The Dragons
Chapter Twenty One
Whether Jack McGee had laughed or frowned when Dinah had commed him with an invitation to dinner, wasn't known. What was known was that he and Zaf had agreed to zap themselves to Aaru and join the much larger ship's company for dinner. If Dinah had pictured a small private intimate dinner, oh well.
And the dragons knew he was coming too, and were as usual curious about him, even if he had left pretty much immediately after the encounter that Marc had staged with the dragon babies.
The common area was, as usual, home to a variety of activities when McGee and Zaf strolled in. He noticed the new crew and Marc introduced Lev and Dia and Celie and Asher. Ti eyed him curiously when it was his turn to meet McGee.
Kalket, looking suitably Conanish, watched with evident curiosity. He was sitting near Asher and Celie perhaps because his great bulk and seemingly gentle mein, except of course when he screamed out 'slonshal!' before he entered some wild melee (which so far the two youngsters hadn't seen).
Zaf's introduction was far less melodramatic. He just waved to everyone and headed for the drinks table.
Dinah watched him go and then turned to McGee. "Drink?"
"Sure," he said and leaving her standing there, he followed Zaf to the bar.
"I'm thinking this isn't gonna be as easy as you thought," she muttered to Marc.
"You aren't trying hard enough," Marc replied sotto voice.
She stepped on his foot and headed for the bar. "I'd like one as well," she said. "While you're pouring."
McGee flipped a glass upright and poured and passed it to her. Then he lifted his glass in a toast. "To people who want something," he said.
"Shit," she said, clicked glasses and took a swallow. "We want to know if you'll escort the colonists in because of whatever or whoever is following Aaru and using cloaking I've only seen on her and Ther'lin."
He took a drink as he considered her words. "That's not what you want to manage me into."
She glared at him and then at Marc, watching from across the room. "We want you to take Lev and Ti and a couple of dragons in case you need them."
"No," he said, then he finished his drink and set the glass down. "Sorry," he added and went to join Ingev and Zaf.
The three stood there, a comfortable group of three guys who probably were telling dirty jokes from the laughter.
Marc sauntered over to Dinah. "Maybe he's gay," he suggested.
"Maybe he's not stupid," Dinah said.
"Quite possible. So what did he say?" Marc's eyes were on McGee.
"Basically he's not adverse to bringing in the colonists but he said a flat no to Lev, Ti and the dragons. He walked off before I could ask him why. You want to try?"
"Oh sure," Marc replied and strolled over to join the four. Quite quickly Dinah watched as Marc was suddenly as thick as thieves with the guys. And, worse, she seemed to be part of the conversation as Zaf looked over at her and grinned then, when he saw her angry glare, winked at her.
McGee looked at her too and smiled. Then he turned his attention back to Marc. "She's prettier than you are," he said.
"Thank all the stars in the heavens for that. So, what, you guys were just out for a stroll over this way, or were you actually coming to meet us?"
"I had the distinct impression when last we met that you wanted the back up," McGee said.
Marc frowned. "I'm really worried about blowback from our blowout of Sutta. But whatever is following us.. I'm thinking it isn't the Syndicate. But then that doesn't mean they aren't planning something too."
"No it doesn't," McGee agreed. "But there isn't much they can throw at you that you can't handle. I also agree that whatever is following isn't the Syndicate. So I've no problem escorting your colonists in."
"Thanks very much for that, McGee. We really appreciate it. Dinah's got this thing for strays."
"So I've noticed," he said. "But she knew that five minutes ago."
"Well, you've got to admit you're doing everything in your power to arouse her curiosity," Marc countered.
"Am I?" he asked. "I thought I was displaying a not unnatural dislike of being thought able to be led around by my dick."
Zaf, listening in, grinned.
"Well, she's just trying to be friendly," Marc countered. "She's used to fluttering her eyelashes and getting her way. Which is probably why she punches me in the jaw so often. If you're lucky, she'll punch you too."
"Right," McGee said, setting his glass down. "Thanks for the drink. I'm sure Zaf can find his own way back without me. We'll head out as soon as he does."
"See you back on board," McGee said to Zaf and disappeared.
Zaf shook his head at McGee. "Way to go, buddy," he muttered. He sauntered over to Dinah. "Sorry about that."
