Chapter Fifteen
Ven scanned Tommy and discovered exactly what he'd done to himself. He told her that her vocabulary was as impressive as the PO's had been, even if he had heard more of the words in it before. Boer burst into laughter, patted him on the back and told him if he ever did anything like that again he'd lay him out for it. Tommy told him, if it had required more than once, he'd have chosen another way to do it because he was sure once was all he'd want to do it before he did it. Boer said the threat wasn't "case specific."
Ven and Anverd stayed on the ship to move into their new quarters and none of the marines were at the house either. They had dinner by the pool and even the ones who had fixed it didn't mind that Tommy, Jobe and Boer wouldn't remember what it had been. The girls left the three of them sleeping in the huge 'bed' in Boer's room in the wee hours of the morning, one curled in on each side of him. Tommy had surprised everyone but Jobe. Boer hadn't really surprised any of them, except himself.
"Good morning, Boer."
"It might be good afternoon, Tommy."
"You may be right, Jobe, but I smell wonderful that way either way. Oh, and I am hungry. What's so funny?"
"It was your stomach growling that woke me, Boer. I imagine it's what woke Jobe too."
"It was. Boer, can you cook?"
"More or less. Why?"
"Someone always cooks for us. When there are just three of us, we must cook. I thought about them cooking because there are no marines here and then that they won't be with us some of the time."
"Anyone can cook, Jobe. It's just follow directions. A good cook is a person who doesn't need directions and a great cook is one who creates wonders that no directions can really explain."
"I like the definition, Boer."
"Thank you, Tommy. It's my father's. Jobe did remind me we need to stock ships with food though. Of course, Anthew probably already has a list for us and is just waiting for me to ask for it. He's... kitchen executive."
"Lola will have the chart made today, Boer."
"Yes, Jobe, she will.
"Sure you're married, Tommy?"
"I have no doubts at all. I like it. I could feel Eddy wasn't here."
"We all did. What's a great deal more surprising is we all felt it when you weren't. Oh, breakfast."
"Where did they put my clothes?"
"Probably in your room, but there would be some here if there was a reason to dress."
"Four are going to see that we stay busy until we leave and the others are all going to help."
"I got that real clear, too, Jobe. You and Tommy are probably going to be busier than I am. We know three of the children in the first group are mine, Tommy, and one is Jobe's. Dirda doesn't know whose hers is and that's the way they'd all like it, but they want each of us to father some. I think that would be less important if it wasn't probable it's going to be obvious who every baby's father is."
"They're hoping for babies with red curls."
"I don't know if they'll get any, Jobe. It's not a dominant characteristic. It may not be easy to tell who their fathers are. We're all outside the genetic norm and it wouldn't be the norm if it wasn't dominant. Most of them, though exceptionally beautiful, are within it."
"You're exceptionally beautiful, Tommy. I'm sure they are too, but I know better. They're very beautiful, but you and Jobe are the exceptionally beautiful people in the family. I'm using a term which I know is wrong to apply just as a physical description when talking about a person, but there isn't any other for exceptional visual harmony of features and skin, hair and eye color. I need to make a stop. Jobe!"
"He was evidently sure he needed to make it more than you did, Boer."
"Or would take less time. Well, there are more on the way. I'll use Dirda's. Tommy!"
Boer was still laughing when he walked into the toilet in the hall by the kitchen. Jobe and Tommy were both in the kitchen, and both grinning, when he walked out. Both were also in swim briefs. Nora tossed him one.
"There's suncreen right by the door. Make sure you use it too, Boer. We're all taking the day off. About an hour ago, the contractor called to say the apartment complex is done. Dirda commed the ship and yacht and told them everyone was taking the day off and remember to take sunscreen when they moved into their apartments because they wouldn't be able to resist basking in the sun by the pool when they got done. Mallin Faith is going to till a bit of land for us. The Faiths are our closest neighbors. We've decided our back fence should be flowers and the growing season is long enough to still put in a garden. Mim's been busy rewriting leases all morning. The couple who own the big farm south of us decided to retire. They're selling farm equipment and some land, but they're going to lease most of it. They decided this was the right time because we were going to be changing leases because we want a bit more land. She's not writing groundskeeping into them. It will give the people quartered in the barn something to do."
