Part 15 (1/2)
”No, but, Daav, all one need do-”
His brother raised a hand ”Yes, yes, I saw you Perhaps ers will have learned their lesson, now I've seen it can be done” He looked up to Petrella, a wry grin on his face ”Fifty-two times”
She smiled back ”I will hear that you've h”
Daav inclined his head ”Your certainty gives e Aunt Petrella”
”Now, that, neither of you lacks” She paused, her sharp blue eyes flashi+ng from Er Thom back to Daav
”We raise Venture within the hour, nephew, and tomorrow is the appointed day of your departure Exert yourself to coed as the tiements in order and satisfactory to yourself? Better-would your ements?”
Daav raised his hand ”She and I discussed the scheme in detail before I had her aye Scout Acadeht be receptive to allowing a first class provisional to gain flight time as their second-a list Mother studied with so that it would do”
”So” Petrella inclined her head, and glanced again to Er Thoht not do the captain the honor of ferrying scout candidate yos'Phelium to the planet surface tomorroould expect you to stay by him until he has satisfactorily made his contacts, attend to the few small errands you will find listed on your duty screen, and return the Captain's Shuttle to the shi+p”
Er Thoht
”I'm to pilot the Captain's Shuttle alone? Mother-”
She tipped her head, and he thought he detected the beginning of a twinkle in her stern blue eyes
”Surely that is a task ithin the skill of a second class pilot?”
He smiled ”Yes, captain It is”
”Good, that is settled, then” She turned At the door, she looked over her shoulder at them ”The hour has perhaps escaped your notice, pilots I ht is much more enjoyable when one is awake at the board” She inclined her head-”Sleep well”-and was gone
DAAV WALKED UP to the duty counter, which looked for all the worlds like any counter in any hiring hall one cared to nan as he followed Daav into this place, he would have supposed himself in an office of the Pilot's Guild, rather than the sector headquarters of the Liaden Scouts
The istered Daav with one quick Scout glance
The glance lingered a moment on Er Thom, as if the Scout found the appearance into his hall of a halfling in Trader clothes soDaav laid his license on the counter ”One seeks Scout Rod Ern pel'Arot”
”So?” The Scout appeared amused ”If one is so ill-advised as to seek Scout pel'Arot on Trilsday, then oneWheel”
Daav inclined his head ”I shall do so May one inquire the direction of the Spinning Wheel?”
The scout's amusement was almost palpable
”Down on the blue median, handy to Terraport” He moved his shoulders and picked his book up
”I a more nor less than prevarication, pocketed his license and turned away, Er Tho a respectful two paces behind
Back on the ay, Daav paused, face thoughtful Er Tho re either a blue ularly unhelpful, that duty clerk,” he grumbled His brother looked at him, surprise on his sharp-featured face
”No, do you say so?” He, too, looked up and down the busy thoroughfare ”Now, I think he told us everything we needed to know, if only we apply-ah” He h traffic as if the rushi+ng groundcars were asped, then ran after, eyes on his brother's narrow, space-leathered back
He caught up on the far side of the street, where Daav had paused before a public display-map of Venture Port and near environs
”Down on the blue median,” Daav murmured, ”and handy to Terraport” He frowned at the flat display, then reached out and pushed the power-up button
The display flickered and rolled; colors flashed; flat shapes expanded into three diraphs of written Trade appeared last, putting nahed
”Here we are,” he said, leaning forward and laying his hand wide over a block limned in electric blue
”The blue median, or I'll eatat the pictograph identifying a red-lined block just the north of Daav's blue ”Terran Mercantile association,” he read, and Daav laughed again
”Terraport” He turned his grin on Er Thoht have said 'near the Terran Trade Hall,'” Er Thoht and his face serious
”Well,” said Daav, with a final, calculating stare at the ht have done so But then he would not have been a scout” He lance to Er Thom ”You have errands to complete for Aunt Petrella, I know, and the blue median does look to be somewhat off your course, shall we part here?”
Er Tho you safely to the end of your arrangements You heard her say it” He paused, as another, unwelcoht intruded He bit his lip ”Unless you do not wish me with you”Daav blinked ”What nonsense is this? of course I want you byEr Thorip ”Why else did I colanced aside, blinking, then looked back to his brother and s with each other on a public street, then? Let us locate Scout pel'Arot and get you berthed”
”Very well” Daav glanced 'round, then pointed toward the east ”This way, I believe”
THE SPINNING WHEEL was found to be at the end of a short side-way off the hfare, just half-a-block froraph on the corner street sign read ”Blueway cul-de-sac 12” Below that, a board bearing the hand-painted Terran words ”Avenue of Dreams” had been nailed to the post Daav slipped down the slender way, Er Thom at his side
A thick-shouldered Terranthem with interest
He waved his hand as they approached the door
”Hold it”
As one, they checked, exchanging a glance It was Daav who moved a step toward the doorman and inclined his head-proper, as it was Daav's errand they were come upon
”Yes?” he said
The man frowned and jerked his thu hall No kids allowed, by order of the portmaster”