"How long?" Amos ben Sierra Nueva said desperately
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right that you're a girl. It's just that... All that dirt..." Channa couldn't risk continuing in that vein and switched abruptly "... is an effective disguise."
people know when you're a girl. Can cause you trouble. But, since you say I gotta go to a medic," she paused to look questioningly at Channa who nodded, "best you don't look surprised then." She grinned slyly and then looked over at Simeon's column. "You really didn't know?"
with pleasure. "Hmm. According to the biological studies I had, it's not easy to tell with the pre-pubescent ... dressed or in disguise." 7 can always tell," Joat said with some contempt for his ignorance. "You're a softshell." "You sure you're not a computer?" "Yes, lam N stop teasing!" Joat grinned unrepentently. Simeon felt an unfamiliar sensation and tried to identify it. A flutter in the ribcage? he thought wonderingly.
Simeon asked nervously a week later. "I sent every- thing. The forms were all correct"
A moment later: "Why is Joat's room always a mess? THE Crrv WHO FOUGHT 53 I send in the servos twice a day and it's still in a maximum-entropy state." "It's called 'adolescence,' Simeon," Channa said. "At least she seems to be settling in at school" Simeon's image winced. Joat had unexpectedly cleaned up as pretty, though she had wrinkled her nose when he'd mentioned that. She seemed to trust him N Channa as well N to a limited extent- Any fur- ther social interfacing was... lacking.
fought very, very dirty. He winced again when he thought of the places some blows, kicks and punches had landed. "She's not used to interacting except as a potential victim," Channa replied. "I don't think she's ever been with anyone in her own age group. She certainly doesn't know the local rituals. She's an outsider N practically a feral child. We're lucky she can respond to other human beings at all." An awkward silence fell for a moment Unspoken: and she didn 't think you were human when she met you. "She's learned about daily showers," Simeon pointed out helpfully. "Oh, there's good stuff in Joat," and Channa grimaced. "Even if her brand of ethics is unusual, at least she's consistent in applying it. All she needs is some security and a chance." "Isn't that all anybody needs?" Several hours later, Simeon still glowed with satisfac- tion in their accomplishments with Joat. This, being a father thing, is great, he thought, and warmed measur- ably towards Channa. Tvegot to thank her. For the first time since she had arrived, Simeon looked into her quarters and was surprised at how, in that short time N under two weeks, although it seemed like more N it had changed from the Spartan chamber Tell Radon had occupied. She had tinted the walls a soft, off-pink
frame-projectors. The jewel-bright colors and romantic images of the pre-RaphaeEtes, Alma-Tadema and Max- field Parish glowed from the walls, along with some modern Mintoro reproductions. The bedspread was an icy gray satin on which were scattered embroidered pil- lows of peach and gray and blue.
"I like what you've done with the room." Channa emerged from the bathroom dad in a blue silk robe trimmed with lace, a brush in her hand and swept out of her quarters into the main lounge without saying a word. She stopped in front of Simeon's column and crossed her arms, her eyes blazing. All Simeon's warm feelings fell into cold ash as he looked out at her. Maybe if he didn't say anything, she'd go away and not say whatever it was that was burning inside her eyes. Nah, when have 1 euer been that lucky ivhere she's concerned Her body was rigid, though her shoulders twitched and her ftps opened several time. He'd better say some- thing to stem the acid eruption.
