Father loves to pun, his mother said, her tone amused so Rojer realized that he hadn’t embarrassed her.
Then he, Gil and Kat made a dash for the bathroom and made a very thorough job of cleansing themselves. Afra came in just as Rojer had finished, with a single suit of navy blue over his arm. He was dressed in a similar outfit, and there was an unusual twinkle in his eyes. It occurred to Rojer that his father was going to enjoy this break from routine just as much as he was and he grinned at that perception.
It is sometimes very beneficial to do something different. Afra tossed the single suit at him. Wear your Tower shoes. The navy gets annoyed if you scar their planking or decking or whatever the term is for their floors.
when they came back into the living room, Zara was cheerful, too, as she and Morag were clearing the dining table with their `Dinis.
Rojer rather thought Morag was trying very hard not to look envious or resentful.
`I’ll ride Saki while you’re gone. She needs the exercise,’ Morag said, watching to see his reaction.
`I appreciate the offer, Morrie,’ he said with great dignity, `but we’re not going to be gone more than a day.’ `You didn’t ride her yesterday, you know.’ Trust Morag to keep track.
`So you’ll ride her first thing tomorrow morning, his mother said and Morag rolled her eyes and turned to her chore, `then you’ll do Tower duty With my top Talents off gallivanting about the galaxy, we gals have to prove we can stand in with no trouble at all.’ Zara looked as if she’d been offered a summer on Deneb with that silly cousin she adored, but Morag tossed Rojer a `so-who-needs-you’ look. He didn’t need his mother’s quick glance to know he’d better not react to that blatant challenge.
Then in the next breath, it was time to go. Gil had lost its favorite belt and when that was found, Kat started drinking bowls of water until Flk stopped that, and hauled Kat off to drain.
They got to the Tower and into the capsule well before the end of the hour. Rojer settled himself, strapping Gil and Kat in on either side, both squirming like eels, as the generators built. His father was last in and then Keylarion herself closed the hatch.
Ready? His mother sounded so cool and businesslike. Just remember, and suddenly her voice wasn’t so sure: to his astonishment, she seemed to catch herself back, but continued, just remember that your father links first, Rojer.
He knew what she meant and why her voice had suddenly altered.
You’ve drilled me well enough in that protocol, Mother. Have no fear!
Even through the stout metal walls of the personnel carrier, he heard the exact moment when the generators reached the peak note. He didn’t feel motion – but then he never did when his mother or father `ported. He did feel a subtle alteration in the pressure of `portation.
He’s clever, this one, Jeff, said his grandmother and Rojer realized that his mother had handed over the `port to Callisto Prime.
The pressure increased and he felt his father’s fingers squeeze his hand. He turned his head and grinned, saw his father grin back and then the pressure went away. Outside the capsule were distinct noises, metallic clangings, shouts, orders.
Someone politely rapped on the hatch. `You all right in there, sirs?’ `Indeed we are.’ The hatch opened and an older man looked in, then braced himself and saluted. `Chief Petty Officer Godowlning, Mr Lyon sir! Captain Smelkoff’s compliments. He’s on his way here but you sure made it in a hurry,’ he added in a less formal tone.
Rojer tried not to gawk and turned to release the straps on his `Dinis who began to snicker.
GOOD DAY. GOOD DREAMS, Godowlning said in understandable but oddly accented `Dini and that set both of them clittering and clattering.
`Thank you!’ Rojer said, not knowing the proper way to address a chief petty officer. He should have listened to Thian’s meanderings about naval protocol and stuff.
`Tank 00,’ Gil replied in its best Basic.