Father would do as he always did, and use his own judgment. Given that Kamele'd spent a lifetime in ignorance of his piloting, as had Theo, she hoped he'd explain the sim appropriately.
Twelve
A connoisseur of formal gardens might have commented that the bluebells danced the dagger's edge between 'doing well' and 'overexuberant.' Aelliana, however, did not admire strict order in a garden. Nor did he.
And the bluebells were Theo's favorites, after all.
'We must remember to send her a picture,' he murmured. From his right came the creak and smack of the garden door opening. Kamele was home from her meeting early.
'Jen Sar!' she called, her footsteps quick on the path.
He turned, smiling as she came into sight, her hair rumpled and her cheeks pink with hurry. She had a small blue envelope from Data Receiving and a folded printout in one hand; the paper fluttered as she walked.
'Don't you look the picture of indolence,' she murmured, bending to kiss him on the cheek. 'Grading examinations, indeed!'
'Indolence is pictured thus: The honored professor lying on the grass, his venerable head supported by a kindly and compliant friend, and the second bottle uncorked,' he returned, smiling up at her. 'Here you see the professor taking a rejuvenating turn in the garden before returning to his labors.'
'Of course I do,' she said, and shook her head in mock irritation. '
'Also
'That's very true.' She nodded gravely, though her eyes were sparkling. 'Silver-tongue.'
'It has,' he acknowledged mournfully, 'been a lifelong affliction.'
Kamele laughed, her glance going over his shoulder. 'The bluebells are taking over the garden! I've never seen them so boisterous.'
'I was just thinking that we must remember to send a picture to Theo.'
'Yes, we should; she must miss them.' She looked back to him, her face still glowing, but tending toward seriousness. 'Speaking of Theo, I have a letter from Cho sig'Radia, who sends a present—to you!'
He raised an eyebrow. 'A present? To me?'
'We did agree that you are
'I seem to recall being cast in that role, yes.'
'If you accept the role, you accept the rewards of the role,' Kamele told him. She nodded toward the house. 'If your rejuvenation is complete, we might go back inside.'
'So we might.'
'Would you like some coffee?' he asked, as they strolled up the pathway together. 'There was a packet of Lake Country beans in today's delivery.'
Kamele sighed. 'That sounds lovely. There must be a way to get funding for decent coffee in Admin, but I haven't found it yet.'
'Raise tuition?' he suggested, as the door opened.
'Don't think I haven't considered it,' she said darkly, stepping into the kitchen ahead of him. She put the letter and the packet on the kitchen table and glanced at the coffeemaker.
'I'll do that,' he said, 'if you would like to change into house clothes.'
Kamele grinned at him. 'Thank you, Jen Sar. And by all means,
'That seems a fair compromise,' he said placidly, moving toward the pantry. Kamele laughed; a moment later, he heard her running upstairs.
He measured the beans into the hopper, set the texture, poured water into the reservoir and touched the control. The grinder whirred quietly. He went to the table, plucked up the sheet of printout and carried it to the window, hitching a hip onto the ledge as he unfolded the paper.
