They trooped back up the stairs and poured more beer, and Peters resumed his story. Dzheenis and Khurs listened with interest; they’d been offered beds, but refused them on the grounds that they hadn’t heard this part before. Khurs stayed close to Donald Peters, making soft comments, touching him occasionally, and missing few opportunities to have him meet her eye or just look at her. Peters noted with sardonic interest that Granpap had quit flinching when she turned her face toward him; possibly the beer helped. The grins Dzheenis flashed told him that the big Grallt understood what was going on; so did he, but he kept his smiles to himself.
Sometime after three in the morning the story reached their arrival at Earth orbit and the raucous party they’d thrown to celebrate the occasion. “That’s about it,” Peters said, and spread his hands. “The rest of it’s bureaucrats, reporters, and regulations.”
Donald nodded. “It’s time to turn in anyway. I’m sure I’ll have more questions… I’m interested in these Makers, whatever they are.”
Peters grinned. “So am I. I ain’t got no more information, though.”
“Maybe you’ll think of something… Dzheenis, you can sleep in Johnny’s old room, end of the hall on your right. The guest bedroom there will be about right for Khurs.”
“Where will you sleep?” the Grallt girl asked.
“My bedroom is there. It’s dug into the hill, so it’s warmer when I can’t fire the furnace,” Donald told her. “Speaking of which, I should stoke it once more before we turn in. This won’t blow over before late tomorrow at the earliest, and we’ll all need the warmth.”
“Dzheenis and I’ll do the honors,” Peters put in. “You go on to bed, Granpap.”
“May I bathe before I go to bed?” Khurs wanted to know. “I feel—not really dirty, but I’ve worn these clothes too long.”
“Sure.” The elder Peters shrugged. “The furnace has been on all afternoon, so there should be plenty of hot water.” He stood and yawned. “I’m going to sleep in tomorrow. We don’t have a schedule, after all.”
Khurs disappeared into the bathroom with some items retrieved from one of the packs, Donald Peters went up the pair of steps to the loft room, and Dzheenis and Peters headed down the stairs with a small candle-lantern to care for the heating system. “Your grandparent is likely to be somewhat surprised a little later,” the big Grallt remarked.
“Yes… I’ve never seen Khurs act this way before.”
Dzheenis looked surprised, then nodded. “That’s right, you never met the man. Peteris, allowing for the effects of weathering on skin and a trifle of height, your grandparent could be Candor Zin’s brother, even his twin.”
“So Khurs is suffering from nostalgia. She may be in for a surprise of her own. Granpap is by no means infirm.”
“How old is he?”
“Hmm… I make it six eights of uzul, actually a little more than that. Pay the number no mind; he doesn’t.”
“So it would appear. Ah, well, something to look forward to in the morning… is this the control?”
“Yes, but don’t shake the coals down,” Peters advised. “If you leave the consumed material on top, it will maintain the reaction at a low rate until we are awake again. That way we don’t have to reinitialize it.”
“I see.” The big Grallt watched as Peters adjusted dampers and air supply. “You know, I’m getting a little jealous,” he remarked as they started back up the stairs. “You have Ander and Alper, and it appears Khurs has found an outlet for her urges. Only I need sleep alone tonight.”
“That isn’t my fault,” Peters said with a smile. “I thought you had some arrangement with that blonde from the control-room crew. Her name is Lisis, is it not?”
Dzheenis’s eyebrows went up. “That’s right, and yes, I have. I’ve been waiting for what seemed the proper time.”
“Proper time for what?”
“Why, to ask permission from my depa’olze to cohabit, of course.”
“Shit.” Peters rounded on the big Grallt, forcefully enough that he took a step back, then deflated with a sigh. “Dzheenis, you are a member in good standing of the Peters pa’ol. If you wanted to take your share and move to Zenth to set up a klisti-berry farm, the only question involved would be how much your share would be. If I thought your judgement was that bad I’d dismiss you anyway, but there’s no question of permission.” He shook his head and met the big Grallt’s eyes. “You definitely do not need my permission to select either a partner for an evening’s adventure or a mate for a lifetime commitment. It is a little insulting that you could think your depa’olze might wish to interject himself into a matter so personal.”
Dzheenis looked down, then met Peters’s eyes. “I apologize, depa’olze. I fear I have allowed my mind to fall into old patterns of thought.”
“Yes, I’m afraid you have.” Peters smiled. “You’re a good man, Dzheenis; I’m proud that you are a member of my pa’ol. When we get to Washington, get Gell to take you back to the ship. Ask the lady, and if she says yes, bring her back with you. A pa’ol need not grow only by natural increase. Accretion works as well, and may be faster.”
The big man’s eyes were wet, but he laughed shortly. “Kh! I believe I’ll do that. Thank you, depa’olze.”
“No thanks necessary. Now go to bed, and if you feel alone, remember it’s your own fault.”
“You’re a cruel man, depa’olze,” Dzheenis said with a smile in his voice.
“You betcha,” Peters said with a grin. “Good night, Dzheenis.”
“Good night, Peteris.”
They met Khurs coming out of the bathroom wearing a thin wrap and an anxious smile. Peters just smiled and nodded, got a smile and nod in return, and went to bed.
“You’re sure you won’t have any problems,” Donald said a little dubiously. He still looked a little wild-eyed, but it was hard to see under the self-satisfied pleasure.
“Nope,” Peters replied with confidence. “Every zifthkakik has its own signature, call it a serial number, and there’s an instrument on the dli that’ll find ‘em. There’s two or three in Washington; all I gotta do is follow the needle.” He gestured at the sky, which was still heavily overcast though the blizzard had blown itself out the day before. “That ain’t no problem any more, either. Now you’ve got a zifthkakik, I can get back here the same way.”
His grandfather nodded. “And I can have the lights on whenever I want, too… any chance of you stopping by again before you leave?”
“Sure.” Peters shrugged. “Prethuvenigis wants me there for the trade talks, but those’ll be over someday, and after that I’d like to come back. Probably be spring by then. There’ll be great-grandkids for you to spoil, and I’d like to have the girls see the place when it ain’t covered with six foot of white shit.”
“Any time.”
Peters reached to hug his grandfather with a little less awkwardness than when they’d arrived, and looked down. “Khurs, detach yourself from my grandparent, please. We have to leave.”
“Yes.” She gave a last squeeze and took a step away, then looked up. “Donald Peters, I have enjoyed my time with you more than I can say.”
The old man grinned. “Same here, little lady. If you should decide to come back I’ll be glad to see you, and never mind the boy here.”
“I have to ‘mind the boy’, he’s my depa’olze. You should be proud of him. He’s a fine man, and a true descendant besides.” She reached up to peck his cheek. “Goodbye, Donald Peters.” Then she turned and climbed the steps to board the dli.
“Goodbye, Khurs,” Donald almost whispered. Then he held out his hand. “See you, boy.”