Pioneers

 Preface   Chapter 1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42 

Paul took Licia to their stone house, where they made giddy, woozy love. They laughed together, and their kisses were wet and fruity. Then they returned to the feast.

Tynan drank steadily from a goose-necked jar. Firelight shone on his sweaty face as he watched the dancing. He was surrounded by admiring children. The children, like clay dolls with ivory smiles, avidly demonstrated for Tynan's enjoyment some small dance they made up as they went along. Tynan grinned and raised his cup when he saw Paul and Licia.

Paul noticed a slim figure standing in the shadows, watching the Earth pioneers. Auska. Her look was inscrutable, and Paul had the strange sensation that all three of them were under a microscope.