Looking at Trouble Read Online Free PDF Page B

sat back. “So, what is your new conversational vector?”
    “What did you want to be when you grew up?”
    She paused and chuckled. “A weaver. I wanted it more than anything I had ever conceived of, but it wasn’t to be.”
    “Why not?”
    Reeda grinned. “I don’t have enough hands to do it properly.”
    She finished her caf with a happy sigh. “Now, what did you want to be when you grew up?”
    His cheeks coloured. “I wanted to be a hero, like my father.”
    It was a fair answer. “Tell me about growing up with a hero in the family.”
    He sat back and told her tales of being swept up and flown across the continents for research in a school project.
    Reeda sat back, and they talked about his family and his past until the sun dimmed and another one of the Guardians tapped him on the shoulder.
    Bilro blinked. “Oh, Kimda, this is the woman I was talking about. Reeda, this is Kimda of Ryamash III.”
    Kimda gave her a tight smile. “Pleased to meet you. Bilro, we are scheduled for dinner at the base in twenty minutes.”
    Bilro sighed. “Fine. Reeda, please, excuse me. It was wonderful speaking with you again.”
    She stood and extended her hand, palm up. “It was fun. Think of another topic if you come back again.”
    “I shall come back daily as long as I am here.” He pressed his palm to hers and inclined his head.
    “I look forward to it; you know how to find me.”
    Kimda sighed and pulled her companion away.
    Reeda chuckled and tidied up the tea and the cups. Her pitcher was empty, and she brought it all back to the washing station. It was time for dinner, and she was still smiling from the fun of the afternoon.
    Camya found her when she was loading up her dinner tray, and for the rest of her meal, Reeda had to answer her questions about the Guardian. Other women who had been mooning after Bilro came by and asked questions about how Reeda had managed to get his attention.
    They didn’t like to hear that she had just been reading and he had approached her.
    After the meal, she retreated to her room and composed a letter to Mother, telling her about her day and that she had made a friend outside her own gender.
    When she finished it, she sent it off with a smile. Mother had sent her two messages since she had been at the Citadel, and the tone of both had been clear... keep writing.
    Reeda stretched and went to her living space, checking out vids on Ryamash III.
    When she next spoke with Bilro, she would have a mental image of the cities and countryside he described.
     
    It seemed that Bilro was determined to upset his companions. He was at the Citadel every chance he had, and some of the younger members would come screeching up to Reeda to tell her that they had seen the fiery streak approaching the Citadel.
    A week of fascinating conversations passed before the inevitable day arrived. Bilro showed up in a skimmer with the other Guardians and asked for the occupants of the Citadel to bring Reeda out.
    Reeda learned this in her morning etiquette class, and she smiled at the young woman who was whispering in her ear. Reeda inclined her head to her instructor. “Please, excuse me.”
    “Of course. Well done, by the way. You asked before you stood. You are learning.”
    Reeda stood, bowed and followed the child out of the classroom, through the hall and into the courtyard.
    Bilro smiled tightly. The other Guardians were waiting in the background. “I just wanted to come by and say goodbye before I leave.”
    She nodded in a short jerk. “I understand. Do you know where you are posted?”
    His smile relaxed. “They are sending me home. With retirements imminent, the senior Guardians have all decided to leave and pursue instructor positions on other worlds.”
    “So you will be a complete team?”
    He nodded. “We will. It will be nice to be amongst my peers.”
    Reeda glanced over at the skimmer full of green men. “Do you know who your commander will be?”
    He shrugged. “I suppose we will work