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

leaned back, made a steeple of his fingers, and eyed her across it.
    "Say--say that we could work around all that."
    "Well"--she drew a deep breath and let it out in a gust-- "of course I'd love to go! I'd be mad to say no! But--"
    "Even if it wasn't just a short visit?"
    She considered this, finally sat back in the chair and folded her hands in her lap. "It's what you said earlier, isn't it? Me
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    being 'gone the next day'--something like that." Rob grinned faintly and shrugged. "I thought there was something, I could just tell you hadn't said that by accident!"
    "Your sixth sense is working just fine," he assured her.
    Magdalena snorted inelegantly. ''Of course it is--it always does--"
    "Except with David, last night," Rob said. She rolled her eyes ceilingward.
    "Honestly, I begin to think I handled that pretty darned well, Rob. I mean, I didn't freeze or panic or anything, not when he started getting mushy on me, and not even when he kissed me. Not until his tongue got too active and his grip too tight, and even then, I just pulled myself away from him and told him to cut it out."
    "You did at that," he agreed. "All right. I know you know a lot about the Arekkhi--your classwork, language study, and, of course, a lot of time with Khyriz and Shiksara. So you're probably aware of some of the ongoing political situation."
    "Some," she admitted.
    "Such as, the Arekkhi aren't at all pleased they weren't immediately given full CLS status."
    Magdalena got to her feet and carried her cup over to the food selector, pressing buttons for another cup of tea. Her eyes strayed toward the holo-tank as the cup filled. 'I know. Plus, Khyriz told me some of the Council is extremely displeased about learning they aren't the sole sentient race.
    Particularly the Prelate and the more ... hidebound religious types."
    "Well, you can't blame them--"
    "And I don't, of course." Magdalena retrieved her cup and got settled once more. "They probably see it as the beginning of the end of their religion, which would put them out of a job."
    "Good point," Rob said, though privately--given her background in that awful, hidebound, New Am cult--he wondered if she actually felt that way. Of course, three years of living among such widely diverse cultures tended to make students extremely accepting of other religions--and those who came here in the first place were those who showed a willingness to deal with differences of all kinds. He shifted his legs, one hand
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    steadying Bast. "So when the Emperor and Council finally agreed to accept an interrelator--mostly because we made it clear that was the only way they'd get outside trade going-- we moved as quickly as we could to set up the team."
    Magdalena laughed briefly. "Two human women, because the Council assured you they have no problem with females in roles of authority. I roomed with Shiksara last year, remember? She wasn't supposed to admit that Arekkhi females aren't really treated equally, you know--but these things happen."
    "We plan on that up here." Rob grinned. "And, of course, the Heeyoons who've spent time on the station have eyes and ears--the Arekkhi couldn't have really hoped to keep it a secret for long. So we decided to call their bluff. And when they took that challenge, we decided that having two females as the entire CLS team will get the Arekkhi used to dealing with all kinds. And, of course, Alexis Ortovsky is tough-minded enough to deal with any macho types she's thrown against. And Ladessa is..." He sighed. "Well, that's our problem right now. Ladessa is not going to be able to make that ship three weeks from now; she won't be out of regen for at least twice that long. But after all the fuss and negotiations and hassle back and forth, we absolutely have to deliver a team to the Arekkhi. And deliver what and when we promised."
    Magdalena's mouth was suddenly dry once more; her eyes flickered toward the image of Khyriz, back to the desk just in front of her. "Um--all right. You're