Page 17 of Captain Santiago and the Sky Dome Waitress
“No, I’m fine. Let me through, please. Excuse me…no, I’m good.” Santiago pushed his way through the crowd that had converged around them now the danger had passed.
Lucie watched it all, her mind still chittering gibberish.
Santiago moved toward her. Crouched down in front of her.
Lucie threw up her arm and cringed backward, a cry stuck in her throat.
“No, no, I’m not the danger. Shh…” Santiago told her.
Edme rushed up. “Is Lucie alright?”
“That is her name? Lucie?”
“Yeah. She’s okay?”
“Physically, yes. But she’s a new Varkan.” Santiago spoke slowly and softly, his voice almost crooning. He held up his hand so Lucie could see it, then touched her arm. Curled his fingers around it. “This is the first time you’ve been close to danger, isn’t it? Nothing prepares the Varkan for violence. All the intellectual study in the world can’t explain what fear does to the human body.” He gripped Lucie’s arm. “Standing up and walking will wear off the effects, Lucie. Come on, I’ll help you stand. Up. Come on.”
Lucie looked up into his eyes. They were warm. Understanding.
She still couldn’t talk. Her throat seemed to be held in the grip of an invisible hand that squeezed each time she tried. But she could stand. Of course she could.
Yet getting to her feet took every skerrick of strength and balance she had. All the remedial and rehabilitation exercises she’d had to complete in order to be able to walk, to sit, to stand, to do all the complicated-yet-simple movements humans took for granted, plus all of the quiet directions of specialists who had taught her each movement, came back to her now.
She got to her feet, although Santiago did most of the lifting. She was still shuddering. But finally, thoughts were coming back to her. “Security…” It was an effort, but she got the word out.
“I called them,” Edme said. “They’ll be here in a moment.”
As she spoke, a dozen dark-uniformed people boiled through the glass doors into the restaurant. They spread out across the room.
Santiago lifted a hand. “Roderick,” he said, barely lifting his voice.
One of them nodded and came over. “Santiago.”
“The woman there went crazy. You’ve got dozens of witnesses.”
“Crazy, huh?” Roderick asked. He was a hefty man, with a solid chin that he rubbed thoughtfully, even though he was smiling.
“Throwing anything within reach around the room,” Edme said.
“Throwing thingsatpeople?” Roderick asked sharply, all his amusement evaporating instantly.
“No,” Santiago said firmly.
Roderick relaxed, and looked around. “Where’s Olivette?”
“Here, Roddy,” Olivette said, stepping around the four security officers who were hauling the tall woman to her feet.
“Damn, Olivette,” Roderick said.
Olivette sighed. “That’s a word for it.” The dark marks under her eyes seemed even darker and larger than usual. “Our biggest day of the year…”
“If you come with me right now, we’ll wrap things up as fast as possible,” Roderick said.
Olivette shook her head. “No. I won’t be accusing her of anything, Roddy.”
Everyonestared at Olivette.
“She’s shut down your restaurant, Olivette,” Santiago said.
