good cause.
I know
, he responded warmly. Did the Rowan know her condition? Probably not, since she’d had other concerns to divert her from noticing a physiological change.
I’d like to surprise the old geezer
, she continued.
Geezer?
Afra spluttered, thinking that she was due for a few surprises herself, especially as she’d never been able to meet Reidinger face-to-face.
You’ve contacts at Earth Prime Headquarters. Can one of them sneak me in without having to announce my arrival?
The question startled him, so he continued to banter with her while thinking furiously under tight shields. First he’d have to warn Reidinger, and then Gollee, but he did assure the Rowan that he knew someone who might do him a favor. He begged a few minutes to arrange matters.
Reidinger?
Afra called in the tightest telepathic shaft he could manage.
Wha’?
was the gruff response.
This better be good.
Hurriedly, Afra explained.
And it was good enough for he could “hear” Reidinger’s grin quite plainly.
Excellent! I have to talk to her anyway and it’ll be better if she thinks she got me at a disadvantage. Here’s what we do
. . .
Afra absorbed the instructions with a growing sense of betrayal. Reidinger perceived that and broke off.
Afra, you
know
that I want the best for her. She
needs
a father figure, someone to rebel against. And I need her spirited, rebellious. We all do.
Privately, Afra remained unconvinced, but he couldn’t quarrel with Reidinger. And it might just have a beneficial effect on the Rowan’s growing recklessness. Now that she could travel without ill effect, who know to what lengths she might take her new freedom?
Thank you
, Reidinger said,
I’ll tell Gren.
Afra turned his attention back to the Rowan.
Well, Gollee’s agreed to my especial request to escort my
anonymous
young friend as far as he’s able, but Security has to be placated. He’ll meet you at the landing field entrance.
Reidinger must have been listening discreetly to Afra’s answer, for Afra caught him swear.
Keerist! Security! I’ll have to warn them or my security beams’ll fry her when she jumps in!
Afra turned hastily to call out to the Rowan, but she was already gone. Angrily, he growled,
Reidinger!
Like gold dust, lad
, Earth’s Prime Talent called back gently.
I’ll treat her like she was my own blood. Uh-oh! She’s here!
Reidinger faded out, and came back with:
I meant to tell you—will tell you later
. . .
Afra did not hear from Reidinger until the next morning as he was finishing his usual skimpy breakfast. “Altair?” Afra shouted aloud when Reidinger told him of his assignment for the Rowan.
HOW COULD YOU?
I
had
to!
Reidinger retorted sharply. Afra, who had spent years learning to read emotion, caught an undertone of pain in Earth Prime’s voice. It was the pain of command, the malaise that comes from having made too manydisagreeable decisions; also, very deep, was the pain of a person who was just plain
old.
Afra hastily accessed his data console’s readout on Reidinger—he was approaching his one hundred and tenth birthday.
Afra considered telling Reidinger of the real reason for his anger at the Rowan’s reassignment but decided against it: the Rowan and Jeff Raven had the right of making
that
disclosure. Besides, Afra chided himself, he was not
sure
that the Rowan was pregnant. Nor that the child would be a boy and very Talented.
Besides
, Reidinger added in a very small tone,
I had to free you and Ackerman to perform a very special mission.
Don’t you think Callisto’s been disrupted enough without removing us?
Afra returned tartly. He frowned at himself, both annoyed and amazed that he could react to the man who
was
, for all intents and purposes, Federal Telepath and Teleport.
I wouldn’t
dream
of moving either of you!
Reidinger responded.
However, I have to think of the future beyond me and, frankly, while Jeff Raven’s a good man, he does not have the skills required to run a
I know
, he responded warmly. Did the Rowan know her condition? Probably not, since she’d had other concerns to divert her from noticing a physiological change.
I’d like to surprise the old geezer
, she continued.
Geezer?
Afra spluttered, thinking that she was due for a few surprises herself, especially as she’d never been able to meet Reidinger face-to-face.
You’ve contacts at Earth Prime Headquarters. Can one of them sneak me in without having to announce my arrival?
The question startled him, so he continued to banter with her while thinking furiously under tight shields. First he’d have to warn Reidinger, and then Gollee, but he did assure the Rowan that he knew someone who might do him a favor. He begged a few minutes to arrange matters.
Reidinger?
Afra called in the tightest telepathic shaft he could manage.
Wha’?
was the gruff response.
This better be good.
Hurriedly, Afra explained.
And it was good enough for he could “hear” Reidinger’s grin quite plainly.
Excellent! I have to talk to her anyway and it’ll be better if she thinks she got me at a disadvantage. Here’s what we do
. . .
Afra absorbed the instructions with a growing sense of betrayal. Reidinger perceived that and broke off.
Afra, you
know
that I want the best for her. She
needs
a father figure, someone to rebel against. And I need her spirited, rebellious. We all do.
Privately, Afra remained unconvinced, but he couldn’t quarrel with Reidinger. And it might just have a beneficial effect on the Rowan’s growing recklessness. Now that she could travel without ill effect, who know to what lengths she might take her new freedom?
Thank you
, Reidinger said,
I’ll tell Gren.
Afra turned his attention back to the Rowan.
Well, Gollee’s agreed to my especial request to escort my
anonymous
young friend as far as he’s able, but Security has to be placated. He’ll meet you at the landing field entrance.
Reidinger must have been listening discreetly to Afra’s answer, for Afra caught him swear.
Keerist! Security! I’ll have to warn them or my security beams’ll fry her when she jumps in!
Afra turned hastily to call out to the Rowan, but she was already gone. Angrily, he growled,
Reidinger!
Like gold dust, lad
, Earth’s Prime Talent called back gently.
I’ll treat her like she was my own blood. Uh-oh! She’s here!
Reidinger faded out, and came back with:
I meant to tell you—will tell you later
. . .
Afra did not hear from Reidinger until the next morning as he was finishing his usual skimpy breakfast. “Altair?” Afra shouted aloud when Reidinger told him of his assignment for the Rowan.
HOW COULD YOU?
I
had
to!
Reidinger retorted sharply. Afra, who had spent years learning to read emotion, caught an undertone of pain in Earth Prime’s voice. It was the pain of command, the malaise that comes from having made too manydisagreeable decisions; also, very deep, was the pain of a person who was just plain
old.
Afra hastily accessed his data console’s readout on Reidinger—he was approaching his one hundred and tenth birthday.
Afra considered telling Reidinger of the real reason for his anger at the Rowan’s reassignment but decided against it: the Rowan and Jeff Raven had the right of making
that
disclosure. Besides, Afra chided himself, he was not
sure
that the Rowan was pregnant. Nor that the child would be a boy and very Talented.
Besides
, Reidinger added in a very small tone,
I had to free you and Ackerman to perform a very special mission.
Don’t you think Callisto’s been disrupted enough without removing us?
Afra returned tartly. He frowned at himself, both annoyed and amazed that he could react to the man who
was
, for all intents and purposes, Federal Telepath and Teleport.
I wouldn’t
dream
of moving either of you!
Reidinger responded.
However, I have to think of the future beyond me and, frankly, while Jeff Raven’s a good man, he does not have the skills required to run a
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