Earth Girl (26 page)

We shared an embrace that was interrupted by my lookup chiming for an emergency call. I hastily pulled it out, rather worried. ‘If that’s Krath messing about trying to find us, I’ll strangle him.’

‘I hope your family are all right,’ said Fian.

‘It’s a call from Issette.’ I accepted the call.

I was relieved to see Issette grinning away on the screen. ‘Jarra! Jarra! News!’ She waved her left hand, showing a ring. ‘We’re Twoing.’

‘What!’ I matched her grin. ‘You and Keon? That’s wonderful. However did you get him to make the effort?’

Keon’s head bobbed into view. ‘Issette’s much less effort if you keep her happy. They only let you have three months on the first contract. Next time, I want a year contract to save having to bother for a bit.’

Issette spotted Fian standing next to me, and her eyebrows went up. ‘Who’s the Arrack San Domex look alike?’ she whispered.

I put a finger to my lips. ‘Shhh.’

I was too late of course. Issette always did have a penetrating whisper. She used to get in trouble at school, when the teachers overheard her using their unflattering nicknames. I was usually the one she was talking to when she did it, so I got in trouble too.

‘I’m Fian,’ said Arrack San Domex’s stand in.

Issette’s eyes went from him to me, and back again, in eager speculation, then her face suddenly changed. ‘He’s not one of them, is he?’ Her hand shot to her mouth, and she gave an apologetic look at Fian. ‘Sorry.’

That was typical of Issette too. Speak first, think later.

‘I quite understand.’ Fian grinned. ‘I am indeed, as you phrase it, one of them.’

‘I didn’t mean any harm,’ said Issette. ‘It was just a shock. Jarra has always been rather critical about you … people.’

I groaned, but had to admit it was true. I can be a bit withering about civilians.

‘I know,’ said Fian. ‘On our first day on the dig site, it was quite clear that Jarra knew everything and felt the rest of us were completely incompetent. She even orders Lecturer Playdon around.’

Issette giggled. ‘Jarra knows everything about history and dig sites because she’s obsessive. She’s always trying to lecture me, and she can be really pushy. You have to be firm with her.’

‘I wouldn’t dare,’ said Fian. ‘She warned us on the first day that if anyone got out of line, she’d throw them across the room. I wouldn’t have gone anywhere near her, but I needed protecting from a Betan girl who was making comments about my legs.’

Issette had another giggling fit. ‘Jarra threw Cathan across the room on Year Day. It was totally zan! He’s still sulking about it.’

‘She hasn’t thrown me across the room yet,’ said Fian, ‘but I live in hope.’

‘You want to be thrown across rooms?’ Keon was intrigued enough to make the effort to ask a question.

‘Only gently,’ said Fian. ‘I don’t want broken bones, but I’m a
Stalea of the Jungle
fan. You know it?’

‘Yes,’ said Keon, ‘but Stalea’s not my type. Dominating women are too much effort for me, but if you like that kind of girl then Jarra is ideal for you.’

I sighed heavily. ‘I’m not that bad.’

‘Oh yes you are,’ chorused the other three in unison.

‘I think you two are great together, but …’ Issette hesitated. ‘You’ve talked through the potential future problems?’

We hadn’t of course. I’d briefly considered the complications if I got involved with a civilian, but I hadn’t talked about it with Fian. ‘It’s a bit early days for that,’ I said.

‘Oh no it isn’t,’ said Fian. ‘I’m a nice contract boy from Delta sector, and Jarra’s intentions had better be honourable. I expect Twoing contracts, and marriage one day, as well as being thrown gently across rooms and pinned to the floor!’

I went pink, but Issette and Keon were loving this.

‘We’re both planning to do a practical pre-history degree, but I realize I may have to make a few compromises after that,’ said Fian, cheerfully. ‘I’m sure we can work things out. My main worry at the moment is that Jarra is planning to teach me to fly.’

‘What!’ Issette shook her head. ‘Don’t tell me she got her hands on a plane again. If you don’t want to fly then just say no.’

‘I’ve already flown,’ said Fian, with his best fake martyred air. ‘I had no choice. If I hadn’t got in that plane, the snake Krath would have been in there making advances to Jarra. He follows her everywhere. So does everyone for that matter. Twenty-six of the class followed us to this zoo. We had to send them for ice cream and then run away.’