"They'll appreciate it. Just sitting around is only enjoyable when you've been too busy to sit for awhile. We need to buy equipment."
"We already did, Boer. Three of us went to see what our neighbor was selling. We didn't buy any of the farm equipment for sale there, but we bought everything we need from people who did. Mallin is tilling for us on the way home with a near-new small field tractor. We bought his near-new garden tractor. We bought a big lawn mower from the woman who bought a field mower. We bought a hedge trimmer from the man who bought a multi-purpose orchard maintenance unit. I ordered hand tools and garden gloves by comp, so we have everything we need. Our neighbors are very happy. Those who want more land, not less, are getting it and those who want the same they've had aren't losing any."
"We helped offset the cost of buying new equipment for some of them by buying equipment they needed mainly to fulfill their leases with us."
"That's what we went there to do. Nora threw clothes at Mim and me and said we needed to get there before the sale started. We were on our way before we were awake enough to ask what sale. Good morning."
"Thanks, Dirda. I wasn't sure if it still was morning."
"Ten til eleven, Boer."
"How did you find out about the sale, Nora?"
"I had my window open and heard a harvester going by, Jobe. I looked out and saw a tractor behind it towing a plow and grain seeder. The tractor had a sign on it. Our neighbor, who is not moving, just retiring from farming, invited others with equipment they wanted to sell to bring it. You get a lot bigger bunch from a lot wider area that way and are more likely to get what you want for what you're selling, but I wasn't sure I was going to get a cab in time to get there before it started."
"Hint taken, Nora. Car shopping sounds like an enjoyable way to spend part of a day off. I think we need a couple flyers too. I don't want to take up the space for one big enough for all of us though."
"How close is the flyer port, Boer?"
"The nearest is about ten k, Tommy, just outside the area of shops, taverns and cafes called U-town that cater to the university students. Maybe we should lease storage for one that size."
"Maybe we should build more garages. Nora wants horses and other animals."
"I've been thinking about that, Jobe. I think I'd rather do it the other way. That's really an equipment barn, not a stock barn. Nora, are you ahead of me?"
"Told Mim we wanted the land around the northwest corner for pasture, Boer."
"I thought so. Do you have a design in mind?"
"She's got a greenhouse with a lovely walk through it, a place for the children to play in the middle of it, a stock barn with a riding ring in it at the end of it and a riding trail beyond it in mind, Boer."
"I like it. Do you have someone in mind to build it, Nora? It's a lot different than houses and apartments."
"I got a name this morning. Since I got the same one from three people, I decided it was the only one we needed."
"I agree, but that probably me
ans they're busy."
"Might be, but less likely this time of year than after harvest, when everyone knows how much they've got to spend. The climate's mild enough winter isn't a bad time to build, even if it's too wet some days. That sale was now because most of the equipment will be useful before and during harvest. Before spring planting is most common. I'd say the lease contracts with our neighbors include harvesting the fields they planted this year."
"Even I can see that makes sense, Nora."
"Farmers are very sensible people, Jobe. If they aren't, they don't last long. Farming itself is risky. Long-range weather predictions don't tell you average rainfall for a season is going to come as too much at both ends with not much between."
"Good morning!"
"Come in, Mallin! I'm just setting breakfast in front of the last to get up. Muffin and coffee?"
"Mm, yes please."
"Boer, Jobe and Tommy, Mallin Faith."
"Good morning, gens."
"Good morning."
"Welcome."
"Mmph."
"I agree, Boer. The muffin is delicious, Nora. I brought you some suggestions for your flower beds from my aunt. This is a list of native wildflowers that don't require a great deal of care, give you the size range you want, are very nice for cut flower bouquets and drying, won't take over the yard and you only have to buy seed once. She said tell you blue-tuft grass grows to about two meters and doesn't die back in winter in this climate. It needs dead stems pulled from it, but they're easy to spot, easy to pull, and they don't look bad scattered among the dark blue-green if you don't want to do it more than once a year. She thinks it's what you have in mind as your 'fence.' She does about the same in her yard. That's why Glonda called her for the list."
"Tell her thank you for us. Someone who's been doing about the same knows things a reference doesn't tell you about it. I'd seen blue-tuft grass in one, but didn't know if it would be a good choice because it said stems die after about a year."