manage, he said, "You have very romantic tastes, Channa," which seemed to reduce her blazing eyes a degree or two. He'd never know why he continued: perhaps sheer mischief to get a little of his own back. "Though your bed looks amazingly like an ice cube." She blinked in astonishment and he thought, A hit! A very palpable hU! But then she took a deep breath. "I did not think," she said, every word precise and polished, "that it would be necessary to actually say this, but since I must, I shall. Because we got off on the wrong foot and I did not trust you, I swept my quarters for active scanners.'1 She crossed her arms. "You will please," she went on with careful emphasis, "not ever enter my quarters without knocking and requesting admittance,
clear, Simeon?" "I apologize, Channa. Of course you're right. I got careless, all those years with Tell." "As to the quality of my taste ..." she said in a voice even more brittle than before. Ohplease, hethought/orone^just once, skutupandletitgo. "... it's none of your business." She glared at him. "Given your own preference for interior decoration," she said indicating his sword and dagger collection, "I'd say you have titanium gall to make snarky remarks about mine." "But I like it. I said I liked it!" "And what," she continued unheeding, "would someone with such a morbid fascination with humanity's lapses into ritualized slaughter know about romance anyway?" Simeon was dumbstruck. "I've never... thought of my interest in military history as a 'morbid fascination.' I am genuinely fascinated by strategy and military tac- tics. But to call it morbid, well, romance and morbidity have a long and interesting relationship."
both can be morbid, romance and militarism make uncomfortable..." and she winced "... bedfellows."
tory have been military personnel. Doesn't the very word 'warrior' conjure up romantic images?"
Let's just say that I don't like my privacy invaded at any time, by anyone." Her lips curled in a slight rueful grin. "But I think I overreacted a tad. Especially when you made fun of my decor."
fun of before you start clawing pieces out of people." 56 Anne McCaffny 67 SM. Sttrting "Sorry." "Romance has its place," he murmured. She smiled sardonically and raised one eyebrow. "With all due respect, Simeon, I doubt that romance has crossed your mind. Real, genuine romance, with its aspects of tenderness and sentiment are, if you'll excuse me, beyond your ken."
voice, and he took offense. "Because I'm a shellper- son?" he asked, fairly purring with suppressed anger.
said, stammering slightly. Then she caught herself and shook her hairbrush at him. "What a nasty, evil, slimy debater's trick! You know perfectly well that I never even thought of that! What I meant was that so far in our acquaintance, you have yet to demonstrate that you are sensitive, or idealistic or ... well, tender, ftission, now N I think you've very effectively concep- tualized raw, basic, animal passion. Which does not exist in the same universe as romance." "Let me tell you something, Ms. Hap. I'm well aware that romance happens in the mind and the soul and the heart. I know that it isn't necessarily a physical thing. Remember Heloise and Abelard.. . "Great warrior couple, were they?" she asked smiling. He sighed to himself. What do they teach them in univer- sity these days? "Not they, milady. I see I must persuade you beyond any measure of doubt You've put me on my mettle." She cocked her head at him. "I shall court you, belle dame sans merri, and win your heart."
your work cut out for you. I may like the romanticalN as decor N but I'm no dewy-eyed sentimentalist and not at all susceptible." "Oh, so you're seduction-proof, are you?" "I'm not even going to dignify that with an answer. Goodnight, Simeon." THE Crry WHO FOUGHT 57 "Goodnight, Channa," he said quietly as she left without another word. Not susceptible, eh, Happy baby1? Well, get ready for it, sweetheart N you're in for the time of your life.1 You want romance? FU give you romance, little lady, in such subtle and clever portions, you won't realize that you're being wooed by a very personal phantom lover.
could rely on physical attraction for starters; that was impossible for him, of course.
pose I could start with deft cooperation and nineteenth-century manners. I'd better look into the mores of Hawking Alpha Proxima Station and see what their courting customs are. Nothing so blatant as gifts right off, hmmm. Ah-ha! Music! After all, it hath charms to soothe the savage beast, or breast. Both apply in this case. Now, fit just access her musical reper- toire N which doesn't invade her privacy, merely her overt records...
from her breakfast to stare at his column. "Going on, my dear?" Simeon said. "Yeah, going on. All of a sudden you're so smooth you'd make a wombat puke, and Channa looks as if she'd just found a dead body, a long-time dead body."
dle of a mouthful of coffee, the results were spectacular. Joat silendy offered her a napkin as she coughed and sputtered. "You're imagining things," Simeon replied, with a touch of asperity. He shifted into a mellow tone: "Are you all right, Channa?"
