formal, two steps behind her leader. She didn’t say a word, didn’t so much as glance in his direction.
Cristobal listened somberly, sitting on his throne-like chair and not stirring until Nakata finished speaking. And then he rose, took the single step down from the dais and waited until the Earth admiral came forward and offered his hand. They shook solemnly and to all appearances that was it.
He knew what others didn’t, that Cristobal and Nakata had already met privately before this public display that was so necessary. Every person on Harp was reeling from the damage that had been done, but none more than the guildsmen who felt the forest’s pain as if it were their own. It took a concentrated effort to shunt it aside enough to focus on other things. And all of Harp was agitating for blood from the Earthers. The Green was a part of all of them.
Cristobal and Nakata’s earlier meeting had focused primarily on the details of the fleet’s departure. Neither of them wanted to repudiate the earlier agreement regarding the shuttle base and Harp’s inclusion in Earth’s regular trade route. Both had agreed that some acceleration of the timetable was in order. They’d agreed that Nakata’s fleet would break orbit within the week, with a small team of techs remaining behind to finish installation of the computer center and train Harpers in its use and maintenance.
He wasn’t thrilled with that last part. No Earthers on Harp would have been better. The still-raw wound in the Green was evidence of that, if nothing else. But no one had invited his opinion, and even he couldn’t deny the benefits the new computers would bring to the planet.
With the formal ceremony complete, Nakata gathered his people, including Amanda, and departed without fanfare. A suitable Guild escort was waiting outside to make sure they got safely back to their shuttle and off the planet. The safely part applying more to the planet’s well-being than to any threat to their visitors.
He watched them go, happy to see the back end of the fleet, wishing he and Amanda had parted on better terms. Or that they’d had more time together before she left. Maybe it was better this way. In a few days, she’d be light years away, and that would be it.
Cristobal spun on his heel as soon as the big doors closed on the Earthers. “Fionn, Rhodry,” he snapped, “with me.”
He shot Fionn a questioning look. The returning shrug said he didn’t know any better than Rhodry what his father wanted.
“Close the door, Fionn,” Cristobal said when they joined him in his office. He sat behind his desk, his chair pushed back, one hand on his belt knife which bore the Guild insignia. Rhodry had one just like it.
Fionn sank into one of the big chairs in front of the desk, draped over it like a big cat, while Rhodry remained standing. His gut was telling him that whatever Cristobal had called them here to discuss wasn’t going to be welcome news.
“You know we signed an agreement with Admiral Nakata,” Cristobal said without preamble.
He and Fionn nodded.
“Harp gets added to the Earth trade route,” Fionn supplied.
“Which means little since we’ve nothing to trade,” Rhodry added.
“True,” Cristobal agreed. “But we are getting the new computer facility, and that will be to our benefit. Nakata’s people will also be downloading their rather substantial scientific and historical databases. Our science and tech types are thrilled.”
He wondered what the hell any of that had to do with him, then reined in his impatience. If it mattered to Harp, it mattered to him.
“You may also know that some of Nakata’s people will remain behind.”
“A very few, to finish the installation and train our own people,” Fionn recited, letting his own impatience show.
Cristobal gave his son a long look before continuing. “This morning, Admiral Nakata provided the roster of personnel who will be remaining. And guess who’s on it?”
He didn’t
Cristobal listened somberly, sitting on his throne-like chair and not stirring until Nakata finished speaking. And then he rose, took the single step down from the dais and waited until the Earth admiral came forward and offered his hand. They shook solemnly and to all appearances that was it.
He knew what others didn’t, that Cristobal and Nakata had already met privately before this public display that was so necessary. Every person on Harp was reeling from the damage that had been done, but none more than the guildsmen who felt the forest’s pain as if it were their own. It took a concentrated effort to shunt it aside enough to focus on other things. And all of Harp was agitating for blood from the Earthers. The Green was a part of all of them.
Cristobal and Nakata’s earlier meeting had focused primarily on the details of the fleet’s departure. Neither of them wanted to repudiate the earlier agreement regarding the shuttle base and Harp’s inclusion in Earth’s regular trade route. Both had agreed that some acceleration of the timetable was in order. They’d agreed that Nakata’s fleet would break orbit within the week, with a small team of techs remaining behind to finish installation of the computer center and train Harpers in its use and maintenance.
He wasn’t thrilled with that last part. No Earthers on Harp would have been better. The still-raw wound in the Green was evidence of that, if nothing else. But no one had invited his opinion, and even he couldn’t deny the benefits the new computers would bring to the planet.
With the formal ceremony complete, Nakata gathered his people, including Amanda, and departed without fanfare. A suitable Guild escort was waiting outside to make sure they got safely back to their shuttle and off the planet. The safely part applying more to the planet’s well-being than to any threat to their visitors.
He watched them go, happy to see the back end of the fleet, wishing he and Amanda had parted on better terms. Or that they’d had more time together before she left. Maybe it was better this way. In a few days, she’d be light years away, and that would be it.
Cristobal spun on his heel as soon as the big doors closed on the Earthers. “Fionn, Rhodry,” he snapped, “with me.”
He shot Fionn a questioning look. The returning shrug said he didn’t know any better than Rhodry what his father wanted.
“Close the door, Fionn,” Cristobal said when they joined him in his office. He sat behind his desk, his chair pushed back, one hand on his belt knife which bore the Guild insignia. Rhodry had one just like it.
Fionn sank into one of the big chairs in front of the desk, draped over it like a big cat, while Rhodry remained standing. His gut was telling him that whatever Cristobal had called them here to discuss wasn’t going to be welcome news.
“You know we signed an agreement with Admiral Nakata,” Cristobal said without preamble.
He and Fionn nodded.
“Harp gets added to the Earth trade route,” Fionn supplied.
“Which means little since we’ve nothing to trade,” Rhodry added.
“True,” Cristobal agreed. “But we are getting the new computer facility, and that will be to our benefit. Nakata’s people will also be downloading their rather substantial scientific and historical databases. Our science and tech types are thrilled.”
He wondered what the hell any of that had to do with him, then reined in his impatience. If it mattered to Harp, it mattered to him.
“You may also know that some of Nakata’s people will remain behind.”
“A very few, to finish the installation and train our own people,” Fionn recited, letting his own impatience show.
Cristobal gave his son a long look before continuing. “This morning, Admiral Nakata provided the roster of personnel who will be remaining. And guess who’s on it?”
He didn’t
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