Ice-cube's moon."
"The sixth planet, yes. But on what ship? At the port I saw none but Lefthand Thread, and-'
Liesel nodded. "And that's Bran's. I guessed it was. Well, Number One has a ship of its own-only colony I know of, UET or Hidden, ever to build one. Just short haul, for in-system work, but it makes a difference in what we can man-age. And the last I counted, we own better than a third of it."
"I see. But why does Hawkman go?"
"A ship's out there-Norden's Valkyrie- loading towing-pods with frozen methane and ammonia."
"To speed organic development on a marginal planet?"
"Right! But after delivering that load, Valkyrie's headed for a drop point. So Hawkman's taking our latest messages and moneys-yours, as wel-for forwarding to Earth."
"That is good news-though we shall all miss Hawkman. And what else occurs?"
Liesel grinned. "You won't ask straight out, will you? All right-Sparline pretends to think I don't know what she's after with young Ernol. She got her nerve up to move him into her room openly, and she's been waiting to see what I'd do."
"What will you do?"
"Nothing, of course. His work was improving, and still is."
"Then what is your attitude-your intentions?"
"Sit back, make no decisions until I have to. How I feel-oh, no! You're too involved; you couldn't keep it from Spar-line, and that'd spoil the game."
"Such games are not mine. Enemies are too plentiful to waste the joys of friendship in deceptions and stratagems."
"I like to keep in practice-and keep Sparline on her toes, too."
"As you like. For me, I do not think I need practice."
"Just so you don't find out the hard way, that you're wrong." Liesel shrugged. "Now, then-how is it with you and Bran?"
"As couples will, we have differences. Now that he has agreed that I go with him, I think we will solve them. If you mean, am I glad in the marriage, the answer is yes. For no political reason, but from coming to know the man better."
"I'm relieved-do you know why? Neither of you could stay with a weak person. But I was afraid you couldn't put up with each other's strengths. Does that make sense?"
Rissa thought. "Yes-very much. It gives me an insight I had lacked."
"That's good. I-" The intercom's buzz interrupted. "Yes?"
"Bran here. You done pouring figures in my wife's ear with a funnel?"
"Sure. Matter of fact, we've been swapping stories on you. How you can face either of us after this-"
"Bran! She-"
He laughed. "I know. Look-Rissa, could you come up here?"
"Of course." Liesel waved her away; as she left, they were stil talking.
As she entered the room upstairs, Tregare was saying, "Yes you would, at that!" He cut the circuit and turned to Rissa. "Sometimes the Hulzein genes scare me."
"Then you must half-frighten yourself. Now-what is it?"
"Not urgent-but we have to arrange the zoom-womb thing, and we might as well do it early. So-when's a good time, and how many do we want to set up?"
"My time is not planned. And how many do you want?'
They decided on three, seniority to be by order of deposit. Tregare turned to make an investigative cal, but the intercom sounded again. "Bran Tregare here."
Sparline answered. She wanted to see both of them but since Tregare had calls to make, settled for inviting Rissa to her room. When Rissa arrived there, she entered to hear Bran's voice ending the talk. It was certainly her day, she thought, for being on both ends of the same conversations.
Sparline rose to greet her. "You're looking fine. How's married life in the wilds?" She sat again, and Rissa also.
"I am-happy, with Bran. I believe that tells all of it."
Sparline looked at her more closely and smiled. "I think you're right. Wel, I'm glad. But what about when he leaves?" Rissa explained-not Tregare's plans, but the compromise they had reached. "So I can go with him and provide him heirs, also. That is one cal he is making-to arrange it."
"Three times you'll be cut open for those ova?"
"Cut open?"
"Rissa- I ' v e seen the scar
"The sixth planet, yes. But on what ship? At the port I saw none but Lefthand Thread, and-'
Liesel nodded. "And that's Bran's. I guessed it was. Well, Number One has a ship of its own-only colony I know of, UET or Hidden, ever to build one. Just short haul, for in-system work, but it makes a difference in what we can man-age. And the last I counted, we own better than a third of it."
"I see. But why does Hawkman go?"
"A ship's out there-Norden's Valkyrie- loading towing-pods with frozen methane and ammonia."
"To speed organic development on a marginal planet?"
"Right! But after delivering that load, Valkyrie's headed for a drop point. So Hawkman's taking our latest messages and moneys-yours, as wel-for forwarding to Earth."
"That is good news-though we shall all miss Hawkman. And what else occurs?"
Liesel grinned. "You won't ask straight out, will you? All right-Sparline pretends to think I don't know what she's after with young Ernol. She got her nerve up to move him into her room openly, and she's been waiting to see what I'd do."
"What will you do?"
"Nothing, of course. His work was improving, and still is."
"Then what is your attitude-your intentions?"
"Sit back, make no decisions until I have to. How I feel-oh, no! You're too involved; you couldn't keep it from Spar-line, and that'd spoil the game."
"Such games are not mine. Enemies are too plentiful to waste the joys of friendship in deceptions and stratagems."
"I like to keep in practice-and keep Sparline on her toes, too."
"As you like. For me, I do not think I need practice."
"Just so you don't find out the hard way, that you're wrong." Liesel shrugged. "Now, then-how is it with you and Bran?"
"As couples will, we have differences. Now that he has agreed that I go with him, I think we will solve them. If you mean, am I glad in the marriage, the answer is yes. For no political reason, but from coming to know the man better."
"I'm relieved-do you know why? Neither of you could stay with a weak person. But I was afraid you couldn't put up with each other's strengths. Does that make sense?"
Rissa thought. "Yes-very much. It gives me an insight I had lacked."
"That's good. I-" The intercom's buzz interrupted. "Yes?"
"Bran here. You done pouring figures in my wife's ear with a funnel?"
"Sure. Matter of fact, we've been swapping stories on you. How you can face either of us after this-"
"Bran! She-"
He laughed. "I know. Look-Rissa, could you come up here?"
"Of course." Liesel waved her away; as she left, they were stil talking.
As she entered the room upstairs, Tregare was saying, "Yes you would, at that!" He cut the circuit and turned to Rissa. "Sometimes the Hulzein genes scare me."
"Then you must half-frighten yourself. Now-what is it?"
"Not urgent-but we have to arrange the zoom-womb thing, and we might as well do it early. So-when's a good time, and how many do we want to set up?"
"My time is not planned. And how many do you want?'
They decided on three, seniority to be by order of deposit. Tregare turned to make an investigative cal, but the intercom sounded again. "Bran Tregare here."
Sparline answered. She wanted to see both of them but since Tregare had calls to make, settled for inviting Rissa to her room. When Rissa arrived there, she entered to hear Bran's voice ending the talk. It was certainly her day, she thought, for being on both ends of the same conversations.
Sparline rose to greet her. "You're looking fine. How's married life in the wilds?" She sat again, and Rissa also.
"I am-happy, with Bran. I believe that tells all of it."
Sparline looked at her more closely and smiled. "I think you're right. Wel, I'm glad. But what about when he leaves?" Rissa explained-not Tregare's plans, but the compromise they had reached. "So I can go with him and provide him heirs, also. That is one cal he is making-to arrange it."
"Three times you'll be cut open for those ova?"
"Cut open?"
"Rissa- I ' v e seen the scar
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