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Joste glanced at the human again, then began giving orders. "Chorvak, call the hospital and tell them I'm bringing in an emergency patient. And find out if either of the females survived and is able to talk. Sedni, go to Communications and have them stand by for a possible priority call to N'chark clanhome on Norvis. I may need to talk to Ka'ruchaya Jarna."

The hospital was small, so it didn't take long for the two to get to the room assigned to the human woman. Joste went in alone, took a seat by her bed. "Ka'naya Marine, may I with you speak?" "Uh?" She looked at him, clearly still groggy and trying to focus. "Wha' 'bout?" Joste puzzled over that momentarily, then he figured out the slurred words. "About Major Horst Marguerre, ka'naya.

Nor did it take long, once contact was made, for Ka'ruchaya Jarna to appear on the comscreen. Joste greeted her formally, crossing arms over his chest and inclining his head. Kunnos followed suit, bowing more deeply as befit an out-clan male. Jarna acknowledged the greeting, then looked curiously at Joste.

She gave him a mocking grin. "Hi, Daddy. If the psychs were right, he's fixated on you, now. How do you feel about taking care of babies?" In spite of the dismay he felt at her confirmation of his worst suspicion, Joste couldn't help a smile. "Ka'naya Marine, I have only once the joy had, of sharing young. Say you he will truly me as es'chaya see? Male parent?" "Father?"

The face that turned toward him had nothing of the proud Marine in it, only pain and fear. The man had said he knew what he was doing what had he done? Whatever it was, there was clearly no point in questioning him further. With a sigh, Joste picked up his prisoner and stood. Unbelievably, that seemed to comfort the man.

He nestled closer to Joste's chest, and the sobs slowed to whimpers, then ceased. His breathing showed he had gone to sleep. Joste and the guards exchanged amazed glances. "What did you do to him, Group-Leader?" the younger one asked. "I did nothing, Sedni. What has happened to him was his own choice, he said. He had hoped to die before this became necessary."

Nobody forced them to join the Marines, or apply for Special Forces. They knew what they were getting into. Every last one of them's a volunteer." Joste growled in disgust. The human must think him a fool, to expect him to believe such nonsense! The only time a female fought was in last-ditch defense of the clan, something that hadn't happened since the clan wars almost four thousand years ago.

As her expression began to show relief, Joste gave her a courteous salute and left for the Communications section. Sedni wasn't the only one waiting there for him; so was his commander, Senior Group-Leader Kunnos. "Sedni briefed me," Kunnos said. "May I listen to your call?" "Of course, Group-Leader."

It might be best to use fists or slaps instead of claws or teeth, at least for the most part, until the time came to execute the man. "Why?" he asked again. "Go to hell," Marguerre snarled. "We do not that belief hold," Joste said calmly. "And if either of us to such a place going is, it will you be. I have never a female to her death sent." "And I have. So?

The two males bowed, then when the screen cleared, left the Communications section. Joste made his way back to the hospital to check on his child, wondering at the Lords' ordering of things. The human and he had met as enemies, and Joste had taken angry pleasure in his torment.