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there slavery there?"
"Yes, in a few of the more distant countries. But before you go getting bent out of shape over that, kindly
remember that there's still slavery in some of the far corners of your own world, and it was widely
accepted just a couple of hundred years ago in your own country."
Brittany thumped her head mentally for even asking. Barbaric in the eyes of "most of the universe" would
of course include things like slavery. A logical deduction. And much easier to convince the nonbeliever if
the tall tale followed a logical path.
But Brittany proved just how single-minded humans were by repeating, "Directions? Or is there some
reason I must stay here?"
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"Out the door and right to the lift at the end of the hall. It's voice activated-or controlled by me." And
then a chuckle. "Dalden doesn't even know that. He just assumes it's always going to take him exactly
where he wants to go in the ship, because I always know where he wants to go and control it for him."
"Why not just tell him?"
"Weren't you listening when I mentioned that he doesn't like spaceships? The less he has to personally
deal with the ship, the better.
"Will I get to explore this ship?"
"Sure, why not?"
Brittany could have thought of one major reason why not. If their ship was as big as it was being
represented by them, then the size of the studio that had created this illusion would have to be mammoth
to show her all of it. It would be much easier to restrict her to just a few rooms. Of course, when she got
around to asking for that tour, they would probably come up with excuses to not allow it.
"Alone?"
Martha chuckled at that addition. "Doll, there's no such thing as being alone on a ship controlled by me.
There are visual monitors in every single room that can't be turned off if I don't want them turned off."
"What about broken? Smashed? Demolished?"
"Are we getting hot under the collar? You could try, but they're made of unbreakable material. And why
does that upset you?"
"Maybe I'm used to the concept of privacy?" Brittany growled. "Maybe I don't like the fact that there
will always be eyes on me."
"I'm not intrusive, Brittany. I view when I need to view, I don't view just for the hell of it."
"I'm not Impressed by that hurt-feelings tone. If you're a computer, you don't have feelings."
Another chuckle. " 'Course not, but you don't think I'm a computer, remember?"
Before Brittany's blush got really bright, the door to the lift slid silently open. Dalden turned toward her
immediately. So did Jorran. It was a circular room in the middle of which was another circular room
enclosed by see-through walls. Those curved, seamless walls extended from floor to ceiling. As Martha
had mentioned, there were no doors, no openings of any kind. There had to be a trapdoor in the floor,
though, that she just couldn't see, because their only way in or out, called Transfer, was stretching the
limits of even their imagination, much less hers.
"Why is she here?" Dalden wanted to know.
"Shanelle took her to the Rec Room, where she thought you'd be, then abandoned her there when she
got emotional again over what she assumed happened to Tedra on her return home. Nothing we haven't
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seen her do a dozen times since parting from Tedra, but you know how your sister is, and how poorly
she deals with that subject."
"Why is she here?" Dalden repeated, showing that barbarians could be single-minded, too.
"Didn't care for my subtle warning about what you can expect to be grilled about later? Forgetting that
the Rec Room is where your good buddies prefer to hang out? Brittany got intimidated."
The blush that Brittany had gotten under control immediately returned. And Dalden's expression
softened now as he put an
arm around her and said, "You need have no fear of Kan-is-tran warriors.
"I wasn't afraid," she insisted. "Martha embellishes. I was merely uncomfortable. And she said you were
playing the ambassador here. I wanted to see how one plays at being an ambassador."
He made a face now. "As you say, she embellishes. I have not the diplomacy needed for such a role. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]