Part 9 (2/2)

KAT, GIL, COME WITH ME. HONORABLE FSSLM ARRIVING. Come On up, Asia.

Should I?

Yes, you should, Rojer said firmly as he rose from his couch, gesturing for Mallen to join him below. ** isn't that you don't kpow 'Dims, m'love. He paused at the foot of the steps until she joined him; then he tucked her hand under his arm, ignoring her pull to free herself, and they proceeded to the Tower entrance.

Their timing was perfect, for the car arrived just as the four Talents emerged, Kat and Gil slipping around them to flank the vehicle.

WELCOME TO TALAVKRA, HONORABLE FSSLM. Rojer calculated his bow, his arm pulling Asia's upper body down to the appropriate level for a five-letter-name 'Dini.

AH, IT IS A PLEASURE FOR FSSLM TO MEET RJR AT LONG LAST,.

Fsslm said, bowing just a tad lower to emphasize its pleasure, and handed over the large box it carried. Rojer had to drop Asia's arm to accept the package, which had a suspiciously cold bottom. THIS IS SMALL TOKEN OF ESTEEM FROM SEF TOWER AND FROM SEF PLANET FOR THE RELEASE OF THIS MARVELOUS NEW WORLD TO MRDINI OCCUPATION. SOON THIS WILL BE AS BEAUTIFUL AS CLRF, SF, TPLU, KIF AND PTU.

OF THAT I AM CERTAIN, HONORABLE FSSLM, NOW THAT YOU ARE HERE TO HELP ORGANIZE AN ORDERLY AND ACCOUNTABLE FINANCIAL STRUCTURE. Rojer and Fsslm bowed simultaneously.

Rojer, incoming, Jes warned.

WITH GREAT REGRET I MUST SHORTEN OUR FIRST MEETING, AS THE TOWER IS EXTREMELY BUSY AT THIS HOUR. WE WILL MEET AGAIN IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, FSSLM. OUR GRAt.i.tUDE AGAIN FOR THIS GIFT.

Rojer was stepping backward, the package beginning to freeze his hand. Asia kept pace with him, with several more bows.

BE COMFORTABLE, HONORABLE FSSLM, she said in well-accented 'Dini, which surprised Rojer.

* only know a few of the polite phrases, Roj, but Flavia said I must have some.

Indeed you must, m'love.

Fsslm bowed once more and then mounted the steps into the car, which it imperiously waved to proceed.

The door slid open and Rojer and Mallen made for the steps to the Tower, Rojer pausing long enough to deposit the package at Jes's station.

”What's in it?” Mallen asked as they clambered two steps at a time.

'Don't know, but it's cold. See to it, will you, Jes, when you've a chance.”

”Probably Sef fruit. It's the right season,” Asia called up from the generator level.

What's incoming?” Rojer called over his shoulder as he and Mallen made it to their couches.

I f Ant Hthffiey Drones, of course. Another five.

We really will need more cradles if we're getting this much traffic in, Rojer said.

** should level off. How much more stuff do they need to get a planet started? was Mallen's complaint.

His sentiment was echoed when Talavera Tower signed off for the day at 2200 of its 2650 hours. The traffic had been steady the entire day, and the Talents had had to s.n.a.t.c.h meals-and some of the excellent ripe fruit that Sef Tower had sent-in between the almost continuous bombardment of large, medium and message tubes, many from Earth or the other 'Dini planets. Seelbat was possibly the weariest when they finally called a halt. He had worked nonstop even with all the 'Dinis helping him to empty cradles and stack the drones, or park the vehicles.

”Who have we got up on the Columbia?” Rojer asked, slouched on one of the recliners in the main lounge. Asia, with a smear of generator oil on one cheek, lay curled up on another couch.

Flavia, Zara, fifteen T's of various abilities, she answered him, too weary to speak aloud.

Well, we're going to need Zara. I'm not burning Mallen out with such loads.

I'll be all right, Rojer, really I will, Mallen a.s.sured him. Didn't f f^eep up with you all day?

You did and you're a pleasure to merge with, Mal, but if we get several weeks of this sort of heavy traffic, we need to spell everyone. Tower experience is useful for any Talent, Rojer said firmly. But we don't have the extras that Callisto or Iota Aurigae or Earth has. Loof( at Seelbat. He's a shadow of his morning's self. Rojer tried for a little levity, since he could sense Asia's apprehension. I don't ne.eA another engineer if I have you, but we do need someone to share the load with Jes, if only to keep the data in order. He turned to Jes and pointed a finger at him. And you're to go to bed when we all do, not stay up till dawn to file today's receipts. We'll get a yeoman down to help with that. If we should, the G.o.ds forbid, lose a drone or a freighter, we've got to fynow what it was and what was on it, or our bean l counter will not be pleased with us. And Seelbat cannot work^ at such a clip without relief. Did you get anything to eat at all?

Wasn't hungry. Seelbat didn't even open his eyes, though his right hand idly stroked Put's back. His 'Dinis were sound asleep, heads pillowed on his thighs.

Rojer turned to Seelbat. Who 've you worked with on the Columbia who can a.s.sist you in the yard, Seel?

Yeoman Dorot Bay or CPO Esther Stapleton. Kinetic T~6s who can receive, but are not much good at sending.

As we're on the receiving end, that'll do us. Where did you get all those 'Dinis?

Seel chuckled without opening his eyes. Their bosses send them to make sure they get the packages they're expecting. Some of 'em stay because they prefer the prestige of wording in the yard to whatever manual wor they've been stucf^ with right now.

A never-ending supply? Rojer asked, grinning at 'Dini tactics.

Just about. Seel gave a weary grin.

Rojer rose to his feet with a sigh and walked out to Jes's workstation. Flopping down into the chair, he activated the com unit to the Columbia. Despite the hour, someone would be manning communications round the clock - whichever time the s.h.i.+p operated on.

”Yes sir?”

”Rojer Lyon here at Talavera Tower.”

”Good evening, Captain Lyon, how can [ help you?”

”Is that Lentard?”

”Why yes, Captain, it is,” replied the CPO, obviously pleased to be recognized.

”Don't wake anyone at this unG.o.dly hour, but would you please ask Captain Soligen if we can borrow my sister Zara, CPO Esther Stapleton and Yeoman Dorot Bay for auxiliary Tower duty? We're swamped here, and probably will be for the next week or ten days while everything gets 'ported in.”

”Yes sir, Captain. I've recorded the message. Is it a priority?”

”Not before tomorrow at breakfast, Lentard.”

I.

8 B.

hit ”Yes sir, Captain. I understand. Thank you. Over.”

”There. That should do the trick,” Rojer said. ”And I'm for my bed.”

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