Part 19 (1/2)

”Clarissia would have known where all the conference rooms are,” Laria said, but her voice did not have its usual firmness. ”And she left here threatening . . .”

”Did I or did I not hear your grandfather say that you are not to blame yourself, Laria?” Kincaid said, making her look at him when he deliberately pinched the hands he still held. ”Then listen to him.”

”Yes, do, Laria,” Lionasha said, her eyes angry. ”Van and I couldn't believe how tolerant you were of that methody Capellan and her prissy ways.” Lionasha did such a good imitation of Clarissia's long-suffering expression that Laria managed a weak smile. She turned to Kincaid. ”And we thought that idiot Stierlman was ineffectual!” She rolled her eyes at her understatement. ”You”-she c.o.c.ked her finger at Kincaid- ”know what you're doing and you do it. How's the headache?” she added.

”Gone, thanks.” Kincaid used that reply to release Laria's hands and lean back. ”If I may be so bold as to suggest a siesta today, I think we'd all benefit.”

”I know I would,” Laria said, and rising, left the room.

Morag and Kaltia exchanged anxious looks.

”She'll be all right,” Kincaid said, ”but a rest is a good idea for all of us.”

”Indeed it is,” Lionasha said briskly. ”We've more cargoes, and I don't know how many message tubes to be sent all the way to that new planet, Clariflor.”

”Who's receiving?” Kincaid asked, frowning because he couldn't remember.

”Right now, Xahra, one of David of Betelgeuse's kids.” Morag grinned. ”He must be seething to have had to let another of his precious children leave his control. She's a Prime and has T-2 and T-3 support.”

”Then it'll be all right,” he said with some relief, as he too walked down the hall to his quarters.

Once out of sight, however, he 'ported into Laria's room. She was curled in a little ball, weeping.

”Oh dear, I was trying not to broadcast,” she said, lifting her head to show her distressed, contorted face. Instantly, he picked her up, sat back down on the bed and arranged her comfortably across his legs, tucking her head under his chin and exuding quant.i.ties of sympathy.

* know misery rather well, he said gently.

It's just that it hit me so unexpectedly. She lifted his free hand to her cheek. * can't imagine a world without Grandfather and Grandmother there and available to us ... to all of us.

My very dear Laria, there will come a time when we must let them go. Talents do enjoy long lives, long healthy ones, but for even the strongest of us, there comes the day, the hour, the moment when . . . it just becomes . . . too much.

They could retire . . .

Ha! Kincaid dismissed that with a laugh that bounced her on his chest. One day, dear heart, they simply won't wake up. They will, however, never suffer the debilities that used to depress and make our ancestors demand the mercy of euthanasia.

But no one gets that sicf( nowadays, protested Laria, still fighting inwardly against the demise of her beloved grandparents. And her parents. Afra was much older than Damia ...

And he is Capellan, who are known to be indestructible.

But not invulnerable . . .

If you're going to continue to torture yourself with such thoughts, I'm leaving. He made as if to move. She held him there with both hand and Talent, immobile.

Remind me not to try to depart without your full permission, he said with mild reproof. Then, as she immediately lifted the restraint, he put one hand on her belly. Here, love, is the real immortality . . . the continuance of the genes which made both your grandparents and parents. This is your hope and their eternal renewal. I thinly such news would be good for them to hear right now.

What if they don't.. .

Approve of me?

I didn't mean for you to hear that.

Then don't thin}(so loudly so close to me. He hugged her affectionately, to indicate absolution. The child will be yours, and mine, and Talented. That is the salient fact that will render any minor details superfluous.

Are there any other Talents in your family?

He gave a snort. No, there weren't.

Flas.h.i.+ng through Laria's mind was a kaleidoscope of punishment scenes, the angry, contorted face of a woman and echoes of voices from Kincaid's past that gave her a shocking insight into the childhood of a Talent reared by a family which did not approve of nonconformity. She was equally aware that he didn't know what he had just projected: their minds were more deeply linked than she realized. She wondered if he did, but decided not to mention it.

* do know, he went on, and those childhood flashes faded, that your parents welcomed me without reservation to your home and family. I care more for their good opinion than anyone else's.

But what if Grand- Your grandparents are older and wiser than even Afra and certainly you, dear heart. I'd far rather everyone knew and settled that little detail. Now rest. We both need it after the morning that's . . . thankfully gone, and this afternoon's traffic is mercifully light.

They rearranged themselves more comfortably in restful positions, though Laria clung to his arm and nestled as close as she could get to his long body.

** doesn't matter what earth-shattering things happen, does it? she said almost bitterly. Primes have to man the Towers.

Responsibility, and routine, give you balance too, Lana. I'd rather have them both than be without either. Rest, Laria. You need it after that shocf(.

And much to her surprise, rea.s.sured by his presence, she did.

Flavia equably received the news directly from Earth Prime that Zara was required immediately by Prime Elizara. Jeff Raven said that orders were coming for Captain Soligen and her attendant s.h.i.+ps to leave orbit around Talavera and proceed to the system that contained Ciudad Rodrigo.

”Earth Prime would like myself and Flavia placed a hand on her chest-”with Rojer”-she paused to grin at Captain Vestapia Soli-gen-”and Asia, with whatever other team members and security per- sonnel we need, to do a survey of that Hiver-occupied planet. We must gather the usual samples for comparative examination.”

Captain Soligen frowned, obviously rapidly running through who else should go with the Talents.

”Earth Prime is sending Thian's report on his surface ventures . . .” Flavia paused. ”I believe the confirmatory message tube has just come in. Let us do without that dreadful Dr. Esperito, if we can. Wayla Gregarian should accompany us as science officer and Yakamasura and possibly Rosenery Mordmann, plus whatever team Kwan Keiser-Tau feels is necessary to protect us.”

”I think I'd like to come along too,” Vestapia said.

”Me too,” said Rhodri Eagles, rapping belatedly on the half-open door. He had a message tube in his hand. ”This is, I believe, for you.” He handed it to Flavia, grinning with his usual insouciance. ”You wouldn't dream of leaving me out of the expedition, now would you?”

Flavia grinned at the captain's bemused expression.

”None of us would, Roddie. After all, you've had more personal experience with queens than any of us,” Flavia said.

When Zara was told of her rea.s.signment, she was excited to be asked to work with Elizara again, but there were no specifics for her of what that work entailed among the many contained in the message tube. There were certainly enough recordings and readings from the Was.h.i.+ngton as guidelines for the Ciudad Rodrigo landing team.

”Well, at least I'm not being yanked out of here and dumped where I'm going, as Rojer was,” Zara said with a slight grimace of exasperation.

”Then we'll have time for a farewell party on Talavera,” Flavia said, pleased. She loved swimming in the lake-careful, though, not to swallow too much water.

Yeah, but who's Grandfather got to manage my Tower?” Rojer demanded, incensed.

Don't fret. Asia's coming with you, Zara said placatingly.

I.

She has to come with me. Wherever I go. He snarled when he heard Zara's mental sigh. Don't come over all sisterly on me, Zara.