Terra by Mitch Benn Read Free Book Online Page B

pre-rational epoch where they belong . . .
    - Where they belong, said Bsht, is the Central Plain, and as long as they stay there they’re none of our concern.
    - They should stay where they belong, said Shnst bitterly. Why can’t people stay where they belong?
    There was a chorus of horrified gasps. Even Shnst realised she’d said a dreadful thing and fell silent. All eyes turned to Terra, whose own eyes stayed fixed upon the visualiser. Fthfth discreetly put her hand over Terra’s.
    - I’m okay, whispered Terra.
    - Terra, I’m . . . began Shnst . . . I’m . . .
    Rarely had the pinging sound heralding the end of the session been so gratefully received.

2.5
    - Oh dear. That sounds like it was awkward, said Lbbp later over dinner.
    - It was. Very, replied Terra, tucking into configuration 5 with some fresh pt-ssh on the side.
    - Well, if it’s any consolation, I’m sure Shnst felt just as bad for saying it as you felt for hearing it.
    - Maybe, said Terra, wrinkling her nose. Lbbp loved it when she wrinkled her nose. It’s impossible to tell with those two.
    Terra finished another mouthful.
    - Lbbp, why does everybody hate the G’grk so much?
    Lbbp put down his plate, thought for a moment.
    - We’ve built such a world here on Fnrr. No one’s hungry, no one gets ill any more, not seriously anyway, and it wasn’t easy, I can tell you. You’ve read the history files . . . we had our share of wars, famine and disasters, but we overcame our differences and looked for answers and found solutions together. And now we work in peace towards common goals.
    - Except the G’grk?
    - Exactly! Except the G’grk! They just can’t let go of their old ways. It’s absurd.
    - Well, they have their own traditions, said Terra. It can’t be easy for them.
    - I’m sorry, but if your traditions consist of pretending the last few eras never happened and bludgeoning each other to death on a regular basis, then your traditions are rubbish and you need some new traditions, snorted Lbbp. Terra laughed.
    - They’re a bunch of hypocrites anyway, Lbbp went on as he tidied the dishes away. They can denounce science and technology as foul and unholy as much as they like, but they’re perfectly happy to use tech once they’ve stolen it. Or try to use it, anyway. They’re just too lazy and ignorant to develop their own stuff.
    - Or it could be that they have to steal it because the other nations won’t trade with them, mused Terra.
    - They’re impossible to trade with! retorted Lbbp. And what would they have to trade? Spears?
    - I guess I’m just wondering if everybody hates the G’grk because they’re so angry and violent, or whether they’re so angry and violent because everybody hates them, that’s all, said Terra quietly.
    It was Lbbp’s turn to laugh. - When did you become such a little philosopher? It’s like having dinner with Hshft the Elder or something. Now come on, he said, tossing the dishes into the matter scrambler. Just time for a quick game of tb-tb-tff before sleep. Another big day tomorrow.
    Terra sighed and followed Lbbp to the main room. It was indeed another big day tomorrow, as Bsht had reminded them at home-time. Tomorrow, the class would have its first session using the Interface.

2.6
    C hildren keep secrets. Even good children.
    Not necessarily big secrets or bad secrets, not the sort of thing that would get them into trouble were it to be discovered, just things that are, well, none of anybody else’s business.
    Children on Fnrr keep secrets too.
    Sometimes, after finishing his evening meal, Pktk would go to his room. He’d tell his parents he was going to do a little extra studying before sleep-time; reading up for a test the next day or something like that.
    Once alone, Pktk would activate his slate and access the Preceptorate’s history files, specifically the military history of Mlml. It was many orbits now since Mlml had been at war, but Pktk thrilled to read accounts of campaigns and battles from