Rebel's Seed by F M Busby

Author:F M Busby [Busby, F M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780708882603
Google: ipYVAAAACAAJ
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group Limited
Published: 1988-06-01T09:32:17+00:00

She waited, and after a time he said, "Does first choice have to be permanent? Because I'd like oldstyle, but in this setup we can't stick to it, right now."

Lisele nodded. "Too peacefixing true. So what about newstyle? And then when this mess is over, have us an oldstyle ceremony. That should take care of everything, don't you think?"

"Mmm, yes, Hey!"

Well, maybe she'd let her hand get a little bold, but it showed her that Arlen didn't need too long between times. Feeling an excitement that surprised her, she said, "While we're here?' He nodded. "This time, Arlen, why don't we do everything very, very slowly?"

Oh, yes! Arlen could learn, all right!

They were lucky, she thought, that the intercom didn't blare a minute or two earlier than it did. Because Eduin Brower wasn't sounding very patient. "Limmer? Moray? Where the hell are you? The skipper's on circuit."

Up in Control, most of the group were listening to Katmai Delarov s comments on Commodore Maiden's latest demand. "Breeding program, eh? Typical UET thinking. In fairness, though, if we're reduced to forming a colony-well clear of Maiden's, of course-we'd have to think much the same way. Even to the suggestion someone made, of kidnapping some of his younger people to augment the gene pool."

Frowning briefly, the captain paused. "Meanwhile you need to answer the man, and I have no illusions that your choices will be easy ones. Eduin, you know that in this necessity you have my leave, freely given." Brewer's face made momentary contortion; then he nodded. Delarov continued, "Anders and Alina: you'll have to decide for yourselves; we've never discussed how important exclusiveness is to your bonding so I have no idea. Mister Houk has no such problems, I'm sure. And Mister Limmer-" She chuckled. "Young men seldom argue against their gonads."

Arlen, Lisele saw, wanted to argue with somebody. Probably to back up his earlier brag to her, that if they were lovers he'd refuse to play Maiden's game, orders or no orders. But that was unrealistic; she patted his arm, and he subsided.

"-temporary quarters nearby, as you suggest," the captain was saying. "So whatever you decide, individually, as to who participates and who doesn't, I suppose you'd better begin to make arrangements with Maiden. Unless you've already done so, and in that case you have my retroactive approval."

She cleared her throat. "More importantly, we need data on the condition of the Pattern's Drive. I suggest-"

As Lisele listened, the captain's ideas sounded good. With the scout's people cooperating, Maiden wasn't likely to get tricky again. Not for quite a while, anyway. "So for the moment I'm extending that one-week deadline I set. Just keep me posted.

"Delarov out."

The screen went blank; Brower cut the circuit. Anders Kobolak said, "She's right. I'd better call the commodore."

Cray Maiden wasn't immediately available. Feeling restless, Lisele went into the sleeping area and sat on her bunk. She wanted time to think, but the place simply wasn't private enough. Go groundside? No; she wouldn't be allowed out

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