Get Off the Unicorn by Anne McCaffrey Page A

own pace and follow his own aptitudes. Not even a stubborn atavist like your father has the right to inhibit another’s contribution. Of course, the responsible citizen tries to maintain harmonious relations with his family unit up to that point of interference.
    â€œYou realized, I’m certain, that even if Nick has no love of crop farming, he is basically attuned to rural life. I’ve been so grateful to you, dear, for . . . soothing matters between your father and brother.” The words came out haltingly and though Mother didn’t look directly at her, Nora could appreciate her difficulty. Mother had scrupulously avoided taking sides in the constant altercations between Nick and Father. She had somehow always maintained family unity. Her unexpected frankness was essentially a betrayal of that careful neutrality. “I had hoped that Nick might be a more biddable boy, able to go along with his father’s ambitions. They may be old-fashioned—”
    â€œMother, you
know
Father is positively medieval at times.” Nora regretted her flippancy when she saw the plea for understanding in her mother’s eyes. “Well, he is, but that’s his bit. And he does make a distinguished contribution as a landsman.”
    â€œYes, Nora. Few men these days have your father’s real love of the earth. It isn’t every landsman,” Mother added, her voice proud, “who runs a Complex as big as ours and makes a creditable balance.”
    â€œIf only Father didn’t
try
 . . .”
    But Mother was looking off into the middle distance, her face so troubled, her eyes so dark with worry, that Nora wanted to cry out that she really did understand. Hadn’t she proved that with all she’d done to keep unity?
    â€œYou’re a kind, thoughtful, considerate child, Nora,” Mother said finally, smiling with unexpected tenderness. “You undoubtedly rate very high on interpersonal relationships.”
    â€œYou must, too,” Nora protested, glancing toward the office.
    Mother gave a rueful little laugh. “I do, or I shouldn’t have got on so well with your father all these years. But, right now, we both have to work together to maintain family harmony.”
    â€œYou haven’t had a deficiency notice on me, have you?”
    â€œGood lands, no, child,” and Mother was clearly startled at the notion. “But Nick had an interview with Counselor Fremmeng and he’s reasonably certain, from the way the Counselor talked, that he is going to disappoint your father. You know that George has been positive Nick would receive Academic Advancement. And frankly Nora, Nick not only doesn’t want it, he’s sure he won’t get it.”
    â€œYes, he mentioned something like that to me this afternoon after Father reamed him,” Nora said sadly. “But what could Father possibly do in the face of E.A. postings except admit that he couldn’t compute Nick into his own program?”
    Mother gave Nora one of her long, disconcertingly candid stares.
    â€œIt’s not a question, Nora, of what your Father would or would not do. It’s a question of how we maintain family unity, and your father’s dignity and standing in the Sector. With a little tactful and affectionate . . . handling, he can think it was all his own notion in the first place.”
    Nora stared at her mother with dawning respect and admiration.
    â€œThat’s why you offered to update your credentials?”
    Mother grinned. “Just thought I’d plant the notion. It
is
spring, you know.”
    â€œMother, why on earth did you marry Father?” Nora asked in a rush. She might never get another chance to find out.
    An unexpectedly tender expression on her mother’s face made her appear younger, prettier.
    â€œLand’s sake, because he was the kind of man I wanted to marry,” Mary Fenn said with a proud lift of her chin.