Damia's Children (37 page)

Aw, Granddad, it's getting exciting now! And they don't think of me as just a “kid” anymore!

Professionally and personally, I'm delighted to hear that, but I do believe that you may have witnessed the only “exciting” part that will happen for a while. Be that as it may, you're stuck there a while longer
 . . .

Hurrah!

Thian is six weeks at least from a point where we can 'port him from the KLTL. You're stuck on board til then.

That's all right with me, sir. Commander Metrios is giving me some naval engineering courses, so I'm not even missing schooling.

Ha!
was his grandfather's surprising comment.
You're not the only one of my grandchildren who takes the initiative. Since you couldn't possibly guess what your sister Zara did
 . . .

She got to see the queen?

There was such a pause that Rojer wondered if he'd lost contact and then he heard the low chuckle.
You're not adding precog to your other Talents, are you, Rojer?

No, sir, I just know she was in bits over the queen.

On the contrary, she put bits together, Rojer. You may be proud of your sister. She's staying on Earth, living on Callisto, and studying with Elizara. Meanwhile, there's a female T-4 on the Module, monitoring the queen. Zara discovered the poor creature was freezing to death. Temperatures in an egg-laying chamber are degrees higher than they would be anywhere else in a Hive.

You mean, Zara did all this from Aurigae?
Rojer was overwhelmed by his sister's abilities.

His grandfather gave him a summary of his sister's adventure, which astonished Rojer thoroughly because he hadn't thought she'd ever do something as wild as that.

Sometimes, Rojer, we don't know what we are capable of until we
have
unexpected goals to achieve! Zara's happily placed with Elizara now, to the relief of all of us, I might add. Now, as I can feel you yawning, you get to bed. We've a waiting game to play, but for now, we can all get some rest.