Part 2 (1/2)

Well, you're here. Come to the Tower. You are welcome, afra. A silvery laugh s.h.i.+vered in his mind. You know, I think Goswina was right. We'll see.

The cover was unlocked and a rather anxious looking man, wearing stationmaster's tabs on his collar, extended a hand.

'afra? Brian Ackerman.' The man's anxiety began to fade as they clasped hands. 'Capella grows 'em long, doesn't it?' he said, grinning as afra got to his feet, standing centimetres taller than the stockier stationmaster.

'The Rowan can play games but don't let 'em get to you, huh?' he added in the tight low tones that suggested to afra that Brian had his mental s.h.i.+elds in place to deliver that brief advice.

afra nodded soberly and followed the stationmaster to the Tower.

It was only then that he noticed, and swallowed against his surprise, that Callisto Tower was a domed facility. In fact, a combination of domes plus the big s.h.i.+p launch area with cradles that ranged from the single he'd been landed in to the immense complex metal affairs that accommodated large pa.s.senger liners or naval vessels.

Above them loomed Jupiter. afra controlled the instinct to hunch away from the giant planet. No doubt he would get accustomed to its dominating presence.

He also found himself breathing shallowly, and controlled that reaction as well: there was plenty of air on this moon.

'You get used to it,' Brian Ackerman said with a grin.

'Is it that obvious?' afra asked.

Brian grinned. 'Everyone feels the old man and, sometimes, the whole alien feel' - he made a sweep of his arm to include the domes 'can really get to the planet bred.' They had reached the facility by then, a Tower more by grace than fact for there was only the one raised section that could be termed a tower. The administrative building was compact, three storeyed, the only windows the clear plexiglas that wrapped around the tower portion, giving the Prime three hundred and sixty degrees of visibility.

Lights under the fascia boards of the roof beamed down on the plantings, counterfeiting sunlight enough to encourage growth.

Luminous Jupiter's light did not support earth vegetation. To afra's surprise, he saw a small copse of trees at the back of the terrain-hugging residence off to the right of the Tower complex.

'The Rowan's,' Brian said, noticing his glance, and then palmed the door open. 'She lives here. Primes don't travel much, you know, but she's good about sending us downside on leave Inside the main room, consoles and work tables were placed along the walls, neat enough now as personnel were apparently closing down operations. There was a buzz of friendly chat and considerable interest in Ackerman's companion.

afra caught mental buzz that identified him as the Capellan T-4.

No longer a pint-sized greenie, afra thought very quietly and grinned.

If he suited the Rowan, he might even be able to see old Damitcha who had retired downside to Kyoto.

Vague rea.s.surances were aimed in his direction, some of them wistful, some of them pessimistic about his chances but there were smiles enough to make him feel welcome.

'You were the last s.h.i.+pment in today,' Brian said.

'Coffee?' 'Coffee?' afra was surprised. That was a caffeinated substance which was, of course, unavailable on Capella.

Something to do with the expense of it. 'I wouldn't mind a cup.' He fished that phrase out of Brian's mind 'D'you like it black, white, sweetened?' 'How do you like it?' 'Never had any?' 'No,' and afra smiled ruefully 'Well, try it black and see if you like it. Then we can add milk and sweetener to your taste.

afra was trying not to probe around for the Prime. There were so many people milling about, some of them fl.u.s.tered with the day's tasks, some hoping to leave for home pretty soon, that he wondered if she were down here. No-one matched the vivid mental picture Goswina had given him so long ago. Then he realized that the Rowan would be ten years older and more mature than that mischievous girl.

Just as Brian handed him a mug with an opaque black liquid, he knew the Rowan was in the room. He turned slightly to his left, towards the beverage dispenser which Brian had just left. Three people, a man and two women, were serving themselves. afra's attention fell on the slenderer female figure, a mane of unexpectedly silver hair falling to her shoulders although her face was young, and oddly attractive though not in a cla.s.sic style of beauty.

