Chapter Six
Hethyr paced from one side of her sumptuously furnished office to the other. Shona sat in a chair in front of the desk, Saffie at her feet. Dwan, looking as rueful as a dog that had been whipped, occupied a curved antique couch a couple of meters behind. She refused to meet anyone’s eyes. Hethyr had heard Shona’s opening queries over the comm-unit, and blew up in fury the moment she had walked in.
“Your job here is not to snoop into the private lives of the citizens. You are to provide medical care. Nothing more!”
Shona watched her with astonishment. “I was only curious, as anybody might be. My son, who does not usually lie or tell wild stories, came home from his new friends’ homes full of enthusiasm about seeing exotic animals. Naturally I wanted to find out what was behind it.”
Hethyr rounded on her, sticking a finger nearly into Shona’s eye. “You came to spy on us, didn’t you?”
Saffie growled at the threatening tone. Shona rose, taking her dog’s collar in her hand. “Governor,” she said coldly, wrapping the leash around her wrist, “let me remind you that you contacted me and offered me a job. I had never heard of Jardindor until I got your message. If you are unsatisfied with my discretion or behavior, I tender my resignation. I’ll contact my husband and have him pick us up at the earliest possible convenience. I ask only that you pay my wages up to this point and allow us some suitable accommodations until our departure. We’ll prepare to move out of Dr. Setve’s house at once. I’m sure you’ll want to make it ready for your next contract physician.”
“Wages!” Hethyr exploded. “I should prosecute you for invasion of privacy!”
“Now, please, let’s all calm ourselves,” said a new voice. Finoa, in a pantsuit of flowing silver-gray, entered the room, stepping swiftly between Shona and Hethyr, whose face was now a fine shade of purple. “There’s no need to be unreasonable.”
Shona felt her eyebrows climb her forehead. Finoa draped an arm over the governor’s stiff shoulders and drew her back, giving the doctor a gracious smile.
“I regret we weren’t here when you arrived, Dr. Shona. Hethyr is tense, as she might well be. We’d been preparing to take you into our confidence over this small matter, but we were going at our own pace, and you stumbled upon part of our secret a little before we were ready. Forgive Hethyr her outburst.”
Hethyr gaped at Finoa. Whatever she’d expected her to say, Shona could tell that this was not it. She had no time to think for herself, as Robret leaned forward to take her hand and led her back to her chair.
“What are you doing?” Hethyr hissed. Finoa turned so that her superior height blocked her actions from Shona and put a finger on Hethyr’s lips.
“Shh! What were you doing? You don’t want her going off-planet, not now. Not yet. Calm yourself, Hethyr. You know what’s at stake. You should be more diplomatic.”
“Diplomatic! She knows!”
Finoa smiled, her mouth twisted into an expression of scorn. “She doesn’t know what she knows. We will make certain that her knowledge is steered correctly so that we get what we want from her. Don’t charge in and ruin this for us, Hethyr.”
“You have no authority over me! You’re not governor of this colony.”
“And I hope I never am. But what I am is more important to it at this moment.” Finoa held up a warning finger, with her sternest face. “Don’t say another word. Let Robret.”
Hethyr seemed about to protest, but Finoa turned away from her, refusing to acknowledge the woman’s authority or temper. Robret had already begun to bring his charm to bear on the little doctor.
Robret knelt down beside Shona’s chair, balancing his elbows on the arm so that she felt his presence but did not perceive herself to be trapped by it. Finoa admired her husband’s instincts. Shona was off-guard; that was good. Perhaps Hethyr had not done so much damage after all.
* * *
“I’m sorry that Hethyr got all set off like that,” Robret said to Shona. His voice was deep and very soothing. “Are you upset?”
Shona became aware that she might look no better to the newcomers than the angry governor, and made an effort to bring her breathing under control. “Yes, I am. I feel vulnerable here. I’m dependent on you for my employment and my living arrangements. I thought the terms of my tenure had been spelled out completely in the agreement I signed. Nothing in that document said that there was a security concern. I displayed a little normal curiosity—human nature—which was kindly indulged by a friend whom I believed had the right to do so. When I sought further information I was threatened with termination, and I still do not know what I am accused of doing wrong.”
“She didn’t mean to overreact. We were going to tell you, but we were hoping to gauge how you would react before we did.”
Shona frowned. “Tell me what?”
“Shona, what do you know about Animal Magnetism?” he asked, gazing warmly into her eyes.
The big bear of a man was staring at her with warm, honey-colored eyes. Shona glanced away from his intense gaze to Hethyr, whose face was a stony mask, and Dwan, who looked frightened. Shona swallowed. She felt as though she was on trial or facing a difficult exam.
