Vaheri the Smuggler

Writers: Jane, Vix
Date Posted: 20th August 2007

Characters: Lineal, Vaheri
Description: Vaheri speaks to Lineal about an agreement she had with his father.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 5, day 23 of Turn 4

"Were you looking for me?" Lineal asked when the door of the office opened and the riverboat's headwoman looked in. "My father's in his room, probably not sleeping if it was him you wanted to speak to." Though it was very late at night for Vaheri to be seeking anybody out.

The Sungazer was tied up safely for the night, the crew were mostly in bed. Some of the passengers might still be strolling around their deck enjoying the mild evening, but to all intents and purposes the riverboat's day was over.

"I wanted to talk to you for a few minutes," she replied. "Though I'll probably look in on him afterwards. I've been busy with the passengers and not seen him in a few candlemarks. Any change?"

"No. He's not sleeping well and his thoughts are wandering a bit. Not ... not confused, just not very focused." He tried to smile but found it difficult. He still felt it hard to accept the accelerating changes in his father's illness. "Apparently they told him he might have this time before his heart gave out."

She nodded. "He didn't like to talk about it - and probably especially not to you. He knew that he had limited time and chose to use it as productively as possible. The last thing he wanted was for anyone to fuss over him or try to make him slow down."

"So much for me to learn," Lineal murmured, not bothering to add that he should have come back sooner. His father hadn't broached the subject earlier so they were both to blame.

The woman cleared her throat uncomfortably. "I was wondering how much your father had said to you about my . . . duties?"

Lineal frowned. "You're the headwoman. You're in charge of everything that doesn't relate directly to sailing the riverboat and the cargo." Even before he had time to draw breath he added - "Of course, your advice is welcome on cargo issues, too."

"Did he ever mention anything about passengers? About _special_ passengers?"

"No, he hasn't. Not like that," Lineal said, frowning at his aunt's tone. "What is it that I should know?"

"It really had nothing to do with your father and was not something in which he was involved." She twisted the fabric of her apron between her hands. "But he preferred to know . . ." Her voice trailed off.

"I can't tell you whether I do, too, until I know. What is it, Vaheri?"

She took a deep breath and looked up at him. "Occasionally we take on 'special passengers' and house them on the crew deck. Women who are trying to escape undesirable situations."

"We're smuggling _women?_" Lineal exclaimed. "_Really_?" Scattered all through his childhood on the Sungazer were lectures about fitting in with the Hold folk that provided the riverboat livelihood. "Even when I was little?"

Vaheri hesitated, uncertain what this reaction boded. "It's . . . been going on for Turns, and I was not the first to arrange the trips."

"How ... incredible." Lineal leaned back in his chair and studied his aunt. "And my father knows?" Before she could answer he nodded. "Of course. Not knowing wouldn't make any difference. Jesten would never save himself or the Sungazer by sacrificing one or two crewmembers acting without his knowledge. We'd all suffer together, if it came to that."

"He has never been actively involved in the process," she told him. "But he insisted on knowing whenever we had one of these passengers aboard."

"Well, I'll work on the same principle for now. I take it this little talk means we have one - a woman - onboard now? Running away from - No. I can see his point. The fewer people who know the details the better."

"Yes, we have a passenger," she admitted. "We don't do this often - probably not as often as is needed by those on land - and only one or two crewmembers know about it. We always place the passenger in the same room, so that if someone comes asking, search can be stalled as we prepare."

Lineal went to speak and then shook his head. "While my father's still alive, his rules stand. You and I can talk about this again, after." He paused, but there could think of no better way of saying that. "And when there's nobody onboard to make the issue ... urgent. All right?"

She nodded as she rose from her seat. "As you wish." She started for the door, but turned to look back at him. "You'll make a good captain, Lineal."

The seacrafter felt his cheeks heat at his aunt's approval. Some opinions would always matter more than others - and Vaheri's mattered a lot. "Thank you. I - "He shrugged. "Just, thank you."

With another nod she was gone, relieved that her efforts would not need to be curtailed with the change of command.

Last updated on the October 6th 2008

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Vaheri the Smuggler