fall. Etey poured some water into an earthen basin as Anra sat down. —Maybe your people should go— she said. —We can't expect you to stay if you'll be in danger—
—Earth may be in danger, too— Lydee replied. —We can't just abandon you—
—I've never heard of one comet world threatening another— Etey said. —But this comet world might have diverged from others and become something very different, or it might be an alien construct. There might well be others who wander through space as we do, and we don't know what purposes they might have— Her thoughts were a web of gleaming strands; she was pulling at each as if testing its strength, waiting for a thread either to lead her to an answer or to unravel the web. —But what could it gain by hostility? A comet world and cometdwellers can meet all their needs without threatening anyone—
—That Mind, whatever It is, may not think of Itself as hostile— Lydee said. —It may only seem that way to us—
A slap of thunder sounded outside; the doorway was bright with light. Anra opened her link to Homesmind. It was waiting, curious about the approaching newcomer, Its thoughts still, but she could sense the ripple of Its apprehension.
Do not fear , Homesmind whispered as she withdrew from Its thoughts. Anra was not consoled.
"Lydee," she said aloud. Her aunt turned toward her; Etey, still washing her hands in the basin, looked up. "We talked of traveling together. Perhaps I should go with you to my parents' village. I said such cruel things to them before. I didn't mean to, but I couldn't stop myself. Maybe I should try to reach out to them now, before ..." Her voice trailed off. She had been about to say "before it's too late."
"You're welcome to come with us."
"But I'm also worried about Rulek." She felt oddly uncomfortable mentioning the boy. "I found him and I brought him here. I can't leave him alone now, not when he's just arrived, can I?" She suddenly blocked her thoughts of Rulek, afraid to examine them too closely.
Lydee raised an eyebrow. "Your friends will look after the boy, as will Etey. He's made friends quickly and seems extremely adaptable, from what I've been shown." Rulek could get along without her; perhaps he would even start to miss her. "Very well," Anra said at last. "I'll go with you, then." She would be the first of the young people here to see more of Earth; they would all be curious about her experience when she came back. Wasn't this what being a member of a bridge community was all about? Rulek would see that she was not afraid to reach out.
FIVE
The shuttle skimmed over the land, its runners brushing the tips of tall grass blades. Ahead, Anra could see a landscape of low, rolling hills; to the south, the grassy roofs of a few huts were barely visible.
The craft lifted itself as they approached the hills. Anra knew that Lydee could have made the trip in less time. The shuttle could have soared above the clouds and then dropped toward their destination. But her aunt had sensed that traveling that way would have disturbed and disoriented Silla and Harel.
Lydee was resting in the seat next to Anra's, letting the craft pilot itself along the path she had set. Behind them, Marellon was keeping Anra's parents occupied in musings about old times.
Anra kept up her wall, saying nothing. She had smiled at Silla and Harel before climbing into the craft, hoping they might see that she was regretting her hard words, but they had looked uncomfortable in her presence. Now she felt angry with them once more. If it hadn't been for them, she could have stayed with Rulek, who might have needed her more; she had sensed the sorrow that was still inside him.
A hand holding a wafer suddenly appeared at her side; Anra turned. Marellon was offering her food. She took it, then accepted a glass of wine. Marellon leaned back. Harel, sitting next to him, was nibbling at a large red piece of fruit. Silla wasn't eating at all; she stared absently at
—Earth may be in danger, too— Lydee replied. —We can't just abandon you—
—I've never heard of one comet world threatening another— Etey said. —But this comet world might have diverged from others and become something very different, or it might be an alien construct. There might well be others who wander through space as we do, and we don't know what purposes they might have— Her thoughts were a web of gleaming strands; she was pulling at each as if testing its strength, waiting for a thread either to lead her to an answer or to unravel the web. —But what could it gain by hostility? A comet world and cometdwellers can meet all their needs without threatening anyone—
—That Mind, whatever It is, may not think of Itself as hostile— Lydee said. —It may only seem that way to us—
A slap of thunder sounded outside; the doorway was bright with light. Anra opened her link to Homesmind. It was waiting, curious about the approaching newcomer, Its thoughts still, but she could sense the ripple of Its apprehension.
Do not fear , Homesmind whispered as she withdrew from Its thoughts. Anra was not consoled.
"Lydee," she said aloud. Her aunt turned toward her; Etey, still washing her hands in the basin, looked up. "We talked of traveling together. Perhaps I should go with you to my parents' village. I said such cruel things to them before. I didn't mean to, but I couldn't stop myself. Maybe I should try to reach out to them now, before ..." Her voice trailed off. She had been about to say "before it's too late."
"You're welcome to come with us."
"But I'm also worried about Rulek." She felt oddly uncomfortable mentioning the boy. "I found him and I brought him here. I can't leave him alone now, not when he's just arrived, can I?" She suddenly blocked her thoughts of Rulek, afraid to examine them too closely.
Lydee raised an eyebrow. "Your friends will look after the boy, as will Etey. He's made friends quickly and seems extremely adaptable, from what I've been shown." Rulek could get along without her; perhaps he would even start to miss her. "Very well," Anra said at last. "I'll go with you, then." She would be the first of the young people here to see more of Earth; they would all be curious about her experience when she came back. Wasn't this what being a member of a bridge community was all about? Rulek would see that she was not afraid to reach out.
FIVE
The shuttle skimmed over the land, its runners brushing the tips of tall grass blades. Ahead, Anra could see a landscape of low, rolling hills; to the south, the grassy roofs of a few huts were barely visible.
The craft lifted itself as they approached the hills. Anra knew that Lydee could have made the trip in less time. The shuttle could have soared above the clouds and then dropped toward their destination. But her aunt had sensed that traveling that way would have disturbed and disoriented Silla and Harel.
Lydee was resting in the seat next to Anra's, letting the craft pilot itself along the path she had set. Behind them, Marellon was keeping Anra's parents occupied in musings about old times.
Anra kept up her wall, saying nothing. She had smiled at Silla and Harel before climbing into the craft, hoping they might see that she was regretting her hard words, but they had looked uncomfortable in her presence. Now she felt angry with them once more. If it hadn't been for them, she could have stayed with Rulek, who might have needed her more; she had sensed the sorrow that was still inside him.
A hand holding a wafer suddenly appeared at her side; Anra turned. Marellon was offering her food. She took it, then accepted a glass of wine. Marellon leaned back. Harel, sitting next to him, was nibbling at a large red piece of fruit. Silla wasn't eating at all; she stared absently at
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