Damia's Children Read Online Free PDF Page B

patience.”
    Damia grinned up at her lover. “We should really learn more from them. Flk said that it took them nearly ten generations to implant the philosophy of patience in the ’Dini temperament.”
    It was again fortunate that ’Dinis were difficult to identify, for when the first shipment of new workers arrived, the ’Dini engineers amazed the mine owners by their grasp of the mining methods currently in use on Aurigae and their incredible dexterity with human-designed equipment. They had also brought tools of their own, including large borers to be assembled. The first consultation to organize ’Dini-managed pits erased any reluctanceor hesitation the mine owners, and their engineers, might have had about ’Dini professionalism.
    â€œI was impressed,” Mexalgo told Damia, “very impressed. They clicked and clacked when we showed them where we’d located the new lodes, and the next thing they had adit, shafts, and quotas all drawn out for us, and the quantities of materials they’d need for shoring, what track, carts, cranes, stuff they evidently knew they didn’t have to bring. They’ve asked permission to send for more of their own mining equipment and I can’t fault ’em on that. Showed us schematics of some of the heavy stuff they use and I have to say it looks very efficient. Then, too, they’ll be handier with their own mechanicals but they sure understood fast.” He kept shaking his head. “Now,” he added quickly, “I always knew the critters were smart. I just didn’t realize how smart.”
    Damia and Afra managed to respond appropriately.
    Wouldn’t he have a fit if he knew the “new” ’Dini engineers had been working in his mines for the past sixteen years!
Damia said, her mental tone rocking with laughter at the deceptions.
    Later. We’ll confess to Mexalgo later,
Afra promised.
    The ’Dinis were also impressed by the quality of accommodation supplied by the mine owners, including a ’Dini-staffed medical facility. That had been an extra which Segrazlin had insisted on providing.
    â€œYou house and feed a man and his family decently,” the miners’ rep said, “and you make pits as safe as possible, but you damn well betterhave emergency facilities available, too. Man works better because he knows he’s valued. Same has to apply to ’Dinis. They got feelings, too.”
    During the settling-in period, Laria, Thian, and even Rojer did translating duty. Zara, though only nine, wanted to have some part in the family activity and thought of donating the young eggs from her slither’s latest lay to the new arrivals.
    â€œTo make ’em feel at home,” she’d said very solemnly as she signed to Tip and Huf, explaining her gift. All the Raven-Lyon ’Dinis took turns expressing how grateful they were for her generosity. They had slither nestlings, too, and so an expedition was planned.
    â€œI think this ought to come from the young of Humans to the young of Mrdini, Laria,” Damia said, “so you can drive—carefully—” and Damia reinforced that caution mentally—“and make it an outing.”
    She’s fully competent to drive that sort of sled, Damia,
Afra told his wife when she began to regret her suggestion.
You’ve driven with her enough to know she’s well able. And we’ve got to let her have some experience on her own. Not that she’s exactly on her own right now.
    I know, I know, Affie,
Damia said, unable to suppress all her maternal agitation, despite his logical reassurances.
It’s just that
 . . .
    I trust her and I’ll be with her every kilometer of the way.
    If you
really
trusted her, you wouldn’t be with her all the way,
Damia added, darkly accusatory.
    Afra laughed and ruffled her hair as theywatched Laria load her passengers into the big sled. The girl kept looking over her