Free Valhai (The Ammonite Galaxy) by Gillian Andrews

now does it?”
    Xenon 49 raised his eyebrows and looked at her steadily.
    “You don’t know anything about it at all, dear,” Cimma said quite contentedly. “You had better leave everything to me, now. I won’t let anything hurt your sister, don’t you worry about that!”
    Xenon caught Grace’s eye. Grace looked quickly away. Amanita was staring at Cimma with an unbelieving expression, and both grandchildren were open-eyed.
    Xenon 49 left them as soon as he had finished eating, so Grace was forced to wait until it was time for Xenon 50 and Genna to go to sleep for the opportunity to talk to him alone. As soon as Amanita had taken the two youngsters away, trailing a Cimma who had assumed office as a bodyguard, Grace slipped unannounced into her brother’s office.
    “I’m glad to talk to you alone, Grace,” he said. “Mother really can’t go on like this. I will have to ask Amanita to take cards in the matter.”
    “Please don’t, Xenon. She doesn’t do anybody any harm, and I am sure she will get better soon.”
    “She had better. I really don’t need all Sell to be talking about Mother. It’s too bad of her to behave like this. She doesn’t seem to realize that I am head of house now!”
    “She is just mourning Father.”
    “Well, why can’t she mourn like anybody else? Without causing any fuss?” he asked, jabbing a finger at the predis button in order to silence the interscreen. “Why should I have to put up with all this?”
    “Actually,” Grace pointed out, “you don’t have to put up with very much at all.”
    His eyes narrowed. “I hope that is not a criticism against your head of house, Grace?”
    “No, of course not. I just meant . . . that is I’m sorry.” She hung her head.
    “Very well. Now go away, do. I have a lot of work to catch up on.”
    “I wanted to ask you something about the program.”
    He frowned. “Since when have you been interested . . . oh, very well, but make it fast.”
    “It will only take a minute Xenon.” Grace was forced to put her question into unreceptive air: “What do we do with them all?”
    “‘Do with them all’?”
    “What happens to the candidates?”
    “I don’t know what you are talking about,” he said evasively. “Now do go away Grace. I really do have a lot to do today, and I can’t see what possible interest you could have in any of this. It is none of your business. And I must say I wish you showed as much interest in your schoolwork as you do in things that have nothing to do with you. I am getting tired of reading indifferent reports from Atheron.”
    “Just wondering, that’s all. Not important.” She turned and let herself out of the room. Her brother had already turned back to the papers on his enormous desk.
    Grace looked around her at the new floor her brother had had built. Everything still smelt new, and it all glistened. But it felt cold and hostile to her. It was a place to come only when unavoidable – the scene of a social obligation to be endured. She knew that she would never come up here of her own accord.
    As soon as she got home Grace changed into her bare planet clothes, and picked up three mask packs. She simply had to get out again. She physically needed to walk out under the stars, where everything was put into easy perspective and hopefully her overactive brain would quiet down enough to let her sleep when she got back.
    She let herself out onto the first floor terrace again via the back lift, and then slowly negotiated the steep metal stairs set into the rexelene.
    She felt free, exhilerated, as she stepped down onto the planet. Everything was easier, this second time. Everything was familiar, welcoming her back. She turned her face up to the stars and basked in the grey light. Even through the mask pack she could feel it.
    The stars were magnificent. They jostled each other for her attention, each one calling out to something inside her. I wish, she thought. I wish I could just close my eyes and feel