"You want to explain it to me," she said.
Zaf shrugged. "Not sure I can. He gets that way sometimes. I think maybe he'd prefer you just ask."
She sighed and nodded. "Yeah. And any suggestions for what now?"
"Let him do what he chooses to do and say thanks afterwards. He won't let you down."
"Why doesn't he want anyone aboard?"
Zaf frowned. "No idea really. Ther'lin's much like Aaru. It isn't like you guys haven't seen one of her kind. But he's always been pretty secretive and a loner."
"It's more than that I think," she said frankly. "Will you tell him I'm sorry. And that I'll complete the apology in person."
"I'll do that. Want me to leave?" Zaf added.
She waved her hand. "No, not at all. We're the ones who were rude, not you two. He had every right to call us on it."
"Okay," Zaf replied and turned to wander over toward Lev and Dia and get to know them a bit.
Dinah watched for a while and then went to find Marc. "I'm not hungry," she said.
"Okay.... I shouldn't have egged you on. Wanna sock me?"
She shook her head. "Are you hungry?"
He frowned. "What are you up to?"
"I was thinking we could ask Ther'lin if she'd let us aboard, explaining we weren't nice to McGee and want to apologize in person. And, bringing dinner, we actually apologize like adults who were out of line and go from there."
"Okay... Sure. Let's do it."
"Come on," she said, taking his hand and when they were alone she asked Aaru to ask Ther'lin.
Aaru agreed to bespeak Ther'lin. It only took a moment. "She says you must leave immediately if McGee demands it."
Dinah looked at Marc and then said, "Tell her we agree."
"I will transport you when you are ready," Aaru announced.
Dinah went and got dinner together, added a bottle of scotch and a bottle of wine and then, holding Marc's hand, told her they were ready. Aaru put them down in a corridor that looked a lot like her own. Dinah looked around and the she said, "Ther'lin?"
"He is in the room on the left," was the answer she got in a low, soft contralto.
Dinah exchanged a look with Marc and then knocked on the door. "McGee?" she said. She listened and for what seemed like forever heard nothing. Then the sounds of footsteps and the door opened.
"Well, well," he said, leaning against the door post. "Isn't this a surprise."
"I wanted to apologize," Dinah said.
"We wanted to apologize," Marc explained. "We treated you badly and we should have just asked you directly without the whole manipulation thing."
"Truly," Dinah said.
McGee folded his arms across his chest, tilting his head to one side, considering the baggage Dinah had brought with her.
"And I wanted to make good on the offer of a meal," she added. "Or we could just get drunk together and sing the song."
McGee went blank for a moment and then guffawed. When he had control of his voice he said, "You are really amazing, lady. If you wanted to you could take over the universe with a covered dish, those green, winsome eyes and that voice. By all that's holy, I'm glad you're taken." Then he stepped back from the doorway. "Come in. I'm always open to a bender at someone else's expense, but I ain't singing."
"Thank God for that because I can't carry a tune to save my soul," Marc agreed. "Glasses?" McGee directed him to a cabinet and Marc pulled out three and poured for each of them. Once they were all sitting with their scotch, Marc looked around. "Nice digs. Comfy."
"I've lived here a long time. Makes it easy to do the place up in the odd spare moment," he said. "Lately I've been thinking it might be time to redecorate though."
"With or without Zaf?" Marc asked.
McGee's mouth curved into a humorless smile. "He's hardwired into the place. Why? You want to take him on for a while?"
"He seems to fit into our rather unconventional group. I'm sorry you don't feel as if you do." Marc downed his drink and refilled everyone's as he said it.
McGee leaned back against the cushions, his arm along the back of the couch. "Having secrets will do that," he said.
Marc nodded. "I've spent a very long time with secrets myself. That I understand."
"Then why," McGee asked after a moment, his voice tired, "are you so determined to know mine?"
Marc sat back making himself a bit more comfortable and then sipped on his drink for a time before finally saying, "It isn't your secrets I'm interested in. It's you. I've been that lonely and I know what it can do to a man."
It startled McGee enough that for a moment the defenses fell revealing the stark truth behind the mild words. After a moment he said, "And?"
"And .. and we'll promise not to dig for your secrets any more. You don't have to promise anything."
McGee focused on Dinah before looking back at Marc. "Then I shall accept that as a simple offer of friendship."