"Gets thick and tall in a season and stays that way, Nora, unless you cut all the tops off and uproot it too, but it doesn't like to be mowed regularly and cutting the tufts off before the seeds fall will keep it from spreading to the rest of the flower bed. The tufts are pretty in flower arrangements, both fresh blue and blue-black with a load of near ripe seeds. Sticking them in water with a bit sugar in it for a few days will finish ripening them. Hanging them by the stem will dry the tufts with the seeds still on them. The reason it's not used more is most people don't want something tall and thick in the yard. Bright-top gives the same height, but it's a cluster of tall stems growing out of a plant with long slender leaves. You have several of those, but they aren't in bloom yet. When they do bloom, about ten days, you'll have a large number of small insects with big beautiful wings visiting them."
"Which is another reason people like them."
"Very much so. Brossom Garden Market will probably still have everything on that list, but they may not. It's close to being too late to plant most this year."
"We're going to try to get the flower beds and garden done in the next three days."
"Then I'd best get them tilled for you. Nice meeting you, gens."
"And you."
"Thank you."
"Mmph."
"He was really hungry, Mallin. He usually contributes more to a conversation than a lifted fork as hello and good-bye."
"Caught me with my mouth full both times, Dirda. Of course, if I hadn't been so hungry it would have at least been empty for a few seconds. Thank you, Mallin. Stop by often. Nora would be very disappointed if family were the only ones who used the kitchen door."
"Yes, Boer, I would."
"Glonda would be as well, Nora. I know she made sure you know exactly where we live."
"She did, and after today, I expect to have some way to get there."
"Dirda, tell everyone we're going car shopping and try to get us something here to take us reasonably soon."
"I'll call my daughter and have her bring the park department transport for you. They won't mind us loaning it at all. They feel a bit guilty we store it for them in exchange for its use when we need it and don't need it."
"Thanks, Mallin. We'd like a flyer big enough for all of us but don't want to store it here. What's the probability of keeping it at the flyer port near the university?"
"Small. We need another flyer port in the area. The Harvens have a piece of land at the south end of the farm, next to the road, they didn't lease out. I've got a suspicion Merne thinks it would be a good spot for one and is figuring out who'd be willing to invest in building it, other than the city. Most in Brossom want one the other side and closer, if they're going to pay for it."
"Who would be using it if one was built there?"
"Primarily farmers who'd like to put equipment in their equipment barns, Tommy. The one near the university is taking advantage of the fact there's a shortage of hanger space, which is part of the reason barns are being used and no one is offering to sell them space to expand. It's owned by a big investment group in Callor City. They pay university students to maintain it and they do a good job, but they don't pay them enough to tell them why no one's offering."
"Doesn't sound like they'd listen anyway. Expanding would reduce the per-square-meter profit they're making and they expect it to keep going up without having to increase the investment. They probably know exactly where Brossom is considering building one too."
"I don't think I like them, Boer."
"The investors are probably nice people, Jobe. The investment group is a business entity and the business is making a profit. The flyer port on another continent is just one of a great many investments and all they know about it is it's listed in the annual report and profitable."
"The business entity knows the prospect of that profitability going up is good. The job of the people who work for that business entity is make as much for the investors as they legally can. What they're missing is the nature of the community where the investment exists. It's not in a business district with tenants who expect to pay more as space becomes more in demand and will make more profit from being in that space as it does. People are also willing to pay more for personal convenience in areas like that. They see the demand and follow the formula."
"I think it's time they learned to look at a larger scale map, Dirda."
"So do I, Tommy, and I like the way you put it. Mallin, if the Harvens are interested, we are. I wouldn't be if it was going to be a high-traffic port, but that close to their house says they're sure it won't be and I'm rather impressed with their understanding of the needs of the community and their business sense."
"It's been a profitable farm and they've been good neighbors for nearly fifty years, Boer. Tell Merne you're calling on my suspicion and he'll get right down to what he thinks we need, instead of what would make sense as an investment over the long-term. They'll be the same, but he'll bottom-line a lot faster."
"Good."
"Tommy thinks they deserve a thump, not just a lesson in map reading, Boer."
"Doesn't make sense to buy a flyer before we have a place to put it, Dirda, at least not more than a few days before. We do know a contractor with the right equipment who's going to finish a project today and she wouldn't have to move it far. It would be another profitable little job. She won't be starting the Tasallia Space Port expansion for about another ten days and helping us deliver a thump would appeal to her."
