Harvest
© 2023 by Walter Reimer
(Stanislaus Coon and Ivar Vargsson are courtesy of E.O. Costello. Thanks!)

Thumbnail art by  tegerio



Having returned to my quarters at the spaceport, I was able to get the shower I’d promised myself, as well as making sure that my uniform would be laundered to eliminate the aroma of the compost heap I had dug into. With those tasks performed, I arranged for dinner to be sent to my quarters while I consulted my padd to parse out the conversation I’d had with Moka Bustani.

I was compiling notes for my report when my meal arrived, and there was a break while I enjoyed a dinner of broiled fish with a hearty rice pilaf and a small carafe of white wine. Of course, I had been drinking rum earlier, so I went very light on the wine in case ‘M’ contacted me.

“I approve,” Ivar said from his usual vantage point in one shadowed corner of the room. “There’s little need to dull your wits further.”

“True,” I said. “What are you thinking?”

“I said earlier that I would provisionally agree with your assessment that Bustani-jih is who he says he is, and is innocent,” the wolf said. “After having thought about it, I must confirm my opinion. We live in very fraught times, Stanislaus, when an honest fur may be suspected.”

“True. Trust is a rare commodity,” I said as I sat back to wait for ‘M’ to contact me.

But he didn’t, and I finally grew tired of waiting and went to bed.


***


With the Regency Council meetings over, we were all shuttled back to our transport the next morning after breakfast. I had just gotten into my quarters when my padd chimed. “It’s ‘M,’” I remarked.

“I wonder,” said Ivar, “if he will be pleased or angered by your conclusions.”

“Well, he chose me specifically for this job,” I said as I shouldered back into my uniform jacket. “He should accept my report.”

“Yes, but will he accept them without demur, or with a bullet?” Ivar asked. “I would consider it a very impolite intrusion. And an excursion outside the ship, without a suit, also lacks a certain appeal.”

“Heh. You’re full of cheerful thoughts,” I said as I left my quarters.

‘M’ was where he had been on the trip to Maratha, and despite myself I glanced around before tapping the intercom beside the door. My tail almost bottled as the door whooshed open. “Come in, Captain,” the roebuck said.

I entered and saluted. “You wanted to see me, Sir?”

“Be at ease, Captain,” the roebuck said. He had shed his uniform jacket and was seated in the exact center of a sofa. He smiled. “Have you completed your report yet?”

“I haven’t finished writing it, Sir, but I can offer you my conclusions.” He gestured and I said, “My conclusions, based on my interviews and observations, is that Moka Bustani is exactly who he says he is.”

‘M’ sat perfectly still, until one eyebrow slowly rose.

“You are certain?” he asked.

“Yes, Sir.”

“And Admiral-General Gromov’s misgivings?”

I took a breath. “I don’t know why the Admiral-General would think that Bustani-jih was familiar to him, as the two of them had never met.” I paused.

And I saw something I hoped I’d never see again.

‘M’ looked up at me, and his eyes looked . . . dead, his face utterly expressionless.

I fancied I could hear Ivar gulp.

The moment passed, and the roebuck asked softly, “You paused, Captain.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Why?”

I stood at attention. “It might be construed as insubordination, Sir.”

‘M’ blinked. “You interest me. Go on, Captain. You may speak freely.”

“I rather doubt that,” Ivar murmured.

I swallowed. “Yes, Sir. Admiral-General Gromov led the task force that penetrated Kashlanin space, and barely made it back alive. I might speculate – “

‘M’ raised a paw, and I shut my mouth with a snap. “You are implying that a superior officer may be suffering from traumatic stress?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“In much the same way that you are suffering.” A statement, not a question.

I took a breath, let it out. “Yes, Sir.”

“Hmm.” He reached up and gently stroked one antler. “I suppose that the possibility must be allowed – you’re not saying that it could affect his decisions?”

“No, Sir. I’ve seen no evidence of that, and that’s outside the scope of my investigation.”

He nodded. “You certainly have courage, Captain, I’ll give you that. File your report, and leave nothing out.” He smiled. “I’ll keep the Admiral-General off your back.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“But . . . keep your speculation about Gromov’s state of mind to yourself,” he said, keeping his voice low and enunciating every word. “That will be up to me.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Dismissed.”

I couldn’t get back to the relative safety of my cabin fast enough.

Ivar was mopping his brow. “You were certainly tacking very close to the wind, Stanislaus.”

I nodded, looking down at my shaking paws. I didn’t need to look behind me to know that my tail had bottled out fully. “I – I think I need to get that report written,” I said when I got my breathing and heartrate under control.

“The sooner the better.”

By the time the transport came out of hyperspace, I had finished the report. This time, I didn’t transmit it to ‘M’ under seal. I approached his quarters again, took a deep breath that somehow seemed to start at the tip of my tail, and touched the intercom.

“Yes?”

“Captain Coon, Sir.”

The door opened. “Enter.”

I stepped inside and the door closed as the roebuck stepped out of the bedroom, tying a robe around his waist. “You caught me as I was about to fall asleep, Captain,” ‘M’ said. “Come to say goodbye?”

“Sir,” I said, “I wanted to deliver my report.” I reached out a paw and showed him a small datapak.

He took it and looked at it before looking up at me. “Why not just send it me under seal?”

“I felt that you would want it delivered to you, without the possibility of another set of eyes seeing it, Sir.”

‘M’ smiled. “Very good, Captain, very good. We’ve outphased, so you are to report planetside to the Commander.” He raised a finger. “You are authorized only to tell him that you have completed your investigation, and Bustani is innocent. Understand?”

“Clearly, Sir.”

“Good.” He slipped the datapak into a pocket of his robe and offered his paw. “Well done, Captain.” I hesitated before taking the paw, and as we shook he said, “If there’s anything I can do for you, please let me know.”

“’And he took him up into a high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world,’” Ivar said. No idea what he was reciting.

“There is one thing, Sir.” He cocked his head and I said, “I’ve been thinking of retiring.”

He actually looked surprised, and his ears swiveled momentarily. “Well, that was unexpected. Take it up with The MacRuari; that, at least, will have to go through channels.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Dismissed, then. Safe trip down, Captain.”

“Thank you, Sir,” and I left.

The shuttle took me down to Headquarters without incident, which only served to set my nerves further on edge. I could feel Ivar trying to steady me, but having a hard time of it. As soon as I reached Headquarters, I requested a meeting with the Commander.

Waiting to see him gave me time to get my shaking paws under control.

“So, there was nothing to it?” the MacRuari asked, the buck appearing surprised. I nodded, perhaps a little jerkily, and he gave me a sharp look. “Are you all right, Captain?”

“I’m – no, Sir, I’m not all right,” I succeeded in saying. “The Director has my full report, s-so my assignment’s done.” I looked down at my paws, took a breath, and met the Commander’s gaze.

“I . . . I want to go home,” I managed to say.