Part 15 (1/2)

But as soon as Saidin had gone, Jase violently shoved past him and went toward the front of the apartment, headed, as Bren guessed, for his room.

The opening and slam of a heavy, well-hung door said that he guessed right.

Well, he thought, Jase had done everything in an exemplary fine manner, right down to the shove at him and the door. Which he, personally, would forgive, though his nerves felt nerves felt that door shut. that door shut.

And he could ignore the gesture, and forgive it, and let it pa.s.s. It wasn't the task he wanted when he was still exercised over the news conference: adrenaline started flowing and he couldn't use it here, no matter what.

But they they had uncle Tatiseigi visiting tomorrow night, and Jase had to get his reactions either done with or under control, whichever came first. had uncle Tatiseigi visiting tomorrow night, and Jase had to get his reactions either done with or under control, whichever came first.

He was going to have to do something.

Jase hadn't locked locked the door. That was good - Jase was not sealing himself in. Or that was bad - Jase was in such a state he didn't think of such things. He pushed the latch and walked into Jase's bedroom. the door. That was good - Jase was not sealing himself in. Or that was bad - Jase was in such a state he didn't think of such things. He pushed the latch and walked into Jase's bedroom.

Jase was lying on the made bed, hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling. Jase had had taken the shoes off, in consideration of pa.s.sionate atevi feelings of propriety in that regard. Jase was improving, and Jase had stopped to think. taken the shoes off, in consideration of pa.s.sionate atevi feelings of propriety in that regard. Jase was improving, and Jase had stopped to think.

And starting a conversation with a positive statement seemed a good thing.

”That was very well done, Jase.”

Tightjawed, and in Mosphei': ”Did you listen in?”

”I came in late. I heard the close. I'm very sorry, Jase.”

”Thanks.”

”Can I help you?”

”Not unless you fly.”

”I know. I know that part of it. I'm sorry. That's all I can say. How's your mother?”

”She's fine.” A fragile, angry voice. ”I'd rather you got the rest of it from the tape. I'm not up to questions right now.”

”Jase.” He was inclined to sit down on the other side of the bed. Jase wasn't looking at him. And he had seen Jase's temper boiling to the surface. He didn't risk sitting. But he risked walking directly into Jase's field of view. ”Jase, this is someone talking who at least knows what you're going through. Don't wall me out. Tell me what happened, so two of us know it. Tell me how you're doing. Tell me if there's any risk to the s.h.i.+p or station up there.”

”Is that what you're after? It's fine.”

”Jase. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I can't make it better. But tell me what happened and tell me what's going on as a result of it.”

”It's not your d.a.m.n business!”

”It is is my business! I'm in charge of this mission.” my business! I'm in charge of this mission.”

”Who said? My captain? I don't think so.”

”Sure, fine, you're in charge of yourself and you can't speak the language or get across town on the subway. No, Jase. You did all right out there. You did extremely well. And I know it's your private business, but the paidhiin don't have have private business when it affects the safety of everybody else.” private business when it affects the safety of everybody else.”

”What if I wanted wanted to get across town on the subway?” to get across town on the subway?”

”What's that to do with anything?”

”I'm a prisoner here. I'm a prisoner under guard. Is that the way it is?”

”You're a fragile ent.i.ty in this culture. You're not qualified to be out on your own: an atevi six-year-old might get where he was going solo, but I wouldn't lay odds on your making it to to the subway, let alone elsewhere. - So where do you want to go, or what do you want to do? - Can I help you?” the subway, let alone elsewhere. - So where do you want to go, or what do you want to do? - Can I help you?”

”I'd like to see the ocean.”

Occasionally conversations with Jase turned right angles. This one went three-sixty degrees.

”The ocean.”

”I'd like to see the ocean. The sea. Whatever the word is. I'd like to stand on the edge of the water and look at it. Is that safe? Is it a stupid request?”

”It's not a stupid request.” He was no better informed, and understood Jase no better. The question had to be asked, if only to know there was nothing more ominous going on in the heavens. ”- Jase, what happened to your father? Staff says it was was an accident that killed him.” an accident that killed him.”

There was a long pause. Several breaths. Jase never varied his position otherwise. ”Old seals on the station. Dangerous place. That's all. Hard vacuum. My father”- several more breaths, eyes fixed on the ceiling -”was blown out into s.p.a.ce. That's all. He was working, and the seal went.”

”It was fast.”

”Yeah. It was.”

”So how's your mother taking it?”

”Oh - all right. - I mean, she's upset, what do you expect? And I can't do anything.”

”I can understand that well enough.”

Jase still lay with his hands under his head, looking at the ceiling.

”So - is your mother off work, nadi, or working, or what?”

”Working.”

”No trouble your reaching her this time? I hope there was no trouble.”

”I had no trouble.” Jase moved his arms, slowly got to his feet. The hair he professed drove him to distraction fell around his face. He shook it out of his way and raked it back. It fell around his ears, on its way to respectable atevi length, but not there yet. ”Stupid accident, that's all. You can't stop something like that. Can't plan.”

”Yes,” he said. ”That's true.”

”Can you arrange - for me to visit the sea, nadi?”

He didn't want to point it out, but Jase had had trouble walking when he'd first landed. Jase had had trouble with orientation, particularly with peripheral vision. He wouldn't see an atevi doctor. He said the world had no edges.

And described, later, a world of only corridors, and small rooms.

”I know a place,” Bren said, thinking that lord Geigi would be surprised to have two guests.

But he didn't think Jase was ready for a boat. Not quite.

”When? Soon?”