Read Online Serpent's Gift by A. C. Crispin, Deborah A. Marshall - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: A. C. Crispin, Deborah A. Marshall
Ads: Link
pursuing his music career; he couldn't face returning to their silent recriminations. In his years at StarBridge, the school had become home .. .
Rob, Janet, and the other staff were now his family.
So Serge had stayed on, serving as an Orientation Guide (the best one they'd ever had, Rob had told him). His interest in archaeology (he'd minored in it) had led to his becoming Professor Greyshine's teaching assistant when the Heeyoon had arrived a year ago. He'd done so well that for the past eight months Serge had been teaching the intro-level courses himself. Following Horizons Unlimited's discovery of the artifacts, both archaeologists spent every free moment out at the dig. For the first time since his accident, Serge had felt that he was making a real contribution.
As he neared Hing's room, Serge had to force himself to keep striding quickly. His heart was pounding, and not from the brisk walk. Perhaps she's not here. . . It was possible, though he'd checked her schedule, and knew there were no play rehearsals held this early in the day. Perhaps she'll be angry when she sees me... perhaps she will think I am pushing her. . .
Giving himself a mental shake, he keyed the door. She was glad to see me, I know she was. Just say hello, and inquire how
42
she is--i am not possibly think you are overstepping by
"Who is it?" the intercom inquired. It was Hing's voice, and Serge's mouth went suddenly dry as he identified himself.
The door slid open halfway, and she was there, her hair, not yet braided for the day, flowing over her slender shoulders and down her back like an ebony waterfall. "Hi," she said with a faint smile, but there was a wary gleam in her dark, almond-shaped eyes.
"Hello," he said. "I stopped by to see how Heather is doing. She had quite a shock yesterday, when Khuharkk' came at her. Is she here?"
"No, Dr. Rob asked to see her this morning, and she's there now," Hing said, signaling the door all the way open, then waving him in. "She seemed fine by last night.. . and this morning she was bouncing around, all excited about being here. You know how resilient kids are. Would you like to sit down? Do you have time for a cup of tea?"
"Of course," he lied.
Hing was wearing a silky robe made of Apis spider-silk, pale silver in color, with exotic alien blossoms in shades of pastel green and saffron rippling across it. Within its folds, she looked even smaller and more delicate than usual. Serge sat down on the couch in the living room and sipped the tea she gave him.
"You were wonderful yesterday, with Khuharkk'," he said, his eyes finally meeting hers. "That could have been a nasty incident, but you handled it so calmly."
She smiled wryly. "One of my better performances. My heart kept wanting to sink into my shoes. Khuharkk' was really pissed, not that I can blame him."
Her smile broadened into a grin, then she giggled as if she couldn't help it.
"Poor Khuharkk'-- his expression when that ice cream slid down his mane--"
Serge shook his head. "Pistachio is definitely not his color," he agreed, and they both laughed ruefully. He finished his tea, and put the cup back on the table, careful, as always, not to exert too much pressure on the fragile china.
When he'd first been learning to use his artificial hands, he'd broken half of what he touched.
"You mentioned wanting to see the dig," he said, carefully casual. "How about next week? The Professor and I have decided to take my Intro class out on a field trip, and some experienced help would be welcome, to keep an eye on the freshmen. Some of the students have barely passed their basic spacesuit tests."
43
Hing considered, then nodded. "Sure, I'd like to see the dig. And I'll be glad to help you out."
He nodded, keeping the exultation he felt under control. Be light, casual, he cautioned himself. Don't push, don't push .. . "Excellent," he said, and rose.
"The tea was delicious. Thank you. I will call you later today with the exact date and time, if
Rob, Janet, and the other staff were now his family.
So Serge had stayed on, serving as an Orientation Guide (the best one they'd ever had, Rob had told him). His interest in archaeology (he'd minored in it) had led to his becoming Professor Greyshine's teaching assistant when the Heeyoon had arrived a year ago. He'd done so well that for the past eight months Serge had been teaching the intro-level courses himself. Following Horizons Unlimited's discovery of the artifacts, both archaeologists spent every free moment out at the dig. For the first time since his accident, Serge had felt that he was making a real contribution.
As he neared Hing's room, Serge had to force himself to keep striding quickly. His heart was pounding, and not from the brisk walk. Perhaps she's not here. . . It was possible, though he'd checked her schedule, and knew there were no play rehearsals held this early in the day. Perhaps she'll be angry when she sees me... perhaps she will think I am pushing her. . .
Giving himself a mental shake, he keyed the door. She was glad to see me, I know she was. Just say hello, and inquire how
42
she is--i am not possibly think you are overstepping by
"Who is it?" the intercom inquired. It was Hing's voice, and Serge's mouth went suddenly dry as he identified himself.
The door slid open halfway, and she was there, her hair, not yet braided for the day, flowing over her slender shoulders and down her back like an ebony waterfall. "Hi," she said with a faint smile, but there was a wary gleam in her dark, almond-shaped eyes.
"Hello," he said. "I stopped by to see how Heather is doing. She had quite a shock yesterday, when Khuharkk' came at her. Is she here?"
"No, Dr. Rob asked to see her this morning, and she's there now," Hing said, signaling the door all the way open, then waving him in. "She seemed fine by last night.. . and this morning she was bouncing around, all excited about being here. You know how resilient kids are. Would you like to sit down? Do you have time for a cup of tea?"
"Of course," he lied.
Hing was wearing a silky robe made of Apis spider-silk, pale silver in color, with exotic alien blossoms in shades of pastel green and saffron rippling across it. Within its folds, she looked even smaller and more delicate than usual. Serge sat down on the couch in the living room and sipped the tea she gave him.
"You were wonderful yesterday, with Khuharkk'," he said, his eyes finally meeting hers. "That could have been a nasty incident, but you handled it so calmly."
She smiled wryly. "One of my better performances. My heart kept wanting to sink into my shoes. Khuharkk' was really pissed, not that I can blame him."
Her smile broadened into a grin, then she giggled as if she couldn't help it.
"Poor Khuharkk'-- his expression when that ice cream slid down his mane--"
Serge shook his head. "Pistachio is definitely not his color," he agreed, and they both laughed ruefully. He finished his tea, and put the cup back on the table, careful, as always, not to exert too much pressure on the fragile china.
When he'd first been learning to use his artificial hands, he'd broken half of what he touched.
"You mentioned wanting to see the dig," he said, carefully casual. "How about next week? The Professor and I have decided to take my Intro class out on a field trip, and some experienced help would be welcome, to keep an eye on the freshmen. Some of the students have barely passed their basic spacesuit tests."
43
Hing considered, then nodded. "Sure, I'd like to see the dig. And I'll be glad to help you out."
He nodded, keeping the exultation he felt under control. Be light, casual, he cautioned himself. Don't push, don't push .. . "Excellent," he said, and rose.
"The tea was delicious. Thank you. I will call you later today with the exact date and time, if
Similar Books
