Main Core Workroom
Seignur Veeoni was at the workbench, assembling a tongstele frame. It was not, so far as Jen Sin was aware, skilled work, though it did require a certain amount of concentration.
I could take that on, he thought, and free her to tasks worthy of her skill.
Then, he recalled that he was compromised, and perhaps ought not even be in the same room as the clean systems being built.
He may have missed a step just then. Theo, at his side, did not seem to notice his lapse, but from behind him rumbled Stost Strongline’s voice.
“Is all well, Pilot?”
“A momentary lapse,” he said, glancing over his shoulder and up into the brown face. “I thank you.”
“We are here to assist in any way possible,” Stost said.
This from an Yxtrang. Well, and he had best accommodate himself. One must suppose that honor bound them.
“I do recall it,” he assured Stost, and looked forward, where Seignur Veeoni had straightened from her work, and pushed the glasses up onto her forehead. She was of course frowning.
“Light Keeper,” she said, neutrally. “I find you well?”
“Well enough,” he answered matching her mode. He moved his hand, showing her Theo. “Here is Captain Theo Waitley, come with ship and crew to assist us in readying the Light for its new turn of duty.”
He turned to Theo.
“Cousin, here is Researcher Seignur Veeoni, the primary architect of the new core.”
Theo produced a competent bow between equals. Seignur Veeoni did not. Her frown became more marked as she glanced over Theo’s head.
“Soldiers,” she said, flatly.
“Pathfinders, Researcher,” Stost answered respectfully. “Now ship security for Bechimo.”
Seignur Veeoni’s frown cleared, and she returned her gaze to Theo.
“Bechimo out of Waymart,” she said. “You are Daav yos’Phelium’s daughter?”
One of Cousin Theo’s eyebrows rose, just slightly.
“I’m the daughter of Kamele Waitley, Professor with a specialty in the history of education, and Daav yos’Phelium Clan Korval.”
And that, Jen Sin thought with amusement, put Daav yos’Phelium Clan Korval properly into his place.
“All honor to your mother and her scholarship,” Seignur Veeoni said perfunctorily, leaving Jen Sin startled that she had said it at all. “However, my interest lies particularly in your relationship with regard to Clan Korval’s luck. Daav yos’Phelium’s daughter. It will do. You are welcome, Captain Waitley. What do you want from me?”
Both of Theo’s eyebrows were up now, and her mouth pursed before relaxing into a smile as the absurdities of the situation became clearer to her.
“Well, first of all,” she said, stepping up to the worktable. “I’d like to know what you’re making here, and if there’s any way we—that’s my crew and I—can help you.”
Jen Sin expected the researcher to thrust this impertinence aside. Instead, she gave way, turning so that Theo might approach more nearly.
“This,” she said, putting her hand on the unfinished frame, “is a tile rack. We have many, unfortunately in pieces, which must be assembled before the tiles can be placed. Once the rack is full, it is associated with—”
“Jen Sin,” Tocohl said from the speaker set into the ceiling, “an urgent message has just arrived for you.”
And, he thought, how novel was that? He could scarcely recall the last time he’d had an urgent message.
“Send it to the workroom screen, please,” he said and glanced around, meaning to make his excuse to Theo, only to see that there was no need. She was leaning over the rack assembly, listening to Seignur Veeoni with every sign of rapt attention.
So.
“Your pardon,” he murmured to the Stronglines, who were moving toward the workbench. He slipped by them and strode to the alcove, where the screen displayed the text of a pinbeam message from his Cousin Miri.
Jen Sin—the Delm’s Solution is on its way to you.
Relief washed through him, softening tense muscles. He leaned his head against the top of the screen and closed his eyes.
Soon, now. He could lay it down and—
“Jen Sin!”
Lorith’s voice brought him to himself. He straightened, blanked the screen, and turned to her.
“Station tells me a ship has come in—bearing cousins?”
“Cousin,” he corrected. “Theo, who is ship’s captain. Come, let me bring you to her attention.”
He moved his hand, showing her the knot at the worktable, and together they went forward.