“I believe that some people have a kind of charm that draws others to them. It’s more basic than charisma—I’ve met a couple of men whom I thought had animal magnetism. They were, well, sexy. Though one of them wasn’t handsome he still attracted women by the drove.”
Robret smiled, and she realized he had some of that raw charm himself. “That’s not exactly what I mean, though it’s related. In this case the attractiveness would be more of a result than a cause. You see, when you handle or interact with certain animals, that contact bestows on you certain qualities.” Shona opened her mouth, but he pressed a little closer, stilling her protest. “Please, hear me out. As I’m sure you know from history, let alone your medical studies, our ancestors believed in totem animals.”
“Yes, that’s true,” Shona said thoughtfully. “Tribes would adopt a beast that embodied characteristics they wanted to have, like lions for courage, owls for wisdom, gazelles for speed, and so on. It was a superstition.”
“They did exactly what you say, adopting a creature they admired to gain its attributes,” Robret said, nodding. “But what if I told you it was not a superstition? What if I told you that interaction with those animals does impart those characteristics?”
“I’ve never heard of any scientific basis for that,” Shona said evenly. “What I do know is that millions of animals over the centuries were killed because humans thought ingesting or wearing parts of them made them stronger or more virile. It’s an appalling part of our history.” She looked at Hethyr. “I hope you’re not telling me that you are reviving vile traditions like that. It’s against all decency.”
“Not at all,” Robret said, recapturing her attention. “We’re not so barbaric to kill these animals. Mere contact bestows those qualities on us.”
Shona gaped at him. “You can’t expect me as a woman of science to believe such a thing.”
“Hear me out, please, Shona. Science has ignored a great many things over the ages, things that have been proved in the long run to have validity. Why, don’t you recall when chiropractic medicine was considered charlatanism?”
“Well, yes,” Shona began.
“And you did say yourself that you know of successful research involving dolphins?”
“Yes, but—”
“And I have read a good deal about the benefits of pet ownership, especially for the elderly or isolated. You said yourself that you felt better taking care of your furry friends, including this gentleman here,” he said, indicating Chirwl, who was listening with outspread whiskers.
“That’s true,” Shona said.
“Well, your friend there has a dolphin,” Robret said smoothly.
Shona raised an eyebrow. “She has a monkey.”
“And a dolphin.”
Slowly, she turned to look at Dwan, who was redder than ever. “You have a pet dolphin?”
“A therapeutic dolphin,” Dwan said. “Three-eet is my friend. It’s part of our family wellness routine. He lives in the pool house. That’s why I’ve never taken you there. It’s … private. You understand.”
“Forgive me,” Shona said, thinking of the studies. “Wait, I didn’t see any reference—” She stopped short, almost surprised into discussing her patients’ records in front of others. Robret seemed to pick her meaning directly out of her mind.
“That’s because there is no history of any of the conditions normally associated with dolphin therapy. This is something new and special. We here are fortunate enough to be able to experience Animal Magnetism, to experiment with it, because of our situation.”
“And what situation is that?” Shona asked.
“Why, that we can,” Robret said, simply.
Because they could afford to do so, Shona understood.
“We take very good care of our charges, I promise you. Would you like to see them? I can’t speak for the others, but we would be glad to let you see our special friends. It would be an honor. I hope to convince you that what we are doing here is true and remarkable. Would you like that?”
“Yes, I would,” Shona said at once. Whether or not they were practicing a very novel form of quackery, the concept of seeing a number of rare animals in the flesh piqued her interest.
* * *
Whether or not Jardindor was the seat of a very novel form of quackery, Shona did not care, not at that moment. She was too busy holding her breath and staring. Before her eyes was one of the wonders of the universe, a beast that she thought was nearly extinct, except in government-maintained nature preserves. The male tiger, 230 kilos of orange, black, and white-striped muscle, paced slowly back and forth on the grass. His golden eyes were fixed upon her even when he turned to pace back the other way. His expression was one of idle interest. He didn’t seem threatened by the presence of half a dozen humans and one ottle. Saffie had been left behind at the governor’s mansion, for her own protection, Robret had explained. All of the children had remained at Dwan’s home. Her husband had been pried away from his keyboard to keep an eye on them.
Shona marveled at the size of the tiger’s paws, as big across as her own head. Wickedly sharp, curved claw tips showed between the huge pads as each foot lifted and was set down. Dappled by shadows thrown from the high bushes surrounding the sheltered enclosure, the stripes on his back, legs, and flicking tail formed an ever-changing pattern that hypnotized Shona as she watched him. He was beautiful, the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. She let out her breath with a sigh of pleasure.