He felt the first spurt - and ruthlessly suppressed that sense of strong affinity.

Although the girl wasn't very tall and had a pale, rather than slightly greenish skin tone, she had the lean look of a Capellan. But there was no doubt in his mind that she was the Rowan.

Full marks to you, Goswina's brother afra, she said and, audibly excusing herself from her companions, she jerked her head towards the steps to the Tower level. If you'll join me?

Her very casual manner was quite a change from Capella's formality.

I had my craw full of protocol and elaborate convention on Altair, afra. I run a Tower, not a tea party. I also don't usually 'path conversations. For Goswina's brother I'll make an exception today.

He followed her up the winding metal steps, a bit surprised that she didn't have a ramp as Capella did.

'You'll find I'm not at all like Capella, or Siglen, or any of the other Primes you might have met.

'Capella's the only one I've ever met.

They were in the Tower room now, with her conformable couch, the various monitors and consoles that were standard furniture for a Prime's domain. Great Jupiter was visible, and the stark moonscape beyond theFT&T domes. The Rowan gestured for him to take the seat by the auxiliary console. Then she leaned back against the outer wall and c.o.c.ked her head. He felt no contact from her mind but, unless he was completely mistaken, there was a bond growing between them. He hoped so for he had never met anyone like her before - so radiant, so vital, so vivid. Strength was an almost visible aura about her. And his father had always maintained that Primes contained themselves?

'I'd take you for Goswina's brother. You've the look of her.

Sort of.' She smiled, an expression that only increased his attraction for her. 'What did they say when you got my message?' 'They were surprised. Then my father said that a Prime would remember a promise.

'Ah!' Her grin was mischievous. 'So your family didn't know you had applied to me directly?' afra shook his head, unable, however, to break eye contact. So he gave a rueful shrug and attempted a self-deprecating smile.

'Aren't you supposed to take up a position at Capella Tower?' 'When Ementish retires.' Her grey eyes danced. 'And that fills you with so much elation that you had to give me first refusal?' 'Capella is a good planet ---' 'Goody good, I'd've said.

afra c.o.c.ked an eyebrow at her qualification. 'When we took the Tower course, I met Talents from other systems. He shrugged again, not willing to belittle his home world.

'And you wanted to see more of the galaxy?' 'One doesn't see much of the galaxy as a T-4 in a Tower but I thought that it might be...

challenging to spend some time elsewhere.' She gave him a curious look.

'What are those odd shapes in your carisak?' It was the last question he expected of her but he also realized that the Rowan would be unpredictable.

'Origami. The ancient art of paper folding.' Not at all certain he should act brashly, he 'ported his favorite swan - in a silvery white paper - into his hand and offered it to her.

With a wondering smile on her face, she took it from him, turning the bird this way and that, delicately opening its wings.

'How charming! And you just fold paper into that shape.' 'What's your favorite colour?' he asked.

'Red. Crimson red!' He extracted a red sheet from his supply and, when he had it in his hands, he rapidly folded a flower which he offered her with a little bow.

'Well, that's not a mental exercise at all, is it?' she said, examining the flower. 'Flip, flop and you've got a small masterpiece.

Is that what people do on Capella for entertainment?' -afra shook his head. 'A freighter chief named Damitcha taught me - while Goswina was on Altair. I missed her, you see. Origami helped.' The Rowan's expression altered to one of compa.s.sionate apology - and he felt the lightest mental touch, reinforcing It.

'She missed you, too, afra. I heard all about you.' 'And you remembered your promise.' 'Not quite, afra,' she said, propelling herself towards her chair and whirling around to seat herself.

'Because there's no course on Altair any more and you're already trained. So let's see if Goswina was right, that our minds will complement each other in the running of this Tower!' She let him hear what she then said. Reidinger, I've found me another T4. afra of Capella. He folds paper!

Which is at least original. And he keeps halos of barque cats.