Free Damia's Children by Anne McCaffrey Page A

inviting it, the way he turned his head so she had the full benefit of his classic profile. Then Nesrun, apparently by chance, trod on his foot and he danced away from it, much as a nervous colt might. That analogy interrupted Laria’s daze and she fell into a more normal manner.
    â€œWere you two responsible for my marvelous quarters?” Laria asked.
    Yoshuk shook his head and Nesrun answered. “No, the design is all their idea. They knew what humans required. I did suggest that you might be happier picking the final touches yourself.” Sherolled her eyes upwards. “They learn quick, though.”
    â€œYou should have seen what they’d rigged up for us!” Yoshuk grinned.
    Trouble is, Laria thought, the grin doesn’t spoil his looks, except I’d hate to annoy him. She grinned back.
    â€œWhat did you mean, Yoshuk,” she said, searching for a safe topic to end the pause, “by saying you’d be happy to learn syntax from me? Don’t you speak ’Dini?”
    Nesrun’s laugh was pure malice which Yoshuk totally ignored. “Neither of us speak ’Dini, Laria,” Nesrun said. “Can’t clack, click, or whistle with any fluency. We get along by signing—our own brand—but it suffices. Or we ask for a Dreamer. That,” and she glared at Yoshuk, “is the port of last resort.” She gave a controlled shudder.
    Laria regarded her with some surprise. “Don’t you
like
’Dinis?”
    â€œI’ve got accustomed to them,” she said sardonically, “but they are certainly
not
my chosen bedmates.” Again another little shudder.
    Yoshuk leaned forward, almost conspiratorially, shielding his hand from those around them. “She’s not
exactly
xenophobic . . .”
    â€œYou’re lucky to have been raised with them, Laria,” Nesrun put in. “Saves a lot of adjustment.”
    â€œDon’t you want to
learn
’Dini?” Laria asked Nesrun. It seemed terribly impolite to live in the midst of a new culture and not
know
about it; be unable to communicate with the inhabitants, especially when so much was at stake!
    â€œI’d like to learn signing,” Nesrun said reluctantly,compressing her lips briefly, “but you’re going to have to teach that, too, you know!”
    â€œI do,” Laria said and sighed.
    Yoshuk gave her the kindest smile imaginable. “Don’t worry, Laria. You’ll cope!”
    He said that with such sincerity and sympathy that Laria got a second wind of resolution!
    â€œI’m to work out Tower times with you . . .”
    Yoshuk’s smile became mischievous. “You’ll be on
call,
certainly. But the real work won’t come right away. It’s almost more important for you to teach right now. In fact, it’s imperative.”
    Laria took a deep breath. “I can see that it is.”
    Then Plus leaned sideways to attract her attention and she politely concentrated on what it was saying. With the dark lenses and the hat, her headache was reduced to a mere pulse. Or maybe that was her blood throbbing in time to the percussives?
    She lasted out the celebrations and was ready the next morning for the students of both races.

CHAPTER
FOUR

    W HEN his sister came home for his sixteenth birthday celebration, Thian was even prouder of her than her parents—if that could be possible. She was tanned a warm ruddy shade—up to midbrow, where her hat sat. She was extremely fit, and showed them all up by leading them a merry chase out hunting on Saki. Nor had she lost her skill with arrow and dart for, at the end of the day, she had more in her hunting bag than anyone else. She was the same, and yet she was
more,
Thian decided. Better, and not the least bit smug like some of his Denebian cousins who were being trained by his parents in Aurigae Tower.
    He was scheduled to take over Laria’s teaching duties on Clarf so