"I thought they were going to have that shuttle pad finished before the day is. If I don't get moving, your flower beds won't be. I'll call my daughter from my new tractor. It's got a comm and I haven't used it yet. Don't take off before we at least have a pot-luck picnic, Boer. Yell at Glonda if it needs to be now or not, Nora. They're just at the talking stage and that can last a half-season, or move to the kitchen stage in time for supper, then go back to the talking stage before the food's gone because it's s
o much fun. I'll stop by tomorrow and leave some channies by the back door if it's not open. We've got more than we can use ripe and not enough to market yet. We'll all be sharing around early-ripened vegetables for about the next fifteen days and we're sure there are enough of you that you won't think we're burying you in them. Have fun shopping."
"He knows we're going to be leaving, Boer."
"And told us our neighbors will be watching over our family, too, Tommy. They know there are quarters being built in the barn. Dirda, I'm going to talk to a contractor. Tell Mim to talk to a retiring farmer. He'll know she's the one who knows what piece of land and what's a reasonable price for it, lease or buy. Nora, tell Glonda the picnic needs to be within seven days and we'd like to have it here."
"Ow."
"For us too, Dirda. Comm ships, Anverd."
"Good morning, Boer."
"The number is eight, Anverd."
"Understood. Cal says you're going car shopping. Take B-four east to Lily Way, north to Flora and east until you see vehicles you want to stop to look at. If you see something gorgeous and sporty for Ven, park it at the shuttle port with a big bow on it for me. We're borrowing an apartment for a couple days of sun by the pool."
"Great idea. Both of them. We'll look."
"Thanks. Out."
"I wish their house was going to be done before we leave, but it won't. Let's go look at the work on the shuttle pad and give Tommy a fast tour before Mallin's daughter gets here, Jobe. I doubt it will be very long."
"Sunscreen. You'll need it on your faces for car shopping anyway."
"Yes, Nora."
The contractor loved the idea. She grinned and told him she could do it in two-and-a-half days, including put up the hangers, if he figured out where they'd want sinks and toilets, and they could start using it in three.
"That fast?!"
"The ground is near level and there won't be heavy cargo flyers landing there. A quarter-meter poly pour on flex web and Gancorp plex panel construction is all that's needed for what you want, and probably the best materials to use for it in this climate. They're also inexpensive, very easy to work with and plentiful. We put the pipes where you want them before we pour and they'll never need work or replacement in that quarter-meter. Even if the pipes fell apart, they'd just be blockage to be pushed through. Think of it as floating on the ground. You wouldn't use it for a commercial port because, if sections are over a certain size, they expand and contract too much. If you made them that size, a real big, heavily-loaded flyer could tip a section a bit unless it landed right in the middle. If you wanted a flyer field for shipping grain and produce, I'd tell you who to call to build you one over about the next twelve days. This is two-and-a-half days at full pay for my crew, instead of half pay for idle time. We won't have to wait for materials and they'll like the idea too. You figure out what and how big you want and we'll build it for two percent over cost, if we can start within three days and leave the equipment here until we do."
"Done! I hope. Mim!"
The contractor watched the three run off, laughed and went back to work on the sealer. She passed word on the job to her crew. She didn't have any doubt the governor and his family would get it put together in two days. She did have doubts she'd stop reminding herself all three of the men were married within that time. She grinned at her sister and gave two long blinks as she passed her. She laughed and nodded. She'd definitely noticed how small the swim briefs and nice the scenery was too.
She was looking forward to constructing a lot of small flyer ports between big contracts, and taking her nephew and niece to an amusement park. His construction block and panel set, her toy flyers and a surprisingly patient teaching of little sister, that she wouldn't tip the landing field if she didn't land so hard, had come together into an idea that would solve a problem a lot of semi-rural communities had at a price they could afford. There was absolutely no reason not to use flex web and poly pour on anything but big interior floors. Weather was not going to hurt them and light curdled brown didn't seem an inappropriate color for a flyer field to her. She'd always thought the floors were rather pretty before the carpet was hurriedly laid.
Mim agreed it was a good deal and so did Merne Harven, who was on comm. He told her they had a handshake, that was enough to grab a bargain and he'd have someone mow the field the next morning. He said he was quite sure he'd make up the cost of the seed he'd planted and the nose thumb at the investment group would be worth it even if he wasn't.
