“Well, then, since the cursor’s up on Matthew’s screen, let’s hope all this waiting’s over,” Sean said, and gave a convulsive shrug of his shoulders, one of the few manifestations of his own anxiety Yana had observed. He shot a wry grin in her direction. “So the waiting’s over now. Love, and the dance begins. Ready?”
She nodded solemnly and held up the coffee pot. “Have time for a cup, Adak?”
“Sure do, Yana,” Adak said, closing the door behind him.
He strode over to the table, which had been enlarged from a small square to a large circle, with one section covered by Yana’s notes and pad and a long-handled wooden spoon that Sean was whittling. Sean had needed some occupation while he was recuperating: Yana now had four chairs instead of one. She’d helped, but she’d done more watching of his clever hands than working.
Yana put three cups and some of the sweet biscuits Sean had made on the table. Sean joined them; as usual, turning his chair round so he could lean his arms across the back of it. That chair he had made to his own specifications.
“There was also some report,” Adak went on, “came in for that fella with all funny words …”
“Ah, the analysis,” Yana said, leaning forward hopefully. “Can you remember any of the words?”
“Of course I can. Who do you think teaches the youngsters the corps glory songs and the company manual songs to keep them from harm when they’re first spaced? My memory’s good as Clodagh’s.” He gazed roof ward, eyes almost turned completely up, mouth open, and then recited: “Plant juices of an unknown alkalinity of unusual strength and a small amount of an unidentifiable animal protein. The combination is unusual and most likely derived from indigenous elements not yet included in botanical or biological records, which are unusually brief for Planet Terraform B. On the subject of the so-called coo-berry bramble thorn plant, the vegetation showed virulent growth even under controlled laboratory conditions. It secretes acid from leaf surface, thorn, and stem of such potency that it permeated Petraseal, as suspected, and etched deeply into every metal sample presented. Coo-berry sample destroyed before its mass imploded the triple plasglas container. Antidote is still under going testing. Could be useful against other alien plant-forms of similar toxicity and rapid growth. Request quantity and availability of ingredients.” Adak dropped his head, and his eyes returned to a normal position in their sockets.
“Well done, Adak,” Sean said with a laugh, and gave the old radio operator a friendly clout on his arm.
“And they want to set up a school so’s we can learn reading and writing,” Adak muttered scornfully. “What’s wrong with training a memory to remember what it’s heard ‘steada having to look it up in books all a time?” He took a long swig of the coffee, smacking his lips. “Mind you, more of this on a regular basis wouldn’t be hard to take.”
“You have to be careful what you accept from the company,” Yana said urgently, extending her hand across the table toward Adak. “Teaching the people to read and write again is essential if we’re to keep the buzzards off this planet indefinitely, but we have to choose our own material.”
“Don’t need to tell me that, Yana. It’s the younger kids need the caution.”
Yes, that was the problem, Yana thought. It was the kids who would only see the advantages of the perks Torkel was so eager to load on them. Krisuk, who had never had much and wanted to make something of himself. And those like Luca, who had been abused all her life. She gave a wry grin. Not Bunny, she thought, nor even ‘Cita, who still thinks three meals a day is sinful.
They had sent the girl with Bunny, who wouldn’t let her sister out of her sight, and Aisling and Sinead to Sinead’s old cabin, deep in the woods. Diego sneaked out at night, Dinah limping along in escort, to bring supplies and news. ‘Cita seemed to go into shock when she was told that Shepherd Howling had left the planet. Diego had reported that the day after she seemed to relax for the first time and had spontaneous questions for him: Was Coaxtl all right? And was Sean healing, and what was happening to all those left at the Vale of Tears without leadership? Diego said he’d have to find out. Which reminded Yana to ask Adak.