Free Serpent's Gift by A. C. Crispin, Deborah A. Marshall Page B

you or punish you, believe me. Janet wasn't there when the incident happened, and I haven't had time to talk to Serge or Hing."
    "Do you have to talk to Serge?" she blurted. Heather didn't want the young instructor telling Rob that she'd pissed herself like a baby. Not with what she was planning to do to Khuharkk' .
    "That depends," he said, and sat back, clearly waiting.
    "I had this ice cream..." Heather began, then went on to give the counselor the whole story, as accurately as she could up until the point where she'd wet herself, realized that Serge had noticed, then mentally promised herself that Khuharkk' would pay for what he'd done. She left all that out, of course.
    When she was done, Rob nodded thoughtfully, then said, "Do you understand why Khuharkk' was so angry?"
    "I think so," Heather said. "Hing explained last night how Simiu regard anything that makes them look stupid or foolish as an insult and a threat.
    She also told me that this"--she opened her mouth to mimic laughter--"is like a red flag to a Simiu. It's the way they challenge each other."
    Rob nodded. "I'm glad she explained. Understanding other species so we can improve communications between the Fifteen
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    ' Known Worlds is the entire mission of this school. You've had a firsthand chance to see how messed up things can get when misunderstandings occur. We work to prevent problems like that, on a planetary as well as an individual level. And telepaths are very important in helping us understand and communicate."
    Heather relaxed slightly. It seemed as though Rob wasn't going to lecture her too much, which would have been boring, as well as useless. "I know,"
    she replied. 'That's why I was glad to come here. I really do want to be a space explorer when I grow up." ¦ That was just right, she congratulated herself. Not too gushy, but enthusiastic.. .
    The psychologist regarded her steadily. "Only the best, most stable telepaths are selected to go out on the deep-space vessels," he said finally. "But having that dream gives you a goal to work (toward, which is all to the good.
    Helping you set goals and work to achieve them is part of my job. Which brings me back to your curriculum here." Rob pressed a button on his computer link, and scanned the holo-tank. "Is your class schedule okay?
    You're not going to change anything?"
    Heather shrugged. "No, everything's fine," she said, wondering what he was leading up to.
    "You've got a long break between your Intro to Nonhuman telepathy class and Intro to Calculus," he said. "I'd like us to meet twice a week, right after that Telepathy class. Would that be convenient?"
    "You mean meet for counseling sessions," Heather said flatly. shit, I've had enough therapy to last me forever! she thought disgustedly. Rob nodded. "I see most of the freshmen on a regular basis," he replied blandly.
    "You see all the freshmen twice a week?" she asked with more than a hint of sarcasm.
    "When necessary," he said evenly. "We'll just spend time together, talking, playing games, maybe watching some of my movies." He smiled at her. "I've got one I bet you'll like. it's about a kid who can do anything with computers because he's got a computer link in his brain."
    Shit! Heather barely restrained herself from leaping out of her chair and bolting from the room. Does he know? But how could he? A moment's consideration convinced her that there was no way Rob Gable could know.
    No, it had been nothing but a shot in the dark, coincidence. Don't forget all those "pranks" you played back on Earth, using computers. This shrink just did his
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    homework, reading the files ... Her heart subsided in her chest.
    Managing a feeble smile, she said casually, "I like computers. And I'm good with them. They're really simple to deal with, compared to people." Heather glanced down. "They never yell at you or beat you when you make a mistake, either."
    "I know you've had a rough time of it," Rob said, and his dark eyes were sympathetic. "But you strike