Read Online Damia's Children by Anne McCaffrey - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Anne McCaffrey
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âDini building had, as well as a door, some sort of a glassed-in porch and potted plants. Or, at least, thatâs what she thought they must be. Thatâs when she realized she had seen nothing, absolutely nothing, green, growing or vegetable-looking on the long ride from Tower. There was probably an explanation for that. Being of a practical turn of mind and having hunted for the table for years, Laria did sort of wonder about food resources and distribution. Maybe hunger was part of her headache.
Now Plus opened the panel in the vehicle and stepped to the ground, turning to assist her in the most chivalrous fashion. Then she saw a double file of âDinis come out of the building, poll eyes bent respectfully in the presence of Plus and herself. Tip and Huf became a close-drill escort behind her, their flippered feet aligned with hers as if, and Laria managed to suppress a grin, they were to make sure she didnât put a foot wrong!
The file reached them, proper greetings accorded Plus and then the lead pair turned to her with carefully enunciated sounds which she understood perfectly, so that she could respond in kind to their welcome and good wishes. She, andPlus, were invited inside to enjoy guest hospitality and she and Plus accepted. She waited a second to see what Tip and Huf would do and felt their pressure on her feet. She could move forward, staying slightly to the rear of Plus, as they progressed to the building.
She clicked and clacked to either side of her, nodding politely to each poll eye, saying either YOUR WELCOME HONORS OR PLEASED TO MEET YOU with an occasional THANK YOU .
It was her passage up this gauntlet that she suddenly realized something which she felt was significant. Though there was considerable variety in the âDini pelts, they were all the same basic hue. Plus, however, was covered in a fur of a shade that almost fought with theirs . . . having an orange hue whereas theirs had a bluishness to it. She glanced furtively at Tip and Huf and realized that they were âblues.â So âcolor groupingâ was more critical than anyone had known.
Good girl! Got it the first day!
Yoshukâs tenor was triumphant.
Many are still trying to find the connection.
It is significant?
As youâll discover now youâre here. Donât let it worry you. Youâre above the color bar, being Human.
And Nesrunâs alto voice was cynical.
You might be more cautious with broad generalizations when in mixed colors, though I really donât think youâll be unduly troubled by this little quirk.
Color bar?
Laria found the concept disconcerting.
Then Tipâs foot trod heavily on her heel and she stopped making tangential conversation. They had passed the portal and were now in the usual broad foyer where appurtenances, single-wheeled bikes,and fly belts were in a state of inspection readiness.
The Mrdinis had been on a war-basis for centuries now so she shouldnât have been surprised by the military flavor, even if she wasnât all that familiar with it: undoubtedly one of the adjustments she would have to make.
The place was spotlessânot that one could see too many details in the semi-light in which all âDini accommodation were kept. Laria was glad that she had been such a frequent visitor to the Aurigaen village. And this, of course, was the reason she had been encouraged.
She followed in Plusâs wake as the official tour continued, to the bathing rooms on both sides of the main entry, to the apartments, and finally to the standing lift that gave her access to her own. Plus would not fit on the two-person affair . . . no more than a piece of flooring and the central shaft that lifted the floor up to her quarters or down to the level. It was an ingenious amenity. Tip gestured for her to take her place, it took the other side and made a big show of pressing the control button. There were two, each labeled with
Now Plus opened the panel in the vehicle and stepped to the ground, turning to assist her in the most chivalrous fashion. Then she saw a double file of âDinis come out of the building, poll eyes bent respectfully in the presence of Plus and herself. Tip and Huf became a close-drill escort behind her, their flippered feet aligned with hers as if, and Laria managed to suppress a grin, they were to make sure she didnât put a foot wrong!
The file reached them, proper greetings accorded Plus and then the lead pair turned to her with carefully enunciated sounds which she understood perfectly, so that she could respond in kind to their welcome and good wishes. She, andPlus, were invited inside to enjoy guest hospitality and she and Plus accepted. She waited a second to see what Tip and Huf would do and felt their pressure on her feet. She could move forward, staying slightly to the rear of Plus, as they progressed to the building.
She clicked and clacked to either side of her, nodding politely to each poll eye, saying either YOUR WELCOME HONORS OR PLEASED TO MEET YOU with an occasional THANK YOU .
It was her passage up this gauntlet that she suddenly realized something which she felt was significant. Though there was considerable variety in the âDini pelts, they were all the same basic hue. Plus, however, was covered in a fur of a shade that almost fought with theirs . . . having an orange hue whereas theirs had a bluishness to it. She glanced furtively at Tip and Huf and realized that they were âblues.â So âcolor groupingâ was more critical than anyone had known.
Good girl! Got it the first day!
Yoshukâs tenor was triumphant.
Many are still trying to find the connection.
It is significant?
As youâll discover now youâre here. Donât let it worry you. Youâre above the color bar, being Human.
And Nesrunâs alto voice was cynical.
You might be more cautious with broad generalizations when in mixed colors, though I really donât think youâll be unduly troubled by this little quirk.
Color bar?
Laria found the concept disconcerting.
Then Tipâs foot trod heavily on her heel and she stopped making tangential conversation. They had passed the portal and were now in the usual broad foyer where appurtenances, single-wheeled bikes,and fly belts were in a state of inspection readiness.
The Mrdinis had been on a war-basis for centuries now so she shouldnât have been surprised by the military flavor, even if she wasnât all that familiar with it: undoubtedly one of the adjustments she would have to make.
The place was spotlessânot that one could see too many details in the semi-light in which all âDini accommodation were kept. Laria was glad that she had been such a frequent visitor to the Aurigaen village. And this, of course, was the reason she had been encouraged.
She followed in Plusâs wake as the official tour continued, to the bathing rooms on both sides of the main entry, to the apartments, and finally to the standing lift that gave her access to her own. Plus would not fit on the two-person affair . . . no more than a piece of flooring and the central shaft that lifted the floor up to her quarters or down to the level. It was an ingenious amenity. Tip gestured for her to take her place, it took the other side and made a big show of pressing the control button. There were two, each labeled with
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