voce. They were in the shadow of an impeller pump, and the vibration would make voice-pickup difficult
gift horse in the mouth, Chan. But, if you do, check the teeth fer file-marks."
years," he said. "You'll note turnover is a little high, but on a transit station, it's difficult to keep people."
she said. "More big-city facilities." "Also easier to leave," Claren pointed out, nodding towards the large passenger terminal. "We should do more in the way of social and cultural activities," Channa said. "The contingency fund would cover it, and in the long run, such amenities pay for themselves and then some. There are a lot of mining and exploration sectors around here " N which was exactly why SSS-900-C had been established in the middle of the cluster of mineral-rich fifth-generation suns N "and their people need leisure activities just as much as their equipment and ships need servicing. The Perimeter's a gold mine for its owners and for the station, to name your only real star attraction. If the outposters could get entertainment and commissary supplies in a range from cheap to expensive, they wouldn't need to travel further in towards Center. This whole area would take a big step further toward being part of the Central Worlds and not just a primitive frontier zone,"
looking little man, with thinning black hair combed back over his head. He dressed like a humorist's carica- ture of a bureaucrat, down to the keypad holder on his belt. "It's what I've been saying for years."
replied.
tants scurried forward with a glass of water.
you, did he?" "Surprise me? Me? No, no, something caught in my throat. Air's dry, I think." He hastily swallowed another sip of water to reinforce that interpretation. "Now, here," and his fingers flew over the key of his terminal, "are some plans we've had pending, with the projected N"
Claren," she said firmly but quietly. She might be new, but she could recognize "sign now, please," when she heard it
projects have been put forward," Claren said. "But, ah, there has never been a sufficiently positive reaction to implement the schemes. Until now, that is. It's a pleasure to work with someone who can appreciate planning ahead and is so naturally decisive. Ahhhhh, oh dear." His voice trailed off. Channa's took on a steely note. "Changed our mind, have we, Simeon?" "This station wasn't in a position to plunge into such an ambitious project. Much less have the incentive," Simeon replied smoothly. "Tell was a roughneck like me. Neither of us had the background for coordinating such enterprises. Here, anyway."
moving through the air behind her. It was a message tray, floating at elbow height. The domed top folded back, revealing chilled glasses and a frosted, un- corked bottle of a fine vintage. A single red rose lay on the white napery. Her lips grew thin but, as she saw Claren watching her closely and knew that she must
bottle at the sensor that linked Simeon to this office. "Yes, by all means let us drink to the success of this undertaking, Claren," she said and began to pour. Facetiously, she lifted her glass towards the sensor and sipped, mildly surprised at the dry crisp taste. "Hmm. Not a bad white! Didn't know you had it in you, Simeon."
replied, wishing there was an imager in Claren's office so he could project the suave smile he was feeling. She downed the rest of the glass, replacing it on the float. "If you'd just transfer the plans to my terminal, Administrator Claren, I can peruse them at my leisure." Then she strode purposefully out of the office.
"I bet you think you were being subtlel Subtle like collid- ing with an asteroid, you N" She swung around to the screen which he had prudently left blank, giving her anger no focus. Then she began to hear the sounds fill- ing the room. Simeon delightedly watched her expression gradually alter from livid to astonished and finally to enchanted as the lilting sounds of the Reticulaii mating croon filled the lounge. The sounds were long, low, dreamy. There was no formal melody, but somehow the theme suggested the stillness of deep forest and dew felling like liquid diamond in streaks of sunlight dazzling through die leaves. Channa stood still for a moment. She winced slightly as the door dosed with an audible swoosh, annoyed that any other sound marred the perfection of what she was hearing. Then, stepping carefully, as though fearful that doth brushing against doth or shoe against carpet might cause her to lose a precious second of the complex musk THE CTTY WHO FOUGHT 61 that surrounded her, she walked to a chair. She sat down so slowly she seemed to float down to it, scarcely seemed to breathe as she absorbed the music.
