Metal Swarm - Kevin J. Anderson [228]
'This might take a while,’ she said during a lull between contractions. 'If you have important work to do, you know where to find me.’
'My important work is right here. Not even one of those blustery Roamers could pull me away.’ He looked quickly to the doorway. 'Besides, I’ve got OX to intercept any so-called emergencies.’ The Teacher compy was becoming so proficient at his work that Peter temporarily delegated all business to go through OX, so he could concentrate on Estarra and their baby. The Teacher compy dutifully brought him hourly summaries, which had been vetted and analysed.
Not surprisingly, Idriss and Alexa were worried parents. Though Estarra was their fourth child, this was their first grandchild. The two hovered about, looking more flustered than when they had been faced with political challenges as leaders. 'Oh, I wish Reynald and Beneto could be here to see this,’ Alexa said, stroking her daughter’s brow.
'And I wish Sarein would come home,’ Idriss added. 'It doesn’t seem likely that she’ll ever become a mother.’
When Peter saw Mother Alexa’s obvious love and worry, he was reminded with a pang of his own mother, Rita Aguerra. In his old life, before he was forcibly made King, Rita had come home bone-weary after long shifts but still found ways to spend time with him and his three brothers. Now, as King, Peter could have done so much for her. But that family was gone - not only his mother, but Rory, and Carlos, and little Michael, as well. The impending birth of his own child made the pain of losing them fresh again. He missed them so badly that he had to close his eyes and take a deep breath. They were all dead… thanks to Basil.
Despite the initial excitement and panicked reaction, Estarra’s labour lasted for more than a day. A Roamer midwife looked bored after the first seven hours. 'She’s certainly not in a hurry, is she?’
'Is that good or bad?’ Peter asked. 'Is something wrong?’
'It’s perfectly normal for a first pregnancy,’ said a Theron doctor with a scolding glance at the Roamer woman.
Estarra drank some juice and sat up, already looking drained. 'It seems like it’s been forever.’ She gritted her teeth and sucked in deep gasps as another set of contractions hit her. She forced a smile at Peter. 'But I can manage. This can’t be any harder than sitting through endless political banquets and Hansa committee meetings, can it?’
Meanwhile, the green priests and the worldtrees grew uneasy and agitated, as if something strange were happening out in the Spiral Arm. Yarrod and the other green priests had gone out into the forests to have private councils. The converts to Kolker’s new -telink connection and the original green priests worked together, sharing their concern. Even in orbit, the huge verdani j treeships clustered warily together.
Finally, the next morning, Estarra went into hard labour. The contractions increased in intensity and frequency, and the Roamer midwife no longer suggested performing a Caesarean just to 'get it over with’. Watching Estarra’s obvious discomfort, her determination, and her unflagging spirit, Peter felt helpless. But when he tried to pull away and pace the room, she grabbed his arm and kept him at her side.
After the long wait, the birth itself came swiftly. Estarra looked exhausted, bedraggled, and completely full of joy. Wrung out, Peter sat at her bedside, and the two of them held their newborn son. The little boy was perfectly healthy, and cried with enough , gusto to ensure that everyone in the worldforest heard him. Filled with wonder, Peter touched the tiny nose. Mother Alexa seemed to be walking on air, while Father Idriss stood with tears streaming down his cheeks into his black beard.
Peter gazed at his wife and infant son with a new depth of immeasurable love he had never known