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Damia said, and herself placed one glass in Thian's hand.
Three glasses chimed melodiously as they met: their contents then ceremonially
drunk.
Thian found it was harder to keep his mouth shut over this than he'd
anticipated. It was even harder to suppress the inner excitement that
threatened to bubble up whenever he considered his altered status.
Fortunately, Laria was involved with renewing contacts with her siblings and
their `Dinis. She also `ported frequently to the `Dini village to spend time
with relatives of those she knew on Clarf.
The first time Thian had accompanied her, he had been awed at the
sophistication of her `Dini vocabulary. True, they had been paired with young
`Dinis, who were also learning their language from their adults, but
vocabulary and complexity had reached a mature level even before Laria had
gone to Clarf. But now... Thian went with her whenever he could, listening to
the new combinations of sound and sign.
He wouldn't be talking baby-talk to the naval `Dinis.
Look, Thian, Laria said, turning on him before she went off for the fourth
morning to the village, I'm real pleased you like my company but haven't you
something better to do with your time?
Gee, Lar, I have missed you, he began, caught without a glib excuse ready. And
it's a real treat to hear you speak `Dini. You've learned a great deal. I
thought I was fluent --- And he paused, hoping
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the flattery would cover his genuine need.
But you've been using complex constructions I've never heard before.
Laria gave him a long measuring look. Thian?
You're my brother and I know you well enough to know you're covering. What?
Could we just leave it that I need to improve technical `Din i-speak?
You'll pick it up very quickly once you're on Clarf, Thian, she began. You're
pretty fluent as it is.
In day-to-day stuff, but not the technical jargon and I will need that, won't
I?
She frowned slightly, cocking her head at him, and he could feel her mind push
against his. He waggled a finger at her `That's not good manners,' he said.
`You've never minded before. And you are hiding something.' `Not hiding,' he
said with a grin, `but you know that we never talk Tower business.' `Oh, all
right, Thian, you can come today - for the last time.' It would be, Thian
knew, but he couldn't indicate that either.
It was getting harder and harder to suppress his inner excitement.
Still, if he couldn't handle this minor incident, he oughtn't to accept the
assignment at all.
You are the best candidate for this job, son, his father said softly. Never
doubt that!
Laria knows a lot more technical lingo than I do.
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Wouldn't she be better?
Having doubts is normal. Overcoming them is part of maturing. I
would be more worried about your success if you didn't question yourself. Your
training and experience are more than adequate for this assignment. Laria
would not do as well as you will!
Thian let himself be reassured, especially as he wanted this duty more than
anything. Very softly even in his own head, Thian added:
Roddie would be livid with envy.
Dinner that last evening was not ostentatiously lavish but the meal happened
to feature the favorite dishes of Thian, Mur and Dip.
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No-one made mention of this bias because their special foods were popular
anyway. Thian got a bit misty-eyed, though, when his mother served him
double-chocolate cake.
I also baked a second one for you to take with you tomorrow, she added very
privately and he nearly burst into tears.
They dissipated with a suddenness that suggested `help', leaving him happy and
relaxed but no longer emotionally overloaded.
You have always been an appreciative soul, his father said.
Everyone appreciates double-chocolate cake, he replied, in control of himself
again.
The transfer would take place late that evening, when the household was
asleep. First they'd land at Callisto.
`Just to keep you humble, Thian,' his mother said as they made their way
through the dark still night to the Tower, `you and your
`Dinis are also-rans with urgently needed medical and food supplies.'
`Thanks, Mom, I needed that,' Thian said facetiously.
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I know, and she grinned at him. `Your grandparents will join with
David of Betelgeuse to push the shipment to rendezvous with the starship
Vadim.' `At least we'll be pushed by the best,' he said.
They had reached the capsule now and he placed his carisak inside, careful of
the double-chocolate cake. His father went on up to the
Tower to take his position. His mother hovered as he helped stow the pouches
Mur and Dip handed him. They hopped in, clicking softly as they settled into
their special hammocks. Then it was Thian's turn to enter.
Thian caught just the glint of moisture in his mother's eyes before,
unexpectedly, she threw her arms about him. When, he wondered as his arms
closed about her, had she gotten so slender and so much smaller than he?
When you got so much fatter and bigger, she said and shoved him towards the
carrier. You big lunk! And, on a different level which
Thian was astonished to hear, she added, This is much harder than I
thought it would be!
Almost embarrassed by her remorse, Thian stumbled as he stepped in and then
fell awkwardly across the couch, Mur and Dip clacking concern.
He clucked a reassurance and clipped on his harness.
The canopy closed.
It's not as if he's gone for ever, his mother's thoughts continued.
Easy, my love, and that was his father answering on the private level.
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Firmly Thian diverted his thoughts from this inadvertent contact and squinched
his shoulders into the couch.
NOT TO WORRY, Mur said.
TOGETHER US, Dip added.
GOODNESS SPREADS, Thian replied, accepting their encouragement and returning
it in the `Dini idiom.
He caught the `push' of two strong minds at the onset of
`portation. He held his breath and felt the `halt' and the almost indefinable
alteration as his grandmother `caught' the capsule from the
Aurigaean thrust and brought it safely in. He didn't feel even the slightest
vibration as the carrier was placed on the Callistan cradle.
I'm always careful with animate cargo, came the unmistakable touch of his
grandmother's `pathing.
You are indeed, ma `am, Thian answered politely.
This `port will be longer, remember, but I'll stay with you, if you wish? the
Rowan offered.
Thian let a laugh ripple through his reply Mother'd snatch me bald-headed,
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Callisto Prime, if I did that.
He did give a start when he felt a thud-thunk vibrate through the capsule.
That's the drone capsule locking on, his grandmother said, not me missing my
thrust. Don't break any eggs now, she added. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]