“He is called Jamir,” Finoa said, “but I believe you know that already. My son was … indiscreet. He is very trusting, as most children are. As are young of most species. Tumi should not have let your children back here, but once he had we ought to have spoken openly with you about what they saw. I apologize for allowing you to misjudge your son, but as you may guess, some secrets are important.”
“Yes, indeed,” Shona said, absentmindedly, not wishing to take her eyes off the tiger. “He is … bigger than I imagined tigers would be.”
“Over two and a half meters from nose to tail-tip,” Robret said proudly.
“I’ve heard they remain wild throughout their lives, but the boys can pet him?” Shona eyed the creature warily. He was huge. Muscles bunched and unbunched under the silky hide, ready to spring. At that range she couldn’t outrun him, but the couple at her side weren’t at all worried.
“He’s quite docile,” Finoa assured her.
“What do you feed him?” Shona asked. “He must eat kilos of meat every day. You don’t have herds of livestock.”
“Certainly not!”
“There are mass refrigeration units built into every home, full of frozen fodder,” Dwan said. “You have one, too. I can show you later.” She quailed as Finoa rotated magnificently to glare at her. Shona didn’t understand why. The tall woman turned back to Shona and smiled.
“Would you like to stroke him?” Shona nodded. Robret led her forward. “He won’t harm you. He’s used to humans.” The big man laid a hand on Jamir’s neck. The tiger stopped pacing and sat down, hind legs first. The striped tail flicked in a curve around his back feet, and he sank heavily to the ground. Shona fancied she could hear a thump as he settled. “Go on, scratch his ears. He likes it.”
Shona touched the round ears lightly with two fingers. They flicked. Encouraged by Robret, she scratched harder around the ear cup and down the middle of the forehead, her fingers disappearing in the thick pelt. The fur was coarser than she had expected, like coconut matting, and it had a pleasant though strong musky scent. The liquid-gold eyes squinted halfway shut, and a low-pitched purring sound came from his chest.
“Why, he’s like a big cat,” she said. Encouraged, she began to fondle the big head in the same way she scratched Harry’s. The tiger tilted his head toward her. She used both hands. The rough fur scraped her skin but the sound he made was so appealing that she kept going. “How beautiful!” She glanced around at the part of the garden they were in. It was rectangular and ran a few dozen meters down its long axis in the direction of the distant mountains. Shona realized it paralleled her own garden next door. A hedge with a fence separated the tiger’s space from the family’s kitchen-garden and scented knot garden that flanked the sprawling house. “Does he live in this small enclosure? I thought tigers were jumpers. How do you keep him from wandering away?”
Finoa cleared her throat. She hesitated a moment before she replied. “He stays close. He doesn’t like to be far from his companion.”
Shona’s eyebrows went up. “Do you have a female tiger, too?” That would be riches beyond compare. She looked around for Jamir’s mate.
“No.” Finoa’s mouth curved in a tiny smile at her eagerness. “No, his companion is not of the same species.” She pointed at the thick brush. “You can see her if you look closely.”
Shona followed the direction of her hostess’s hand and peered at the undergrowth. It did feel as though something was watching her, but she couldn’t see. Suddenly she became aware of a shape, a shadow looming against the trees. What could be that big? “What is she?”
A gray tendril of flesh as thick as her arm curled out of the brush. A snake! Automatically, Shona recoiled. But no giant python or boa constrictor dropped out of the trees to slither toward them. Instead, a gray head the size of a medicine ball adorned with twin sabers of pale cream color followed the curling appendage, followed by sail-shaped ears, tree-trunk legs and a body covered with saggy, leathery skin. Small brown eyes in wrinkled sockets regarded her with intelligent humor.
“I don’t believe it,” Shona gasped. “She’s … an elephant?”
“Yes,” Finoa said. “Her name is Lady Elaine.”
Shona started toward the big animal almost in a trance. Raised on colony and dome worlds she had never had the experience Earthborn children had of visiting wildlife parks and zoos to see the rare creatures that had once roamed their planet’s plains and jungles. All she knew of them she had seen in tri-videos, in books, or painted on the side of a set of ancient wooden blocks that she’d played with as a child. Elephants were at the same time beasts of burden and treasure troves of resources. Their ancestor the woolly mammoth had been hunted for its pelt, meat, and ivory tusks, a material that took fine carving better than almost any substance in existence. The ivory was the reason for its peril, as poachers destroyed viable populations in search of an ever-shrinking supply of the desirable big tusks. Lady Elaine’s were intact, gleaming white. Shona wondered how she’d ever missed seeing them against the darkness of the undergrowth.
