Tales of the Symbiont Safety Patrol (SYMBIOSIS) by King Samuel

Author:King, Samuel [King, Samuel]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Publisher: New Century Books
Published: 2013-03-22T16:00:00+00:00

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5. Growing Pains

Cassie Roberts glanced at the wall clock twirling a cluster of thick brown hair with her finger. Late again. Of course the professor was always late, which explained why the steering committee meetings of the New England Emancipation Society never started on time. As usual, she was the only one bothered by the delay; Joanne and Peter Mason, the other punctual members, couldn't have cared less. In fact, they were forever chiding her for being impatient.

Impatient? As a construction project manager, punctuality was important, and she failed to see why her insistence on it was viewed negatively. Unfortunately, she had lived with the injustice her entire life. Only Grandmother Cassie, for whom she was named, understood, being an "impatient" woman in her own right. She had laughingly blamed it on her own Grandmother Cassie. A scientist, she was said to have been a stickler for both punctuality and precision. Just blame it all on Great, Great Grandmother Cassie.

"Alright," she complained. "It's ten after. Can't we get started?"

"Have patience, Cassandra, have patience," Joanne replied in a patrician manner that was the essence of disdain. Born of old Boston money, she was tall and stately and never left any doubt as to her station in life—but always with manners perfected over generations.

"Always in such a hurry," Joanne's husband, Peter, chuckled. Less tall and less stately, his Boston "blue blood" lineage was all that remained of a once powerful family. He had married well.

"Time is money," she replied. "I've got a busy schedule."

They smiled and nodded tolerantly, somehow managing to convey their absolute intolerance of the work-a-day young woman. Her election to the committee, by an organization consisting largely of academics and their wealthy admirers, had obviously upset them, but it came as no surprise to Cassie. She had something most of the organization's members lacked –but appreciated: a burning passion for their raison d'etre. Much of that passion could be traced to Rebecca, an artificial and also her best friend—a best friend who needed help.

The room's holo system hummed, breaking the silence. "Attention," it announced. "Remote link established." Several seconds later, "Transport in progress." The system continued to hum for several seconds, until Dr. John Weston, professor of history, stood before them.

"Good evening, all."

Finally.

She conveyed her greetings after Joanne and Peter and received the customary cool reception in return. Don't kid yourself, brother. You go to work everyday, just like me. You're just older—much older.

At thirty-two, she was the youngest member of both the steering committee and the organization as a whole. At sixty-eight, Dr. John Weston, the late arrival, was the eldest. Wearing a polite smile, Cassie nodded as the professor eased into the chair reserved for him.

Joanne convened the meeting, and for the next forty minutes they discussed the ‘old business' of the committee: ongoing contacts with like-minded groups, fund raisers and legislative activity. Cassie endured the mind-numbing chatter, trying to gather her wits as she waited for Joanne's call for ‘new business'.

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