Read Online Earth Legend by Florence Witkop - Free Book Online

been in the
smaller units but from what I've been told, they are hardly more
than one-room efficiencies." He shuddered. "No one should have to
live in cramped quarters, not on a life-time trip such as we're
on." His shoulders convulsed a second time. It was clear that
Cullen Vail had lived in a small space at one time. How small?
When? Why?
    He recovered his composure quickly and his
voice softened, becoming a musical baritone. It was the first time
I'd heard him speak without consciously playing the part of a
friendly Security guard. "I'll get you a new place
immediately."
    "I don't want a new place."
    "As far as I'm concerned, the small units
should be eliminated or combined into larger ones. I've talked with
Wilkes Zander about it but he doesn't agree."
    "Because he knows they are large enough."
    We stared at each other again. Smoke and
fire. Inwardly, I shuddered. I didn't want that fire directed at me
in anger. "You said you've never seen the small units?"
    "Not yet but I know what small living
quarters are like."
    "Come." I rose and held out my hand to help
haul him up but he ignored me and flowed upward in one smooth,
incredibly well-coordinated movement. "I'll show you."
    He didn't know how to refuse. I saw in his
eyes that he wanted to but there was that rule about being friendly
and he wasn't sure how it applied in this situation so he indicated
that I go ahead and he'd follow. The apartment wasn't far, nothing
was far from anything else in New Rochelle, and since my window
overlooked the field we were in, we stepped through my door mere
moments after finishing the little talk that thankfully hadn't led
to my arrest after all.
    He moved from one foot to the other as he
gazed about my home. Then he realized what he was doing and
stopped. Stood a bit straighter if that was possible. Realized what
he was seeing and frowned his puzzlement. "Two rooms. Two. I
expected one. Maybe it is adequate after all." He looked around
again, at the plants all over the place. "Why all the flowers?"
    "They aren't flowers, they are cuttings from
the apple orchard and a few other places nearby."
    "Aren't there enough plants outside?" The
frown deepened and he shuddered slightly. "The whole ship is filled
with green things and you want more?"
    "I'm a botanist." I was glad for the time
spent inserting my credentials into the Destiny's database. It was
all there, the schools, the degrees, and the experience. Of course
the experience was in family-owned businesses but that fact was
glossed over so anyone looking would only know that I'd done
numerous internships for prestigious companies. No one had to know
that I'd been involved in the business of growing things ever since
I was old enough to walk. "I like plants. I like to grow them. I
like experimenting with them." Cullen Vail clearly did not have a
green thumb, which was good because most of the plants in the
apartment were experimental in nature. Just in case I'd need them
later when things went bad.
    "Why don't you do your experiments in the
greenhouses with the other botanists?"
    It was my turn to step from one foot to the
other. My turn to stop doing so before he figured it meant I was
uncomfortable with his question. "I didn't sign on as a botanist,
rather as a farmer." At his expression, I quickly added, "And I
love it. I love being a farmer. But I like to mess around a bit on
my own time." I waved to the pots of green things on every
available surface. "As you can see."
    His body language was exquisite. Eyebrows
raised, body hunched for protection from killer plants, nostrils
flared because what he truly wanted was out of there and he planned
on going as soon as he could figure out a way. "Okay." He licked
his lips. "If you're sure the apartment is okay …"
    "Do you want to see the bedroom?"
    "No, no, that won't be necessary." He backed
a step towards the still-open door. "I can see that I had the wrong
idea about the smaller apartments. They are quite adequate after
all. Much