Part 9 (1/2)

Oh?

Later, lad, later. Morgelle's in liriefor the next Tower. Good sending. And, as abruptly as Jeff Raven had touched his grandson's mind, he was gone.

That was nice of them, Mallen said. I've never been in contact with either of their minds before. Awesome.

Hmmm, well, yes, I guess it was. Only how'd he know we 'd started send-inS? The Blundell Building was not the destination.

They always know, said [es sardonically. And our next service will be four messages for Clarf. How'd they fyjotv we were up and ready?

Because theya?r, )es said.

l ' > Stop the chatter. Four to Clarf?

The generators lifted briefly as Rojer made the'port. Coming in, Clarf Prime, he said formally.

Rojer? You're on the Talavera Tower? Laria asked him. They set that up fast enough.

Talavera Tower? That sounded very good to Rojer. That they did. So you can lob anything to me now on the surface. Flavia and Zara are still on we Columbia. We'll bring down what's being held in orbit.

But you're on the business end. Good. I've a lot more to send ou.

Tired, sis?

We II, it's been hectic here. J put my foot down and we only do one big one an hour . . . every hour . . . and they are weight, but. . .

I won't let them overwork^ her, Kincaid said, joining the conversation.

She can make sure of that herself, thank^ you both, Laria added with some asperity. Here's the latest one'.freighter, cargo all inanimate. Got a big enough cradle?

I've enough delicacy of touch not to warp our brand-new cradles, Rojer replied. Thank, you, sis. Nice 'port.

There'retwo more scheduled for today and that's it for Clarf Tower. What time of day is it therefor you? I'll marf( it up for a ”Talavera Tower” rotation.

Rojer glanced up at the multiple time displays, each identifying a different main Tower time, nicely placed for easy reading for the couch occupants. It is fourteen-thirty hours of a twenty-six-point-fife-oh-hour day.

I have that information. Thanyou, Talavera Tower.

Incoming from Earth, Mallen said.

Five drones. Inanimate, was his grandfather's terse message, Rojer linked and brought the drones in the rest of the way, slotting them neatly into the waiting cradles. ”Jes, ask my 'Dinis to come up here, will you? We're going to need more drone-size cradles if they keep sending us job lots like that.”

Kat and Gil came tumbling up the steps, front limbs forward to prevent slipping back down in their haste.

KAT, GIL, PLEASE SEE WHO IS CONSTRUCTING CRADLES. WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE OF THE SAME SIZE AS THE ONES- Rojer broke off because the yard manager was already organizing crews to empty the drones and load the grav sleds. Then a crew often 'Dinis manually lifted the light drone sh.e.l.ls off their landing web. IF THE YARD CREW CAN DO IT THAT FAST, MAYBE WE DON'T.

MORE COMING, Kat said. WE ASK FOR MORE. BETTER MORE THAN FEW.

”That's for sure,” Rojer said. ”Off you go, then, and please ask who is the yard manager. I haven't met him yet.”

That's Seelbat Buffer, a Capellan and a T-5 kinetic, Asia informed them from her station by the generators. He has 'Dinis.

”How many?” Rojer asked, since the yard seemed to be swarming with all the colors Mrdini bodies came in.

He's a friend ofFlavia's and she pried him loose from Capella Tower Yard. She's very good at that sort of doing, you know.

Rojer cleared his throat, remembering that Flavia had got her brother and her mate included on the crew of the Columbia. But if Seelbat worked as well as Mallen and Jes Ornigo, he'd have no complaints.

”Isn't it unusual for a Capellan to have 'Dinis?”

Yes, he was the first. . . Some edge to her voice suggested to Rojer that likely Seelbat had taken a lot of criticism and dislike from the methody folk of his home planet for being partnered with ”heathen aliens.”

”He's here now and that's good,” Rojer said.

Incoming from Sef, warned Jes.

Congratulations, Rojer, chorused Yoshuk and Nesrun from Sefs Tower.

Or do we commiserate? asked Nesrun in her droll way.

*'** let you know in a day or so, Rojer replied. Speaking of which, our day is twenty-six-point-five-oh hours long and you are slinging meat. . . He caught their send, a medium-sized pa.s.senger yacht. Precisely fourteen forty-five.

We'll mar% it down. You'll be peeping standard Tower hours?

I'll have to or be worn down to a nubbin. Is Laria all right?

Overworked, but I thinfy things'll ease off once the impatient get to Talavera. Oh, and we added a little welcome gift. The 'Dini bean counter, Fsslm, has it for you.

Bean counter? Beside Rojer, Mallen chuckled.

”Accountant,” he said. ”We've a full complement of governing officials down here already, you know, from the pa.s.senger s.h.i.+ps we caught on the Columbia.”

Let's hope that Fsslm doesn't complain about the luxury they've provided us, Jes said.

Here it comes, warned Sef Tower, and Rojer met the Mind Merge which Yoshuk and Nesrun used, and placed the yacht carefully into its cradle.

Seelbat, full honors to the pa.s.sengers, Rojer said. Fsslm is to be specially treated. It's got something for us from Yoshu^and Nesrun.

1'ue the steps in place and Put and Car acting guard, Rojer.

Thanks, Seelbat. Sorry I didn't get to greet you formally.

Who has time for formality right now?

Rojer grinned. Seelbat's tone had rippled with amus.e.m.e.nt. Since the Tower was gla.s.sed all around, Rojer could observe the arrivals, all but the first one carrying heavy sacks. Fsslm was a mature blue-gray, large enough to have earned its five-letter name. Ground transport wheeled into the yard, ready to accommodate Fsslm's party and their accoutrements. Not all the disembarking pa.s.sengers were admitted to that vehicle, so Put let out one of the shrill whistles a 'Dini could emit and a second air cus.h.i.+on appeared to transport the remainder of the newcomers.

As soon as the vehicle was cleared of its animate cargo, the yard tractor tackled the yacht and moved it to the storage area.

Rojer leaned back on the couch, pleased with such efficiency.

Fsslm's directed its car here, Rojer. You'd better get down.