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.The coloration was a deep, muddy green with iridescent purple streaks.This was clearly a diagnostic symptom.A healthy mudlark should be a light, greenish-beige with no streaking.“I think it’s got a mineral deficiency,” Zenn said, rummaging in her kit and hoping she was right about the facts from her basic course on Tanduan hybrid fauna.Zenn found the foil pressure-pak she was looking for and attached it to the smallest-gauge pneuma-ject syringe she had.Leaning down into the mudlark’s cage, she injected the animoid with the potassium booster solution and stood back to wait.As they all watched the creature for any reaction, Yed explained how the Captain had taught the mudlark a variety of musical pieces, and how he enjoyed showing off his pet’s abilities to dignitaries and guests.Further conversation was interrupted by a soft, unidentifiable sound, something like bagpipes played inside an echoing cave.Zenn bent down to shine her lightpatch into the cage, where the mudlark had undergone a startling transformation.It stood taller now, the last hints of purple streaks fading, the stalk’s surface flushing with healthy new color even as they watched.The many breath-holes on the cap were open and slowly vibrating.The wheezing sound it was making changed, became more defined and increased in volume, growing until it filled the small room with what could only be described as the sound of musical instruments, accurately reproduced down to the strings, tympani drums and woodwinds, all playing a complex and beautiful melody.“This music, I know it,” Jules said after a few moments.“It is Master Beethoven’s of Earth.His number six symphonic composition.The ‘Pastoral’.” The dolphin closed his eyes and raised his mech-arms, waving his hands in the air as if directing a performance.“Yes, it sings, it sings.” The steward started to dance to the music, hopping as he spun in a circle, clapping his hands.“The Captain will be joyful.And Yed will be his favored one.I will be favored.”Zenn smiled at the impromptu celebration, the miraculous music washing over them all, the mudlark swaying back and forth to the rhythm of its many-throated song.It was while she was peering into the sickbay from within the closet that the new thought came to her in a single flash of recognition.“A sickbay…”“A sickbay,” Jules said, arms paused in midair.“Yes, it is where we are.”“No.That’s what I saw, what the Skirni was remembering.During the break-in at the cloister,” Zenn said, moving out into the main bay and walking to the bank of instruments on the wall.“In my vision, when I saw my father, on that table.It wasn’t a hospital room.It was the sickbay of a starliner.And not just any sickbay.It was this sickbay.I saw this same exam table, the same kind of equipment, the same sort of cabinets and decorations on the wall.”She turned around to see Jules and the little steward staring at her outburst.“Don’t you see? My father must have been here.He was here!” But even as she said it, the thought was replaced: if Warra Scarlett had in fact been here… where was he now?EIGHT“Again, I must thank you for the miraculous result you have achieved,” the steward said to Zenn as they rode a lev-car back down toward Jules’s cabin.“I’m just glad it worked,” Zenn said, smiling with relief.But seeing Yed’s concerned expression, she added, “I was pretty sure, of course, that it would.Work.”“As I have said, it is our very good fortune you came on board the Helen,” Yed told her.“Lucky for the Captain’s Cleevus.Cleevus is lucky in many ways.This animal lives a very good life on this ship.Unlike some other animals, I must say… Ah, we come to Guest Vancouver’s deck.”Yed opened the lev-car’s door and gestured for them to exit.“Wait, what did you say?” Zenn asked.“Oh.I speak out of turn.” The steward’s bright green brow creased, and he looked away
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