RAEFF (Jim Able: Offworld Book 6) by Ed Charlton (best books to read fiction .TXT) 📗

“Mates?”

“Yes, mates...a pairing?”

“You mean, do we have sex?”

“Yes.”

Tella’s skin darkened considerably from its usual match to the white robe.

“No, Tamric, Jim and I only work together. Besides, it would not be possible.”

Jim had been sleeping in their room and just then opened the door.

“What wouldn’t be possible?” he said, scratching his head and yawning.

Tella turned his gaze on the monk, who said simply, “For you and Tella to mate.”

Jim’s eyes widened, “You don’t say? This I’ve got to hear!”

He sat down, smiling at Tella. The Neraffan shook its head.

“I’ve said before, Jim, you are obsessed.”

“Guilty as charged,” he said as he waved for Tella to continue.

“Tamric,” began Tella, “Neraffans have no differentiation between the sexes. I am neither male nor female. This, however, will change if I meet a compatible mate.”

“Well,” said Jim, “so what will you be then?”

“I do not know. We never know until it happens. When two Neraffans meet, if they are compatible, a pheromone and hormone cascade is triggered that transforms one partner into a male and one into a female.”

“Amazing,” said Tamric.

“How long does that take?” asked Jim.

“The mating process takes many days.”

“Really?” Jim muttered, looking a little alarmed.

“During that time, we are extremely vulnerable. When the transformation begins, we have to find a secure nest as soon as possible.”

“Is the change then permanent?” asked Tamric.

“For the female, it lasts until the children are born. For the male, only a few days.”

“But there aren’t always children, are there?” Jim asked.

“Always. Always two, sometimes more.”

“Uh-oh,” said Jim, frowning.

“Yes, Jim,” said Tella pointedly. “There are no easy one-night stands for Neraffans. A chance encounter can mean a year of gestation, and many more of motherhood.”

“Or a few days of being a male,” Jim countered.

“But you don’t know which it will be beforehand,” said Tamric.

“Both correct. As much as mating provides days of ecstasy, the consequences are profound and, in that sense, unpredictable.”

“You do not marry and stay with one partner?” Tamric asked.

“No. I think our ancestors may have done so. But to do that would mean that one would become female repeatedly. That is a burden I, for one, wouldn’t welcome.”

The conversation moved on to other things, but several times over the next few days, they would hear Jim muttering, “days of ecstasy.”

***

“Jim,” said Tamric, “you asked in our briefing about the connections between the Praestans Rapax and Sol Earth.”

“Yeah, and I’m curious how you came to be on Beta Oraga Rap.”

“That’s easy enough. My grandparents were children of members of an ambassadorial mission; they were born on Earth, but I think they remembered little of it. My father made a name for himself with an engineering company. When the Praestans Rapax order took over the company, the family moved here. I have been around the community all my childhood. It was natural for me to join.”

“Wow. So have you ever been to Earth?”

“No. I have studied it, obviously. But it is not possible for me to go there.”

“Why not?”

“There are certain...rules that apply to me because of my position in the community. Perhaps when I am older it will be permitted.”

Jim frowned, offended for the young man that he was restricted in such a way.

“As to your first question, about the more distant connections, you were correct. A party of humans was brought to Beta Oraga Rap a long time ago before Sol Earth was known to the galaxy. They had been taken unwillingly by, shall we say, a less-than-civilized race. When they were freed, no one knew where their home world was. Since this world’s climate seemed similar to their descriptions of Earth and some of the inhabitants were of a similar kind, they were allowed to come here. It was long after the party had all died that news confirming the whereabouts of Earth reached these worlds.”

“So they founded your order?”

“No, not at all. But their cultural influence on our world is not only acknowledged but cherished. They were renowned for their resourcefulness and determination...for so much. Indeed, the tale of the ark comes to us from their storytelling. If you are ever allowed to return, you must ask to see the documents they left us. They are legends whose story inspires each generation.”

“Hmm. Has this material ever been sent to the Earth authorities?”

“I don’t know. If you didn’t know this story, I suspect not.”

Tella said, “We can check when we get back.”

Jim’s eyes flashed at Tella. “I guess I’d be able to access that kind of thing.”

Tella nodded. “Perhaps so. Much information is secret simply because no one knows to ask for it.”

***

Near the end of the journey, when Tamric retired to pray, Tella quietly asked Jim for a piece of paper.

“What for?”

“There are some things we need to do Liz’s way.”

“Okay...”

Tella filled the page with flowing script. Jim read and nodded as Tella wrote.

Be sure to tell T nothing of the agency’s operations, including where the office is located.

Say nothing of our previous missions. Deflect such questions with claims of confidentiality.

Beware of further conversations about your romantic pursuits. If they are up to something, this is an area they are likely to concentrate on. We do not know enough about them to know all the instructions D R has given T, but his reaction gives me great misgivings. Be careful!

Find out more about T’s family, if you can. This is an interesting area for us.

While I am on T. Jorr, delay any action for as long as possible. I will look for the flier and land as near it as I can. Keep it in sight, or at least keep in contact with it.

Don’t get caught!

“Yes, Liz,” said Jim, grinning.

Only a few hours later, Tamric brought the flier to a halt. The image of the star was bright in the monitor.

“We are behind Tanna, hidden from both planets; Gul is just going behind it from this position, and Jorr is about to emerge.”

Tella transferred to its own flier, undocked, and moved away.

“Good luck, boss!” was its parting message to Jim.

Chapter Seven

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