Delta Pavonis Read Online Free PDF Page A

she thought. A sign by the door said: GO AWAY.
    "Here we are," Bela said. "Let's see if the boss is up." He hopped out and Dierdre followed. The interior was dim after the glaring sunlight outside. It was quiet and relatively cool and she flinched when Bela howled at the top of his lungs.
    "Chief Kurz! Rouse yersel' from yer drunken stupor, mon!"
    A blocky, purposeful man came from a back room, buckling a kilt around his waist. "I'm awake, you idiot. Did you get the cargo?" His eyes narrowed when he saw Dierdre. "Who's this?"
    "Dierdre Jamail, yer excellency."
    "Dierdre? I didn't order any dierdres. What did you do, kid, kill somebody?"
    She glared at him, hand on her belt knife, picking a spot to start carving. "No, but the idea has its attractions."
    Kurz rubbed a hand down his face. "Sorry. It's too early for civilities. Fact is, we have a full complement and we've suffered no fatalities, a record I intend to maintain. Were you given a reason for being . . . oh, hell, I guess you screwed up like the rest of us. We'll find a slot for you. Have a seat, Dierdre, and I'll get the bureaucratic formalities out of the way." He turned slightly. "Barbara!"
    A woman came from the back room. Her hair was short and wavy, and she wore a tiny loincloth and a string of big, wooden beads. She looked like something from an ancient jungle film. "What do you need, lion?" She caught sight of Dierdre and smiled. "Oh. someone new! God, it'll be good to have some one else to talk to. Do you play bridge?"
    "I'm afraid not."
    "Try not to be too appalled," Kurz said. "When we're out exploring, we're all business. Not too much spit and polish around camp, though. Barbara, this is Dierdre Jamail." He squinted at her orders. "Just out of the Academy, with a degree that's of no particular use. Don't feel bad, Dierdre. Down here hardly any academic specialty is much use. What you need is a sound body and an open mind. Says here you specialized in topographical analysis. I guess you know that it doesn't work very well here."
    "Until a couple of years ago, we had only Earth to go by. I think maybe we just need to find the key, and everything down here will fall into place."
    Kurz nodded. "I hope you're the one who finds out what it is. Barbara, put Dierdre down for rations and housing, and enter her on the payroll. Might as well list her as apprentice explorer. That suit you, Dierdre?"
    "I have to start somewhere." Actually, she thought it sounded exciting. "Explorer" sounded much more adventurous than her former designation, "student."
    "I'll put you in Ray Forrest's team. That's Team Red. Our exploration teams have color designations. Since we're going into the Iliad Sea my command is designated Task Force Iliad. So, when you report over the comm, you'll start off with, 'This is Iliad Team Red, Jamail reporting' or something like that."
    She liked the sound of that. It sounded professional. "Where will my team be working?"
    "We're just finishing up our exploration of the peninsula. The day after tomorrow, we cross the strait to the islands. The first one is Priam and Forrest's team will be the first to land."
    "You can bunk in your team's barracks," Barbara said. "Or if that's too crowded for you, you can build your own shelter. I wouldn't recommend that since you'll be leaving so soon."
    "There's a lot to learn in a short time," Kurz went on. "But a few basic rules you have to know right away. First, never go anywhere alone. Second, when you do go somewhere with somebody, make sure your team leader knows where you're going. Keep your comm unit and your medkit with you at all times. Everybody hates rescue parties. If you get in a fight with any of the other personnel, don't let it come to my attention. I'll send you both back with a bad report." He turned to look at Barbara. "I guess that's about it. Can you think of anything else?"
    She smiled. "That's enough for one day. I'll take her down to Team Red barracks. C'mon, hon." From a peg by the door the