Read Online A Door Into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski - Free Book Online

his new post at the Guard and winding up the Pyrrholite campaign. She stared in dismay at the image of her bald scalp, which she had just had shaven within the hour. Never mind; she rose and pushed away the white servo arms that snaked from the ceiling for her manicure and skin toning. Hurriedly smoothing her talar, she headed for the hall.
    At the sight of him in full uniform, Berenice caught her breath. The crescent line of Realgar’s shoulders glittered with jewels: for his family
house, Rhodochrosite, and sardonyx for his homeland, and commander’s grade rubies, and rows of others he had been awarded. Yet the spell was soon broken by the two children at his side: his son, Elmvar, a squirming eight-year-old, and the elder sister, Cassiter, who gaily carried Realgar’s plumed helmet. “Look, Mama Berenice!” she cried. “The parade—wasn’t it the greatest ever?”
    â€œYes, Cassi, it was. Realgar, how did you get away? The Malachite reception—”
    â€œJust for a minute, that’s all.” He took Berenice’s hands and kissed her. She closed her eyes, savoring the salt of his tongue.
    Realgar drew back slightly to look at her.
    Her bare scalp twitched. “Don’t tell me,” she sighed. “I look ghastly.”
    â€œA Sharer already.”
    â€œYou know I’m about to leave.”
    â€œOf course, that’s why I’m here. Cassi and Elmvar will miss you more than ever.” He patted his son’s tousled hair. “Berenice. Couldn’t you stay just a month more? The Torran Envoy has incredible things to show, gifts from the Patriarch. It’s your last chance for ten years.”
    â€œMy apologies to Malachite, but I’ve a promise to keep. This moonferry was the last one I could get before Merwen’s Gathering, the one which will judge my selfname.” She sighed again. She was flattered that he had come to see her off, despite all the ceremonies, but why did he have to make things difficult?
    â€œVery well, but this time I insist that you return before the seaswallowers march across the globe.”
    â€œRealgar, please.”
    Stern lines hardened in his cheeks. Even the children were still for a moment, sensing his mood.
    â€œI’ll stay as long as Talion orders.”
    Realgar let out a deep breath. “For Torr’s sake,” he whispered, “just don’t make yourself a watery grave.”
    Berenice swallowed. She herself dreaded the whirlpools of those cephaglobinid monsters when they migrated from pole to pole. But Sharers faced the migration twice a year, and this year Berenice would face it with them. Then they would truly accept her as a sister of Shora.
    A squeal came from Cassiter; Elmvar was tugging at the helmet, trying to wrest it from her.

    â€œElmvar, leave the helmet to Cassi,” Realgar said. “Go play with this.” He pulled the raygun from his belt, a ceremonial weapon as antiquated as a sword. The boy took it and waved it bravely about the hall, while making ferocious noises.
    Suddenly Cassiter dropped the helmet and clapped her hands over her ears. Berenice winced; the child was still sensitive to sudden noises, years after her mother’s death. She ran to Cassiter and folded her in her arms, rocking gently.
    Berenice had no children of her own. Her first marriage had ended with her defective firstborn, which the doctors had blamed on her own genes. They had sterilized her then and her husband, heir to the House of Aragonite, had left her to build his dynasty elsewhere.
    In despair, she had gone back to Shora, her birthplace, where her father had founded the moon trade. Sharers could mix and match human genes at will, even correct the bad ones. No Valan doctor would risk his neck to perform such “witchcraft,” but Usha had fixed Berenice soon enough. Berenice could bear a healthy child now—if she dared. On Valedon, the very secret of her