Read Online Freedom's Challenge by Anne McCaffrey - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Anne McCaffrey
Ads: Link
Peggy would watch her, lean over, and pat her shoulder or her hand, then immediately go into what Kris called her âmeditativeâ state.
When discussing her charges with Dorothy, the psychologist advised her to suggest words, if she could, to Marge or show pictures. Peggy was obviously aware of what was happening about her, and that was a very good sign.
âMiss Barrow,â and Dorothy gave the mischievous smile that made her seem much younger, âwants to take charge of our laboratory. She is naturally appalled at its primitive facilities and amazed that we arenât all down with something fatal. Leon, Thor, and the others need her skills so much that theyâre willing to put up with herâ¦disorientation.â Dorothy sighed. âMiss Barrow will not be pleased when she accepts that sheâs on another planet entirely and will never get more than the equipment we have.â
âI wouldnât bet on that, Dorothy,â Kris said with a grin.
âWhat do you know that they havenât told me?â Dorothy asked, eyeing Kris with mock annoyance.
âIâm not sure theyâve told me any more than you will have heard, too. Like they
are
going to try to get back to Earth.â
âThey couldnât bring my shopping list with them, could they?â the psychologist asked in a wistful tone, then added more briskly, âI am encouraged, though. Weâre getting almost daily breakthroughs now. Though how weâll fit some of these people into Botany I havenât a clue. I mean, an astrophysicist who was on the Hubble team and a meteorologist when the weather here is already controlledâDo we even have a clue how thatâs done?â
âZainal thinks that huge square block we discovered on the seashore has something to do with it. There are four others in sort of a pattern.â
âAny idea of
when
the Earth trip will take place?â
âWeâve a lot of studying to do first,â Kris said and rose, not wanting to spread more gossip, even to someone as discreet as Dorothy was, professionally or personally.
â¢Â   â¢Â   â¢
KRIS FOUND HER NAME UP ON THE ROSTER board for a late afternoon meeting with the Central Council. She checked in with the day care to be sure that the dayâs manager knew that she wouldnât be in to collect Zane at the usual hour. Sarah McDouall had already been informed. Zane did not notice his mother, since he was involved in some complicated game with Fekâs child and two Rugarians whom Kris didnât know. The Rugarian babies were born with as much body fur as their parents, and it really was difficult for humans to tell them apart without going through the list of names until the yaya (which was Rugarian for the unadult) answered to the right one. A Deski young one was called a slib. Some of them were easier to identify since their skin had different tones.
Zainal caught up with her in the dining hall where they were both eating a quick meal.
âWhatâs this all about then?â she asked him.
âPlans have been made. Discussion now.â
She knew him well enough to know that she would get no more out of him. Then she noticed Miss Barrow threading her way to an empty table. She wore a look of disdain, as if wrapping herself carefully away from the reality of an ambience she could not escape. Unlike everyone else garbed in the ubiquitous ship suit, she wore a dress, severely cut, in one of the dark greens, which Kris had brought back from her excursion to the markets of Barevi. The dress was long-sleeved and buttoned up to a high collar, with a hemline at calf-length. To Krisâ astonishment, Miss Barrow did incline her head graciously as she registered Krisâ presence, but she straightened into consummate distaste as she recognized that Kris was seated with a Catteni. She turned her face haughtily away.
âPoor woman,â Kris said, shaking her
When discussing her charges with Dorothy, the psychologist advised her to suggest words, if she could, to Marge or show pictures. Peggy was obviously aware of what was happening about her, and that was a very good sign.
âMiss Barrow,â and Dorothy gave the mischievous smile that made her seem much younger, âwants to take charge of our laboratory. She is naturally appalled at its primitive facilities and amazed that we arenât all down with something fatal. Leon, Thor, and the others need her skills so much that theyâre willing to put up with herâ¦disorientation.â Dorothy sighed. âMiss Barrow will not be pleased when she accepts that sheâs on another planet entirely and will never get more than the equipment we have.â
âI wouldnât bet on that, Dorothy,â Kris said with a grin.
âWhat do you know that they havenât told me?â Dorothy asked, eyeing Kris with mock annoyance.
âIâm not sure theyâve told me any more than you will have heard, too. Like they
are
going to try to get back to Earth.â
âThey couldnât bring my shopping list with them, could they?â the psychologist asked in a wistful tone, then added more briskly, âI am encouraged, though. Weâre getting almost daily breakthroughs now. Though how weâll fit some of these people into Botany I havenât a clue. I mean, an astrophysicist who was on the Hubble team and a meteorologist when the weather here is already controlledâDo we even have a clue how thatâs done?â
âZainal thinks that huge square block we discovered on the seashore has something to do with it. There are four others in sort of a pattern.â
âAny idea of
when
the Earth trip will take place?â
âWeâve a lot of studying to do first,â Kris said and rose, not wanting to spread more gossip, even to someone as discreet as Dorothy was, professionally or personally.
â¢Â   â¢Â   â¢
KRIS FOUND HER NAME UP ON THE ROSTER board for a late afternoon meeting with the Central Council. She checked in with the day care to be sure that the dayâs manager knew that she wouldnât be in to collect Zane at the usual hour. Sarah McDouall had already been informed. Zane did not notice his mother, since he was involved in some complicated game with Fekâs child and two Rugarians whom Kris didnât know. The Rugarian babies were born with as much body fur as their parents, and it really was difficult for humans to tell them apart without going through the list of names until the yaya (which was Rugarian for the unadult) answered to the right one. A Deski young one was called a slib. Some of them were easier to identify since their skin had different tones.
Zainal caught up with her in the dining hall where they were both eating a quick meal.
âWhatâs this all about then?â she asked him.
âPlans have been made. Discussion now.â
She knew him well enough to know that she would get no more out of him. Then she noticed Miss Barrow threading her way to an empty table. She wore a look of disdain, as if wrapping herself carefully away from the reality of an ambience she could not escape. Unlike everyone else garbed in the ubiquitous ship suit, she wore a dress, severely cut, in one of the dark greens, which Kris had brought back from her excursion to the markets of Barevi. The dress was long-sleeved and buttoned up to a high collar, with a hemline at calf-length. To Krisâ astonishment, Miss Barrow did incline her head graciously as she registered Krisâ presence, but she straightened into consummate distaste as she recognized that Kris was seated with a Catteni. She turned her face haughtily away.
âPoor woman,â Kris said, shaking her
Similar Books
