'I am also grateful,' he said quietly. 'Listen, now, Theo.
'But, wait!' Theo cried. 'What kind of ship? What kind of space? What—'
The board rang, and a man's voice rang out cheerily. 'Our packet ready there, boss? We're coming up on a mark.'
'Heading out now!' Aito said. He jerked his head toward the door.
Theo took a breath, held back the words in favor of a nod and a flashed
Thirty-Two
It had long become the custom to share in the news from Theo when it arrived, and to make it as festive an occasion as possible. The joint revelation of their offspring's latest adventures being such a habit, not even this evening's committee meeting in support of Chair Ella ben Suzan's important work reconfirming the department's accreditation would do more than put it off, despite Jen Sar's protestation that a letter marked for Kamele Waitley should be enjoyed by Kamele Waitley as soon as possible.
Kamele's not unexpected insistence meant that Jen Sar worked late in the fall garden, regretting his favorite jacket's location in a spaceship storage locker where it protected him from no wind at all. After, he showered, prepared in advance what he could of a simple repast, and graded student papers, enjoying the company of several cats and the scan of near-orbit action in space until his still-keen ears discerned Kamele's steps on the walk.
Kamele's face lit when she saw Jen Sar, but the first thing she said was, 'I'm sorry.'
He raised quizzical eyebrows. 'Sorry?'
She stowed several bags through the simple expedient of dropping them in front of the chair Coyster occupied, and then accepted Jen Sar's hug with warmth.
'Sorry I had yet another meeting, sorry the meeting went long again, sorry Ella's been quite so much in the midst of this, sorry Theo's letter arrived after you were gone for the day.'
He hugged her again, which she accepted, just as she accepted their slow spin which brought them to the counter where the glasses were set and the bottle properly breathing.
'Ella is lucky to have you,' he murmured, 'and so is the Wall. Next year should see honest education out of all of you, with only a double dose of meetings instead of triple. Soon, all will return to normal!'
Kamele laughed softly. 'Yes, a double dose of meetings does sound wonderful. It is really hard to remember sometimes that these people are all on our side!'
Soon they touched glasses and sipped, with Jen Sar all admiration of Kamele's attention to the glass.
Distraction being the plan, Jen Sar tipped his head in Kamele's direction.
'Shall you read to me now, or shall we wait until after salad?'
'Let's see first if it is something to read or something to watch! Oh, and remind me to send on that clip we have from Bek; I'm sure she'll enjoy it!'
Kamele returned to her bags to retrieve the letter, while Jen Sar watched her.
'Well,' he commented, 'she's long put soarplanes behind her, so I think we don't need to worry on that score.' After a pause, he added, 'And really, as pretty a couple as they may have made for her
Kamele looked up from her rummaging to wrinkle her nose at him, and he smiled.
They had, he admitted made a pretty couple, and the
The letter discovered, Kamele settled on to a stool to peel the plastiskin cover open.
Aelliana's eyesight was no better than his these days, but she dealt with far less distractions; she caught the return routing address as Kamele set the envelope aside.
'A letter only,' Kamele said, squeezing carefully to be sure there were no flatpics or mediachips enclosed. 'We can trade reading paragraphs!'
Not quite idly, Jen Sar insisted, 'No, no, please go ahead as you will. I'll just see where the letter's been —'
He snagged the envelope, a frisson of concern raising the hair on the back of his neck.
The envelope was franked at the Guild Hall on Staederport, for
'Dear Kamele,' she began, the thin page rustling between her fingers. 'I'm sorry to have to tell you that there has been a riot at school, and I've been