Issette grinned. ‘Jarra is mad about zoos.’ She glanced sideways, apparently listening to something. ‘I’m afraid I’ve got to go now, some of my classmates are waiting for us, but it was nice to meet you, Fian.’

‘Do I have to come?’ asked Keon.

‘Yes!’ ordered Issette.

Keon groaned. ‘Women are so much work. Lasers are much less demanding.’

The screen went blank.

Fian laughed. ‘Keon’s just how you described him. So, Issette got her contract. I expect that’s made you a lot happier.’

‘It’s wonderful,’ I said. ‘There’s only one dark cloud on the horizon.’

‘Which is?’

I peered through the branches of our bush. ‘Krath is coming this way.’

We ran down some more paths, and reached the tropical bird dome. We went inside, and hid ourselves away on a nice private bench behind a mass of huge palm leaves, while birds flew around overhead like feathered jewels.

‘Alone at last in a jungle clearing,’ said Fian. ‘This seems a good time to grant you permission to intrude on my restricted body areas.’

I frowned at him. ‘I’ve been looking things up. According to the social guidelines, Deltans are supposed to be terribly strict about respecting that boundary until they’re actually married.’

He grinned. ‘We aren’t in Delta sector, and this particular Deltan is very adaptable.’

The next day we were back in impact suits, and heading out to face winter in the New York ruins. The class drove a whole convoy of hover sleds along the clearway into the dig site. Fian and I were riding at the back of the lead transport sled. The rest of team 1 and Playdon were sitting nearer the front.

When we were at the zoo, Issette had raised that tricky question about future problems. Since then, I’d been trying to avoid discussing it, but Fian was insisting. Despite all the jokes about me ordering him around, Fian was extremely stubborn about getting his own way when he wanted something, and he had me cornered on this sled. I finally sighed and gave in.

‘All right,’ I said in a low voice, ‘if we must … I know quite well that you aren’t the Military type. I’m still torn between Military and history. Once I’ve got my pre-history degree then I really have to make a choice. If I’m committed to a relationship with a civilian at that point, then that would affect the decision.’

Fian shook his head. ‘I could make some compromises.’

‘Military couples are normally sent on the same active assignment. That can hinder their career a bit, but it’s much better for the relationship. Civilian partners of Military personnel can’t go on active assignment, and can have a tough time. They spend too much of their lives waiting around for their partner to be on leave for a few weeks. I wouldn’t want things to be like that.’

For some reason, I felt uncomfortable talking about this. I couldn’t work out why, but my head really didn’t want to debate this issue. Maybe it was all the jokes Issette and Keon had made about me being dominating. I didn’t want to push Fian into contracts and commitments. ‘I think it’s silly to worry too much about something four years away. Can’t we just leave it that we would both be willing to make compromises?’

‘All right,’ said Fian.

We sat in silence for a while. Playdon had been sitting scanning something on his lookup, and occasionally glancing round to check on the other sleds, now he suddenly burst out laughing.

‘What’s so funny?’ asked Krath.

‘I was just scanning something for Lolia and Lolmack,’ said Playdon. ‘They’ve come up with their first attempt at a vid script. I promised to check their history facts for them, on condition that they don’t credit me as an adviser. They kindly offered to, but I’m not sure it would help my professional career.’

Everyone in hearing distance laughed.

‘It’s the twentieth century, the evening of the Cuban missile crisis,’ continued Playdon. ‘Two lovers are facing the fact that the world is on the brink of nuclear war and this might be their last night alive. The historical background is quite authentic, until the lovers portal to an isolated cottage where they can surrender to their mutual passion.’

‘So what’s wrong with … oh,’ said Krath.

‘Yes, it’s a terribly easy mistake to make,’ said Playdon. ‘Other than that, it’s not bad. The viewers might actually learn some history from the first half of the script. The second half is the mutual passion, and I’m assuming the Betans know what they’re doing in that area.’

The sleds drove on. The class had been cheerfully chatting for the first hour, but now everyone was getting quiet. Out here the ruins were higher, and blacker, and grimly threatening. At least, they seemed that way when we were so far from our base. We turned left on to the Grand Circle and drove a lot further. The ruins didn’t get any better.

‘I know this will make me sound like a cowardly panicking civilian, but I can’t help feeling the ruins are a bit menacing out here,’ said Fian.

