[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
black hair and eyebrows to a rusty blond and had given her a cream to use on
face and hands that would bleach her complexion. She hardly looked Farris
anymore.
Studying Shanlun s downcast eyes, Azevedo motioned her to a chair beside him,
and said, Or you may sit beside Shanlun, if you like.
She took the patch of floor matting beside Shanlun, feeling the ache of shame
in his nager and wanting with unbearable intensity to soothe it away.
Azevedo closed his eyes, seeming to ignore them. At first, Laneff thought
this the rudest possible rebuke to Shanlun. But the ambient settled intoa calm
she was loath to disturb, and presently she noticed Shanlun s nager changing.
The stark contrast in color and brightness between the randomized chips at his
nageric surface seemed to fade. The flecks danced less energetically, finally
stilling and merging into a hazy solidity behind which the bright gold of
packed selyn pulsed. His intense shame turned to chagrin and faded to a
self-forgiveness.
At last, Azevedo said in the distant voice of a working channel, Your
feelings are understandable, Shanlun ambrov Zeor. You re personally involved
here, a deep involvement.
Yes. But it seems years in the Tecton have addled my perspective.
But not your acuity.You re correct that this does change the situation.
Eyes like burning coals, Shanlun looked up at Azevedo, his hand stealing
aside to grip two of Laneff s tentacles. Is there anyone among the Company
who has handled a Farris renSime s pregnancy?
I have, of course, put out the call for experienced midwives.
I m sorry, said Shanlun. I should have realized you d already be working
on it. He added, But even at best, she s going to have to be told
everything. She can t survive this without hope.
Laneff quelled a leap of curiosity and listened.
Azevedo gathered Laneff s attention. I do believe you can survive to be
delivered. But we dare not fail to consider abortion.
Laneff had not thought of that. Objections burst into her mind, but before
she could speak, Shanlun said, No! And then, worried, It s a channel, isn t
it?
Azevedo nodded. A female, unless I m mistaken. But a channel will demand so
much selyn of Laneff s system that she ll need transfers very frequently, and
will likely go into disjunction crisis much sooner.
Page 101
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Scientific terminology in their outlandish accent, their gypsy costumes,
seemed totally bizarre. Laneff laughed and then had to explain what was funny
about disjunction.
And that s the other thing, said Shanlun. Azevedo, you ve got to try to
learn her synthesis now, before she can t work anymore.
Before that, I may have to go to see Mairis. If we don t have a midwife for
her, we must beg one of the Tecton. No, Laneff, don t panic. We won t send you
to their Last Year House. Zeor has a long history of cooperation with gypsies.
As Sectuib, Mairis can provide someone to care for you. He shifted his gaze
to Shanlun. Someone we can tolerate.
Shanlun put his arm about her, and she felt his inner conflict as he summoned
bravery. I ll go to Mairis. You must stay and work with Laneff while she can
work.
Laneff choked on half-formed protests, dizzied by the speed with which events
whirled around these two. Shan, if the Tecton ever lays hold of you, you
could be sent anywhere in the world and never get back here!
No. I ll go in gypsy garb, and no one but Mairis will know who I am. I ll
tell him you re with Azevedo, and Bright hope and shyness warred with his
apprehension. Laneff, can I ask him to invite you to pledge Zeor?
She d thought about it often enough. Zeor doesn t marry out of Zeor. But
Sat htine was so much a part of her. Shan, I m a healer
But as a healer, as in all parts of your life, you do strive for excellence.
Even facing your own death, you have not ceased to strive for the best you can
envision. You have always been as much Zeor as Sat htine. Let Mairis judge
it.
I can t guarantee my answer.
Azevedo cut in, There s no reason to be anxious about it, Laneff. You ve
plenty of time to make that decision. Meanwhile, you re safe here.
That s what I thought with the Distect!thought Laneff, aware that considering
another life change, such as pledging a new House, did fill her with
intolerable anxiety.
Azevedo turned to the Gen. Shanlun, you re willing to risk your
life everything for this child?
Yes, he answered without hesitation.
Do you know why? challenged Azevedo.
Yes. He turned to Laneff, as if in explanation. The impossible doesn t
happen randomly. I haven t been tested, but I m sure I m at the absolute nadir
of my own fertility. Yet this happened despite your precautions, too. This
child is yours and mine and wants very much to be born now. I m willing to
take as much risk as you do to see that happen.
Laneff had spent three days growing into the idea, realizing that this baby
was as important to her as her work, something to survive her. Yet Shanlun had
arrived at acceptance within minutes of hearing the news. Her whole love went
out to him, and she hugged him close, burying her nose in his chest and
muttering, Yes, I m scared, too, Shan.
Page 102
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
He kissed her. The nageric warmth was incredible.
Azevedo cleared his throat. Then this is the plan. We ll begin immediately
to determine why only Laneff can do this synthesis. Jarmi will continue the
structure studies on the purified chemical you salvaged. If the Company can
find no midwife, we ll send Shanlun to Mairis with a letter I ll write. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl chiara76.opx.pl
black hair and eyebrows to a rusty blond and had given her a cream to use on
face and hands that would bleach her complexion. She hardly looked Farris
anymore.
