Earth 2788 Read Online Free PDF

choosing suitable young men of good family to assist him in his
work, but …
    “During my visit
to University Asgard, I mentioned the fact Dalmora would be starting her
history studies at University Danae after Year Day 2789, and my contacts gave
me some important information.” Father’s voice developed an unusual edge of
annoyance. “I should add that I was both surprised and disappointed that we had
not been told this information when Dalmora made her application to University
Danae.”
    He paused. “It
appears that University Danae no longer runs a history degree course.”
    “What?” The word
slipped out before I could stop it. “I’m sorry, Father. I shouldn’t have
interrupted you.”
    He shook his
head. “You are understandably shocked, Dalmora. As I said, I was disappointed
that University Danae chose to mislead us. Apparently the rules for history
degrees have changed since I was a student. All the Foundation courses must now
concentrate on pre-history and be held on Earth.”
    “Earth!”
Grandmother frowned. “It’s out of the question for Dalmora to go to Earth. It
would be criminally negligent for University Danae to send their students to a
world where they’d be in contact with the Handicapped.”
    Father sighed. “Apparently
that’s exactly how University Danae felt about it, Mother. They weren’t allowed
to accept students onto a full history degree course unless they’d completed
the new Pre-history Foundation course, so they chose to replace their history
degree with a degree in historical studies.”
    “That seems a
sensible solution,” said Grandmother.
    “Apart from the
minor detail that their historical studies syllabus includes a lot of literary
and philosophical content, and virtually no pre-history,” said Father. “Given
Dalmora wished to specialize in pre-history …”
    He sighed again.
“We appear to be faced with a situation where Dalmora either has to study a
largely irrelevant degree at University Danae, or apply to an entirely
different university.”
    “Out of the
question,” repeated Grandmother. “Almost all universities on other worlds have
mixed classes!”
    “I don’t
consider that segregating male and female students is necessarily desirable,”
said Father. “I requested information on history courses at University Asgard,
and they’ve been extremely helpful.”
    University
Asgard! I wasn’t just stunned now. I was, as Diya would say, totally grazzed.
If I studied at University Asgard, I wouldn’t be living at home, or even on a
different world in Alpha sector, but on the capital planet of Gamma sector. No,
if University Asgard was following the new rules …
    “Would that mean
I’d spend my degree course Foundation year studying pre-history on Earth, Father?”
I asked.
    “Yes,” he said.
“I do have some strong reservations about that. Not because of the Handicapped
issue. Medical experts advise there is absolutely no risk in spending time on
Earth; all the studies prove that it doesn’t increase the chance of having a
child with immune system problems. My concern is that the new Pre-history
Foundation course apparently includes physically demanding work, excavating the
ruins of Earth’s ancient cities.”
    “Yet again,
that’s out of the question,” said Grandmother. “A delicately built girl like
Dalmora can’t be expected to perform manual labour like … like some muscular
farmer’s daughter on a primitive frontier world!”
    Father turned to
look at Mother. “I feel that this decision has to be made by Dalmora herself.
My associates at University Asgard suggested I could take Dalmora to Earth and
meet a lecturer who runs one of their Pre-history Foundation classes. We would
then be able to discuss all our concerns with him. I think we should accept
their very gracious offer.”
    Mother frowned,
clearly worried.
    “I have a
history degree,” added Father. “I make history vids. Now I stop to think about
it, it does seem faintly