"Slonshal!" Marc said and downed what was in his glass.
McGee, after a moment, did the same.
Dinah groaned.
And the dragons knew he was coming too, and were as usual curious about him, even if he had left pretty much immediately after the encounter that Marc had staged with the dragon babies.
The common area was, as usual, home to a variety of activities when McGee and Zaf strolled in. He noticed the new crew and Marc introduced Lev and Dia and Celie and Asher. Ti eyed him curiously when it was his turn to meet McGee.
Kalket, looking suitably Conanish, watched with evident curiosity. He was sitting near Asher and Celie perhaps because his great bulk and seemingly gentle mein, except of course when he screamed out 'slonshal!' before he entered some wild melee (which so far the two youngsters hadn't seen).
Zaf's introduction was far less melodramatic. He just waved to everyone and headed for the drinks table.
Dinah watched him go and then turned to McGee. "Drink?"
"Sure," he said and leaving her standing there, he followed Zaf to the bar.
"I'm thinking this isn't gonna be as easy as you thought," she muttered to Marc.
"You aren't trying hard enough," Marc replied sotto voice.
She stepped on his foot and headed for the bar. "I'd like one as well," she said. "While you're pouring."
McGee flipped a glass upright and poured and passed it to her. Then he lifted his glass in a toast. "To people who want something," he said.
"Shit," she said, clicked glasses and took a swallow. "We want to know if you'll escort the colonists in because of whatever or whoever is following Aaru and using cloaking I've only seen on her and Ther'lin."
He took a drink as he considered her words. "That's not what you want to manage me into."
She glared at him and then at Marc, watching from across the room. "We want you to take Lev and Ti and a couple of dragons in case you need them."
"No," he said, then he finished his drink and set the glass down. "Sorry," he added and went to join Ingev and Zaf.
The three stood there, a comfortable group of three guys who probably were telling dirty jokes from the laughter.
Marc sauntered over to Dinah. "Maybe he's gay," he suggested.
"Maybe he's not stupid," Dinah said.
"Quite possible. So what did he say?" Marc's eyes were on McGee.
"Basically he's not adverse to bringing in the colonists but he said a flat no to Lev, Ti and the dragons. He walked off before I could ask him why. You want to try?"
"Oh sure," Marc replied and strolled over to join the four. Quite quickly Dinah watched as Marc was suddenly as thick as thieves with the guys. And, worse, she seemed to be part of the conversation as Zaf looked over at her and grinned then, when he saw her angry glare, winked at her.
McGee looked at her too and smiled. Then he turned his attention back to Marc. "She's prettier than you are," he said.
"Thank all the stars in the heavens for that. So, what, you guys were just out for a stroll over this way, or were you actually coming to meet us?"
"I had the distinct impression when last we met that you wanted the back up," McGee said.
Marc frowned. "I'm really worried about blowback from our blowout of Sutta. But whatever is following us.. I'm thinking it isn't the Syndicate. But then that doesn't mean they aren't planning something too."
"No it doesn't," McGee agreed. "But there isn't much they can throw at you that you can't handle. I also agree that whatever is following isn't the Syndicate. So I've no problem escorting your colonists in."
"Thanks very much for that, McGee. We really appreciate it. Dinah's got this thing for strays."
"So I've noticed," he said. "But she knew that five minutes ago."
"Well, you've got to admit you're doing everything in your power to arouse her curiosity," Marc countered.
"Am I?" he asked. "I thought I was displaying a not unnatural dislike of being thought able to be led around by my dick."
Zaf, listening in, grinned.
"Well, she's just trying to be friendly," Marc countered. "She's used to fluttering her eyelashes and getting her way. Which is probably why she punches me in the jaw so often. If you're lucky, she'll punch you too."
"Right," McGee said, setting his glass down. "Thanks for the drink. I'm sure Zaf can find his own way back without me. We'll head out as soon as he does."
"See you back on board," McGee said to Zaf and disappeared.
Zaf shook his head at McGee. "Way to go, buddy," he muttered. He sauntered over to Dinah. "Sorry about that."
"You want to explain it to me," she said.
Zaf shrugged. "Not sure I can. He gets that way sometimes. I think maybe he'd prefer you just ask."
