The Tower and the Hive by Anne McCaffrey Read Free Book Online

Genesee and Phobos Moon Base. You wanted the change of assignment, he muttered to himself.
    He had indeed half hoped that Asia would be there to welcome him. That was the trouble with Primes. Always launching people when it was convenient for them. He glanced at his duffels, wincing because of the speed with which he had stuffed them. Ah well, he could sort them out tomorrow. Right now he’d follow Flavia’s example and get some sleep. He took off his ship shoes, loosened the top cover of his bunk and slid under it. With a mild suggestion to his diurnal self, he was asleep in moments.
    Â 
    Is that all, Van? Laria asked as Clarf Tower’s generators hit an even pitch after the latest drone launch.
    Yup! was the relieved response. I told you we were going to get busier.
    It’s toing-and-froing freight, Laria said, somewhat disgusted.
    Throwing freight, you mean, Lionasha, Tower’s T-7 expediter, corrected. It’s much more fun froing ’Dinis about.
    Ah ah ah! Kincaid Dano said, with a mental image of a wagging finger. He grinned across the way at Laria as they both sat up on their Tower couches and stretched against the long session.
    â€œI don’t feel like a mule,” Laria said, rotating her shoulder blades and rubbing her neck. “I feel like I’ve been kicked by one.”
    Kincaid swung his long legs over the edge of his couch and, with equally long arms, reached across the narrow space and began to massage her neck, his strong fingers sensitively touching just the right spot. Laria let her head hang and murmured appreciatively.
    Van’s a damned fool, Kincaid said on a tight link with her.
    Leave it, Dano, Laria said.
    Why should I? the T-2 asked. For all he’s one of the best Tower engineers, he’s an aggravation.
    Do I sound aggravated? Laria asked.
    Patient is what you sound and you’re too good for him. He gave her a final hard rub, nearly sliding her off the smooth surface of her couch. He caught her body with a mental block and she couldn’t help but giggle. That’s better.
    He’s handy, she said with a shrug.
    You should tell him that and depress his ego.
    It’s the thought of a T-1 in his bed that depresses him, Laria said, and sighed.
    I don’t think you’re in love with him anyway, Laria. Not the way you should be. He has been, as you say, handy. And in an attractive enough package.
    Very, very deeply, Laria thought that Kincaid was in an even more attractive package, but his preference lay with his own sex. Meanwhile that didn’t interfere with their understanding each other as perfectly as she could have wished Van and she did.
    â€œWhich idiot was it that said once we’ve got the last sphere, work’ll slack off?” Lionasha asked, as Laria and Kincaid descended the short flight of steps from the cupola above the station building that acted as a Tower.
    â€œWasn’t me,” Kincaid said, making for the cold drinks cabinet. “What’ll you have, Laria, with your electrolytes?” he asked.
    â€œDo we still have any of that real old-fashioned lemonade flavor?”
    â€œWe do.” Kincaid ’ported her a nice cold flask, grinning as she deftly caught it in her open hand. “Not a drop spilled either.”
    Vanteer joined them from the lower level that housed the great generators needed for Talent gestalt. He was wiping his hands on a greasy cloth.
    â€œI need a beer,” he said, and ’ported one without quite the same deftness as the others used. He shot them a look as he peeled off the cap. “Number three needs servicing. I had to rev it manually during the last three ’ports.”
    â€œWill it be down long?” Laria asked.
    Lionasha also looked apprehensive. “We’ve the same schedule for tomorrow, you know.”
    â€œSo you told me. I’ll have it up and running sweetly by tomorrow when it’s needed,” he said, turning to retrace his steps,