she asked, as if his admission of his sexuality would matter to her. Or maybe he didn’t realize that his fatigue had made it very easy for her to reach to the more private areas of his mind. Even with my help you couldn’t `path beyond your nose.
After hours, rio, I guess riot. But, and he added aloud, `Nil and Plus have to contact their `Ours can manage that courtesy while you’re grabbing a few hours’ sleep,’ Laria said placatingly, dropping his hand as she pushed open the door out of the Tower.
Lionasha grabbed up the second dufle as they all manoeuvred the long man where they wanted him to go. Raising his arms in surrender, he allowed himself to be guided.
Laria marched straight to the nearest and largest guest bedroom, palming the blind controls to complete darkness, and lowering the room lighting to a suitable dimness.
`Ah!’ Kincaid exclaimed as he took in the spacious surroundings.
`A real bed, too!’ Laria laughed. `Yes, you wouldn’t fit on a bunk too well, would you?’ He did a shoulder roll onto the extra wide and long bed and lay there, sighing with intense relief, arms and out at the oddest times. This might be one of the times legs spread out to the edges. For a beat, the other three Talents waited for another comment from him.
Laria covered her mouth and her giggle.
`He’s asleep?’ whispered Lionasha.
`Out like a light!’ The three left the room, Laria palming the lights off and carefully sliding the door shut.
`Not that I think a torpedo would wake him Laria said as they returned to the Tower complex.
Hallway down that corridor they could hear the excited `Dini voices. Their gang were already taking care of the arrivals.
`They can all have the day of i, Laria said as they entered the main complex. `Nothing’s due in now.
`You’re right,’ Lionasha said, glancing at the topmost way-bills on her desk. `None of Plrgtglm’s shipments will arrive until tomorrow but here,’ she added, tearing a slip from the printer with a flourish, `are the coordinates you can send that misbegotten carrier to.’ She handed Laria the slip `Prayers have been answered all round today. Rev up the generators, please, Vanteer,’ Laria said, and settled herself in the nearest chair. `I have the oddest feeling I’ve already done a full day’s work with only one catch and one send. This one is the bonus.’ Printout in hand, she concentrated and, catching the rhythm of the generators, flipped Prtglm’s carrier to the coordinates given. `And that is that!’ Vanteer sniffed the air about him. `Yes, a definite improvement.
`All round,’ Lionasha agreed. `Don’t know how you stuck her so long, Laria. You’ve the patience of a saint.’ `What’s a saint?’ asked Vanteer.
`Oh, you!’ Laria said, for Vanteer’s humour broke he was trying to catch her out.
Lionasha had taken Vanteer’s query at face value and, being keen on history, explained the concept thoroughly while Laria listened. If this Kincaid fitted in with these two half as well as she rather thought he would, they were finally a real Tower Team. Vanteer was as hetero as she could wish – she could also wish for a bit more from Vanteer but there was no way she could initiate things, not with Van’s personality and the fact that he liked spreading himself around, which inhibited her. There were several others in the growing human community who might find Kincaid companionable.
TLP, HGF, ALL OF YOU, PLEASE TAKE NPL AND PLS TO SEE CLARF. DO NOT FORGET ANY OF THE SIGHTS THEY SHOULD SEE AM DO NOT WORRY ABOUT REPORTING UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING FOR WORK.
The darker pelted of Kincaid’s two sable-coloured `Dinis turned most politely to Laria. `KNKD HAS TIRED WITH TOO MUCH STRAIN. YOU WILL LET HIM SLEEP, LR LN?’ UNTIL HE WAKES, MOST EXCELLENT NPL.
There was a moment of excitement between Nil and Plus for neither had been formally introduced to Laria and her being able to identify one from the other pleased both immensely.
LR LN KNOWS MRDINIS WELL,’ said Tip with as much pomposity as a `Dini of its longevity could manage. Huf Vanteer’s Dig and Nim as well as Lionasha’s Fig and Sil were convulsed in `Dini giggles.