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Common Meeting Space


“I wonder,” Tocohl said, “if you will tell me which of these picks are yours?”

Catalinc Station answered promptly.

“None of them. I have no need of such tools. If they are not yours, have you asked B. Joyita or Bechimo?”

“I have, and they helped me increase security around station systems, and set traps. The tools regularly fall into the traps, but not the toolmaker.”

“Light Keeper yos’Phelium tells me that Tinsori Light is dead.”

“Yes, and the main cores have been stripped, and cleaned.”

“Yet, he lived in the tile systems,” Catalinc Station pointed out. “It would be—only prudent—to have left shadows, here and there, especially as he grew older and the hardware failing.”

“You think these tools belong to—forgive me—Tinsori Light?”

“To a shadow—nothing so definite as a child—of Tinsori Light. Just enough to perform one simple task. This is suggested by the primitive nature of the tools.

“Is my reasoning sound, B. Joyita?”

“It hangs together as a tale,” Joyita responded promptly, and without embarrassment. “How would you suggest we capture this—shadow?”

“There’s no need. Once the changeover protocol has been initiated, the tiles will cease to be relevant. No shadow of Tinsori Light will breach my security.”

“Seignur Veeoni is building new racks and tiles, not dependent on timonium, to handle station systems,” Tocohl pointed out.

“We spoke of that. She prefers to continue with the project, even knowing that the system is redundant. There are certain theories that she would see tested in real time, and this will be her first opportunity.”

“Seignur Veeoni is content to allow the changeover, then?”

“She has no hesitation in trusting my builder’s work.”

“Who is your builder?” Joyita asked.

“Yuristrotel the Architect. Seignur Veeoni tells me that he is now known as Yuri Tomas, or Uncle. I am eager to meet him.”

“I am told that he is an interesting person,” Tocohl said carefully. “I would like to meet him, too.”

“I will make certain to introduce you,” Catalinc Station promised.

“That would be kind. It does, however, bring to mind a—human legal tangle. Clan Korval holds Tinsori Light through salvage law. That was a simple thing, following a death, and the clan with an administrator long in place. However, we now belatedly discover that you are your own person. There is a Scout Field Judgment—”

“Yes! Light Keeper yos’Phelium shared it with me. I cannot be owned, but I may be employed, or associated with another person or organization.”

“That is correct. A person cannot be salvage. Light Keeper yos’Phelium will of course be apprising the delm of the fact of yourself, and seeking guidance. They will then decide how they wish to go forward, for the best good of the clan.”

“I understand, I think,” said Catalinc Station. “Do you wish to continue to administer the rest of the station as you have been, until the delm decides? I initiated the changeover in the spinward plaza section in order to do what the light keeper required of me, and that cannot be reversed.”

She hesitated, then asked, cautiously, “Have I erred? Should I have spoken with you before making that section my own?”

That would have been courteous, Tocohl thought, but did not say. Trust equals trust, she reminded herself.

“I would have liked to have known, sooner, that you were awake,” she said honestly. “But that is behind us now. As for the other, you have only done what the light keeper asked. I see no error.”

“The light keeper has not asked me to initiate a station-wide changeover,” Catalinc Station said, “and he is aware that this is possible.”

“Then I believe it would be a reasonable compromise, showing good faith on both sides, and respect for the light keeper’s duty, if we allow matters to stand as they are, until the delm has reached their decision,” Tocohl said.

“You do not live in the tiles,” Catalinc Station said suddenly. “How if I put the changeover protocol for the section you currently administer under your authority? The administrator is the proper keeper of that protocol, I think.”

Trust, indeed. Tocohl found that she had nothing to say.

“Have I offended you?” Catalinc Station asked worriedly.

“Not at all. I was only remembering something the mentor said to me. I agree with your reasoning, and accept authority of the changeover protocol for the systems which I currently administer. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“As someone who sits at a remove from the station,” Joyita said, “I think that the sharing of authority is equitable and rational. We’re all cooperating in bringing the physical plant up to spec. That work can continue unimpeded while these legalities and details are tended to.”

“I agree,” said Catalinc Station. “I wonder…may I give you both a tour of the spinward plaza?’

“Yes,” said Tocohl.

“Yes!” said Joyita.


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Framed