The Rowan
- Автор: Маккефри Энн
- Серия: Tower and the Hive #1
- Язык: английский
- Жанр: Научная фантастика
Электронная книга - «The Rowan». Краткое содержание книги:
The kinetically gifted, trained in mind/machine gestalt, are the most valued citizens of the Nine Star League. Using mental powers alone, these few Prime Talents transport ships, cargo and people between Earth's Moon, Mars' Demos and Jupiter's Callisto.
An orphaned young girl, simply called The Rowan, is discovered to have superior telepathic potential and is trained to become Prime Talent on Callisto. After years of self-sacrificing dedication to her position, The Rowan intercepts an urgent mental call from Jeff Raven, a young Prime Talent on distant Deneb. She convinces the other Primes to merge their powers with hers to help fight off an attack by invading aliens. Her growing relationship with Jeff gives her the courage to break her status-imposed isolation, and choose the more rewarding world of love and family.
By the twelfth, you, too, will be delighted to have volunteers.
My, what a long ear you have, Granny Raven, Jeff said.
I can hear with it, too, she added drily. Or are you two so totally engrossed in each other that you can't tell when you're speaking or minding it?
"I'll mind leaving here," the Rowan said with a deep sigh, mopping young Ian's mouth clean. Her brother's namesake was twice as precious to her for having had the brief care of him. The baby waved his arms vigorously, a deep scowl on his little old man's face which utterly entranced the Rowan. She lifted him over her shoulder, patting his back.
"Anyone would think you'd been handling babies all your life," Jeff remarked with a snort though he regarded his littlest brother with great affection.
"A natural talent," was her quick retort. Simultaneously each realized that their inane remarks covered the dismay both felt at the imminent end of this idyll.
It's not an end at all, Rowan, Jeff said, his tone infinitely tender and his blue eyes ravishing her with love.
It's a separation! she said rebelliously.
For six days? He raised both arms, to dismiss such a minor parting. Your place or mine? His eyes glinted mischievously.
I'd prefer to come here, but it might be more politic to remain at Callisto after being away over three weeks.
The first vacation, may I point out to you, my love, which you've had in the ten years you've been Callisto Prime!
Ah, but I never had vacation plans before now! And I suspect from the depths of our Master's anger, that it had little to do with my absence.
Oh??
I may, of course, be doing Reidinger an injustice.
That's hardly likely, love, considering the terms of the contract he made me sign - in heart's blood.
Just keep everyone at their exercises while I'm gone, Jeff. I know Sariie's young but she should be at the mines, learning all she can about metals and mining. She should go to Earth for training.
Especially since mining's Deneb's main source of income.
We can't afford to send her away. She'd hate Terra, Jeff added.
We Denebians are real home bodies and don't like leaving our birthplace.
You did!
I, my love, had devious ulterior motives… and besides, I lost the toss. He grimaced in mock horror. However, lest he chastise me by sending me somewhere too remote from Deneb… Nothing habitable is remoter than Deneb. Checking appropriate times, the Rowan and Jeff decided it was best for her to arrive at the beginning of Callisto's working day, when shipments would be forwarded from Earth. For the first time, the Rowan could enter her personal capsule without a single vestige of the old inhibiting terror. In fact she was eager for the challenge.
That's the girl. And aren't you going to surprise Reidinger!
Through him she felt the generator whining up to full power. Jeff had done some fine tuning, though he had been full of pride in how she had effected the initial repairs. Closing off the fierce regret at having to leave him for even six days, the Rowan settled her mind against his and readied herself to exert their mutual gestalt.
The voyage was accomplished in a mood of high elation, for Jeff followed her all the way back. As she felt the slight jar of her carrier settling back into the cradle it had left twenty standard days before, she felt another of his special phantom caresses.
ROWAN? Afra's incredulous shout was accompanied by cheers from every other empathic Talent in the Station.
Those who could teleported to the landing area.
Protocol and privacy was forgotten as she was grabbed, hugged, slapped, and made to feel royally welcomed. She found herself unexpectedly warmed by such a reception and felt color flooding her cheeks.
"We'll lay on a real celebration later, folks," Brian Ackerman said, "but we got a heavy morning's work. Boy, am I glad to see you, Rowan! You'll just never know!" "You know," she said with a surprised laugh, "I'm glad to be back, too!" When she reached her Tower, with all the sophisticated technology which the makeshift one on Deneb lacked, she was surprised to see two couches in place. And then turned to meet the T-2s who had replaced her. The rising whine of the generators reminded them all of duty.
We'll talk later but you have my deepest gratitude and appreciation, she told Torshan and Saggoner. She realized from a quick "look" that their deep, personal attachment raised their efficiency to a level close to Prime.
The entire Station knew the difference when the Rowan began to spin outbound materiel in or launched waiting inbound shipments.
Deneb's facilities would need to be quadrupled to match Callisto's, she thought with the part of her mind that was not needed in these routine shunts.
There was so much still to be done there: so little more that would be wise to do without giving offense.
Finally back at work, are you? demanded Reidinger as she deftly caught a "fragile" shipment directly from him.
I thought you'd never notice!
I'll have a few private words with you later, girl! he said in a tone that once might have distressed her.
Deep down inside herself, she chuckled. He'd have those words.
In private and in person.
Then, one by one, the other Primes contacted her with welcoming thoughts. David remarked rather caustically that she had finally found out what it was all about, and did she like it? The Rowan had forgotten how clever he could be. Fortunately Capella had so many complaints about "inefficiency" from Callisto that she didn't bother with personal remarks. The others were courteously glad to have her back in her Tower and relieved that Jeff Raven was able to resume his own duties. Siglen alone sent no greeting, but the Rowan wasn't particularly surprised by silence from that quarter. Siglen would not have understood why she'd jeopardize everything to go to a sick man!
Once outward bound freight had been received, and inward stuff dispatched, there would be a four-hour period in which Jupiter's bulk still shielded Callisto Station from deep space. As the Rowan figured she could complete her "talk" with Reidinger well within that time frame, she spoke in a tight shaft to Afra.
I've a few things to discuss with Reidinger, old friend, she began. And felt his astonishment. Yes, of course, I'm going to Earth!
I can make my points a lot stronger in person. And, it's about time we met face-to-face.
Is that wise? Afra asked noncommittally. He had met Reidinger on a number of occasions and was always relieved to escape unscathed.
He can't be that bad! He's got no call to discipline me for responding to an emergency. The Station was covered. I've just had a look through the records, and you've managed quite nicely without me: Nothing got cracked or spilled and no freight got misdirected. What's his problem?
The risk to Callisto Prime, Afra replied, his tone dry and his yellow eyes sardonic.
He gained a lot more than I risked, she said tartly.
I know, Afra answered with gentle emphasis.
The Rowan grinned. I'd like to surprise the old geezer.
Geezer? Afra sputtered at her impudence.
You've contacts at Earth Prime Headquarters. Can one of them sneak me in without having to announce my arrival?
Hmmm, that's not the easiest thing to arrange, you know.
Callisto keeps you secure but there're still a lot of crazies on Earth. Reidinger's pretty heavily guarded.
Guarded?
Guarded!
But surely a Prime is able to defend himself… A waste of energy that could be expended elsewhere on FT amp;T's behalf, Afra remarked dryly.
The Rowan snorted. Well, can you help at all?
There's a T-4 I trained with: one of Reidinger's trouble shooters, a Terran named Gollee Gren. I'll see if he can oblige. Don't tell him who I am!
At that Afra laughed. I doubt there's a single Talent who doesn't know who you are, my dear Rowan.