The City Who Fought by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Action & Adventure, Space Opera
Publisher: Baen Books
Published: 2022-05-03T04:00:00+00:00

Several of Simeon-Amos’s instructors were female.

Woof, Simeon thought. Thin, plain and severely ascetic in middle-age, Flimma Torkin blossomed visibly as Simeon-Amos bowed over her hand.

Her smile died a few minutes later. He appeared to be hovering attentively, but . . .

“Mr. Sierra Nueva—”

“Simeon-Amos,” he said.

“Will you please listen to what I’m saying? As station head, you should have some knowledge of how our communications system functions.”

“I am sorry,” he said meekly.

This should be interesting, Simeon mused. The rest of the session went much more smoothly, although several times Amos absently called the communications chief nama.

Nonstandard. Simeon thought the computer into action; a few nanos later it came up with a probable derivation, from the languages other than Standard spoken among the first settlers of Bethel, plus observation of the refugees.

nama: aunt, auntie. Probable meanings: female authority figure from childhood, nurse, teacher [primary].

“That didn’t go too badly,” Amos commented as Flimma left.

“You learn quickly,” Simeon said: sufficiently true as well as polite encouragement.

Meanwhile, Simeon had been busily switching assignments. The assistant power chief was really the logical person to brief Amos. The fact that Holene Jagarth was stacked and less than thirty was irrelevant; at least to Simeon and anyone else dealing with her as an expert on plasma containment.

Twenty minutes later she stood, ominously silent for a moment, then turned to the pillar.

“Talk to him, Simeon. Or send him around to my place for recreational duty, but in the meantime I have work to do!” Holene said in a terse voice, turned on her heel and stalked for the corridor.

Amos blinked in astonishment. “What was the matter with her?” he asked plaintively.

“Ahem,” Simeon said, and watched Amos turn back toward the training display they’d been using. “I wonder if you could tell me, what role do women play in Bethel society?”

“Role?” The question seemed almost meaningless to him. “They are mothers, of course; daughters, sisters, wives. They keep the home, raise the children, follow gentle skills such as medicine and painting, the writing of novels and poetry.” He looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“I was wondering if, perhaps, women played a more subservient role on Bethel.”

“Subservient? No, of course not! Bethel has, as yet, a very small population. Therefore, to us, the bearing and raising of children is the highest calling a woman may attain. We revere our mothers, and we feel that women and children are to be protected and nurtured.”

He frowned, mildly indignant. “There are exceptional cases, such as Channa. And I have never been one of those who think that women should keep to the inner rooms and stay silent in the presence of men. That is old-fashioned and ridiculous. Why, some of my primary associates in the New Revelation were women! I feel as though you are telling me that respect is disrespectful.”

“Not at all,” Simeon said soothingly, “but I think you may be confusing respect with condescension.” Amos’ face took on the set look it had worn through the last half of his dinner with Channa.

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