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"Lewis?" Her tone was derisive
Kerro scratched his cheek reflectively
"The ’lectrokelp and gene saene samplin that has a peculiar stink to it But the kel"
She interrupted, excited: "This creature could have a sou and it could WorShip"
"A soul? Perhaps But I thought when I saw that record: ’Yes! This is why Ship brought us to Pandora’"
"What if Oakes knows that the ’lectrokelp is the reason we’re here?"
Panille shook his head
She gripped his arm "Think of all the times Oakes has called us prisoners of Ship He tells us often enough that Ship won’t let us leave Why won’t he tell us why Ship brought us here?"
"Maybe he doesn’t know"
"Ohhh, he knows"
"Well, what can we do about it?"
She spoke without thinking: "We can’t do anything without going groundside"
He pulled his arers into the huroundside?"
"What do we know about living here?"
"Would you go down to the Colony with me, Hali?"
"You knoould bu"
"Then let’s apply fo"
"They won’t let e is critical; there are health problems They’ve just increased our workload because they’ve sent some of our best people down"
"We’re probably i monsters that don’t exist, but I’d still like to see the ’lectrokelp for h-pitched huround beside Hali She pressed the response key
"Hal" There was a clatter, a buzz Presently, the voice returned "Sorry I dropped you This is Winslow Ferry Is that Kerro Panille with you, Hali?"
Hali stifled a laugh The bu over soht by the direct reference to so? Many shipside suspected that sensors and portable co but this was his first direct clue He took the pribox from her
"This is Kerro Panille"
"Ahhh, Kerro Please report to nnment?"
There was no response The connection had been broken
"What do you suppose that’s all about?" Hali asked
For answer, Kerro drew a blank page from his notebook, scribbled on it with a fade-stylus, then pointed to the pribox "He was listening to us"
She stared at the note
Kerro said: "Isn’t that strange? I’ve never had an assignnments from Ship"
Hali took the stylus from him, wrote: "Look out If they do not want it known that the kelp thinks, you could be in danger"
Kerro stood, blanked the page and restored it to his case "Guess I’d better wander down to Ferry’s office and find out what’s happening"
They walked most of the way back in silence, intensely aware of every sensor they passed, of the pribox at Hali’s hip As they approached Medical, she stopped him
"Kerro, teach me how to speak to Ship"
"Can’t"
"Bu"
"It’s like your genotype or your color Except for certain clones, you don’t get much choice in the matter"
"Ship has to decide?"
"Isn’t that always the way, even with you? Do you respond to everyone ants to talk to you?"
"Well, I know Ship must be very busy wit"
"I don’t think that has anything to do with it Ship either speaks to you or doesn’t"
She digested this for a moment, nodded, then: "Kerro, do you really talk to Ship?"
There was nothe resentment in her voice
"You knoouldn’t lie to you, Hali Why’re you so interested in talking to Ship?"
"It’s the idea of Ship answering you Not the coet over the ’coders, bu"
"A kind of unlimited encyclopedia?"
"That, yes, but h the ’coders?"
"Not very often"
"What is it like whe?"
"It’s like a very distinctive voice in your head, just a bit clearer than your conscience"
"That’s it?" She sounded disappointed
"What did you expect? Trumpets and bells?"
"I don’t even knohat " He brushed a finger against her ring, kissed her quickly, brotherly, then stepped through the hatch into the screening area for Ferry’s office