The Man-Kzin Wars 01 by Larry Niven Read Free Book Online Page B

her skin almost ebony, though the bobbed hair was no longer sun-bleached white but straw color. Broad nose, close-set brown eyes, big mouth somehow added up to an attractive face, perhaps because it generally looked cheerful. “ W ell, hi," she hailed. “ W hat's going on here? ”
    Ryan and Laurinda halted. I am showing our passenger around the ship," he said stiffly .
    Carita cocked her head. “ A re you, now? That isn't all you'd like to show her, I can see. Better get back to the galley, lad. You did promise us a first-meal feast." To the Crashlander: “ H e's a master chef when he puts his mind to it. Good in bed, too. ”
    Laurinda dropped her gaze and colored, Ryan flushed likewise. “ I 'm sorry," he gobbled. “ P ilot Fenger's okay, but she does sometimes forget her manners .
    Carita's laugh rang. “ I 've not forgotten this nightwatch is your turn, Kam. I'll be waiting. Or shall I seduce Commissioner Markham – or Professor Tregennis?" To Laurinda: “ S orry, dear, I shouldn't have said that. Being coarse goes with the kind of life I've led. I'll try to do better. Don't be afraid of Kam. He's harmless as long as you don't encourage him. ”
    She trudged off with her burden. To somebody born to jinx gravity, the weight was trifling. Ryan struggled to find words. All at once Laurinda trilled laughter of her own, then said fast, “ I apologize. Your arrangements are your own business. Shall we continue for as long as you can spare the time?"
    The database in Rover contained books as well as musical and video performances. Both the Saxtorphs spent a considerable amount of their leisure reading, she more than he. Their tastes differed enough that they had separate terminals in their cabin. He wanted his literature, like his food, plain and hearty; Dorcas ranged wider. Ever since hyperwave made transmission easy, she had been putting hundreds of writings by extrasolar dwellers into the discs, with the quixotic idea of eventually getting to know most of them .
    The ship was a few days into hyperspace when she entered the saloon and found Tregennis. A couple of hours workout in the gym, followed by a shower and change of coverall, left her aglow. The Plateaunian sat talking with Markham. That was unusual; the commissioner had kept rather to himself .
    “ I ndeed the spectroscope, interferometer, the entire panoply of instruments reveals much," Tregennis was saying. “ H ow else did Miss Brozik discover her star and learn of its uniqueness? But there is no substitute for a close look, and who would put a hyperdrive in an unmanned probe?"
    “ I know," Markham replied. “ I was simply inquiring what data you already possess. That was never made clear to me. For example, does the star have planets? ”
    “ I t's too small and faint for us to establish that, at the distance from which we observed. Ah, I am surprised, sir. Were you so little interested that you didn't ask questions? ”
    "why should he, when he was vetoing our mission?" Dorcas interjected. It brought her to their notice. Tregennis started to rise. “ N o, please stay seated." h e looked so fragile. “ N o offense intended, Landholder Markham. I'm afraid I expressed myself tactlessly, but it seemed obvious. After all, you were are a busy man with countless claims on your attention. “
    “ I understand, Mme. Saxtorph," the Wunderlander said stiffly. “ Y ou are correct. Feeling as I did, I took care to suppress my curiosity." Tregennis shook his head in a bemused fashion. He doubtless wasn't very familiar with the twists and turns the human mind can take. Dorcas recalled that he had never been married, except to his science though he did seem to regard Laurinda as a surrogate daughter. The computerman sat down. “ I n fact," she said conciliating ly , I still wonder why you felt you could be spared from your post for as long as we may be gone. You could have sent somebody else. ”
    “ T rustworthy persons are hard to find," Markham stated,