The Tower and the Hive Read Online Free PDF Page A

that Rojer and his father had teleported back to Phobos Moon Base. Admiral Ashiant had had her transferred to the Washington on Kloo’s recommendation.
    â€œNow that Rojer’s gone,” Thian went on, to put Lea at ease, “we’ll be needing you more, rather than less. We’ll add another of the crew Talent to keep you company. By the time we’re through with you, Chief, you’ll definitely be able to integrate into any Talent team.”
    â€œGee, Talent Captain, sir, that’s real nice of you.”
    Thian wanted to grin at her ambivalent reception of that threat. Instead he took her rejoinder at face value and gave her a bow.
    â€œIf that’s all, Talent Captain, sir?” she said, coming to attention, “I’d best return to the profession of my choice.”
    â€œCan we send you on your way?” Thian asked, his lips twitching to keep his grin under control.
    â€œThanks, but no thanks, sir,” she said as she strode on quick long legs to the door. “I can do just fine the ordinary way.” She closed the door firmly behind her.
    They all had a good laugh then at her hasty retreat.
    â€œAny truth in what she said about envy, Rame?” Thian asked the commander.
    Kloo made a face and tilted her head from one side to the other. “I haven’t heard of any disgruntlement. I’ll keep an ear open. Mind you, that power weasel can take care of herself. She’s been in the Navy long enough to know how. But you’re wise to shift around with the other lower Talents. Give all of them a break as well as practical lessons.”
    â€œSome are much better than others,” Clancy said. “See you at dinner?” he added as he and Kloo also took their leave.
    Â 
    Well? asked the Rowan, Callisto Prime, pointedly of her husband, Jeff Raven, Earth Prime.
    Well what? was the innocent response.
    I don’t want to have to drag it out of you.
    I’m waiting for Damia ... Ah, there you are, Jeff said, ignoring the exasperated snort from his wife. All your kids are fine and healthy in tone and we shipped every single one of those heavy supply drones with nary a variation on either gestalt support. Rojer and his ’Dinis are now on board the Columbia, and that should prove interesting.
    Are you sure about Thian? Damia asked.
    Can’t you feel the truth in my mind? Jeff asked.
    Don’t be difficult, Father, Damia said. You keep taking my children and depositing them where you want them, and wonder why I worry.
    It isn’t as if they haven’t improved, her mother said in a slightly censorious tone.
    Just remember the pressures they are not subjected to right now, Jeff said with no humor at all in his mental touch.
    Is it getting worse, Dad? Damia asked contritely.
    Anything we can do to help? added Afra. The two Primes had sensed his presence, but Afra waited for the appropriate moment to join conversations between his wife and her parents.
    Just keep our good friends on Iota Aurigae happy and ship off as much of that fine ore as possible.
    More ships? asked Afra.
    The Navy wants six Washington-class so it can reduce the number of support vessels needed. They plan to use the Constellations and Galaxies to stand guard on Hiver worlds that might be about to send off a new colony ship. Jeff’s tone was droll. That Genesee ploy the kids invented has given both Navies tremendous confidence.
    Too much? Afra asked.
    We’ll see.
    Even if there’s been such criticism about Talents abandoning our “traditional” noncombative role? Damia asked, her tone wry. She’d been very proud of Thian and Rojer for coming up with a strategy that had ended the need of suicide missions to destroy Hiver spheres. It had gone against Afra’s methody pacifism that events had caused his sons to think of such a tactic even if it had saved lives and, in another application, destroyed Hiver spheres.
    Defense has always been permissible, Jeff