Read Online Freedom's Ransom by Anne McCaffrey - Free Book Online

considering the success of the covert operations that had kept them free when most of the populace had been rounded up and carted off on Catteni slave ships. That might have been just luck but this mission needed that in quantity.
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    EVERYONE AT RETREAT PRETENDED TO BE pleased to see Floss, approving the change in the girl from the intransigent, loud-mouthed brat of her first introduction to Botany. She was not overly enthusiastic about the garments produced for her to wear at the stores house. Most of the women had been making their own blouses and dresses out of the fabric and accessories that Kris had brought back from Barevi. Kris had to admit that utilitarian was not the style a girl Floss’s age would appreciate, but she was offered fabric to make her own clothing, patterns, and even the use of the one sewing machine that Retreat owned.
    â€œI learned how to sew skins together,” Floss said withsome contempt, “not how to cut and fit them. I wouldn’t want to waste good material.”
    That won her some points with the stores keeper, who was a good seamstress, and Kris saw the two in conversation and hoped something would materialize. A girl in her teens as attractive as Floss would certainly want something pretty and well fitting to wear. Someone did produce a silk scarf for her and she spent time in front of a mirror deciding how to tie and drape it—her longing for pretty and becoming things quite obvious to others in the room.
    Beth Isbell offered to trim her hair, which Floss instantly accepted. “You don’t happen to have a conditioner, do you? I had to use a very strong soap at Masai camp and it’s just ruined my hair.”
    â€œWe do have an herbal rinse that will help,” Beth said. “A local herb but much like rosemary—it brings out the sheen.”
    â€œOh, that would be marvelous. I almost hate touching my hair, it’s so brittle and dry.”
    â€œIt works with mine,” Beth said, fluffing out her blond hair, sun-streaked but shiny with health. “C’mon. The shower water should be hot. I’ll shampoo and trim it, and it will be much improved.”
    â€œOh, thank you very much,” Floss said, showing a genuine warmth and enthusiasm.
    â€œWhy did you bring that renegade back?” Sally Stoffers asked in a discreetly low voice when they had left.
    â€œShe speaks Catteni and so do that gang of hers.”
    â€œShe’s a troublemaker, born and bred!”
    Kris turned, almost defensively, to Sally, who also was a Catteni-speaker. “Zainal’s option. Remember, those kids survived in the post-invasion turmoil, so they were either very lucky or very clever. Clune, the oldest boy, has negotiated and bartered with Catteni before and we will desperately need that type of experience. How are you at driving bargains?”
    â€œShe seems more biddable but she’s a flirt, that one,”Sally repeated, her tone and expression spiteful.
    â€œClune will watch out for her,” Kris replied firmly and began folding the new clothing that would constitute Floss’s improved underwear. She didn’t think they would find any purloined clothing in the Barevi stores but perhaps there would be some. The Catteni had been magpies as to what they loaded on board their cargo ships. When she was nineteen, she had wanted to look well dressed at college so she appreciated Floss’s lack of interest in long-wearing, sturdy work garments. The scarf would be treasured. She had noticed how Floss had run it through her work-hardened hands, savoring the feel of the silk. A sapphire blue would look very well on Floss, and Kris tried to recall the bolts she had seen, of silk and satin, the last time she was on Barevi. But then, she hadn’t had Floss in mind when she’d bought fabric. Well, they’d have a look with Floss in mind while they were there this time. Who knows who would