Free Visitor: A Foreigner Novel by C. J. Cherryh

association and pack the noisiest Braddock supporters down first, landing is a choice I don’t think the Reunioners can even envision. They can’t imagine dirt under their feet or a sky over them. You know Artur came back with a pocketful of pebbles. He was
fascinated
by rock you can touch. These people have no concept.”
    “There
is
no perfect answer when a group of people simply can’t have the situation they used to have. But that’s Gin’s problem. It
must
be. As of now, I won’t have a brain cell to spare for the Reunioners as a whole until we’ve met the kyo and dealt with them, something that might take years. Gin’s got a plan for the relocation—a good plan—but it’s not in my control. Only those four kids and their families are.”
    Jase nodded. “I’ll relay that. I know Sabin will understand. If anything gets in your way—advise me, regardless of the hour. I’ll try to handle it.”
    Jase didn’t mention Riggins in any planning. Nobody did. The fourth captain, Riggins, did what Ogun told him, and right now it was to keep their one starship,
Phoenix,
slightly apart from the station, capable of moving to save itself, but not capable of protecting them if things went massively wrong.
    If things went absolutely, massively wrong—Riggins and theship’s caretaker crew might be all there was left of Mospheira
and
the world they knew, and then, only if they ran. If the damage the kyo had done to Reunion was any indication, such weapons as they had were primitive compared to the kyo’s.
    “Appreciated,” Bren said.
    “Did you get any sleep last night?”
    “Not as much as I’d like. I’m going to become a little less available for a while—trust Gin to manage the problems, trust you to deal with the captains—and take the opportunity to write a few letters, now I can trust they won’t be detoured into Tillington’s hands.”
    “The man tried to exit his apartment this morning,” Jase said. “Our people stopped that. No knowing where he thought he was going. Maybe to meet Gin.”
    “He really wouldn’t have liked the reception,” Bren said. “Thanks for the catch.” And on a sudden realization: “Gin’s going to be shipping out some of his personal staff as well. I don’t know who’s on her list, but it may create some security issues. Again—I don’t know, and I’m not in a position to ask. But if you could track that—”
    “I’ll ask Gin. If people have to be moved into a restricted area, ship security can assist with that. Get them clear off the station until the shuttle’s ready.”
    “I’d appreciate it.” Asking Mospheiran security to deal with their own former high-level officials—had problems. There were problems, too, in using
ship
security to handle a Mospheiran problem, but in a station with dangerously accessible controls, physical safety trumped political considerations.
    “I’ll take that sandwich,” Jase said after a moment. “If it’s still offered.”
    It seemed like a good idea. Meals had become a matter of opportunity, the last two days. Or three. One took what one could, when one could.
    At very best, one hoped for a snack, and then a session in the office, catching up on correspondence, and reporting to peoplewho needed a report. Possibly a walk across the hall, to the dowager’s residency.
    That was days overdue, too.
    • • •
    “Aiji-ma.” It was an offered session in the dowager’s sitting room, and one had had altogether too much sugared tea. And a half a sandwich. That was all he’d managed, before the invitation from Ilisidi had arrived.
    “We sent the young gentleman to Lord Geigi’s to gather information on the needs of these guests. We have heard. We have given orders. We trust staff can provide.”
    “Indeed, aiji-ma. Clothing, food, all such. I have assured them their personal belongings will remain under lock—I arranged that with Lord Geigi. Gin-nandi has spoken to Ogun-aiji—we hope in a good exchange, taking