Read Online Nova by Samuel Delany - Free Book Online Page B

cry.
    "Dear me, now what's the matter?" Mother looked concerned.
    "There's nothing wrong with her," Aaron Red said. "She knows what's going to happen when I get her home. They know when they do wrong."
    Ruby, who hadn't thought about what was going to happen at all, began to cry in earnest.
    "Why don't we talk about this tomorrow morning." Mother cast Von Ray a despairing glance. But Father was too upset by Ruby's tears and chagrined by Lorq's presence to respond.
    "Yes, you take them home, Dana." He looked up to see the miners watching. "Take them home now. Come, Aaron, you needn't worry yourself."
    "Here," Mother said. "Ruby, Prince, give me your hands. Come, Lorq, we're going right— "
    Mother had extended her hands to the children.
    Then Prince reached with his prosthetic arm, and yanked - Mother screamed, staggered forward, beating at his wrist with her free hand. Metal and plastic fingers locked her own.
    "Prince!" Aaron reached for him, but the boy ducked away, twisted, then dodged across the floor.
    Mother went to her knees on the dirt floor, gasping, letting out tiny sobs. Father caught her by the shoulders. "Dana! What did he do? What happened?" Mother shook her head.
    Prince ran straight against Tavo.
    "Catch him!" Father shouted in Portuguese.
    And Aaron bellowed, "Prince!"
    At the word, resistance left the boy; he sagged in Tavo's arms, face white.
    Mother was on her feet now, grimacing on Father's shoulder. " ...and one of my white birds ..." Lorq heard her say.
    "Prince, come here!" Aaron commanded.
    Prince walked back, his movements jerky and electric.
    "Now," Aaron said. "You go back to the house with Dana. She's sorry she mentioned your hand. She didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
    Mother and Father looked at Aaron, astounded. Aaron Red turned to them. He was a small man. The only thing red about him Lorq could see were the corners of his eyes. "You see— Aaron looked tired— "I never mention his deformity. Never." He looked upset. "I don't want him to feel inferior. I don't let anyone point him out as different at all. You must never talk about it in front of him, you see. Not at all."
    Father started to say something. But the initial embarrassment of the evening had been his.
    Mother looked back and forth between the two men, then at her hand. It was cradled in her other palm, and she made stroking motions. "Children," she said. "Come with me."
    "Dana, are you sure that you're— "
    Mother cut him off with a look. "Come with me, children," she repeated. They left the tent.
    Tavo was outside. "I go with you, Senhora. I will go back to the house with you, if you wish."
    "Yes, Tavo," Mother said. "Thank you." She held her hand against the stomach of her dress.
    "That boy with the iron hand." Tavo shook his head. "And the girl, and your son. I brought them here, Senhora. But they asked me to, you see. They told me to bring them here."
    "I understand," Mother said.
    They didn't go down through the jungle this time, but took the wider road that led past the launch from where the aquaturbs took the miners to the undersea mines. The high forms swayed in the water, casting double shadows on the waves.
    As they reached the gate of the park, Lorq was suddenly sick to his stomach. "Hold his head, Tavo," Mother instructed. "See, this excitement isn't good for you, Lorq. And you were drinking that milk again. Do you feel any better?"
    He hadn't mentioned the rum. The smell in the tent, as well as the odor that lingered around Tavo kept his secret. Prince and Ruby watched him quietly, glancing at one another.
    Upstairs Mother got the sitter back in order, and secured Prince and Ruby in their room. Finally she came into the nursery.
    "Does your hand still hurt, Mommy?" he asked from the pillow.
    "It does. Nothing's broken, though I don't know why not. I'm going to get the medico-unit soon as I leave you."
    "They wanted to go!" Lorq blurted. "They said they wanted to see where you all had gone."
    Mother sat down on the