She sighed and nodded. "Yeah. And any suggestions for what now?"
"Let him do what he chooses to do and say thanks afterwards. He won't let you down."
"Why doesn't he want anyone aboard?"
Zaf frowned. "No idea really. Ther'lin's much like Aaru. It isn't like you guys haven't seen one of her kind. But he's always been pretty secretive and a loner."
"It's more than that I think," she said frankly. "Will you tell him I'm sorry. And that I'll complete the apology in person."
"I'll do that. Want me to leave?" Zaf added.
She waved her hand. "No, not at all. We're the ones who were rude, not you two. He had every right to call us on it."
"Okay," Zaf replied and turned to wander over toward Lev and Dia and get to know them a bit.
Dinah watched for a while and then went to find Marc. "I'm not hungry," she said.
"Okay.... I shouldn't have egged you on. Wanna sock me?"
She shook her head. "Are you hungry?"
He frowned. "What are you up to?"
"I was thinking we could ask Ther'lin if she'd let us aboard, explaining we weren't nice to McGee and want to apologize in person. And, bringing dinner, we actually apologize like adults who were out of line and go from there."
"Okay... Sure. Let's do it."
"Come on," she said, taking his hand and when they were alone she asked Aaru to ask Ther'lin.
Aaru agreed to bespeak Ther'lin. It only took a moment. "She says you must leave immediately if McGee demands it."
Dinah looked at Marc and then said, "Tell her we agree."
"I will transport you when you are ready," Aaru announced.
Dinah went and got dinner together, added a bottle of scotch and a bottle of wine and then, holding Marc's hand, told her they were ready. Aaru put them down in a corridor that looked a lot like her own. Dinah looked around and the she said, "Ther'lin?"
"He is in the room on the left," was the answer she got in a low, soft contralto.
Dinah exchanged a look with Marc and then knocked on the door. "McGee?" she said. She listened and for what seemed like forever heard nothing. Then the sounds of footsteps and the door opened.
"Well, well," he said, leaning against the door post. "Isn't this a surprise."
"I wanted to apologize," Dinah said.
"We wanted to apologize," Marc explained. "We treated you badly and we should have just asked you directly without the whole manipulation thing."
"Truly," Dinah said.
McGee folded his arms across his chest, tilting his head to one side, considering the baggage Dinah had brought with her.
"And I wanted to make good on the offer of a meal," she added. "Or we could just get drunk together and sing the song."
McGee went blank for a moment and then guffawed. When he had control of his voice he said, "You are really amazing, lady. If you wanted to you could take over the universe with a covered dish, those green, winsome eyes and that voice. By all that's holy, I'm glad you're taken." Then he stepped back from the doorway. "Come in. I'm always open to a bender at someone else's expense, but I ain't singing."
"Thank God for that because I can't carry a tune to save my soul," Marc agreed. "Glasses?" McGee directed him to a cabinet and Marc pulled out three and poured for each of them. Once they were all sitting with their scotch, Marc looked around. "Nice digs. Comfy."
"I've lived here a long time. Makes it easy to do the place up in the odd spare moment," he said. "Lately I've been thinking it might be time to redecorate though."
"With or without Zaf?" Marc asked.
McGee's mouth curved into a humorless smile. "He's hardwired into the place. Why? You want to take him on for a while?"
"He seems to fit into our rather unconventional group. I'm sorry you don't feel as if you do." Marc downed his drink and refilled everyone's as he said it.
McGee leaned back against the cushions, his arm along the back of the couch. "Having secrets will do that," he said.
Marc nodded. "I've spent a very long time with secrets myself. That I understand."
"Then why," McGee asked after a moment, his voice tired, "are you so determined to know mine?"
Marc sat back making himself a bit more comfortable and then sipped on his drink for a time before finally saying, "It isn't your secrets I'm interested in. It's you. I've been that lonely and I know what it can do to a man."
It startled McGee enough that for a moment the defenses fell revealing the stark truth behind the mild words. After a moment he said, "And?"
"And .. and we'll promise not to dig for your secrets any more. You don't have to promise anything."
McGee focused on Dinah before looking back at Marc. "Then I shall accept that as a simple offer of friendship."
"Slonshal!" Marc said and downed what was in his glass.
McGee, after a moment, did the same.
Dinah groaned.
