Child of Venus Read Online Free PDF Page A

even though he was not her biological grandfather. “I come from people who lived all over Earth!”
    â€œThat doesn’t make you any better than anyone else.” It was like her grandmother to say that. Risa usually had harsh words for people who, as she put it, got above themselves.
    â€œIt’d be easier if they came from just one or two places.” Mahala finished her juice. “I wouldn’t have so much to put in my report.”
    â€œLearning about your heritage—what nonsense.” Risa gestured with her cup. “You’re a Cytherian—that’s what matters. That Karin ought to be spending more time on practical subjects.”
    â€œRisa.” Sef leaned toward his bondmate. “The teacher’s only
doing her job. There’s no harm in—”
    â€œTime enough to learn about the past when she’s older. Right now, she’d be better off learning things of more use to the Project.”
    Risa had said such things before, but did not usually sound this upset. Mahala set down her cup. “Is that why you put a block on my parents’ public records?” she asked, feeling that it was time to ask.
    Risa lifted her brows. “What?”
    â€œI found out when I was doing my report. I wanted to ask about them, and the screen said the minds couldn’t tell me because you put a block on their records.”
    â€œI’m your guardian,” Risa said. “I have the right. Sef and I
thought it best that you—”
    â€œBut why?”
    â€œYou already have enough information for this report, don’t you?”
    The birthdates and deathdates of her mother and father, the origins of their parents and other forebears, the fact that Mahala’s mother had once been the Guide and leader of Ishtar’s believers here—the screen had readily yielded all of that. Mahala had often called up images of her parents and knew some of the important facts about her mother’s life. But this time, she had asked other questions, and the minds had refused to answer. Risa Liangharad, they had told her, had put a block on answering certain questions.
    â€œYou don’t understand.” Mahala let out her breath. “You won’t let me hear part of the public record, something everybody else can find out except me—it isn’t fair.”
    â€œYou know what you need to know,” her grandmother said. “You’ll find out more when you’re older.”
    â€œEveryone else knows. I’m the only one that doesn’t.” Mahala felt the truth of that statement as soon as she spoke. Certain things were suddenly clear; the occasional silences of other children when the name of Mahala’s mother was mentioned, the worried or cautious looks of adults. They all had a secret, and it had something to do with her parents. “Everybody knows except me!”
    â€œMahala—” Risa slid closer to her. “Please listen.
There’s no reason for you to—”
    â€œIf the minds won’t tell me,” Mahala said, “I’ll get one
of the other kids to find out for me.” Risa could not block others’ access to public
records. “I’ll tell them what to ask, and—”
    â€œYou won’t.”
    â€œI will.”
    â€œIf you do, I’ll have to punish you for disobeying me.”
    â€œI don’t care.”
    Risa opened her mouth; Sef shook his head at his bondmate. “We knew this would come,” he said. “Maybe we should give her some answers before someone else does.”
    Risa gazed at him for a long time, then slowly got to her feet. “Grazie and
Kolya will be home soon,” she said. “Ill talk to Mahala alone.” She reached for
her granddaughter’s hand. “Come with me.”

    They went to Mahala’s room, which was at the end of the short corridor in Risa’s wing of the house. The room Risa and Sef shared was