A snarl brought her up short, as Jamir leaped up from the spot where he had been reclining and interposed himself between the doctor and Lady Elaine. He bared impressive white fangs, and the pupils of his gold eyes glowed green. The growl seemed almost to come from beneath Shona’s feet. She froze. Fear tingled in her belly.
“Robret, what is he doing?” she asked.
“Jamir!” Robret shouted. “She’s a friend!”
The tiger blinked. He did not move, but his stance relaxed very slightly, the muscles in his back going from coiled to merely taut. In the meantime, the elephant had stretched her trunk over the head of the tiger and dropped it onto Shona’s hand. It, too, felt coarser than she had expected. The moist tip sniffed its way up her arm, into her hair, across her face and down her chest. It withdrew, pausing in the air like a woman with her finger raised to consider a thought. Jamir growled again. Robret strode to her side and pushed the tiger away. It turned and stalked to stand with its flank against the elephant’s huge leg. His fierce expression dared anyone to come close to them.
“I’m sorry, I should have warned you,” Robret said, putting his arm around Shona’s shoulders. She found she was trembling and leaned against the big man to steady herself. “Jamir doesn’t like anyone touching or challenging Lady Elaine. He’s appointed himself her protector.”
“It’s unusual to have two such different species so close to one another, isn’t it?” Shona asked, once she’d gotten her breath back. She shrugged off his arm and planted her feet firmly on the grass, determined not to be frightened. None of the others were.
“He’s taking care of her in her condition,” Finoa said, from behind them. “Lady Elaine is pregnant.”
Shona spun, unable to believe her ears. “She is? How long?” Finoa stared at her. Shona ducked her head, abashed. “I’m sorry to pry. It’s just that I’m amazed to see a live elephant—”
“Being touched by one, in fact,” Chirwl said, speaking for the first time. “The proboscis takes in more sensation than a smaller nose.”
“Yes,” Shona agreed, “then to hear there’s a baby elephant on the way … this is so wonderful. I can hardly take it all in.”
“She’s in her seventh week.”
“Oh,” Shona said, a little crestfallen. “They carry for about two years, don’t they? I’d just hoped to see the new baby delivered.” Finoa smiled her superior smile. Shona forgave it. The woman had plenty of reason to be proud. She turned to look at the elephant and tiger again. She was seeing Terran wildlife for the first time in her life. She wanted to pinch herself. “Oh, I can see even more why you would be cautious about having anyone knowing about her. A live elephant is valuable, but a mother and baby would be beyond price.”
Nobody spoke. Shona understood she’d overstepped the bounds of local propriety again.
“Trees make a small cage for such big creatures,” Chirwl observed.
“That’s true! I’d heard elephants wander for miles in search of food,” Shona said. “And they’re hard on the local vegetation.” The picture in her mind was a two-dee video from the twentieth century of a large herd stripping the branches from trees to eat and use as fans. Little had been left behind of the forest, making the elephants very unpopular with their human neighbors. This enclosure was pristine, except for a few piles of waste. “Both of them seem very tame.”
“The answer is quite simple, and one that I am surprised that you, as a woman of science, as you call yourself, would not have deduced,” Finoa said with some asperity. “We sedate her, of course. We cannot afford to have her wandering off into the no-man’s-land. She is too valuable, and she could get hurt trying to force her way past the terraformers. Jamir, too, has to be under constant sedation. Otherwise he would be too wild to handle, and that would defeat the purpose of our research here.”
Shona felt as though she’d been slapped. “I see,” she said stiffly. “Forgive the question. It was sophomoric. Aren’t you concerned that the sedative might affect the fetus?”
“No. Sopophedrase has been used on animals for over a hundred years,” Finoa assured her. “Under far less benevolent circumstances, such as those wretched little traveling circuses and zoos with cages. I have the documentation on the chemical. I will message it to you. You may find the abstract interesting.”
“Thank you,” Shona said, keeping her replies formal. The warmth she’d felt toward the animals had frozen solid under the icy regard of her hostess. She hardly wanted to look at Dwan, whose expression pleaded for understanding. They needed to talk later where they couldn’t be overheard. “I’m not as familiar with veterinary sedatives as I am with human equivalents. I treat my own animals under direction from a veterinarian I correspond with on Earth, and I have no experience with wild animals. Thank you for introducing me to your … charges. You have given me a great deal to think about. I had better go back now and see my children. I owe Alex an apology.”
Robret took her hand and looked deeply into her eyes. “We look forward to telling you more about Animal Magnetism. Do you have any more questions?”
“Just one,” Shona said. “What kind of bird do Laren and Bock have?”