watching Channa. She is a fox! Then, peering more dosely, he wasn't so sure, for her eyes were half-dosed, starred with tears, and his acute vision let him see the skin of her face relaxing, smoothing out Shedoesn't look that foxy now! In feet, she looks kinda... sweet When the croon had drifted offinto a serene silence, she sat without moving. Then she dosed her eyes and slowly leaned back, clasping her hands before her. When she opened her eyes, they shone and her voice was husky.
thatl I might even kiss you. In appreciation, of course. That was so beautiful. Thank you," and she smiled.
in his tones when he answered her. "You're welcome. Do you happen to know what that was?" He didn't think she was likely to, but he kept that out of his tone. She wiped an eye and said, "I've never had the opportunity to hear one, but that has to be a Reticulan croon."
tion. "But 111 bet you'll never guess who performed it" He tried hard to keep any smugness out of his voice.
could, beside Reticulans, and they're on the other side of this galaxy. Oh! It couldn't be ..." Her eyes went round in awed surprise. "Not Helva? She's supposed to be able to sing them. But... you ... and Helva, the ship who sings?" "None other." Simeon was gratified by her reaction. "You know her?" "Indeed I do," and Simeon allowed himself to speak with considerable pride. "She drops by every now and 62 Anne McCaffrey fcf S M. Stating then to visit N" he couldn't resist a little pause for effect "N me. We discuss and exchange contemporary music from all parts of the galaxy. Since there are so few record- ings of Reticulan croons N which we shellpeople enjoy so much N she herself made me a gift of this one." The memory of his thrill at receiving such a prize colored his tone.
sonnel tape, did you?" "Well, I'd love to say that I'm just terribly perceptive, but music's mentioned as a significant interest. I just thought this particular recording might please, too."
hath charms department? As you said not long ago," and there was an edge of combined sarcasm and chagrin, "you have a few talents." Then she added brightly, "Do you sing, too? That's not mentioned in your personals."
deprecating sound. "I am not like Helva and make no claims to musical discrimination. I listen to what I like, but I don't know if I'll like something until I hear it." "So what else have you heard and liked?" she asked, relaxed in the afterglow of the beautiful croon. "Besides rockjack, that is?"
much. I just got used to it, you know. The guys on those early mining belt assignments I had didn't play anything else. Most ofwhat I like turns out to be classical or operatic." "Me, too," she said, smiling towards his column with a kindliness he had not seen in her before. "Well, if Helva liked you enough to give you that superb Reticulan recording, and you actually admit to a preference for classical and operatic, perhaps we should call a truce?" "A truce? Do we need one?" She narrowed her eyes. "In a manner of speaking, we do. We have struck a few sparks." She grinned. "A THE Crrv WHO FOUGHT 63 mutual appreciation of music is so far probably the firmest common ground between us. Halfway through secondary school, I realized that my best friends were also my choirmates." She leaned toward the column, with the first intimacy she had so far shown him. "We used to produce and cast ghost operas." "You did what?" "We'd choose a subject or theme, and a composer, then select a cast The rules said that composer and cast have to be dead,"
the notion. "Do go on." "We'd start with ... the name of this opera. Say, 'Rasputin.' Have you heard of him?" The merry tone of her voice was subtly teasing, challenging him.
the indirect cause of a successful revolution." She regarded his column with a wry expression. "You would know about him if he caused a war, wouldn't you?"
well as that particular time would appeal to him. Don't you think? Now, you tell me who should play the lead."
from his files. "In the available likenesses of him, Rasputin has enormous eyes and a riveting gaze, so we want a singer who's physically powerful and dramatically able to do justice to such a role. How about fllac Sue, the Sondee tenor?" "Eh... he does have a compelling gaze, I grant you, and his eyes are large. But don't you think he has a few too many of them? Besides he's only retired, not dead,"
file. "Um, Placido Domingo?" 64 Amu McCaffrey 6f SM. Stirling "I know of him! He lived in a time blessed with great tenors. He's perfect! Tall, lean, big brown eyes and what a voice. Nice choice, Simeon."
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