Studying Shanlun s downcast eyes, Azevedo motioned her to a chair beside him,
and said, Or you may sit beside Shanlun, if you like.
She took the patch of floor matting beside Shanlun, feeling the ache of shame
in his nager and wanting with unbearable intensity to soothe it away.
Azevedo closed his eyes, seeming to ignore them. At first, Laneff thought
this the rudest possible rebuke to Shanlun. But the ambient settled intoa calm
she was loath to disturb, and presently she noticed Shanlun s nager changing.
The stark contrast in color and brightness between the randomized chips at his
nageric surface seemed to fade. The flecks danced less energetically, finally
stilling and merging into a hazy solidity behind which the bright gold of
packed selyn pulsed. His intense shame turned to chagrin and faded to a
self-forgiveness.
At last, Azevedo said in the distant voice of a working channel, Your
feelings are understandable, Shanlun ambrov Zeor. You re personally involved
here, a deep involvement.
Yes. But it seems years in the Tecton have addled my perspective.
But not your acuity.You re correct that this does change the situation.
Eyes like burning coals, Shanlun looked up at Azevedo, his hand stealing
aside to grip two of Laneff s tentacles. Is there anyone among the Company
who has handled a Farris renSime s pregnancy?
I have, of course, put out the call for experienced midwives.
I m sorry, said Shanlun. I should have realized you d already be working
on it. He added, But even at best, she s going to have to be told
everything. She can t survive this without hope.
Laneff quelled a leap of curiosity and listened.
Azevedo gathered Laneff s attention. I do believe you can survive to be
delivered. But we dare not fail to consider abortion.
Laneff had not thought of that. Objections burst into her mind, but before
she could speak, Shanlun said, No! And then, worried, It s a channel, isn t
it?
Azevedo nodded. A female, unless I m mistaken. But a channel will demand so
much selyn of Laneff s system that she ll need transfers very frequently, and
will likely go into disjunction crisis much sooner.
Page 101
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Scientific terminology in their outlandish accent, their gypsy costumes,
seemed totally bizarre. Laneff laughed and then had to explain what was funny
about disjunction.
And that s the other thing, said Shanlun. Azevedo, you ve got to try to
learn her synthesis now, before she can t work anymore.
Before that, I may have to go to see Mairis. If we don t have a midwife for
her, we must beg one of the Tecton. No, Laneff, don t panic. We won t send you
to their Last Year House. Zeor has a long history of cooperation with gypsies.
As Sectuib, Mairis can provide someone to care for you. He shifted his gaze
to Shanlun. Someone we can tolerate.
Shanlun put his arm about her, and she felt his inner conflict as he summoned
bravery. I ll go to Mairis. You must stay and work with Laneff while she can
work.
Laneff choked on half-formed protests, dizzied by the speed with which events
whirled around these two. Shan, if the Tecton ever lays hold of you, you
could be sent anywhere in the world and never get back here!
No. I ll go in gypsy garb, and no one but Mairis will know who I am. I ll
tell him you re with Azevedo, and Bright hope and shyness warred with his
apprehension. Laneff, can I ask him to invite you to pledge Zeor?
She d thought about it often enough. Zeor doesn t marry out of Zeor. But
Sat htine was so much a part of her. Shan, I m a healer
But as a healer, as in all parts of your life, you do strive for excellence.
Even facing your own death, you have not ceased to strive for the best you can
envision. You have always been as much Zeor as Sat htine. Let Mairis judge
it.
I can t guarantee my answer.
Azevedo cut in, There s no reason to be anxious about it, Laneff. You ve
plenty of time to make that decision. Meanwhile, you re safe here.
That s what I thought with the Distect!thought Laneff, aware that considering
another life change, such as pledging a new House, did fill her with
intolerable anxiety.
Azevedo turned to the Gen. Shanlun, you re willing to risk your
life everything for this child?
Yes, he answered without hesitation.
Do you know why? challenged Azevedo.
Yes. He turned to Laneff, as if in explanation. The impossible doesn t
happen randomly. I haven t been tested, but I m sure I m at the absolute nadir
of my own fertility. Yet this happened despite your precautions, too. This
child is yours and mine and wants very much to be born now. I m willing to
take as much risk as you do to see that happen.
Laneff had spent three days growing into the idea, realizing that this baby
was as important to her as her work, something to survive her. Yet Shanlun had
arrived at acceptance within minutes of hearing the news. Her whole love went
out to him, and she hugged him close, burying her nose in his chest and
muttering, Yes, I m scared, too, Shan.
Page 102
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
He kissed her. The nageric warmth was incredible.
Azevedo cleared his throat. Then this is the plan. We ll begin immediately
to determine why only Laneff can do this synthesis. Jarmi will continue the
structure studies on the purified chemical you salvaged. If the Company can
find no midwife, we ll send Shanlun to Mairis with a letter I ll write. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]