Free Necessity's Child (Liaden Universe®) by Steve Miller, Sharon Lee Page A

some adult circumstance which was hidden from his understanding.
    “I am waiting, Child Syl Vor.”
    He bowed.
    “Forgive me, Grandaunt. There is no impediment that I am aware of .”
    “Ah, this is the crux, is it?” Grandaunt smiled her sharp, slender smile. “If such an impediment exists, it is the duty of the impeded party to communicate this. The Code assumes that we will be observant and thoughtful, Child Syl Vor. It does not assume prescience.”
    Syl Vor sighed, only a very tiny sigh, but Grandaunt of course heard. Astonishingly, she did not scold him for an unbecoming display, but merely asked, “What does your analysis tell you now?”
    “Three days,” he said. “Unless word has been sent.”
    “That is correct.” Grandaunt tipped her head. “Is there anything else, Child Syl Vor?”
    “No. I thank you, Grandaunt; there was only that.”
    “Then I will regretfully bid you good morning.”
    He bowed, younger to elder. “Good morning, Grandaunt. Thank you.”
    “You are welcome. Please do me the kindness of closing the door behind you.”
    * * *
    The garda had come up the street, and past three of their doors, including the door where Udari had found the dying gadje . Pulka, who watched the cameras one shift out of three, said that they had come to the very place where the gadje had lain, and placed a sniffer there on the ’crete. Had the headman’s cleansing of the area been less thorough—but Alosha was never careless, and so the devices of the garda were confounded.
    The Bedel had, for several days after, remained in kompani , and only Torv went to the City Above, as the eyes and ears of the Bedel. He brought back that the garda searched for a dead man they did not, themselves, fully believe in. They were therefore undismayed to find no trace of him. There was no lamentation in the taverns, nor notices on the message poles, as sometimes there was, asking for news of the gadje , their gadje . It would seem from this that he was a man alone—which was not, as Kezzi knew—a strange thing, in the City Above, though it seemed strange, indeed, to the Bedel, who were as the petals on a single flower.
    Their gadje , since coming among them, had kept to his coma. Silain said that he healed, and it did seem to Kezzi that his fires burned a little brighter. He had many breaths now, between him and the World Unseen, like markers in a game of chance. Still, Jin said that he was frail, and that he must wake soon, for the well-being of his heart and his mind.
    To that, Silain the luthia said again that he healed, and that he would wake when he could bear it.
    Kezzi took her turn sitting at the gadje ’s side, watching the lines that fed water and virtue directly into his veins. Now that it was less swollen, she could see that his face was comely. His hair, brushed free of blood by Jin’s patient hand, was as black as her own, though it curled like a baby’s, all over his head. Sometimes, it seemed that dreams took him; he would mutter, his muscles jerk, and the dark lashes flicker along his cheeks.
    He never opened his eyes, though.
    Kezzi wondered what would happen, when at last he did.
    * * *
    Syl Vor checked his bag once more. He had a positioner, in case he should become lost, and a portcomm; extra gloves; his hat; a sweater; a cereal bar; and a bottle of water. On top, where he could find it easily, was a tin of his mother’s favorite tea, because one did not go on an afternoon call without bearing a gift—he had checked the forms, to be certain.
    He was a little concerned, that the gift would be found insufficient, since he had simply taken it out of the pantry— which , he reminded himself firmly, was not stealing from kin, because the tea was for the use of the House.
    In his pockets he had money, identification, and his folding knife. His gun was clipped to his belt, hidden beneath his jacket. Biting his lip, he tried to think if there was any other vital thing that he should have with him for