See why I love our old biddy? Could have quick-frosted Wyoh with same words–but was real and Wyoh knew.
Hadn’t warned Wyoh about switch in names, thought of it en route. Some of our kids were small and while they grew up despising Warden, no sense in risking prattle about “Wyoming Knott, who’s visiting us”–that name was listed in “Special File Zebra.”
So I missed warning her, was new to conspiracy.
But Wyoh caught cue and never bobbled.
Greg was in preaching clothes and would have to leave in minutes. Mum did not hurry, took Wyoh down line of husbands–Grandpaw, Greg, Hans–then up line of wives–Ludmilla, Lenore, Sidris, Anna–with stately grace, then started on our kids.
I said, “Mum? Excuse me, want to change arms.” Her eyebrows went up a millimeter, meaning: “We’ll speak of this but not in front of children”–so I added: “Know it’s late, Greg’s sneaking look at watch. And Wyma and I are going to church. So ‘scuse, please.”
She relaxed. “Certainly, dear.” As she turned away I saw her arm go around Wyoh’s waist, so I relaxed.
I changed arms, replacing number seven with social arm. But was excuse to duck into phone cupboard and punch “MYCROFTXXX.” “Mike, we’re home. But about to go to church. Don’t think you can listen there, so I’ll check in later. Heard from Prof?”
“Not yet, Man. Which church is it? I may have some circuit.”
“Pillar of Fire Repentance Tabernacle–”
“No reference.”
“Slow to my speed, pal. Meets in West-Three Community Hall. That’s south of Station on Ring about number–.”
“I have it. There’s a pickup inside for channels and a phone in the corridor outside; I’ll keep an ear on both.”
“I don’t expect trouble, Mike.”
“It’s what Professor said to do. He is reporting now. Do you wish to speak to him?”
“No time. ‘Bye!”
That set pattern: Always keep touch with Mike, let him know where you are, where you plan to be; Mike would listen if he had nerve ends there. Discovery I made that morning, that Mike could listen at dead phone, suggested it–discovery bothered me; don’t believe in magic. But on thinking I realized a phone could be switched on by central switching system without human intervention–if switching system had volition. Mike had bolshoyeh volition.
How Mike knew a phone was outside that hall is hard to say, since “space” could not mean to him what means to us. But he carried in storage a “map”–structured relations–of Luna City’s engineering, and could almost always fit what we said to what he knew as “Luna City”; hardly ever got lost.
So from day cabal started we kept touch with Mike and each other through his widespread nervous system. Won’t mention again unless necessary.
Mum and Greg and Wyoh were waiting at outer door, Mum chomping but smiling. I saw she had lent Wyoh a stole; Mum was as easy about skin as any Loonie, nothing newchummish–but church was another matter.
We made it, although Greg went straight to platform and we to seats. I settled in warm, mindless state, going through motions. But Wyoh did really listen to Greg’s sermon and either knew our hymn book or was accomplished sight reader.
When we got home, young ones were in bed and most adults; Hans and Sidris were up and Sidris served cocoasoy and cookies, then all turned in. Mum assigned Wyoh a room in tunnel most of our kids lived in, one which had had two smaller boys last time I noticed. Did not ask how she had reshuffled, was clear she was giving my guest best we had, or would have put Wyoh with one of older girls.
I slept with Mum that night, partly because our senior wife is good for nerves–and nerve-racking things had happened–and partly so she would know I was not sneaking to Wyoh’s room after things were quiet. My workshop, where I slept when slept alone; was just one bend from Wyoh’s door. Mum was telling me, plain as print: “Go ahead, dear. Don’t tell me if you wish to be mean about it. Sneak behind my back.”
Which neither of us admitted. We visited as we got ready for bed, chatted after light out, then I turned over.