Early Byrd by Phil Geusz Read Free Book Online

things
differently."
    "Of course ," Rapput agreed, though he was still visibly
upset. "Our ways are stable and in keeping with the core principles
of tradition and honor. Over time, your own species will come to
understand. Besides, you were still but a boy and therefore in no
way responsible for any breach of social order." He smiled.
"Continue, please."
    "I
proved . . . an able student, especially in languages. My
mother had a gift for them, and apparently the trait bred true. And
I also loved to wrestle. Soon after winning the silver medal you're
familiar with, I began my academic studies in earnest in Chicago, a
large North American city. I found myself feeling very much at home
there, so eventually I became a US citizen."
    "You defected a second time?" Rapput demanded.
    "Oh, no!" Li explained. "South Korea and the
United States were, at that time, close military and economic
partners. Both parties approved of and applauded my change of, er .
. . clan." He pressed his lips together. "I fear I don't know any
Artemu words I can use to explain."
    "That's because they don't exist," Rapput
mused. Then he looked at my brother and I. "Except for
hostage-adoptees, of course."
    Li pursed his lips, thinking. "Perhaps
that's not so far from what I was. Except that it was strictly
voluntary, of course. In fact, the United States was notorious for
attracting clan-changers. As were several other countries, of
course. We're in one of them now."
    My uncle sipped at his drink again. While he
consumed an awful lot of human food, this was something from his
homeworld and it smelled like hot motor oil. "It's madness. Sheer
madness! But as you say, Dr. Li, what you did was judged honorable
by your kind. And we'd not arrived yet, so it's hardly fair to hold
your defections prior to that time against you." He took another
sip. "You've proven an able and willing servant to date—far easier
to work with than most of the English-speaking humans it's been my
duty to deal with. This may perhaps be due to your Korean-clan
bloodline?”
    Li's smile never wavered. "I suspect my
North Korean background may indeed be a factor, yes."
    Rapput smiled. "So we're not so far apart
after all on social-order matters. Excellent! You make me wish that
I could spend more time with the Korean tribe. But of course we
Gonthers can relate best to the greatest warrior clan, who so
clearly have dominated your world in recent times. The ones who
seized an empire upon which the sun never set, and who given more
time might've conquered an interstellar sphere every bit as
glorious as our own. The English-speakers, in other words. Like
Gonther, easily your world's finest race."
    I turned toward Tim just as he did the same,
and for an instant our eyes met. Neither of us needed to say a
word—Dad went on all the time about how superb the soldiers of many
nations were. Being special forces himself before he retired, he
worked with foreigners a lot. Especially the South Koreans, for
some reason. He seemed to admire them most of all.
    "A great and honorable people indeed," Li
agreed, though he must've been offended. "As I said, I found that I
loved them enough to join them." Then he changed the subject. "You
mentioned yesterday, sir, that we were to leave Earth today. Yet I
have no idea of what the boys have to do to get ready, or even what
time we're leaving."
    "An oversight," Rapput replied. "My
apologies. We depart at five in the afternoon, your time, aboard
the same type of courier ship we arrived here on. No further
preparations are necessary." He glanced at us again. "Though
perhaps it might be well if these two hit the teaching machines
again."
    "And the swimming pool as well, with your
permission?" Li asked. "Human children have an innate biological
need to play in a physical manner. Deprived of the outlet, they
grow overly-boisterous and ill-mannered."
    "Another similarity between our kinds,"
Rapput noted. "Of course they should get their exercise as well.
Though I