‘Judging from how quiet everyone is, I think a lot of other people are feeling that way too,’ I said. ‘It feels a bit lonely this far into the ruins, and of course they really are a lot higher here than near the edge.’

‘That’s not my imagination then?’

‘Oh no. As a rule, the further in you are, the taller the buildings were when they were originally built. They’re also more likely to have dangerous underground areas.’ I glanced round to check no one else would be able to hear me and whispered. ‘I find it a bit scary here too.’

‘I’m not sure whether I should be glad to hear that or totally terrified,’ said Fian.

I giggled.

The sleds finally stopped at a wide point in the Grand Circle clearway, and Playdon got us all to gather round. ‘We’ll be setting up the dome at the edge here. It’s wide enough that we’ll have space to drive the sleds past it. Ahead and left of the clearway is where we’ll be excavating. A little further beyond that is an emergency evac portal if we have any problems.’

Everyone brightened up noticeably at this news. I have to admit that I found it comforting too.

‘First, we set up the dome,’ Playdon told us, ‘and then we can all have a little break from wearing impact suits. Team 1, please assemble the dome.’

We had the dome up and equipped in half an hour, piled inside with our luggage, and switched on the heat panels and the glows. Playdon had only allowed one bag each in addition to our sleep sacks, though Dalmora got a special dispensation to bring her guitar, but things were still crowded. I dashed over to the furthest point from the door, and unrolled my sleep sack to claim one of the coveted positions by the dome wall and near a heat panel.

Fian sprinted after me, and unrolled his sleep sack next to mine. ‘I take it this is one of the best spots.’

I nodded. ‘Near the wall is best, because of the heat panels, and because less people tread on you when they decide to go to the bathroom at night. Away from the door is best, because every time it opens people near it will freeze.’

There was a chaotic few minutes, as everyone peeled off impact suits and fought to be first in line for the two miniscule bathrooms. I took off my impact suit, but I didn’t join the rush. Instead, I dug a packet of moisturizing wipes out of my bag.

‘We don’t want the bathrooms?’ Fian asked.

I handed him another packet of wipes. ‘I’m planning to wait until they discover there isn’t a shower. The queue will die down fast.’

Even without a shower, it felt good just to be out of my restrictive impact suit. I stretched blissfully, and pulled on a robe over my skintight.

Playdon wandered over carrying a box. ‘We have a choice of three flavours of soup.’

‘I’ll take the red one,’ I said.

‘What flavour is that?’ asked Fian.

I grinned. ‘Hard to say what it’s supposed to be, but it’s possible tomato is in there. All I know is that it’s a lot better than the yellow or the green.’

‘I’ll have red, please,’ said Fian.

Playdon handed us a couple of squeezy bags and headed off. I showed Fian the tab that heated the soup, and we sat sucking the glorious, tomatoish warmth.

Playdon allowed us an hour to complain about the packaged soup and lack of showers, before ordering us back into impact suits. We headed outside to the hover sleds.

‘We’ll take a sensor sled, a tag support sled, and the transports,’ said Playdon. ‘We’re just doing some preparation work for tomorrow.’

Our excavation area was only about three minutes along the clearway. The inner core of a building was to one side of it. All four walls had collapsed long ago, but a central spine still stood with some floors clinging drunkenly to it. You could see the remains of what might once have been furniture on one floor.

Playdon looked at it for a minute or two before speaking on the team circuit. ‘As you can see, that building is very dangerous. Our first job is to clear the hazard by blowing it up.’

Hoo eee! I thought happily. Blowing things up was fun.

‘Are you familiar with placing explosives, Jarra?’ asked Playdon.

I set my comms to reply on the team circuit. ‘No, sir. They wouldn’t let you do that unless you were 18.’

‘Excellent,’ said Playdon. ‘Class, pay very close attention to this moment. We’ve actually discovered something that Jarra doesn’t know how to do.’

The class seemed to find this extremely funny for some reason, but eventually the laughter died down and Playdon could continue talking.

‘Unfortunately, for the explosives to do a clean job of demolition, we need them placed on the base of that central post.’

‘You mean, Jarra goes under that lot?’ asked Fian’s anxious voice.

Playdon shook his head. ‘No. Manually placing charges is more accurate, but too dangerous in this situation. We’ll use the charge rifle.’