‘Remember, he graduated from Aldebaran Tech last month.’
‘Aldebaran Tech?' Diego breathed respectfully.
‘Time does fly, doesn't it. Yes, and I do believe he got both patents on his escape pod projects.’
‘Escape pods?' Diego was impressed.
‘But he's free for a while and waiting for just the right opportunity. So it's fortunate he's on Gal-Three right now, isn't it?' Marmion's bright smile for such serendipity was irresistible.
‘Your niece?' Bunny asked with a sideways, and slightly proprietary, glance at Diego.
‘Charmion's finished her course in neural deprivation… she's a Pultney-Gabbison, you know,' Marmion bubbled on. 'So she came with Bailey for a visit. He's been showing her around Gal-Three, too. She's nineteen. Almost too athletic for a girl in her social position.' Marmion sighed and, having delivered her message, turned to watch the docking. Now, smoothly aiming at the second horizontal group of circles, the far from insignificantly sized spacelaunch became a mote as it was received into the small docking area which catered to the vessels of people of rank similar to hers. Yana began to agree with Sally, that proper clothes would lend confidence: not much else would.
A melodious chime rang through the launch and so did the verbal announcement that all docking procedures had been completed and the passengers might now disembark.
A cluster of people stood politely awaiting their arrival. 'Bots, attached to grav floats, scurried on board to collect luggage - Bunny followed their progress with round eyes. Yana noticed her hands twitching at her sides as if she wanted to take one apart and see what its innards were like.
Bailey and Charmion were easy to pick out of the group: they were the youngest: the boy with long black hair in a clever clip and the girl with a head of very blond curls that framed a face appropriately enough as 'charming' as her name. They were also a very good-looking pair, fashionably clad in some of the very colours that Bunny had protested about. They also looked intelligent and welcoming, with no trace of the stylish boredom so many young aristocrats affected. Charmion was obviously fond of her aunt and called out a stream of greetings as Marmion disembarked her launch.
Beyond Charmion and tall Bailey, Yana saw the imposing figure of Millard Ephasios, one of the aides Marmion had had with her on Petaybee, and decided that the tall, attractive, grey-haired gentleman with the patient expression on his face was one of Marmion's suitors and the older woman her social secretary. The woman was impeccably dressed and had an organizational air about her, like a rear echelon officer. Rentnor Bavistock was her secretary and Cynthia Grace was Marmion's financial adviser. Marmion murmured that Cynthia would be a good person to talk to on how to set up small businesses on Petaybee so that people like Clodagh, who'd be gathering and processing Petay-bee's pharmaceutical wealth, could set themselves up properly. Yana sighed, not really wanting to impose 'modern' anything on her friends. She also discovered that things weren't really what they appeared to be on Gal-3.
Residence permits, in the form of metal bracelets'to be worn at all times' said Rentnor firmly, were immediately clamped around each wrist.
‘Don't even take them off when you shower,’
Marmion added, taking hers from Rentnor and noting that Sally was already wearing one. 'Loss can cause the most remarkable problems in getting about the facility.’
‘You wouldn't believe!' Bailey said, rolling his eyes and grinning at Bunny and Diego.
The last member of the welcoming committee wore an official-looking outfit, tailored to his spare figure, with collar tabs Yana didn't recognize but which were sufficiently intricate to denote high rank. He was swarthy, with a close-shaven pate of black hair, an oddly asymmetrical countenance which made his large nose seem to divide the disparate sides. His black eyes were patient and he had a slight lift to one corner of a wide mouth. Like a well-trained or very polite official, he waited until the initial exchange of introductions, news and urgent messages had been accomplished before he stepped forward to take and kiss the hand Marmion held out to him.
‘Oh, Commander, how good of you to take the time,' Marmion said and then introduced Commander Nal an Hon. 'I've told my friends to be very careful of their ID bracelets.’
‘Indeed, a caution worth repeating frequently,' he said. Then, turning to the newcomers, 'While the bracelets will admit you to every level but Nadir and Zenith, you would be wise not to explore or you may find yourself missing a hand.’
Bunny gasped and protectively clasped her braceleted hand to her chest.
‘Now, Nal, I won't have you frightening my young friends simply because they're dirtfoots,' Marmion said with a little reassuring laugh.
‘It's because they're dirtfoots that I do,' he said with no apology and caught Yana's gaze, nodding to mean that his warning was for her as well. Yana raised an eyebrow at him. And to think, six months ago she might have said something similarly preposterous to someone like herself. 'Having said that, I would be happy to escort your friends into Zenith Ring for The Tour.’
‘How kind of you, Nal. When we've had time to settle in, I'll take you up on that offer,' and Marmion twinkled flirtatiously at the Commander.
‘Then I shall await your call, madame,' he said and with a courteous bow withdrew.
‘And you will tell me what that was all about, won't you, Rentnor, Cynthia?' Marmion said in an undertone and with no single sparkle of amusement.
‘Hmmm. But it will take an hour or so, Marmie,' Cynthia said. 'Meanwhile, let's get to your suite.' She gave a little convulsive shudder. 'It's so open out here.’
Bailey and his cousin Charmion immediately moved to bracket Diego and Bunny. 'We'll lead on, Aunt Marmie,' Bailey said.
And Yana had Sally on one side and Millard on the other while Rentnor and Cynthia partnered Marmion as they made their way out of the docking bay. When the lock doors closed with a satisfactory clank, Cynthia uttered a little sigh of relief.
‘Agoraphobic?' Yana asked Sally.
‘Definitely. Her launch only has a viewscreen in the pilot's compartment,' Sally said. 'It can take you like that, you know.’
‘I thank the stars that I don't,' Yana replied. 'You've been well, Millard?’
‘Tolerably, thank you, Colonel Maddock-Shongili.’
‘I've been Yana to you before, Millard,' Yana said repressively.
‘I'm practising, Yana,' Millard said with a mischievous grin that seemed out of place on his serious face.
‘For what?’
‘For making it very plain to even casual observers,' and Millard paused significantly,' that you are not just a transient or insignificant dirtfooter!’
‘Oh?' Yana asked, amused that he too had noticed. 'And what do you suppose gives anyone that impression? The Colonel or the hyphenated surname?’
‘Either,' replied Millard imperturbably, idly glancing at those passing them in the corridor. Taking a long step, he got on the walkway - the- four young people were well ahead of them now on that transportation -and turned to hold out a hand for Yana.
She had a half-formed notion to remind him that she was scarcely infirm when a nudge from Sally behind her made her accept the proffer of courteous assistance. Feeling slightly regal, Yana accepted with a smile and a nod to Millard.
‘You're doing just great, Yana,' Sally murmured in her ear.
‘Will you be colonelling me, too?' Yana whispered back.
‘No, but I'm another woman and patently your companion, while Millard has been booted into the role of escort.’
‘Oh!’
When they reached the main concourse, Yana was sorry that Bunny was in front of her. She would have liked to see the girl's expression when she beheld the mechanical and commercial splendours of the Second Level. Not only was there a ceiling monorail in operation but four levels of shops on this part of the concourse and belt steps at regular intervals to get you easily from one level to another. Some of the shops were blasting passersby with their sounds, smells, and sensual outputs… assaults to which the residents were now immune but which would stun Bunny as they did Yana, who had only heard about such concourses. The lower-level facilities she had infrequently patronized as an officer were considerably more primitive than these.