[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Montray was answering Hastur s gracious words with a little speech about
friendship and brotherhood, carefully using all the wrong inflections while his son
Wade carefully straightened them out and made them into the proper ones.
How will Montray get along without me to write his speeches? Magda realized,
lightheartedly, that she didn t give a damn. She had more interesting things to do.
When it had all been settled, and Hastur and Lady Rohana and Montray his
son at his elbow to keep him from any too offensive mistakes were exchanging
amenities, Peter and Jaelle and Magda met for a moment in the doorway of the Council
chamber. Peter knew the custom of the Domains too well to touch Jaelle in public, but
his quick glance at her was like an embrace. But he spoke to Magda, with raillery:  So
you ve had your own way, Mag, and made us all look like fools doing what no man
could manage to do! Have you really such contempt for us all, then?
 Contempt? Not really, Magda said, but she could not help flicking a quick look
at Montray, which Peter caught.  But he, at least, hasn t done so well with Darkover so
far.
Peter said,  Everyone knew you were doing the real work of the coordinator s
office, Magda. It s just the way the breaks run, that you couldn t have the title, too.
Maybe someday you can have the job.
She smiled without bitterness and said,  No, thanks. Why don t you try for it,
Peter? She felt the strange little prickles of the hunch running up and down her spine
as she spoke.  You ll make a good coordinator or the first Legate, someday. I have
something better to do.
 You ve already done miracles, he said, clasping her hands warmly, and she
shook her head.
a
a
T
T
n
n
s
s
F
F
f
f
o
o
D
D
r
r
P
P
m
m
Y
Y
e
e
Y
Y
r
r
B
B
2
2
.
.
B
B
A
A
Click here to buy
Click here to buy
w
w
m
m
w
w
o
o
w
w
c
c
.
.
.
.
A
A
Y
Y
B
B
Y
Y
B
B
r r
 It wasn t I. It was Jaelle and the Guild-mothers. He said under his breath to
Jaelle,  You are wonderful! I never believed you could do it!
Jaelle said quietly,  I think you do not believe that women can do many things,
Piedro, in spite of what Margali has done for us both. But perhaps you will learn,
someday. I believed, for a time, that women among your people were more free than
mine. Now I know that there is really not so much difference between Terra and
Darkover. My foster-mother told me, once, that it was better to wear chains than to
believe you are free, and weight yourself with invisible chains. Then she smiled at him,
a luminous smile.  But there is always hope, and I am committed to a day when we are
part of the Empire from the stars, and when we are not all strangers and aliens, but all
people are are  She hesitated, stumbled for a word, and Peter said,  Where all men
are brothers?
She smiled, caught Magda s eyes and said,  And sisters.
He said,  Well, politics can wait; you and I have other things to think of today!
Magda, will you come with us when we declare ourselves before witnesses?
 I cannot, she said, glancing at the Guild-mothers.  I am not really supposed to
leave the Guild-house for half a year after I am sworn. Suddenly she held out her
hands.
 Oh, Peter, wish me luck! Don t hold it against me!
He gave her a brief, almost brotherly hug.  I do, Mag, he said, kissing her on
the cheek.  Looks like you ll need luck with those old battle-axes! But it s what you
want, so be happy, love.
She said,  Jaelle  and impetuously Jaelle flung her arms around Magda,
holding her tight. Magda whispered,  You be happy, too.  I ll come and see you,
Jaelle promised.  Thendara house is my home, too.
Peter said,  But you must promise not to turn her against me, Magda! Must I
cope with all those mothers-in-law?
Jaelle said, laughing,  No one could turn me against you. But you must learn
someday not to speak so of my mothers and sisters!
She s grown up, Magda thought. I ve always thought of her as a young girl. But
she isn t. She s a woman. She knows him for what he is. And she isn t infatuated
anymore. And she loves him anyway.
a
a
T
T
n
n
s
s
F
F
f
f
o
o
D
D
r
r
P
P
m
m
Y
Y
e
e
Y
Y
r
r
B
B
2
2
.
.
B
B
A
A
Click here to buy
Click here to buy
w
w
m
m
w
w
o
o
w
w
c
c
.
.
.
.
A
A
Y
Y
B
B
Y
Y
B
B
r r
He would never understand that there could be loyalties certainly not loyalties
between women that could go deeper than love. But he would do his best for the
world they all loved, and his best would be very good indeed. And for that, if nothing
else, Magda knew she would always love him a little.
The Guild-mother Millea turned and beckoned to Magda to join them. Magda
kissed Jaelle again and said,  Be good to each other. Then, slowly, but without
looking back, she went across the room to join the three women.
Jaelle, standing and watching her go seemed to catch from her mind the image of
a great, opening door swinging wide on a sunlit world and a brightly lighted future.
a
a
T
T
n
n
s
s
F
F
f
f
o
o
D
D
r
r
P
P
m
m
Y
Y
e
e
Y
Y
r
r
B
B
2
2
.
.
B
B
A
A
Click here to buy
Click here to buy
w
w
m
m
w
w
o
o
w
w
c
c
.
.
.
.
A
A
Y
Y
B
B
Y
Y
B
B [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]