Free Freedom's Ransom by Anne McCaffrey Page A

rested on her. He waved at her and, excusing herself, she went to see why he had singled her out.
    â€œJust had a message from Chuck. He’s on his way back and he’s very pleased with himself,” Jerry said, grinning because he had good news to tell.
    â€œChuck? Oh, that’s great!” He’d gone to find out if his elderly cousins, Rose and Cherry Mitford, were still alive. He’d also dropped other Botanists where they could hunt out kith and kin as well as start work repairing damaged infrastructures.
    â€œKnew you’d want to know soon as possible,” Jerry went on. “And oh, he said to mention that he’d stopped on Barevi on his way home to pick up a few things.”
    â€œOh, goodness. What’s his ETA?”
    â€œNext hour.”
    â€œDo tell Dorothy Dwardie, Jerry. She’ll want to know, too.”
    â€œI thought of her first, actually, and told her on my way here,” Jerry said, grinning broadly.
    â€œThanks. Oh, Zainal will be so pleased. I wonder what Chuck thought to bring back from Barevi,” she muttered to herself as she made her way back to the table where the boys had finished eating.
    â€œThat will save us a lot of time,” Zainal said, very pleased with her news. “Especially as he’ll be able to give us a report on conditions on both planets. Wonder what he stopped off at Barevi for that would have been important enough for him to detour so far off the direct line to Botany. And how and with what did he pay for it?”
    â€œWe should know soon enough. Shall we go meet him?”
    â€œYes, and show him our newest translators. C’mon, lads.” He signaled for the five boys to follow him.

Chapter Three
    CHUCK EMERGED FROM THE SPACESHIP ACCOMPANIED by two women, and beside Kris, Dorothy inhaled sharply.
    â€œDon’t worry, Dorothy,” Kris said quickly. “Look at their faces. They’re Mitfords or I’ll eat a night crawler!”
    The family resemblance extended not only to the facial features but to the physical proportions of the two women: the same sturdy bodies and lanky stride, and a way of looking directly at people with an assessing look in the eye. The two women were equally weather-beaten, their eyes squinting from years of filtering out sun and wind.
    â€œHis cousins, I presume,” Kris said, for Chuck was urging the pair to where Kris and Dorothy were standing.
    â€œDorothy, these are my cousins, Rose and Cherry, and I’d be much obliged if you’d welcome them. They’ve had a rough time lately, and I won’t let them out of my sight until I know they’ve recovered completely.” He gestured to the ground cart. “Dorothy, would you mind taking them to Dane for a physical? It was a bitter winter back in Texas.”
    â€œOf course. Rose, Cherry,” and Dorothy gestured for them to take seats in the cart. “I’d be happy to. And we’ll have a lot to talk about, I’m sure.”
    â€œDorothy Dwardie will see you’re comfortable, Rose, Cherry,” and he kissed each on the cheek. “But me and Zainal here have to have a conference. This is the guy I was telling you about. Who freed Earth and his own planet.”
    Rose extended her hand. “Charlie here bent our ears out of shape telling us all you did to save both the worlds.” Cherry was a little more reserved but she shook Zainal’s hand in as hearty a fashion as Rose had and murmured something about unforgettable heroism.
    â€œWe know you’re busy, Chuck, and we’re mighty glad to be here, Dorothy. We’ve heard so much about you, Kris. Will we see you later?”
    â€œYou will indeed, Rose, Cherry, and welcome to Botany.”
    â€œAnd who are these young men?” Rose asked, opening her hand in the direction of Peran and Bazil.
    â€œThey are my sons, Rose Mitford.”
    â€œI am pleased to meet you, too,” she said, extending her