Anvil of Stars by Greg Bear Read Free Book Online Page B

said. "Sorry I was late."
    "No problem. I've been hitting brick walls."
    "Can you wait just a few more minutes?"
    He took a seat near the door and looked over Paola's quarters, which he had never been in before. She had covered her walls with paintings of jungles, wide green leaves, flowers, insects. A parrot flapped around the room, delighted by the view.
    Only two children not at the meeting. It could have been much worse.
    Martin shook out of his musings and saw the cutout pieces of cloth suspended in a translucent, colorless field for inspection. Other Wendys talking or singing or working on quilts started to break up and wander out now, nodding cordially to Martin as they passed.
    "Come see," Theresa said. She manipulated the projected images of the pattern, assembling them in the air. Paola Birdsong and Donna Emerald Sea smiled as they watched their design take shape. Donna's cockatoo preened itself on a rack that held samples of cloth the moms could manufacture.
    "It's a gown. This is what it will look like, when it's cut and sewn together," Paola told him, smoothing the sheet of fabric.
    He had never paid much attention to her, but in Theresa's presence, he felt a sudden affection for her, and by extension for all the Wendys, and he regretted not having that kind of loose, undemanding, insightful affection.
    "Paola and I designed it," Donna said. She was quick and nervous, with generous eyes and a small mouth and short blond hair.
    The final design showed a long white gown covered with tiny glass beads, glittering magnificently in a rotating light unseen beyond the projection. "A ceremonial gown," Theresa said. She stepped into the projection.
    "My turn," Paola said. Theresa adjusted it for the smaller woman.
    "It's for when we find our new Earth, after we do the Job," Paola said. "The first Wendy to step on the planet will wear this. The wedding of the children to the new Earth. "
    Martin had heard nothing of these plans and he found himself suddenly filled with emotion. "It's beautiful."
    "Glad you like it," Theresa said. "Do you think the Lost Boys would like an outfit for their first step?"
    "I don't know," he said. He had never given much thought to that time. Then, "We'd love them. Will everybody wear them?"
    Donna looked at Theresa. "We were only making one…"
    "Martin's right. Everybody will want them," Theresa said.
    "Then we'd better plan more," Donna said. "A good excuse for more parties."
    They tried a few more fittings, then Theresa made her farewells.
    Martin escorted Theresa down a shadowed hall. They passed Rosa. She edged around them with a furtive nod. Martin wondered when he would have to talk with her, deal with her; she had few friends and no lovers. She was slowly opting out of their tight-knit society.
    Theresa said, "It would be nice to make a gown for her," looking back at Rosa. "She needs something, Martin."
    "I know."
    Theresa took his earlobes in her fingers, pulling him lightly down to kiss her. "We're alone here," she said. "You've been very patient. Talking to everybody… It must have been difficult. Ariel can be tough."
    Martin looked up and down the corridor. "Let's go… to my quarters," he said between her kisses.
    "Why?" she asked, teasing with her hips.
    "Because I'm shy. You know that."
    "Somebody will see us?"
    "Come on." He tugged her hand gently as he led the way.
    "It's because you're Pan, isn't it?"
    "Theresa…"
    "All right," she said wistfully. "Nothing adventurous for a Pan's lover."
    He frowned, then pulled her toward him and unsnapped her overalls. "You'll make me do anything, won't you? Shameless," he said into her ear.
    "Somebody in this dyad has to be adventurous."
    He kissed her while mulling over that word, dyad. They certainly were that; he had not called their relationship such, reserving the word for what he and William had had, but what he felt for Theresa deserved it more.
    "Wedding dress," he said, holding her high to suckle.
    "For all of us," Theresa said,