Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold Read Free Book Online Page B

on a smaller scale. Super-specialists, or entrepreneurial mavericks, this and that. The outer worlds are coming on strong lately.
    So—so if you ever quit GalacTech,you could get another job in space.
    Oh, sure. I've even had offers—but our company does the most of the sort of work I want to do, so there's no reason to go elsewhere. And I've got a lot of seniority accumulated by now, and all that goes with it. I'll probably be with GalacTech till I retire, if I don't die in harness. Probably from a heart attack brought on by watching one of my students try to accidentally kill himself. Leo did not speak the thought aloud; Tony seemed chastized enough. But still abstracted.
    Sir . . . tell me about money.
    Money? Leo raised his brows. What's to tell? The stuff of life.
    I've never seen any—I'd understood it was sort of coded value-markers to, to facilitate trade, and keep count.
    That's right.
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    How do you get it?
    Well—most people work for it. They, ah, trade their labor for it. Or if they own or manufacture or grow something, they can sell it. I work.
    And GalacTech gives you money?
    Uh, yes.
    If I asked, would the company give me money?
    Ah... Leo became conscious of skating on very thin ice. His private opinion of the Cay Project had perhaps better remain just that, while he ate the company's bread. His job was to teach safe quality welding procedures, not—foment union demands, or whatever this conversation was sliding toward.
    Whatever would you spend it on, up here? GalacTech gives you everything you need. Now, when I'm downside, or not on a company installation, I have to buy my own food,clothing, travel and what-not.
    Besides, Leo reached for a less queasily specious argument, up till now, you haven't actually done any work for GalacTech, although it's done plenty for you. Wait till you've actually been out on a contract and done some real producing. Then maybe it might be time to talk about money. Leo smiled, feeling hypocritical, but at least loyal.
    Oh. Tony seemed to fold inward on some secret disappointment. His blue eyes flicked up, probing Leo again. When one of the company Jump ships leaves Rodeo—where does it go first?
    Depends on where it's wanted, I guess. Some run straight all the way to Earth. If there's cargo or people to divide up for other destinations, the first stop is usually Orient Station.GalacTech doesn't own Orient Station, does it? No, it's owned by the government of Orient IV. Although GalacTech leases a good quarter of it.
    How long does it take to get to Orient Station from Rodeo?
    Oh, usually about a week. You'll probably be stopping there yourself quite soon, if only to pick up extra equipment and supplies, when you're sent out on your first construction contract.
    The boy was looking more outer-directed now, perhaps thinking about his first interstellar trip. That was better. Leo relaxed slightly.
    I'll be looking forward to that, sir.
    Right. If you don't cut your foot, er, hand off meanwhile, eh?
    Tony ducked his head and grinned. I'll try not to, sir.
    And what was that all about?Leo wondered, watching Tony sail out the door. Surely the boy could not be thinking of trying to strike out on his own? Tony had not the least conception of what a freak he would seem, beyond his familiar Habitat. If he would only open up a little more . . .
    Leo shrank from the thought of confronting him.Every downsider staffmember in the Habitat seemed to feel they had a right to the quaddies'personal thoughts. There wasn't a lockable door anywhere in the quaddies'living quarters. They had all the privacy of ants under glass.
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    He shook off the critical thought, but could not shake off his queasiness. All his life he had placed his faith in his own technical integrity—if he followed that star, his feet would not stumble. It was ingrained habit by now, he had brought that technical integrity to the teaching of Tony's work gang almost automatically. And yet.. . this time, it did