Ancestor's World by A. C. Crispin, T. Jackson King Read Free Book Online Page B

shook her head, her expression surly. "No. What difference does it make? I won't be able to give it to her until we get to StarBridge, and that'll be several days. I'll get it done, Mom...
    c'mon, can't you get off my tail for two whole minutes?"
    Her daughter's insolent tone brought a wave of warmth into Mahree's cheeks. She halted so abruptly the duffel slid
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    off her shoulder and thudded to the deck. She glared at her daughter, her temper rising. "Now just a minute, Claire. You have no call to speak to me like that. Esteemed Rissaszs told me that you're behind on several assignments. She said that--"
    Claire folded both arms over her coveralls, and managed to look both tolerantly superior and sullen at the same time. "I know what she said. Just like I know you're not really mad about a stupid homework assignment.
    You're not mad, you're worried. You're thinking about--"
    Mahree frowned at her daughter, then bent over to retrieve her duffel bag.
    "Stop it, Claire! I brought you up to be a polite telepath. You know better than to snoop like that! If they catch you doing that at StarBridge, you will be in really hot water!" Turning away without waiting for a reply, she strode off down the corridor.
    Claire's footsteps sped up behind her as the girl worked to match Mahree's angry strides. "Mom! Wait up." Realizing that her daughter was trying to be conciliatory, Mahree slowed down. "No wonder you can't keep up with your old mom; you're wearing your new shoes," she said, eying the spike-heeled, glittery sandals studded with Ri gems.
    "I wanted Esteemed Ssoriszs to see them, since he gave them to me," Claire said, walking with great concentration on the high heels.
    "Esteemed Ssoriszs has been in a generous mood lately," Mahree agreed.
    "If it hadn't been for him, we couldn't have gotten Emerald Scales to transport the expedition."
    Funding and a transport. The Mizari, led by her old friend, had really come through, and quickly. Everyone was excited by the idea that this time there might be genuine clues as to where the ancient Mizari Lost Colony had gone.
    "Let's compromise," Mahree said, returning to their original subject. "You can have the next hour or two to explore the ship, but as soon as we enter metaspace, you finish that assignment. Agreed?"
    "I guess." Claire stopped before the door to their suite 37
    and touched it open. Mahree followed her in, tossing her duffel on one of the narrow bunks. Emerald Scales was, after all, a freighter, and the ship boasted few luxuries.
    "It'll sure be different, going to regular classes at the Academy," Claire said quietly. "After being tutored longdistance from StarBridge for so long."
    "I think it will be good for you," Mahree said, speaking with a confidence she didn't entirely feel. "Your father and I have been planning for you to do this for a while. This new assignment just moves up the timetable a little, that's all."
    Claire regarded her image in the reflective panel built into the wall. Mahree stared at her doubtfully. How would Claire react to being among so many other young people? Aliens she was used to; she'd grown up among them and spoke seven alien languages as fluently as she did her own tongue. But young people of her own species were as alien to her as a Mizari eggling would be to a child who'd grown up on Earth.
    And there was no doubt that Claire was pretty. She'd attract quite a bit of attention at the Academy. Mahree sighed. Was Claire ready for this? Was she? Was Rob?
    Boys. Dating. Sex--or, at least the potential for it. Mahree repressed a worried frown. The subject couldn't be avoided forever; sooner or later Claire would have to learn to live with her own species.
    The CLS Ambassador-at-Large busied herself hanging up a few items of clothing from her duffel, then she wandered into the other room and sat down in one of the cushiony chairs, feeling it automatically adjust to her body contours. Kicking off her boots, she leaned back and crossed her legs,