"The transport is coming up the drive, Boer!"
"Thanks, Aura!"
"I don't know where my clothes are!"
"Laid out on your bed, Tommy!"
"Thanks, Dona! Uh... "
"This way, Tommy."
"Thanks, Jobe. I remember the room, but not exactly where it was and I don't think the girls really want to wait for me to look in doors until I find it."
"Considering your tour guide was wearing a tiny bit of silver across... it's a wonder you remember the room."
"That one?"
"Amazing. That one's mine. Pants on and shirt in hand is probably advisable."
"Jobe, shoes! Let's go!"
"Shirt and shoes in hand. Ten seconds, Boer!"
Tommy blinked at the clothes on his bed, but put the pants on and grabbed the shirt and sandals. He had no idea where they'd come from, but it wasn't out of his luggage. He suddenly grinned. His wives had done some clothes shopping for him. He burst into laughter when he found a wad of cred notes in the shirt pocket. He was sure it was enough to buy each of them a flower. He suddenly found himself wishing he already had a little ring in his ear. He didn't realize he'd been rubbing it until Jobe caught up with him in the hall.
"Thinking about the ring?"
"Sort of wishing I already had it. Yesterday I wasn't sure I liked the idea of it at all, even just while we were investigating in Yarrow and Forester sectors."
"I wish Eddy was here. I don't really understand why we had to leave her there. I read it a dozen times and it just says fourteenth is representative to the emperor's court, not what she's supposed to do, just she is. Dirda said it's to explain the governor's policies. What policies? Everybody knows what he did on Nunture and he's done doing it. He's not going to do anything else in the sector and anything he does somewhere else isn't as governor."
"You have a point, Jobe. But even if she left there today, she wouldn't get here before we leave."
"Boer, Anverd's on comm! Eddy is coming home!"
"What?! Speakers, Cal! Anverd, what happened?"
"The message is from the prince and princess, Boer. It's what Via and Misty asked them for as wedding presents. The emperor agreed there wasn't really any reason she had to stay there. The treaty doesn't say that, just she's the representative. He's moving her out of the cam focus too. They were very interesting, but they all went home."
"How soon?"
"My guess is he told her at the reception and put her on the yacht as soon as it got there."
"She might get here before... "
"It's a scrambled channel, Jobe. Tommy, you look strange."
"He wished Eddy was here just before you yelled she was coming, Cal. I said she couldn't get here before we left if she left today. I have no idea when the yacht got there, but I'm sure she'll be here within seven days. Whatever granted his wish just wouldn't slip up on a detail like that."
"It's possible. Close, but possible if they ran full speed. Why am I saying, 'if?'"
"I don't know, Aura. I just noted expected time of arrival in seven days when Tommy said he was sure."
"So did I, Cal. Have fun shopping. Out."
"If she's not here in seven days, we won't leave until she gets here, Tommy. However, I have no expectation of a change in the schedule. We're all here. Let's go buy cars."
"Boer, Tommy wished he had a little ring in his ear. You just rubbed yours just like he did and so
did Mim."
"Tell me about ring."
"In the transport, Nora. Who's driving?"
"Jobe."
"What?!"
"You haven't practiced since Boer taught you, Jobe. You won't be going fast and you won't be on busy roads for awhile and those won't be bad."
"But this is... big, Dirda."
"And you'll be less nervous test-driving a car after you've driven it."
"Drive, Jobe."
"Yes, Boer. Sit close?"
"No, I'm going to sit in the middle. There, Tommy."
"Yes, Boer. Relax, Jobe. A vehicle like this won't let you do anything dumb. It won't let you do anything fun either, at least not while you're driving. Opaque the windows one way. That switch. The other way is one way."
"I can't find it in the dark, Tommy. Oops! Oh!"
"Told you it wouldn't let you do anything dumb. When you hit lift, it made sure you could see out. Now push the window switch the other way."
Tommy was the only one not 'rolling' with laughter. He held Cal and Dona in their seats and pointed out they were going to Brossom, not the university. Jobe stopped, backed up into the drive and turned the right direction out of it. He winked at Tommy just before he did. Tommy burst into laughter. Jobe grinned and watched for the road sign. Eddy was coming home. They were all going to be together before they had to leave.