Part 17 (1/2)

”Even if that turns out to be the only workable structure?”

”I've never liked that theory. It seems arrogant, somehow.”

Jonny shrugged. ”I don't especially care for it either. I've heard the Troft theory is that some major disaster three or four billion years ago nearly sterilized this whole region of s.p.a.ce, taking with it an early starfaring people. The algae and bacteria that survived on each world were therefore all from one common stock, though they've since evolved independently.”

”That must've been one gantua of a disaster.”

”I think it was supposed to be either a chain of supernovas or the final collapse of the galaxy's central black hole.”

”Uh-huh. Almost simpler to believe G.o.d set it up this way deliberately.”

”Certainly makes a colonist's life easier to be able to digest the local flora and fauna,” Jonny agreed.

”Though the vice versa is occasionally a problem.”

Jonny tensed; but Chrys's tone hadn't been one of accusation. ”I appreciate your letting me go with the others today,” he said, as long as they were now on the topic. ”I know I promised to stay out of things on this trip-”

”You could hardly hold out when you were needed,” she put in. ”And it wasn't like you were in serious danger out there. Were you?”

”No, not with the aircar and Menssana as backup. Still, I'll try to behave myself the rest of the trip.”

She chuckled and gave his hand a squeeze. ”It's all right, Jonny. Really. I wouldn't want you to just sit on your hands when you're needed. Just be careful.”

”Always,” he a.s.sured her, wondering at her abrupt att.i.tude change. This was the old Chrys back again, the one who'd been so supportive of his service when they were first married. What had happened to change her? Was she simply reacting to the new environment, slipping into old thought patterns with the reminder of their past struggles on Aventine?

He didn't know. But he liked the change... and he had the rest of the trip to figure out how to keep her this way when they returned home.

Chapter 10.

The clearance to remove their filter helmets had come from the Dewdrop just before the evening's medical exam, and in the hours between then and bedtime

Joshua thought his nose had become thoroughly accustomed to the exotic scents of

Qasama's air. But the group hadn't taken more than three steps outside their guest house in the morning before Joshua realized that belief had been a little premature.

The new odor seemed to be a mixture of baking aromas with some not-quite-aromatic smoke with something he couldn't begin to identify.

He apparently wasn't the only one. ”What is that I smell?” Cerenkov asked Moff, sniffing the breeze.

Moff inhaled thoughtfully. ”I smell the bakery one street down, the boron refinery, and the exhaust of vehicles. Nothing more.”

”A boron refinery?” Rynstadt spoke up. ”In the middle of the city?”

”Yes. Why not?” Moff asked.

”Well...” Rynstadt floundered a bit. ”I would a.s.sume it would be safer to put industries like that away from populated centers. In case of an accident or something.”

Moff shook his head. ”We have no accidents of any consequence. And the equipment itself is safest right where it is.”