Voices of Chaos by A. C. Crispin, Ru Emerson Read Free Book Online Page A

washed it down with cool tea. "Fair enough," he said finally. "I just want to be
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    sure if you left the school tomorrow, say, that you'd be as mentally together as we can make you."
    "I understand that," Magdalena replied quietly. "I know you can't make me a hundred percent, or make all my years on New Am just--go away. But since I won't be leaving the school tomorrow ... I won't be, will I?'' she asked suddenly. "Ladessa's accident and then talking about David drove everything else out of my mind. You said, a message from Khyriz?"
    Rob grinned. "Message from Khyriz, one for each of us. And no, you aren't leaving the school tomorrow, your grades and everything else are well above average, so no, we aren't kicking you out. And no, there's no outbound ship for at least a week, and none headed through Arekkhi space for almost a month."
    "Arekkhi space?"
    "Message first," Rob said firmly. "Here." He shifted his plate and cup to the other side of the desk and keyed the holo-tank. "I'll start it so you can see the message he sent for me, and then your own, unless you'd rather view it privately."
    "Here is fine," she said and sat forward to watch him key the holo-tank. Her eyes went wide as the tank shimmered and Khyriz stood there, life-sized, tall and elegant in his StarBridge jumpsuit. His deep-set, slanting eyes stared into the distance. My God, she thought reverently, he really is as gorgeous as I remember him. She leaned toward the tank as he began to speak.
    "My good friend Dr. Gable, I send this as the time nears for the CLS
    interrelator and translator to leave StarBridge for my world." How stilted and unnatural he sounds, Magdalena thought in surprise. She'd had a couple of taped letters from him since he'd gone home; he hadn't sounded like that at all. "I would like to request a favor of you and the School, to permit Magdalena Perez to also travel on that ship, and visit my world and my home for a short time. As you know, I had hopes she might be chosen as a member of the team..." Wide-eyed, she glanced at Rob, then turned back to the holo-tank. She'd missed a few words; Khyriz had begun to pace within the small area marked for taping a letter--very unlike
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    his usual poise. "I understand your reasoning and of course I know the two women chosen. My father and his council will, I think, be pleased.
    "But could the School not consider such a journey to be 'fieldwork'? In case there is an opportunity for Magdalena to come to Arekkhi as interrelator or translator at some future date?" His whiskers curved forward in an Arekkhi smile that flattened the upturned corners of his mouth; Magdalena's mouth was suddenly dry. "Since my motive is the very selfish desire to see my good friend once again, and be the one to introduce her to my world, I would, of course, gladly cover the cost of her transportation and any costs of her stay here. As well as the cost of your reply to this message, and any reply Magdalena will care to make to my appended letter to her." He bowed formally--actually an Arekkhi bow didn't involve movement of the back at all, and this particular movement of hands and arms meant, "One who knows little is privileged to salute one of rank and bearing."
    The image flickered, then froze as Rob keyed a pause. Magdalena
    transferred her astonished gaze from the suddenly stilled Khyriz to the psychologist. "Well?" he asked.
    "Well?" she echoed blankly, then shook herself. "You mean, the School might actually let me go there?"
    "Perhaps something like that," Rob allowed. "You'd like to go?" Magdalena nodded enthusiastically; her eyes sparkled. "Well, then. You heard, just now: Khyriz lobbied pretty hard to get you named translator. And it would've been a good choice, except that you're third year."
    She nodded once more. "I know. I didn't even let myself think about it." Not seriously, anyway, the wry thought intruded. "But a visit--I don't see how I could take the time, with my classload and tests, and--''
    Rob