Jill Herrick's blue eyes filled tears. she gazed at her husband in unspeakable horror. You're - you're hideous she wailed, lester herrick continued working, arranging heaps of notes and graphs in precise piles.
Hideous, he stated, is a value judgment. It contains no factual information. He sent a report tape on Centauran parasitic life whizzing through the desk scanner. Merely an opinion. An expression of emotion, nothing more.
Jill stumbled back to the kitchen. Listlessly, she waved her hand to trip the stove into activity. Conveyor belts in the wall hummed to life, hurrying the food from the underground storage lockers for the evening meal.
She turned to face her husband one last time. Not even a litter while? she bagged. not even
not even for a month. when he comes you can tell him. If you haven't the courage, I'll do it. I can't have a child running around here. I have too much work to do. This report on Bettelgeuse XI is due in ten days. Lester dropped a spool on Fomalhautan fossil implements into the scanner. What's the matter with your brother? why can't he take care of his own child?.
Jill dabbed at swollen eyes. Don't you understand? I want Gus here, I begged Frank to let him come. And now you.
I'll be glad when he's old enough to be turned over to the government. Lester's thin face twisted in annoyance. Damn it, Jill, isn't dinner ready yet? It's been ten minutes, What's wrong with that stove?
It's almost ready. the stove showed a red signal light. The robant waiter had come out of the wall and was waiting expectantly to take the food
Jill sat down and blew her small nose violently. In the living room, Leater worked on unperturbed. His work. His research. Day after day. Lester was getting ahead, there was no doubt of that. His lean body was bent like a coiled spring over the tape scanner, cold gray eyes taking in the information feverishly, analyzing, appraising, his conceptual faculties operating like well-greased machinery.
Jill's lips trembled in misery and resentment. Gus-litter gus.
How could she tell him? Fresh tears welled up in her eyes. Never to see the chubby little fellow again. He could never come back because his childish laughter and play bothered Lester. Interfered with his research. The stove clicked to green. The food slid out, into the arms of the robant. Soft chimes sounded to announce dinner. I hear it, Lester grated. He snapped off the scanner and got to his feel. I suppose he'll come while we're eating. I can vid Frank and ask. No might as well get it over with. Lester nodded impatiently to the rebant. All right. put it down. Hiss thin lips set in an angry line. Damn it, don't dawdle, I want to get back to my work.
Litter Gus came trailing into the house as they were finishing dinner, Jill gave a cry of joy, Gussie, She run to sweep him up in her arms. I'm so glad to see you.
Watch out for my tiger, Gus muttered. He dropped his litter gray kitten onto the rug and it rushed off, under the couch. He's hiding
Lester,s eyes flickered as he studied the little boy and the tip of gray tail extending from under the couch.
why do you call it a tiger? It's nothing but an alley cat.
Gus looked hurt. He scowled. He's a tiger. He's got stripes, Tigers are yellow and a great deal bigger. You might as well learn to classify things by their corrext names. Lester, please Jill pleaded.
Be quiet, her husband said crossly. Gus is old enough to shed childish illusions and develop a realistic orientation. What's wrong with the psych, testers? Don't they straighten this sort of nonsense out?
gus ran and snatched up his tiger. You leave him alone, Lester contemplated the kitten. A strange, cold smile played about his lips. Come down to the lab some time, Gus. We'll show you lots of cats. we use them in our research. Cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, Lester, Jill gasped. How can you?
Lester laughed thinly. Abruptly he broke off and returned to his desk. Now clear out of here. I have to finish these reports, and don't forget to tell Gus.
Gus got excited. Tell me what? His cheeks flushed. His eyes sparkled. What is it? something for me? a secret. Jill's heart was like lead. She put her hand heavily on the child's shoulder. Come on, Gus. we'll go sit out in the garden and I'll tell you.
The emergency vidsender lit up. Instantly Lester was on his feet, be quiet he run to the sender, breathing rapidly. Nobody speak
Jill and gus paused st the door. A confidential message was sliding from the slot into the dish. Lester grabbed it up and broke the seal. He studied it intently.
what is it? Jill asked anything bad?
Bad. Lester's face shone with a deep inner glow. No, not bad at all. He glanced at his watch. Just time. Let's see. I'll need
I'm going on a trip. I'll be gone two or three weeks. Rexor IV is into the charted area
rexor IV? you're going there? Jill clasped her hands eagerly.