Earth 2788 Read Online Free PDF Page B

ridiculous that I’ve never even set foot on the planet
where most of human history happened.”
    “It’s all
totally impossible,” said Grandmother. “If only you had a son then …”
    Mother threw a
single furious glance in her direction, before turning back to my father. “If
you feel that’s the wisest course of action, Ventrak, then naturally I agree.”
    Father turned to
me. “Are you happy with this, Dalmora?”
    “Yes, Father.” I
was going to visit Earth! I reached up to touch the necklace I was wearing.
Long ago in Exodus century, this necklace had been around the neck of my
ancestor when she left Earth. For the first time in four hundred and fifty
years, it would return to the world where it was made.
     
    Two days later, my father and I
stepped out of a portal at Danae Off-world. Everyone immediately turned to look
at us, or rather look at him. Ventrak Rostha, Danae’s most famous son, wearing
the same traditionally styled, pure white clothing that he wore in every one of
his celebrated history vids. I was an insignificant figure at his side, wearing
a discreetly simple sari, appropriate for travelling to other worlds.
    Danae Off-world
was crowded, but a clear path opened ahead of us as people moved aside to let
us through. Father smiled and nodded his thanks to them all, as he walked on
towards the off-world portals.
    “I can never get
used to this, Father,” I murmured. “The way everyone stands aside for you, as
if you were an ancient king walking through an admiring crowd.”
    “You must never
get used to it, Dalmora,” he said. “I must never get used to it either. Every
time it happens, I have to remember that being treated like this is an honour,
but also a huge responsibility. When people on any world of humanity hear the
name Danae, they think of two things. The beauty of our firefly clouds, and my
history vids. Wherever I go, whatever world I visit, I have a duty to always
treat people with courtesy, showing respect for their feelings and customs,
because my behaviour must never bring discredit on the name of Danae.”
    I nodded, understanding
that it was a duty that didn’t just apply to my father, but also to me as his
daughter.
    “It’s not always
easy, Dalmora,” he added. “There are so many worlds with different attitudes
and customs. I’m fortunate that the traditional male dress of Danae is
conservative enough to be acceptable on any world, but I’ve still managed to
make mistakes. Fortunately, people have always been gracious enough to accept
my apologies.”
    He glanced
upwards at a sign. “There’s a block portal to Earth Europe soon, but if we wait
for it there’s a danger we would be late for our meeting.”
    The lecturer
from University Asgard was disrupting his schedule to assist us. It would be
deeply discourteous for us to be late for the meeting, and Father was wealthy
enough that the cost of dialling a special interstellar portal link wasn’t an
issue. We walked on past the queues to an off-world portal that was deserted
except for a uniformed attendant.
    “Earth Europe
please,” said my father.
    A moment later,
the portal established and we stepped through. I looked round, tense with
excitement. I was on Earth, the home world of humanity, the place where people
had lived and loved and fought their wars for millions of years before the
invention of interstellar portals and the exodus to other worlds.
    It was
disappointing to see that Earth Europe Off-world looked almost identical to
Danae Off-world. The crowds of people looked very ordinary too. I saw there
were some, like my father and I, wearing clothes in the widely varying styles
of different Alphan worlds, and a group of two women and one man in Betan
togas, possibly the members of a triad marriage. Mostly though, people were
wearing clothes that were more like those of Gamma sector than anything else.
    I realized I’d
been foolish. Earth Europe Off-world was hardly likely to look like a history
vid.