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The geese were fattening, too, on their fixed perches. Goose livers on the rod. Nora hated the calculated cruelty that brought in credit margin for the Fe
Nora took a detour on the way back, across the one-hundred-acre field. The willows her greatgrandfather had planted the day the Farm Reforms were passed were tipped with raw yellow. Spring was an Earth-moment away. Soon the golden limbs would sprout their green filaments, to drape and float them on the irrigation ditch that watered their thirsty feet. Would her great-grandchildren admire the willows in their turn? The whimsy irritated her.
She walked faster, away from what the willows stood for. She didn't really have to be back at the Complex until mealtime, an hour or so away. Father always programmed too much time for her to tend the poultry house, which was an unflattering assessment of her ability but usually gave her more time for something she'd .wanted to do that Father might not consider contributory. If only once he'd look at her as if she weren't something printed out by mistake. How in the name of little printed circuits had Mother dared to have twins?
Nora used her spare time to pick cress at the sluice gate beds. It was a soothing occupation and contributed to di
She heard the meal chime from the kitchen area and quickly brought the cress to her mother, who was taking roast lamb out of the oven. Did Mother know about Nick's quarrel? Lamb was her father's favorite protein.
"Oh, cress! That was a considerate thought, Nora. We'll put a few sprigs on the lamb platter for looks. There'll only be three of us for di
Nora didn't know, for surely Nick would be back from the Everett Complex; but just then Father came in, grim-faced, and sat down. Again Nora wondered just how far he had goaded Nick this afternoon. Why had she played the coward and left?
The tender lamb stuck in her throat like so much dry feed. Her stomach seemed to close up as if eating had been programmed out, but she forced herself to clear her plate. No one, in this day and age and especially at George Fe
Conversation was never encouraged at Fe
"So, Nora, you've been doing Nicholas's programming for him, eh?" Father's voice was icy with disapproval; his eyes were specks of gray.
Nora stared back, speechless. Oh, Nick couldn't have!
"Don't gawk at me, girl. Answer!" Father's big fist banged the table and a startled "Yes, Father," came from her.
"And how long has this… this deception gone on?"
Nora didn't dare look at him.
"How long?" Father repeated, his voice rising in volume and getting sharper.
"Since—since spring," she answered.
"Which spring?" was the acid query.
Nora swallowed hard against the sudden nauseating taste of lamb in her mouth.
"The first year of programming."
"You dared take over a task assigned your brother —by me? Designed to acquaint him with the problems he'll face as a landsman?"
Instinctively Nora leaned as far back in her chair, away from her father's looming body, as she could. Not even George Fe
"Nick couldn't seem to get the trick of it," she managed to say in her own defense. "I only helped a little. When he got jammed."
"He's a Pe
"Oh, no, Father. Nick's always contributed. He'd do the poultry…" and her sentence broke off as she saw the bloated, red face of her father.
"You dared… dared exchange assignments?"
"You miss the point entirely, George," Mother interceded in her placid way. "The tasks were completed, were well done, so I ca
"Have you changed state, woman?" Father wanted to know, but astonishment had aborted his anger. "Nicholas is my son! Nora's only a girl."
"Really, George. Don't quibble. You know, I've been thinking of enlarging my contribution to society now that the children are about to advance. I'd really like to go back to the Agriculture Institute and update my credentials. Sometimes," Mother went on in the conversational way in which she was apt to deliver startling conclusions, "I think the children have studied a whole new language when I hear them discussing computer logic. Remember when I used to take an apprentice's place, George? Of course, it would be much more interesting for me if you'd diversify the Complex. I can't have any more children, of course, but if we bred lambs or calves, I'd've young things to tend again. Society does say it'll satisfy every individual's needs." She gave her husband an appealing smile. "Do try to compute that in your fall program, George. I'd appreciate it."
Looking at Mother as if she'd taken leave of her senses. Father rose and pushed back his chair. He mumbled something about checking urgent data, but stumbled out of the dining area, past the office, and out of the house.
"Mother, I'd no idea…"
The rest of Nora's words died in her throat because her mother's eyes were brimming with mischief and she looked about to laugh.
"I oughtn't to do that to George when he's had a big di
"Yes, Mother?"
"In this society, a person is legally permitted to develop at his own pace and follow his own aptitudes. Not even a stubborn atavist like your father has the right to inhibit another's contribution. Of course, the responsible citizen tries to maintain harmonious relations with his family unit up to that point of interference.
"You realized, I'm certain, that even if Nick has no love of crop farming, he is basically attuned to rural life. I've been so grateful to you, dear, for… soothing matters between your father and brother." The words came out haltingly and though Mother didn't look directly at her, Nora could appreciate her difficulty. Mother had scrupulously avoided taking sides in the constant altercations between Nick and Father. She had somehow always maintained family unity. Her unexpected frankness was essentially a betrayal of that careful neutrality. "I had hoped that Nick might be a more biddable boy, able to go along with his father's ambitions. They may be oldfashioned—"