You disgraced her, shamed
her and my whole family!"
"Who was your
mother?" She told him. The name was obviously familiar to Spock, and he
closed his eyes.
"T'Lan."
Kirk's voice was constricted. "T'Lan, your mother was taken prisoner by
accident in an espionage mission. A strategy she evolved went awry, but that
was the fortunes of war, not a disgrace."
"She killed
herself."
"I feared that, and
I regret it. But I do not see why an honorable defeat shamed your family."
T'Lan was quieter now,
but she stiffened at those words. "Subcommander Tal reported that she had
been seduced by Spock and fled to the enemy ship with him, after betraying a
first order military secret." She sobbed again. :My
grandfather was stripped of rank and wealth; he committed suicide. My brother
and I can never vote, or hold office, or study, or--" She broke down
again. Amanda saw the rigid Spock close his eyes again and started to move
toward him.
Kirk's voice bit through
the child's sobs. "And did Subcommander Tal also report that your mother
ordered him to destroy the ship on which she was being held prisoner?"
T'Lan looked up in
astonishment, tears running down her face.
"Yes, it is
true."
The little girl began to
tremble; Amanda went to her and held her tight. But she soon got herself in
hand. "Captain," she asked quietly, "Would you tell me what
happened? We never knew."
Gently, Kirk told her
the story of the mission to confirm the existence of a cloaking device and
capture it. T'Lan listened critically. "So my mother was trying to capture
a starship intact!"
"Yes. If her plan
had succeeded, it would have given your people an inestimable advantage over
the Federation. She gambled, T'Lan, and she lost. I'm sorry. But her loss was
not treason."
The child began to cry
again, but fought it bravely. "Why was she standing so close to you that
she was caught in the transporter beam?" she asked Spock.
Spock turned away, and
Kirk moved quickly between him and the little girl.
"She was
interrogating him," he replied firmly.
T'Lan took a deep
breath. "Captain, would you be willing to swear to that before the
Romulan. council? It doesn't matter for me, but my
brother is still on Remus. He wants to be an astrogator, but--"
"I'd have to clear
it with Starfleet. For myself, I'd be very willing."
"Then I'm sure it
can be arranged," T'Pau spoke firmly.
* * *
"Well, that was
quite a session," Amanda said some weeks later.
"It certainly was, " Kirk snorted. "I thought the ambassador was
going to make me sign my name in blood."
"Jim, why didn't
Spock go with you?"
"Well, I've always
suspected that the Romulan commander got caught in her own trap, to some
extent. Spock feels bad -- well, I don't think either of us will ever feel
right about it. But I hope at least T'Lan's brother can go to school now."
"Yes. That is good
to know."
"Has T'Lan
definitely decided to stay here?"
"Yes. Stin and
T'Pauve have decided to adopt her. That 's why I came
to pick you up. The naming is today, and I thought you might like to come. It's
very short."
"I certainly would.
But I thought the naming was for newborns."
"It's exactly the
same. Once it's been done, T'Lan will be legally and socially a member of our
family, just as though she'd been born to the household."
An hour later Kirk stood
in the central
"Citizens
of ShiKahr.
Know, all of you, that this girl is T'Lan, who becomes today a daughter of the
family of T'A of ShiKahr. Any honor due us is also due her. It is so declared.
"Peace."
THE END