Lyon's Pride

Lyon's Pride by Anne McCaffrey Read Free Book Online

Book: Lyon's Pride by Anne McCaffrey Read Free Book Online
Authors: Anne McCaffrey
mental touch and almost recoiled from a second experience.
    â€œSorry, Captain,” the Rowan said with a fleeting smile. The pain went as quickly as it had begun. “It was the quickest way for me.”
    â€œWe apologize for taking so long getting here,” Afra went on. “We stopped at appropriate intervals to listen.”
    â€œOhhh,” and Osullivan breathed one single despairing note of denial.
    â€œMy grandson
is
alive,” the Rowan added, her expression severe. Afra nodded a brief reinforcement of her statement. “We would know if he was not, if that affords you any consolation.”
    â€œIt does.”
    â€œWe must go aboard the
KTTS.
Do you have any pictures of its bridge configuration?” Afra asked.
    â€œHere,” Doplas said, pointing to his screen.
    â€œThat’s enough,” the Rowan said and turned toward the engineering position. “You are Commander Metrios? I thought so. We will need a touch of power.”
    â€œAll you want,” Metrios said, throwing his hands up in exaggerated relief at being able to do something. Their air of competence and determination revived him from the despair which had engulfed him since Rojer’s disappearance became known.
    The generators surged briefly and the group was gone. Someone breathed a “Wow!” of awe.
    â€œThe Rowan?” Yngocelen asked in a low voice.
    Osullivan nodded.
    â€œI thought she never left Callisto.”
    â€œNot often, but she’s the clout needed,” Osullivan said, encouraged in spite of his pessimistic fears.
    â€œSir?” Ensign Menburia’s voice sounded almost apologetic. “They brought the supplies, too.”
    â€œThat boy
must
be found, safe and unharmed!” Osullivan said, bringing both fists down hard on the armrests.He had personal as well as professional reasons, and a few which would have repercussions that he didn’t want to think about, even clear-headed.
    â€œAye, aye, sir!”
    *   *   *
    The Rowan had been angry before with the stupidity of people, or things, or avoidable accidents, but she had never been so frighteningly angry before. Even as Jeff had been receiving information from the
Genesee
, he had Gollee Gren contacting the Mrdini High Council representative stationed on Earth. Mrtgrts was not only a grey, Captain Prtglm’s color, but it was the High Councillor’s chief liaison official and had served two decades as manager of the ’Dini colony world, Sef. It immediately volunteered to accompany whomever the Earth Prime sent to investigate.
    The Rowan had informed Earth Prime that none other than herself would be the FT&T representative, having forcibly overruled her daughter, who felt she had the right to discover what had happened to her own son.
Aurigae may not be without its Prime, Damia, and that’s that.
But the Rowan had then relented sufficiently to ask Afra to accompany her.
You can manage without Afra and he is the boy’s father. But Aurigae can’t manage without you
.
    Then how is it that Callisto can do without
its
Prime?
Damia had demanded caustically.
He’s my son!
    And my grandson and I carry more clout. Callisto’s in occlusion or we’d’ve had to send Jeran
.
    I’d rather you went
, Damia had said, subsiding.
    We
will
find Rojer, dear girl. We will. You
know
he’s alive
.
    Yes, I know he’s alive….
and Damia’s tone had dwindled off while leaving her mother with the full impact of her shock and despair.
    Now ’port your husband and your ’Dinis. We’ll need them almost as much as we’ll need me
.
    The Rowan had almost balked at waiting for the cluster of supply pods destined for Squadron B but the handlers at Callisto had the pods attached with such alacrity that she didn’t have time enough to voice an objection.
    I’d hazard that the supplies are needed for the morale value if nothing else
, Jeff said

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