First Channel

"You're still determined to attempt this, in the face of all common sense?"

"Yes."

Farris got up, went to the mantel over the huge fireplace, and picked an artifact of the Ancients, a pure metal globe of the world with the continents embossed in high relief, though worn now with Mama's constant polishing. As a child, Rimon had loved to make up stories about how that relic had been handed down in his family as an award for service and loyalty to an Ancient Queen. Pure fantasy. His grandfather had found it in the ruins. And Rimon had outgrown fantasy.

"Yes, Father, we're going to live together for the rest of our lives."

Farris put the globe down and turned to Rimon. His nager was grim and cold around Rimon as he said, "You can't stay here, then."

"But… this is where we can do the most good!"

"This is where you can do the most harm, Rimon! You've already disrupted the whole Farm. I shudder to think what rumors are flying—the Gen in such a state, your nager in this condition. And when Simes talk, Gens listen. We'll be lucky if we can keep our Gens from rioting if they hear that you came home claiming Simes don't have to kill."

"Is that all you care about? Keeping the Gens under control? Are you afraid I'm right—and that you'll lose your profitable business?"

Farris said angrily,"Yes, I'm afraid! Not of losing money, of losing my son—and our way of life! Rimon, you've grown up among Gens. You know what dangerous animals they are when they're not handled correctly."

"Kadi's not an animal!"

"She's a Gen. You've seen Wild Gens try to kill Simes in changeover. You've seen Gens like Nerob, grown up expecting to be Sime, turn crafty and cu

"I won't listen to this!"

"Yes you will! The best thing would be for you to let her go now, of your own free will. Let her go to her own kind and make a life for herself if she can. Or will you have to learn the hard way, when you kill her?"

"I'm not going to kill her."

"Rimon… I know what torture it will be for you when you kill this particular Gen. However, the greatest tragedy of all would be if you were right… if you really could teach all Simes ta do what you claim to have done."

"Tragedy?" Rimon was at a total loss.

"Suppose… every Gen were capable of controlling Simes as this female does. Think of it, Son. The world would be run by Gens. Is that what you want? When you're away from her influence, can't you think clearly enough to see how dangerous she is? Possibly she has good intentions toward you—but think of other Gens. Would you like to see Nerob with such power? The Wild Gens? If they didn't kill us all off, they'd make slaves of us."

Astonished, Rimon could only stare at his father. He's as much afraid of Gens as they are of us! "Father… it won't be like that!"

"So I hope," said Farris. "Take the female to the border, and return. Or—take her to live with you, and don't return. Alone, my son, you are always welcome here. But as long as you call that Gen your wife, you are not. Take whatever you require—horses, a wagon, supplies—and try your experiment. When it fails, come home, Son."

Rimon got up. "We're not going to fail," he said. "We'll go." He thought quickly. "We'll homestead on that land near the border that I used to tell you about. You'll always be welcome there, Father."

He found Kadi sitting on the bench in the hall. She stood up anxiously, sca

"No, Kadi, it wasn't anything you said. My father is afraid of you."

Her blue eyes were huge with astonishment. "Afraid of me?"

"Yes, afraid. Come on, now. We've got to pack."

"Where are we going?" she asked, accepting without question the fact that they couldn't stay on the Genfarm.

He told her of his idea as they went to his room. There was good farmland available for anyone willing to clear it, and to chance the attacks of raiding parties from out-Territory. "It's the right place for us, now," said Rimon, "practically between the two Territories. Later, when more people have learned what we have—things will be different."

Rimon's room was just as he'd left it—including the package he'd tossed on the bed. Handing it to Kadi, he said, "A belated wedding present."

She opened it and lifted a length of the blue material. "Oh… Rimon. You bought this for me?"

"In Scobla. It was for your wedding dress."

She smiled, although her eyes were brimming with tears. "There's enough here for a whole wardrobe—and that's what it will have to be, since I don't have anything else. It's beautiful, Rimon—but you'll get sick of seeing me in blue."

He took her in his arms, as much for the closeness of her presence as to comfort her. Kadi, he was just begi

People disappeared at their approach. Rimon was glad that Kadi couldn't zlin the way Su and her children rushed out the other door when he and she came toward the kitchen. By the time they entered, the room was empty, the partly prepared meal left unattended. Kadi couldn't help knowing what had happened, he thought, but she said nothing and neither did he.

"Pick out some basic utensils," he told her quietly. "Dad said to take what we required."

Kadi nodded and began methodically gathering a small pile, repressed sorrow in her nager. He didn't have to ask what made her heart ache: her mother's touch was everywhere in the kitchen—and Marna was also the only mother Rimon had ever known. We'll still find them, he thought, but he didn't share the thought with Kadi now. It was going to take time—and they would have to prove they could live together themselves first.

In silence, each deep in his own thoughts, Rimon and Kadi loaded a small wagon. Rimon wondered how aware Kadi was that they were being watched. Curiosity and suspicion followed their every move.

No one approached them, though, until Rimon brought the horses up to harness them to the wagon. Then Del Erick came across the yard from the bachelor's quarters, defiance and sympathy in his nager. He was leading his stallion, Lightning, by a hackamore.

"Rimon…" He looked sidewise at Kadi, hesitant. Then, daringly, he acknowledged her with a nod. "You're leaving?"

Rimon nodded.

Studying Rimon's nager, Erick said, "Together?"

Rimon stepped a little away from Kadi, minimizing the nageric interaction. "Del, I'm onto something exciting. I can't let go of it just because my father—prefers more traditional ways."

Chewing his lip, Del nodded again, considering. Then he dug into his shirt front and came out with a leather bag. "Look, you'll have to have some money to get started. Here are the stud fees I've gotten from Lightning. It's not the whole amount I owe you, but…"

Rimon pushed the little bag away. "Del, I can't take your last…"

"If you won't take the money, then here—" He thrust the horse's reins into Rimon's hands. "Take Lightning. You own more of him than I do, anyway. And you'll have to have horses—he could service your mares and next year you'll have foals to sell—or you could hire him out and get the money to pay your taxes…"

Stu

"I'm not giving up," said Del. "I've proved I can do it now. I can get another backer, find another horse, start again. I've got a job. You're going off into the blue… Rimon, where are you going? How will you survive?"