`Oddly enough, not all the `Dinis want her killed.
They do want to…
`Probe, pry and drive that poor creature mad, finding out how she works, how she produces her young. They’ve already killed half the larvae Thian found. Oh, I wish he hadn’t. Oh, how I wish he hadn’t!’ `Sis, you’re going off in all directions to no purpose at all,’ Rojer said, becoming slightly exasperated by her capriciousness. `You’re not a Talent for nothing. There are more ways of doing things than blasting out left, right and centre. That’s not like you anyway. Get in touch with the other like-minded folk. I’ll help you there without Mom and Dad knowing. See what you can do to help change public opinion. It can be changed, you know. And you’d make a damn fine lobbyer. That way you can help the Queen.’ `She’ll never be released.’ Zara was not about to be consoled. Rojer thought she was enjoying this wallow in sentiment. `She’ll die in that awful place, friendless, childless, alone, with her home all blown up…’ Zara put her hands to her face, weeping desperately again.
Despite `sensing’ that she was working herself up, Rojer couldn’t stand his pretty sister in tears. He took her into his arms, and she leaned exhaustedly against him, crying more piteously than ever.
I’ll take over, Rojer, his mother said as she came down the hall.
No need, Mom. I can handle it. I’ll soothe her.
You know I always could get her to sleep when she was a baby.
Yes, you could, at that. There’s a strong affinity between the pair of you like-Damia broke off and Rojer knew she had been about to name Larak.
There is, Mom, so let me use it now to calm her down.
It took time, and it meant Rojer had to forgo the few free hours he had hoped to spend with the Hive pieces but Zara was more important.
He consoled her with lavish affection, support and understanding, until, spent with such an emotional storm, she fell asleep.
When she appeared the next morning, she was calm and her usual self-effacing self though there was a sadness in her eyes that wrenched Rojer’s heart.
She’s over her menses, now, Damia said very privately to him.
Thank you for calming her down.
You’re a sweet boy as well as a clever one.
Sweet? Rojer replied in disgust. Zara’s too tenderhearted for her own good.
His mother continued, but not to him, to his father and on such a subject that Rojer was surprised to be included. Then he realized, he wasn’t included: he was catching a private conversation he ought not to be able to `hear’. He’d’ve shielded had his mother not been discussing Zara with his father.
She’s a dysfunctional Prime, Afra, Damia was saying with deep regret and distress. Father can’t expect her to do Tower service.
She’d wilt under the stress. And with everyone knowing she’s a T-1, they’ll expect her to go to a Tower.
Everyone is not your father, nor Gollee Gren who has a lot more to do with placing Talents these days than Jeff. Certainly we must inform Gollee of our anxiety and our assessment. Zara can be trained for other duties, less emotionally laden. She’s got good thrust.
Erratic as her sympathies… His mother’s tone was peevish.
Well, I’ll admit that I felt a pang of sympathy for the Queen YOU?
Rojer was equally startled, and relieved.
Yes, I. It’s an attitude that won’t endear me to many, but to be honest, Damia, and we have always been honest in our private thoughts, there was something pathetic about that Queen! Pathetic, awkward, and… valiant, I think one could say.
There was a long pause of silence. If one isn’t swayed by conditioning, his mother admitted slowly, and unfortunately, I am biased about Hivers – I can’t help it – one could call her brave to leave the pod.
Of course, she had to, didn’t she? No oxygen, no food.
Rojer nearly cheered to hear his mother admit this.
I worry more about Zara’s `Dinis, Damia went on. They do not understand her perversion…
Not perverse surely, Damia. Wayward, or maybe deviant, but not perverse. She’s an extremely sensative girl … I’ll work on reassuring her `Dinis.