Primary Inversion by Asaro Catherine

Author:Asaro, Catherine [Asaro, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction, Galactic Empire, Military
Amazon: B00AFGKJHI
Publisher: Spectrum Literary Agency, Inc.
Published: 2012-11-28T05:00:00+00:00

I wanted to hit him in the face. I hadn’t been this angry in I didn’t know how long. But why? So it

was a stupid movie. So what? “Go to hell,” I said.

Rebeka lay her hand on my arm. “It’s only a holomovie.”

I pulled away from her. “It’s an offense to the people who go out there and risk their lives every day

so kids like you can live safe and healthy and free to watch banal movies.”

I expected Hilt to tell me I was being an idiot. But he just shrugged. “I don’t see why you’re making

such a big deal about it. No one ever meant for Brain Warp to be a political statement or a work of art.”

Rebeka regarded me. “Listen, maybe we all got off to the wrong start. How about if we try again?

Why don’t we forget this movie and go for drinks somewhere?”

I knew the last thing I could handle right now was drinks with them. I made myself speak in an

apologetic voice. “I’m pretty tired. I guess I’m on a short fuse. I should go home and sleep.” The words

were a cover. I wouldn’t sleep. But I had to say something.

Neither Rebeka nor Hilt looked disappointed that I wouldn’t be joining them. Jarith kept watching

me. He stood silently while I said goodbye to the others, but after they headed back to the theater he

said, “May I walk you home?”

My shoulders relaxed. “Yes. I would like that.”

As we strolled across the park, I tried to think of something to say. But no clever lines came. For that

matter, no stupid lines came either.

When we stopped outside the apartment building, Jarith gaped up at it. “You live here?”

“When I’m on Forshires,” I said.

He looked at me. “You travel a lot?”

“Some.” I wanted him to come upstairs and keep me company, real company, the way a man could

help a woman hold the night at bay. I wanted him to make love to me again and again until his warm

masculinity banished the ghosts that haunted my mind.

Jarith whistled. “I’ve never known anyone who could afford a place like this.”

Okay, I told myself. There’s your opening. Ask him up.

But what if he said no?

“Are you going back to the movie?” I asked.

“Just to get my coat.” He grimaced. “I promised to meet some people to rehearse later. We have a

music exam tomorrow.”

“Oh.” What was wrong with me, lusting after an artist, someone with all of the aesthetic qualities I

lacked? It could never work.

Jarith hesitated. “Would you like to get together again?”

I couldn’t. “Yes.”

“Some of us are going to the beach on Tillsmorn. Why don’t you come? We can meet you here at

noon.”

I smiled. “All right.”

“Well. Good.” He grinned and waved at me. “See you then.” And he took off, heading toward the

theater.

After he left, I went upstairs. My place seemed dark even after I turned on every one of the lights. I

had lamps all over, graceful flowers of glass tinted enough to diffuse their light into a pleasant glow. The

walls were paneled in giltwood the color of sunshine.

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