Voices of Chaos Read Online Free PDF Page A

broke in, "there's nothing wrong, it's a message from Khyriz, from Arekkhi." Khyriz! Magdalena smiled as she pictured her tall, cheetah-like royal friend. The smile faded almost immediately, though. Why would he send word to Dr. Rob, if it's for me? All Khyriz's letters came to her directly.
    But Rob's next words put Khyriz completely out of her thoughts. "That will keep, though. Ladessa's been injured, a silly freak accident in the gym.
    She's not in any danger, before you ask, just--well, why don't you go see her? She's out of intensive and I'll okay you to miss your first two classes."
    "Intensive! Rob! You're certain she's not--?"
    She could hear the smile in his voice; as always, she felt her nerves and muscles relax as she tugged the jumpsuit straight and began fastening the front. "Go on, she's hurting and worried and she needs a friend. That's your job, for now. I'll see you whenever you can get here afterward."
    "Of course, sir," she replied demurely, knowing her reply and demeanor would make him laugh.
    "All right, Magdalena. I know you're a full test ahead of the rest of your study group in astronomy, so I don't think it will hurt anything if you and I talk instead. I'll program the servo for lemon grass tea and poppy-seed biscuits."
    "Thanks, I'll be there." The breakfast combination was a rare happy memory of her mother--the two of them sipping from thick pottery mugs filled with honey-sweetened clear red tea, and eating warm biscuits.
    She knelt to clip her boots, as the second message played. Ladessa's normally resonant alto voice was tight with pain. "Hey--lady, I messed up.
    Last night, after the recital, I was too wired to sleep or study so I went up to the gym and checked out a low-gee glider and was trying that stunt, you know the forward roll over the bar you said was a really dumb one? Well, I tried it, and swear, I almost had it! But my left hand slipped and even at low gee my right wouldn't bear all my weight, and--well, okay, I fell." Ouch, Magdalena thought as she automatically straightened her bed. "Ah--and, um--well, I broke my back. And--well, I'd like to see you,"
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    she said in a forlorn little voice; a brittle laugh broke that. "Looks like maybe now you'll have more time to tutor me in Arekkhi formal language and manners now, doesn't it? Though I guess dance is out for now." Silence, broken by the girl's long-drawn breath. "Anyway, come see me when you can. Please?"
    Magdalena gazed at the screen for a long moment after the voice cut off.
    That was a long drop, it must be--she didn't want to think how many meters.
    Even with the gee set for gliders, it was still a long way down, and the floor was hard. The Earth girl was lucky to be alive. Magdalena scooped up her jacket, shoved her comp into the pocket, and headed out.
    The hallway was fairly crowded, which was normal at this hour. Half a dozen humans chattered excitedly in Mizari-- StarBridge's common language, and the first one new students learned. Magdalena stepped back a pace, into her doorway, as two Heeyoons loped around the group of humans, on their way to the gym. A hint of cinnamon teased her nostrils as she keyed the door: Vardi had passed by a moment earlier, conversing in their unique olfactory-based language.
    But as the door closed behind her, she froze; David was learning against the opposite wall, obviously waiting for her. From the look of him, he'd been there some time. Magdalena cast up her eyes briefly, shook her head, and slipped into the flow of rapid foot traffic; the tall blond boy eased his shoulders away from the wall and caught up. "Look, I said I was sorry," he mumbled. She eyed him sidelong, shook her head, then held up a hand for-silence.
    "David, look. I said I was sorry, too, remember? But that doesn't mean I'm ready to just forget the whole messy argument yet, you said some things that hurt. And besides... I don't have time right now."
    "You never have time--not for me," he began sourly. Magdalena stopped