Horizon Storms - Kevin J. Anderson [45]
Then, as the solar cycle waned, bringing increasingly cold winters, the already chilly fog became a cold sleet that turned the bogs into slush and finally snow. For the past couple of years Orli’s world had been a sloppy, frigid mess. Now as she and her father trudged across their mushroom fields, the standing pools were covered with skins of ice.
Pausing, she looked at the transport bins of mushroom meat they had sliced and stacked. “Once it gets warm again, Dad, let’s think about choosing a different crop.”
“I’ve thought about it plenty already, girl. The sad fact is we’ll never get rid of these mushrooms now. We’d need to incinerate acres just to prep the soil again and kill all the dormant spores. Looks like it’s fungus forever.”
“Then I’ll keep working on new recipes.”
“Don’t take time away from your music.” Her father arched his eyebrows. “You’ll be a famous concert performer someday. I know it.” His compliment warmed her heart, though she didn’t exactly see how she was going to find her big break here on Dremen.
She did not deflate his cheerful opinion. “Someday.”
Together they went to the full bins and sealed them against the worsening weather. “Enough for today, girl. Let’s get back home. You deserve a rest.”
“And I have to do my homework.”
“After we eat, I’m going into town again. The big shots are gathering for their regular session to solve the world’s problems.”
“I thought you’d already solved all the problems.”
“I did, but they never listen to me. We proved that much in the last election.” He tousled her hair as if she was still a little girl.
Their small house on the edge of the cold bog had few luxuries, but plenty of homey touches. Orli had been inside the larger homes of well-established colonists, and she thought her own house was a superior place to live. They dropped their packs. Jan turned up the heat, and Orli went to start dinner.
A printed solicitation message for the Hansa’s new transportal colonization initiative was there waiting for them. Jan Covitz pretended not to notice it, but Orli saw his eyes light up.
Chapter 22—RLINDA KETT
Flush with business opportunities thanks to the new colonization initiative, Rlinda Kett flew the Voracious Curiosity to the quiet world of Crenna. It was time to share the wealth and the success. And the work. She went directly to her best former pilot and favorite ex-husband, Branson Roberts.
Almost two years ago, BeBob had successfully slipped away from his onerous assignment of flying dangerous survey missions for the EDF. Since his “retirement” was unauthorized, he’d been keeping a low profile on Crenna ever since; Rlinda knew that by now he was probably bored to tears.
Normally, aboard ship she wore skintight black pants over her wide hips and heavy legs, because they were so practical. Since she was seeing BeBob, though, she had changed into a flowing bright purple caftan shot through with iridescent threads she had kept from the first shipment of Theron goods. She liked a flash of color; she thought stripes and patterns made her look especially attractive.
BeBob greeted her with his adorable yet clueless smile. As usual, he wore monotone colors, colony slacks, a loose long-sleeve shirt that wasn’t stylish and didn’t fit him well; she had never been able to convince him not to wear it. Rlinda took his scrawny arm and walked him back to his colony house, then made him an offer she knew he couldn’t turn down. “How’d you like to fly the Blind Faith again?”
“But…I’m all out of fuel, and she needs repairs.” His big round eyes looked so innocent and adorable on his leathery face.
She leaned over to kiss his large ear, making him blush. “Stop focusing on the problems and answer my question.”
“Do you even need to ask? I hate being stuck here on the ground. I’m afraid one morning I’ll wake up with roots pushing into the soil. Give me metal walls and nice clean reprocessed air instead of the smell of rain and fertilizers—just as long as