Terra by Mitch Benn Read Free Book Online

imagined, a boy called Dv, if she remembered his name correctly).
    A steady pinging noise signalled the end of interlude and the children filed back into the lectorium. The next session was to be given over to ‘familiarisation’; Bsht called upon each pupil in turn to tell the class a bit about themselves and their family. Most of the pupils already knew each other from the Pre-Ac, but there were a few newcomers, and it was always nice to find things out about people. Some people more than others.
    Fthfth had gone first; Bsht asked her because she was at the front of the class, and also because she was obviously so desperate to have her go that she wouldn’t be able to sit still until she’d spoken, so Bsht knew it would be best to get her out of the way. Bsht was getting the hang of being a lector.
    - Hello, fellow students! said Fthfth. My name is Gkst-sh-Hbf-sh-Fthfth but you can call me Fthfth. I am eight orbits, three cycles and fifteen rotations old. My father’s name is Knkt-sh-Dstnk-sh-Hbf and he is EXTREMELY clever. He is Director of Applied Science at the Hrrng GravTech Research Hub. My mother is called Hskth-sh-Fnl-sh-Gskt and she is EVEN CLEVERER. She is Chief of Cellular Surgery at Hrrng Nosocomium.
    - Thank you, Fthfth. Now, would . . .
    - My favourite things to do are playing dfsh and gshkth and conducting experiments. When I grow up I want to be the first Fnrrn to demonstrate Thnrkl’s Final Theorem and invent time travel. Fthfth sat down.
    There was a pause.
    - I’ve finished, said Fthfth.
    - Thank you, Fthfth. Who would like to go next?
    Another pause.
    - Nobody? How about you, Pktk?
    Pktk had been having difficulty getting his slate into its slot. He was fiddling with it, a look of furious concentration on his face, when Bsht said his name. - What? he said, looking up suddenly and dropping his slate to the floor.
    - I’m . . . he began, reaching down for the slate, and finding his arm wasn’t long enough.
    - I’m . . . he continued, trying to scoop the slate towards him with his foot and succeeding only in shoving it further away.
    - I’m . . . he said from beneath his chair as he reached under his neighbour’s chair and retrieved the slate.
    - I’m P . . . he began, before sitting up too quickly, banging his head on the arm of his chair and dropping his slate again.
    He sighed. - I’m Pktk, said Pktk quietly, sitting on the floor.
    Bsht smiled. - Yes, yes you are, she said, helping Pktk to his feet.
    A few more pupils took their turns to speak. The class listened politely to tales of mid-orbit breaks spent constructively in practising this or that game, visiting one or another site of natural or archaeological interest, reading some improving text . . . For all their patient attention, there was a restlessness in the room. This wasn’t what they wanted to hear.
    At last, the moment they’d been waiting for.
    - Terra, said Bsht. Perhaps you’d like to tell the class a bit about yourself.
    An excited hush. Even those pupils who’d been with Terra at the Pre-Ac had never quizzed Terra directly about her background. They’d been far too polite, and those who hadn’t been too polite had known to pretend to be too polite.
    Terra stood up.
    - Well . . .
    The room, already silent, became somehow more silent.
    - My name is Terra, and . . .
    Silenter still.
    - . . . I’m not from around here.
    The class burst into a hiss of appreciative laughter. Terra smiled.
    Terra gave them the short version – the stuff most of them knew already – Lbbp’s discovery of her abandoned infant self, his brave decision to raise her as his own, the Preceptorate’s sage benevolence in allowing him to do so . . . The class listened appreciatively, and thus emboldened, Terra asked - So, any questions?
    - Do you eat animals?
    The mood of the room changed abruptly. The voice was that of Shnst, who, while at the Pre-Ac, had always sat at the back of the room next to her twin sister Thnst. They’d immediately staked