“Why don’t we go there after you’ve met him. I’m sure he won’t keep you long. We’re quite proud of our school, incidentally. Six teachers and six aides for—the last I heard, it was ninety-eight kids. Their coursework and visual aids come via computer link. What our people do, mainly, is guide and elaborate. Expand on the coursework, and handle any problems the children might have with it.”
The school might, she thought, be rather good in some respects. She’d be surprised, though, if there weren’t some cultist ideas thrown in. I’ll deal with that when we come to it, she told herself. If need be, we can send them to boarding school. Surely there’s a decent one in Pueblo.
* * *
Like their house, the brick administration building was utilitarian. Even Ngunda’s office, on the third floor, was utilitarian, as was his desk. At least he wasn’t into extravagant display. Three file cabinets seemed excessive though, given his cutting-edge computer. She’d take care of that, she told herself, when she reorganized their operations. Smiling, Ngunda had stood as they entered. He was taller than Ben, rather lanky and quite dark. She found herself surprised at his appearance. She’d seen him on TV, and pictures of him on Millennium’s web site, and in magazines. But the image she’d carried with her had been influenced by editorial cartoonists.
She’d heard he had charisma. Now she felt it, before he’d even spoken. She’d read up on him since they’d contracted to come here. He was 43 years old and an only child, born in Malawi of an African mother. His father was a New Zealander—Maori, Irish, and English.
“Dove,” their guide said, “I’d like you to meet Ben and Lee Shoreff.”
Ngunda grinned, a flash of white teeth. “It’s a pleasure.” His deep, resonant voice reminded her of the actor, James Earl Jones, in his prime. “Lor Lu tells me you’re just what we need here.”
“I trust we won’t disappoint him,” Lee answered. “Or you.” She was in her professional persona now, confident, businesslike.
“And you’ve brought two daughters. How old are they?”
“Rebecca is eleven and Raquel is nine. They love the idea of a ranch. They’ve imagined riding horseback here.”
“Ah! The possibility has been raised before. Perhaps it’s time to lease some horses. Larry, talk to Bar Stool about it. He’ll know what the possibilities are, and what’s necessary.” He turned back to Lee and Ben. “Tomorrow noon I’d like you both to check in at reception. Lor Lu will have you introduced to our organization, and to your jobs. If that is not too soon?”
“That will be fine. It gives us time to take the girls to school and meet their teachers.”
“Good. Will noon be all right with you, too, Mr. Shoreff?”
“Me? Yes. That will be fine.”
Color rose in Lee’s cheeks. She’d ignored Ben, as if he hadn’t been there. She’d done that before, and hated herself for it. It was the sort of thing husbands did to wives, a thing that had always annoyed her.
“Well then,” Ngunda said, “I hope you two will have supper with me.”
“I’m afraid I’ll need to press some things first,” Lee answered, “and my iron and ironing board are still on their way from Connecticut.”
“Ah! As far as I’m concerned, you look fine as you are. We’re quite informal here. Most people wear jeans at work. We’ll eat in an alcove off the staff dining room. The menu is the same for everyone. Do you think your daughters would care to eat with us?”
He raised an eyebrow at Rocco, who grinned and turned to the Shoreffs. “They can eat at our table if they’d like,” he said. “My girls are eight and six. Or someone with older kids may invite them to theirs when they see them.”
It seemed workable to Lee, and Ben agreed, so they thanked Ngunda and left. She’d decided tomorrow would be soon enough to visit the school, so Rocco walked them home. The front door was open, and from the front walk, Lee could hear the voices of more than their two girls inside. They found two others with them: Lori and Kari Klein, ten-year-old twins. Minutes later the twins’ mother stopped by, identifying herself as the welcome lady. Before she left, she’d invited Becca and Raquel to eat at the Kleins’ table that evening.